Page 13 of Seeking Stars
"I also know that you try to answer a main, existential question in your films. Do you know what question you'd ask if we worked together?"
This time, she smiled without looking at him. "Nope." She laughed. "I'll tell you a secret. I typically don't know the question until after I've started. It's like… I get this deep curiosity about people. Then I want to learn more about them. When I take a step back I see themes, and that's where the question comes from."
"What's made other people do it? Because to me it feels so… exposing. I already feel exposed often. This possibility is unsettling because so much already is said about me, whether I approve of it or not. I'm hesitant to give them more."
"That makes sense," she said, turning again to peer at him. "Maybe you could see this as a chance to show the real you, outside of the same worn out questions you get. You do have some control with me, because you can always choose what you answer or don't. You can also tell me anything you think matters; that you'd like me and the audience to know. And I know this doesn't mean as much, but I would never want to be unfair to you. At the core of what I do, I try to make the process just for the people I work with— I want to make sure my people feel held, safe."
Wow. He hadn't needed to share what he wanted for her to offer it to him.
With a deep breath, he jumped into the abyss.
"Would you be open to going on a trip with me?"
She perked up. "Now? I guess I can—"
"No. For the documentary."
"I… what?! Does that mean… but then…"
"Hear me out." He leaned forward closer to her, tracking her face to read her reaction. "You come to LA and we get out of the city together. Go somewhere private, stay there for a few days then go to the next place. Have some adventures... or stay put, whatever we feel like. You ask me questions. We do this documentary. Coulton gets off my back. I still kinda get a break."
Her eyes searched his. He followed the train of her thoughts in the changing curve of her eyebrow, the way she pressed her lips together, and in the tiny smile that curled the corner of her lips.
He wished he could read her mind. Her expressive face was intriguing and not clear enough, at the same time. He wanted to know more.
His lips mirrored hers.
"It would be a lot of time together," she said after a few beats. "A lot. Are you sure you want me around that much?"
"No," he replied with a smirk, "but I do know I love road trips."
She smirked back and he laughed. He dismissed the comment with a wave of his hand. "I think you're not bad, I guess. First impressions, and all that."
She maintained her smirk and he grinned, pleased at himself.
"That's not the same as thinking I'm good," she finally replied. "Being together so much could easily get on our nerves. If we're not better thannot badas a team, a road trip would be terrible."
"Well, I don't know if we're agoodteam yet, do I? But perhaps I may still get a chance to make up my mind about you."
"As in, you'll do the documentary?"
He grinned, a tingling tease of hope behind his breast bone. He offered her his hand to close the deal.
"Let's do this, Ana Lira."
With a glorious smile lighting up the space between them, she shook his hand.
Chapter 4 - A Spark
After returning from the garden, Ana'd gone out, taken public transit— the best way to really get a feel for a city, in her opinion— and walked. She'd visited Los Angeles before and had done some of the tourist stuff; this time she wanted to see more of everyday life. Even so, she took one of those tour buses that talked about celebrities, their movies, and homes, recording material for the documentary.
Holy crap, Liam McMillan had agreed to the documentary. He'd assured her he'd deal with Coulton, and that Coulton would talk to Diana and come up with the paperwork. All Ana had to do was go home, pack, and prepare.
She'd returned to her hotel room exhausted, happy to get room service and watch TV. She had just closed the door after giving back the trays, dishes, and cart, thinking she might call Ely and give her an update, when she got a new text from Liam.
Liam: if we text, will it be included in the docu?
Ana: Maybe. I may mention something about our texting during one of my voiceovers. Maybe comment on something I learned about you through texting
