I'll Never Run Away

"Trace! You were supposed to wake me up at seven! It's eleven-thirty!"

"Chill. I already called. The only remaining scene you have is the performance, and they're doing that tomorrow."

"So I have today off?"

"Yes. Now get back to sleep."

"I can't. I'm hungry."

"Call room service."

"Nah. Do you want anything? Meaning, donuts, coffee, et cetera."

"Just cereal."

"Any specific brand?"

"Yeah, Lucky Charms." He caught the questioning glance I shot at him. "What? They're magically delicious."

"Yeah. That'd work if you weren't lying with your face pressed into the pillow. I'll be back."

♥

I knocked on the door with my foot and waited for him to answer. Finally, he did with only a towel around his waist. He glared and moved to let me in.

"Bad timing?"

"Yeah. Plus, I remembered I forgot to bring clean clothes."

"I'm sure Cory has some you can borrow."

"For real?"

"Yeah. I'll go get them."

"Thanks."

"Core-bear! Open up."

"It's too early," he grumbled.

"It's noon. But how's my favourite brother?"

"I'm your only brother."

"True. I have a favour to ask."

"Go figure."

"Trace needs to borrow some clothes."

"Um...okay?"

"Please, Cory."

"Fine." He paused as he picked out a pair of jeans for the lanky singer/guitarist. "Did you have sex with him?"

"No! I most definitely did not."

"Okay. Don't."

"Um, whatever. Thanks, kid."

"Don't call me that."

"You're fifteen. Still a kid in my eyes."

"You're only four and a half years older than me."

"Still, you're a kid! I'd better get these back to Trace."

"You gonna come to the final filming tomorrow, or are you gonna call off again?"

"Again? I've never called off."

"Today."

"I'll come tomorrow, I promise."

"Good. Now get back to your boyfriend."

"He's not my boyfriend."

"Sure."

"Shut up."

Trace smiled when he saw me. "Finally."

"Shush. Get dressed."

"So what do you wanna do today?"

"I said 'shush'. Just kidding. Uh...I dunno. Hang out?"

"Dashing idea!"

"You are seriously screwy in the head."

"Am not."

"Are. Hang on a second. Hello?"

"Hey, Taige. It's Emily."

"'Ello, love. What'cha doin'?"

"Being bored. I'm done with my lessons for today, and Mason's girlfriend's scaring me."

"Oh. What else is up?"

"Can't wait till tomorrow. I wanna see you and Miley performing."

"Me, too. I'm excited. So did you call just to cure your boredom, or was there a specific reason?"

"Curing of my boredom and freaked-out-ness."

"Ah. I'm pretty good at that."

"Is Trace still there?"

"Yeah. You wanna talk to him? Or are you telling Miley on us?"

"I'm telling Miley!" she sang sarcastically.

"Woohoo! I'mma get in trouble."

"Well, I'm gonna go. We're getting back to filming now."

"Okay. I'll talk to you later, Em."

"Alright. Bye."

"Bye."

"What'd Emily want?"

I narrowed my eyes as the lankyboy man lying on the bed, flipping through the television channels. "Private conversation, Mr. Cyrus. Mason's gee-eff is freaking her out."

"Oh, God. Go figure."

"Is that normal?"

"For her? Yes."