Ellie feigned mock offence at his remark, proceeding to elbow him with a roll of her eyes. “Damn, I would’ve never pegged you to be the ‘bros before hoes’ kind of guy.” She shot him a grin as she continued. “Like come on, look at this face,” She gestured at her own self, attempting what supposed to be puppy eyes at Miles. “I can’t believe you would listen to my brothers’ tales and I’m telling you now — they’re lies, all lies!” If anything, both her brothers and Miles probably had enough embarrassing stories about her to fill up a novel. She’d never been the kind to stay in the shadows, both in her personal and professional lives. Maybe it was truly the life she was destined for, and as they indulged in the possibility of going back in time and changing the course of events that could occur in their lives, there was a part of her that believed that she would end up in the path of performing acts nonetheless. A weird feeling creeped into her stomach as she listened to Miles, nodding absentmindedly as she mulled over their words. “You really think so?” Maybe they were always meant to drift apart, in that case, but that thought didn’t sit well with her even if the past had happened already. “Your time machine, huh?” She raised a brow at him. “You’re not wrong though, I am more or less good with what happened in my life so far. It doesn’t mean it’s too late to correct any wrongs now, is it?” Briefly, she wondered if the same could be said for their friendship too. She didn’t dare to ask, considering they were treading into.
“Something interesting? Surely, I’m the most interesting thing you’ve come across since you came back already?” Chuckling, as Ellie turned to face Miles for a moment, squinting at the sun in her eyes. “Oh, I’m getting used to it. It’s like yesterday since we’re here, causing havoc and all.” It was her own way to insinuating that she was glad to have him on the island again in the meantime. Her brows furrowed slightly at their next words, before nodding lightly at his answer. “You know, you’re no rush to figure this out, or whatever.” She answered with a shrug. “I have no doubt you can go solo, but you got to be ready for that shit. Don’t do it just because your manager is telling you to.” Then she turned and stared off into the distance again, feeling like a hypocrite to give such advice when her own life was pretty much orchestrated by her agent right now, and she was too tired herself to put up a fight with it. “Yeah, I wish I can do that. But I’ll have tons of damage control to do the next day. So I’d rather not do that right now.” Her nose scrunched up as she continued. “I mean, I’m trying to keep a low profile right now too, do you think it’s working?” Granted, she only had a pair of sunglasses on her face, the chances of being recognised was highly likely.
As attention were turned to the pair, Ellie warily glanced around them for a moment, before sitting up again when the coast was clear. His remark was enough to emit laughter from her lips. “Hey! You know I never back down to a challenge, that was child’s play.” She leaned over slightly, grinning proudly at him, widening further at his latter comment. “Mama Mahir knows best, that’s why. She would’ve never believed that I yelled ‘dick’ at a bunch of strangers. How is she, anyway? She must be glad to have you back.”
"Two things," he said, "First off, you are so not innocent so stop those eyes. I'm not falling for that!" Well at least, not again, he wouldn't be, shouldn't be. "Second, your brothers from what I remember were cool as heck so what if they have good things to say about you? Are they lies too? Hmm?" Miles grinned, that was an easy win. There were a lot of people and families Miles had the pleasure to know during the times he lived here; Hirsch's and Livingston's among the big names, and even though he may have forgotten a few faces they all had fond memories attached to them. "You don't think so?" He had wondered many nights about what would've happened if they had changed, if they kept the charade up, would things have ended differently? Would they have ended at all? "Would we have survived the PR fiasco?" he questioned, sitting up straighter, "Miles's marvelous time machine, can travel in any direction the user wishes, even diagonally!” he announced in their best tv anchor voice, "See, I already have the ad and everything, doesn't say Ellie anywhere." That joke was a good break but Miles still felt the seriousness linger in the air and followed it with a sigh of defeat, he would just have to get used to the heavy feeling it seemed because the more they carried on this topic, the denser it became crushing their hopes of wanting to keep this light. Her talks of righting wrongs, made Miles look away, is this where he confessed of their action prior to their meetup? Heartbeat a little too fast at that thought and Miles shut right up, "Yeah, I'm good too. I know it's not too late, but how about we just promise to be better from now? Lest, this turn into a confessional, hmm? We're both here and if I've learnt anything over the years is that time is hella precious."
Miles had to laugh at that. "Oh, you wish! The most interesting thing was finding out my old room is now my mom's yoga room! That's a shock that keeps on shocking," he said with a shake of their head, "You're...you're a surprise to find but a good one, ya know? Feels like I never left. Do you know how many of us are here now? I met Gabs, Geo and Nath too. So many blasts from the past, it’s ridic." He had long contemplated on the move, but the longer he spent on Catalina, the more he felt like this was the best decision. "That makes one of us," he said with nervous laugh, "Solo is...rough times." Their bandmates once joked that if they had spilt, he would be the least likely to make it solo, he protested then but as the days went by that joke was one step closer to a fact. "But then what else? Be a delivery boy? A busker for the rest of my life? Are you gonna let me mooch off you?" he joked but soon shook their head, "Eh, I'll figure it out." Future was for tomorrow Miles to figure out, the current Miles dug their toes deeper into the sand and relaxed in the sun. "Hmmm," he squinted at her so called disguise and screamed a second later, "Who are you wand what have you done with Ellie!" He held the disbelief for three seconds before collapsing into a fit of giggles, "Bring a blonde wig next time, Hannah Montana style, I'll just tell everyone you're Nellie! Ellie's less attractive cousin."
"That's true, next time I'll make it harder for you," he said with another shake of their head, "Oh she'd never. Might even tell me off for asking you to do such a thing. Her own child! Tragic. But yeah, she's wonderful. I think she is glad, but also not because I have no career now." There was nothing he could do other than laugh and shrug, "I'm infinitely glad I'm back home though, no place like it."
