#brook whiting

Terrence: Well, if you’re thinking of embroiling that mobster guy in a scandal, what better way to do so than showcase some of his worst activities on the screen?

Mireille: Are you thinking what I think you’re thinking?

Terrence: If you’ve got enough information to keep it factual, we include that in the show. Eventually, he either has to leave us alone completely, or he’ll have to come after us. We make sure the Big Bad of the show is easily recognizable as the guy who’s after Brook.

Brook: But isn’t that the opposite of what we were trying to do? Is a confrontation our best option?

Lawrence: I’m afraid it’s the only option he left us. But I like what Terrence is offering. If we make such an obvious callout to Seb, other people scared of him might turn against him as well. You don’t take down The Man by staying quite. 

Mireille: Law, does Reid have access to some of the police records on the guy?

Lawrence: I’m certain of it.

Terrence: So, picture this. Teen runaway, big city. Meeting new people, experiencing new things. And add in the crime subplot - instant banger. If we can get it an after-school time slot for airtime, you’re basically guaranteed that the entire high school and college population will tune in.

Lawrence: How do you know all that stuff? I thought you were studying Theater.

Terrence chuckles.

- I am. But you know how colleges are, with all these “unnecessary” classes you have to take. And whoever said they had to be unnecessary? I think in a year or so, I’ll be a media expert, considering how many media classes I’ve taken now.

Brook: Dude, you should minor in it.

Lawrence: Agreed. And it is useful information, I agree. And I'm thinking we’ll barely need anything in terms of sets and special locations as we can just film in the city.

Mireille: And if you need any real world knowledge and insight on how to portray a teen runaway alone in the big city, I can always provide stories from my years on the road.

Brook: So, how much time is all this going to take?

Lawrence: I think it depends on how long it’ll take to get a cast together and to film once we do.

Mireille: And in the meantime, we need to make sure Seb the Jerk isn’t on to us.

It’s almost time for school, so she heads inside, where Josephine is struggling to scratch at a hard to reach spot for cats. Brook is only too happy to help out with that matter.

As the spoiled kitty purrs, Brook chuckles. Even spoiled haughty cats had a way to light up someone’s day. 

Brook: 

Yes, she has decided. She’ll find Terrence after school and talk with him. After all, part of how she was feeling today was his fault. She needed to find out if he really had some sort of feelings for her or if he was just being his usual eccentric self. That much, she could do today. The rest - outside of her powers.

The evening draws to a close and while everything isn’t finalized, the four have the next few weeks’ worth of work cut out for them. 

Brook: Are you leaving already?

Terrence: Yeah, I’m beat. All this talking by the pool finally got all the leftover caffeine out of me. I’m excited to work on this, though!

Brook: Strangely, so am I. It’s good to get busy. 

Terrence: True, true.

Brook: You know what I’ve been imagining all evening? Sarah’s face when she sees me on TV. Boy, will she be in for a shock!

Terrence: One can hope it knocks her out for good! Well, see you soon.

Brook: See you. And hey, next time, take it easy with the coffee. I’d be sad to hear that you got sick.

- So, this is where you live. It’s cozy.

Brook kind of expected Terrence to live in an apartment building, but the small house does have it’s charm. There isn’t much furniture, mostly just the student essentials. The kitchen is functional, though she wonders if it’s often used. 

Terrence: It’s not much, I know. But it’s inexpensive and everything works. And getting to the college is easy, as I can take transportation or drive, if I have a vehicle. Anyways, I need to start writing. I’m not sure how long it’ll take me to get something ready, but I want to have something solid before we talk to your friends. Let’s just get some coffee first.

Brook: Hmm, perhaps consider decaf or tea? 

Terrence: Ah... yeah, good idea.

A few minutes later, sipping on their decaf tea.

Brook: So, what’s the plan?

Terrence: This is a little different from writing a play, but not by much. And the plot won’t be too different from reality this time ;)

Brook: How so?

Terrence: This is a perfect setup for a show about a runaway teen, really. And you’re already living it, so you’ll be great in the role.

Brook: Huh... no joke, with an ad like that.

Terrence: Yep, yep. 

After a light breakfast, she finds herself engrossed in the book that Laurel packed for her. She’s been recommending her this series since she knew Brook liked to read, but the later never seemed to have enough time to sit down and enjoy the novel. As she reads on, she feels herself that much closer to her friend. 

A slight wind blows a few strands of hair back from her face. The ocean, even in the morning, is glimmering with the lights of the rising sun and for a moment, Brook starts to think that everything might just be ok in the end.

Brook: Great! So, what’s next?

Terrence: Next, we go talk to your friends. You say Lawrence is famous, so he should be able to explain how to get it all done. But what I have here is a perfectly good TV show pilot, and then some. I can write bunches more, too. 

Brook: So, we’re really doing this?

Terrence: You bet. We should strike this iron while it’s hot. With the whole internet buzzing with those ads, the crowds are perfectly primed to receive the product, aka this show we’re working on!

The morning after Mireille’s park performance, Brook wakes up “on the wrong side of the bed.” And far too early. It’s only 5 in the morning, but she’s already feeling restless and neurotic.

She wonders which particular side of her situation is responsible.

Is it because she’s on the run for her life from someone who should’ve been taking care of her? 

Because she wakes up and goes to sleep in the house belonging to her favorite singer? In itself, something that would’ve made anyone ecstatic, but now only makes her feel awkward and displaced.

Is it because she isn’t sure how to feel about the kiss with Terrence? 

Or is it because she’s just plain homesick?