COOL, COOL, COOL, COOL... SHE'S NOT READING INTO THIS, IS SHE?

It was mid-day in the Peralta's apartment car park, Nat, Tyler, and Mac all loaded an RV with props, costumes, and camera equipment. Meanwhile, inside the vehicle, Gino practiced their lines, getting ready for their trip to film at the Catskills Mountains.

"Okay, let's see... alien cape, check. Green face paint, check. Laser, check. Where's that blue wig?" Nat muttered to herself, digging through the side of the RV. "Ah, there it is! Check." She ticked off the final box.

"You know, Nat, I find it rather astounding that we're going ahead with this," Tyler remarked, adjusting her camera bag. "Thank you once again, Mac." She turned to the boy.

"Thank my Dad; he's the one driving us," Mac replied, glancing up from his bag.

"Man, your dad is so cool." Nat crossed her arms over her chest. "I mean, who knew he had this sweet RV?" She exclaimed, patting the dusty vehicle.

As Nat coughed, Mac pulled out four labeled snack packs from his bag, "Hey, look! My mom packed us some road trip snacks!" He announced cheerfully before looking in the bags. "We've got...mini calculators...times tables flash cards...and puzzles."

"What is the puzzle of?" Tyler chimed in.

Mac glanced at the back, his eyes flicking away almost immediately before sighing, "It's a dog holding a pizza," His tone was flat and evasive which Tyler noticed.

Nat, recovering from her coughing fit, piped up, "Dude, I hate to burst your bubble, but those aren't snacks." She croaked, breathing again.

"What do you mean?" Mac chuckled, looking genuinely confused. "They're brain snacks." He explained, slightly puzzled, as to why Nat didn't get it. "You know, for feeding our minds with knowledge."

"Oh...right..." Nat was still confused but decided to go along with it.

As Mac laughed at Nat's seemingly stupid comment, Jake burst out from the front of the RV, "Alright, everything is set and ready to roll!" He jumped into the discussion. "We're ready to hit the road!" He declared.

"Excellent. Now I can officially start my puzzle," Tyler said, her voice steady despite her internal conflict. She turned toward the RV, trying to focus on getting settled for the trip. But Mac's strange behavior nagged at her. Why had he answered that way? Was he annoyed with her?

As Tyler boarded the RV, Mac turned to his dad, who was closing the storage compartment, "Hey, Dad, I don't think you've met my friend yet. This is Nat Diaz," He introduced, gesturing towards her.

"Hi," Nat waved.

Jake's eyes widened slightly at the name, and a soft smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he looked at her, "Hey, kiddo," His eyes brightened.

"It's nice to finally meet you, Mr. Peralta," Nat smiled warmly. "Oh, and thanks for taking time off from running your Letterboxd account to take us." She added.

"Anytime," Jake's smile grew into a beaming grin. "Alright, shall we get this show on the road?" He rubbed his hands together.

"Yep," Nat replied calmly with a nod before announcing, "I call shotgun!" She raised her voice before sprinting off to claim the front seat.

"No! What?" Mac was caught off guard. "That's my seat!" He called after her.

Now, with everyone comfortably settled in the RV, Nat sat defeated in the back seat. Tyler was on her left, solving her puzzle, while Gino sat on her right, playing a game on his phone. Up front, Mac sat triumphantly in the passenger seat as Jake guided the vehicle out of the parking garage and onto the road, beginning their three-hour journey.

~

An hour into the road trip, boredom was starting to set in for the group.

"Hey, one hour down!" Jake exclaimed, trying to keep everyone's spirits up. "Victory honk!" He pressed the horn, and it blared through the RV. "Oh, no. Not again," He realized the horn was stuck. He pushed the wheel harder, and the blaring stopped abruptly. Clearing his throat, he continued, "Nobody touches the horn."

~

With the horn untouched, two hours had now passed and in the back, Tyler leaned her head against the window, looking visibly tired and struggling against the constant bumps.

She turned to Nat, "Do you mind if I rest my head on your shoulder?" She questioned.

Nat's heart fluttered, and she couldn't help but smile, "Not at all," She replied gently. "It's all yours. I've got you." She tapped her shoulder.

Tyler settled her head on Nat's shoulder, and Nat tried to hide her grin as she focused on the road ahead.

~

As they neared the third hour of the drive, Gino flipped through the DVD folder.

"Seriously?" Gino groaned. "These inflight movies suck. Why are we drowning in Nick Cage films? Look, we've got 'The Wicker Man' and not one, but three discs of 'National Treasure.' Pray for me!"

"I don't see what the big deal is," Nat said softly, trying not to disturb Tyler who was asleep on her shoulder.

Gino sighed, shaking his head, and went back to browsing the movie selection.

~

After three hours on the road, Jake finally rolled the RV into the motel parking lot.

"Alright, we're here!" Jake alerted the teens.

As Jake parked the RV, Mac's eyes widened, "No way this place has a hot tub!" He beamed, peering through the window.

With Mac's excitement, Tyler stirred from her nap and blinked sleepily, "What's happening?" She asked, rubbing her eyes. "What did I miss?"

"Not much, Tomas Jeffordson," Gino quipped before swinging open the side door.

~

As the sun set over the motel, the group split into their respective rooms to settle down for the night: Tyler and Nat took one, while Jake, Mac, and Gino settled into the other.

"You may have the power of a thousand stars, but it's my will that will defeat you!" Mac declared, reading off his script.

"Your will is as fragile as the atmosphere of your planet. Surrender now, or face extinction!" Gino threatened, fully committed to his alien part.

"The galaxy's fate rests on my shoulders—" Mac began as Jake walked in from the bathroom, wearing swim trunks and a towel around his neck.

"Hey, who wants to join me in the hot tub?" Jake invited.

Mac looked up, momentarily thrown off, "Dad, we're in the middle of rehearsing this scene. Maybe we can take a break later?" He suggested.

Jake's smile didn't waver, "Alright, suit yourselves!" He shrugged before heading to the hot tub, leaving the room to the sounds of Mac and Gino continuing their rehearsal.

~

Jake stepped out of the motel room, towel draped around his neck. He made his way to the hot tub, situated in the corner of the motel pool area.

He approached the hot tub, taking a moment to appreciate the sight of the water. He then removed his towel and draped it over a nearby chair before dipping his toes into the water, testing the warmth with a satisfied nod.

"Alright, hot tub, let's do this," Jake said to himself, easing into the water with a contented sigh. He sank deeper into the tub, letting the heat envelop him and the jets work their magic on his back. "Ooooh," He murmured as he enjoyed the water.

As Jake settled in, he fumbled with his phone to take a picture. The result was a blurry shot of himself with a slightly puzzled expression. The photo was off-center, showing mostly his face and a sliver of water in the background, "That's a keeper!" He decided before sending the picture to Amy, completely missing the rat scurrying by in the background.

~

Nearby, in the girls' motel room, Nat was preparing her signature noodles, adding a sprinkle of raw noodles on top for extra crunch as Tyler sat on the end of her twin bed.

"Hey, do you think Mac has been acting a bit unusual this past week?" Tyler asked suddenly.

Nat's eyebrows raised as she was caught off guard by the question, "Not more than usual." Her eyes narrowed in thought. "Why do you ask?" She turned to face Tyler.

Tyler shrugged, "I'm unsure," She replied, her gaze momentarily wavering as she recalled the events from earlier in the day.

After a brief pause, Tyler continued, "How do you manage to simply exist?" She changed the topic.

"Hanging by a thread, usually." Nat deadpanned.

"No—what I mean is, you don't need to conform to any expectations or fit into any specific role; you simply exist as yourself," Tyler explained, her voice slightly cracking. "How does one manage that?

"Oh." Nat nodded in understanding. "I'm not too sure; I just do." She shrugged. "Why? Do you not feel the same?"

"...Not exactly," Tyler admitted, her voice faltering a bit. "I often feel like background noise, primarily defined by my relationship with Mac. It seems as if my identity is overshadowed by that role, rather than being recognized for who I am on my own."

Nat's expression softened as she settled beside Tyler, "What? No, Ty, listen, you're not just Mac's girlfriend. To me, you're so much more. You're the mastermind behind this amazing film, you're kind and funny, and you've got this way of making even the worst days better. Tyler you stand out in every way—way more than just being Mac's partner." Her eyes lingered on Tyler.

Tyler's brows knitted slightly as she sat beside Nat, her eyes resting on her a moment longer than usual, "Are you certain?" She asked quietly.

Nat paused, her gaze steady, "You're perfect,"

Tyler's breath caught as her pulse quickened, and she felt a unfamiliar sensation in her chest. She shifted uncomfortably, trying to shake off the sudden rush of emotion. Her fingers fidgeted with the edge of her jacket, and she bit her lip, "Mac has never said that before." She recalled.

Nat looked at Tyler's lips and said, "Well, you deserve to know." She met Tyler's eyes again.

Tyler's breath hitched, her gaze lingering on Nat a beat too long. There was a flutter in her chest she couldn't quite name, a tug that felt both thrilling and terrifying. Just as her mind began to swirl with the unfamiliar feeling, Nat's phone rang, breaking the moment and pulling Tyler back to her senses.

Nat glanced at her phone, "It's my Mami," She gave a quick, uneasy smile and added, "I should take this." She hurried to the bathroom, throwing a last look back at Tyler before closing the door.

~

In the bathroom, Nat answered the call.

"Hi, Mami." Nat's voice cracked slightly as she began to pace the small space.

"Mija, I'm just checking in—how's everything?"

Nat hesitated, "Oh, pretty good. The trip was smooth, and now we're just hanging out at the motel. Nothing out of the ordinary." She tried to play it cool, but her high voice gave her away.

"Why's your voice so high? What are you hiding?"

Nat took a deep breath. She knew she'd been caught, "Okay, you got me. I really like someone, and I think she might like me too, but I'm not completely sure. I'm totally freaking out and don't know what to do!" She rushed.

The line went silent for a moment, the only sound a faint rustle from the other end. After what felt like an eternity, Rosa finally spoke, "Mija," She began, a rare softness in her tone. "I get it. It's okay to be freaked out. I'm not big on feelings, but listen—just be straight with her--"

"Yuck." Nat winced under her breath.

Rosa continued, "—you've got this—you're smart."

"But being smart hasn't exactly kept me from making dumb choices before," Nat muttered, recalling her life.

"Love is dumb."

Nat's gaze softened as she considered her Mami's words, "Wow, mama, you're right. Sometimes you just have to take the leap and be honest." She nodded to herself. "Seriously, though, being sixteen and in love is such an inconvenience."

"I know. And hey, Mija?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm proud of you." The line paused, and a soft smile lifted on Nat's face. "A Captain once told me, 'Every time someone steps up and says who they are, the world becomes a better, more interesting place. So thank you.'"

"Thanks, Mami," Nat spoke softly into her phone, her voice brimming with appreciation.

"Alright, I gotta go. You've got this. Talk later."

"I got this. Bye." Nat whispered before ending the call.

As Nat placed her phone back in her pocket, she glanced out the window and saw Mac and Jake lounging in the hot tub. Jake held his phone to his ear, "Can I get a kid's menu and a margarita to the hot tub?" His voice faintly carried across the distance.

He waited for a response, his brow furrowing in confusion, "What do you mean you guys don't do hot tub service?" Jake asked, clearly taken aback.

As Jake hung up, a rat scurried behind him, and Mac's face went pale as he stared at the rodent, "Was that a rat?"

As Mac and Jake flailed around in the water, trying to get away from the rat, the sight jolted Nat's memory—Tyler was dating Mac. She realized she couldn't confess her feelings—not if she respected Mac.

Or could she?

No, that wouldn't be right... would it?

~

Nat walked back into the bedroom, where Tyler was lying in her bed, facing away from. She picked up her now-cold noodles and tossed them in the trash, feeling less hungry and more overwhelmed by confusion.

Climbing into bed, she turned off the lights with a weary sigh, "Night, Ty," She whispered.

Tyler didn't respond.

~

The next day, the RV rumbled down the highway with everyone packed inside. Nat occupied the passenger seat up front, deliberately avoiding eye contact with Tyler, who was seated in the back. Gino, decked out in a full alien costume, sat next to Tyler, while Mac, sitting beside Gino, also kept his distance from Tyler, for reasons known only to him.

"'Tell me why, ain't nothing but a heartache, tell me why'..." The music sang through the RV.

As Jake hummed along to the lyrics, Nat tapped her foot to the beat, as the Catskills Mountains rose steadily in the distance.

~

The RV door swung open, and Nat led the way out, followed by the rest of the group. As they stood there, mouths agape, taking in the breathtaking view, Nat placed her hands on her hips and declared the obvious, "We're here!"

"Speech!" Mac urged, while a few others clapped in support.

Nat took a deep breath, her gaze sweeping over the group. After a moment's thought, she spoke up with the first thing that came to her mind, "Alright, guys, let's fuck shit up out here, but let's not die."

Gino was taken aback by the language, "Damn."

"Succint and informative." Tyler agreed with a simple nod.

"Now, let's roll!" Nat clapped the group into action.

~

With the props and camera equipment unloaded, Mac and Gino stood on their marks beside a tree as Jake adjusted the boom mic.

"How's the microphone, Mr. Peralta?" Tyler asked, approaching him.

Jake gave a thumbs-up, "Perfect!" He grinned.

Tyler nodded and headed toward the tree where the scene would be filmed. As she reached her position, she glanced over at Gino, who looked up at the sky and winked, "This one's for you, aliens," He offered a two-handed wave.

"Dude, aliens don't exist." Mac's brows twisted.

Gino turned to him, arms wide, "Aca-scuse me?" He gestured to his costume, his face covered in green paint, complete with a cape and a laser.

"Sorry--I take it back." Mac apologized.

"Okay!" Nat called out, grabbing everyone's attention. "Rolling camera, rolling sound." She delivered, holding a clapperboard in front of the camera. "Scene thirteen, 'Help me', take one... Action!"

~

In the scene, Gino grabbed Tyler by the arm and said, "Oh, you naive human, you don't stand a chance against my cosmic power... your precious little planet is now under my control." The alien growled.

"No, help me!" Tyler called out, struggling to free herself from Gino's grip.

"You won't get away with this," Mac delivered his line, stepping into character.

Gino's alien eyes narrowed as he tightened his hold on his fake laser prop, "Oh, but I already have. Your resistance only makes my victory sweeter." He laughed menacingly, aiming the fake laser at Tyler.

"Cut!" Nat declared, bringing the scene to a halt.

Tyler fidgeted with the edge of her costume, glancing at Nat, "How did that go?"  She asked, keeping her composure.

"I think we should do another shot," Gino suggested, his eyes scanning the scene. "Because let's be real, I can definitely do better."

Nat shook her head with a reassuring smile, "No need. Why mess with perfection?"

~

The crew was now on the move, scouting out new filming locations. Tyler pointed ahead, directing the group toward a promising spot in the distance.

~

"Scene twenty-one, 'Defeat', take three. Action!" Nat snapped the clapperboard in front of the camera.

Mac and Tyler stood on a rock, looking down at Gino, "Let's defeat him?" Mac asked hesitantly, pointing into the distance.

"Cut, I guess," Nat muttered, less than impressed.

~

In a different location, Jake waded into the lake, holding the boom mic high to capture the sound. He flashed a thumbs-up to Nat, who responded with a thumbs-up of her own.

~

"Scene twenty-one, 'Defeat,' take four. Action!" Nat clapped the clapperboard in front of the camera once more. "Be mad Mac, you gotta be mad, really mad!" She instructed.

"Let's...defeat... him!" Mac shouted, pointing into the distance.

Nat's eyes brightened, she could barely contain her excitement, "Yes! Cut!" She beamed, smiling in approval. "That was spectacular! We got it!"

"Woo!"

A few cast and crew members applauded as Mac took a bow.

~

Jake was now standing in front of the camera, staring intently into the lens, "Is the camera rolling?" He asked.

"Yeah, when you're ready," Nat replied, glancing through the viewfinder.

"Scene three, 'Strange Green Thing,' take two!" Jake announced with enthusiasm as he clapped the clapperboard.

"Action!"

~

After scene after scene, as the afternoon sun began to set over the mountains, they had wrapped up all their outdoor shots except for the final fight scene.

"Alright, everyone, this is it. The big showdown! Give it your all!" Nat clapped as she returned to her position behind the camera. "Let's make this the best fight scene ever!"

Jake raised the boom mic high over the scene while Nat adjusted the camera angle, "Alright, scene thirty, 'We Won', take one... action!" She declared.

~

Gino crept from behind a tree, laser in hand, his eyes darting around for his target. Suddenly, Tyler sprang out from the shadows, grabbing Gino's gun and arm. In a swift move, Tyler head-butted Gino, sending him stumbling back.

As the alien got back up from the ground, he declared, "You will rue this day! Rue it, I say!"

Just then, Mac burst onto the scene, laser raised and ready. He aimed and fired the fake laser, and even though there were no flashing beams, the actors played along as if there were, "Not so fast!" Mac grumbled.

"Just you watch me," Gina spoke back as the scene erupted into a shootout. Gino, Tyler, and Mac darted behind rocks and trees, trading laser fire. Gino peeked out from behind a rock to take a shot before hiding back down, Tyler was crouched behind a tree as she fired back, while Mac sprang from cover to aim and shoot his shot.

The shot hit Gino, who staggered back and clutched his chest, "Ah!" He fell to the ground with a thud, his eyes were wide in disbelief as Tyler and Mac approached, high-fiving each other as they looked down at Gino.

"And... Cut!" Nat called out with a smile, clapping for the team. "That's a wrap for now, people!" She announced as the cast and crew applauded each other's efforts.

"Nice!" Mac cheered, triumphantly.

"Congratulations everyone." Tyler bobbed her head.

"Great job!"

The clapping faded as the group looked around, puzzled, "Wait. Where did we park the RV?" Gino's brows furrowed.

~

After locating the RV, the group began their three-hour drive back to Brooklyn. They loaded their gear and settled into their seats. Jake took the wheel, lipsinking to the backstreet boys as he drove. Tyler sat beside him, managing the navigation, while Mac slept in the middle seat. To Mac's right, Gino, with their eyes closed, listened to a podcast, and to Mac's left was Nat.

As they drove, Nat occasionally glanced at Tyler through the rearview mirror. Unbeknownst to either of her, Tyler was doing the same, casting subtle looks back at Nat.

"Alright, one hour down... Victory honk!" Jake called out, breaking the silence

"No!" the awake teens shouted in unison as the horn blared through the RV.

~

Note:

I'm in love with Letterboxd!!

~jas

Published: 24/8/24