Chapter Text
January 18, 2008. TJ Hawkins and his best friend Zach have just come out of the movie theater. TJ has his head buried in a notebook, writing as he walks. Zach has to steer TJ just to keep him from running into walls or people, or stepping in holes or getting run over in the parking lot.
“You know, you’re lucky to have me here or you’d be a pancake right now.” Zach says.
“Uh huh.” TJ responds.
Zach knows he’s not listening.
“Hey. Dumbass.” Zach flicks TJ in the side of the head. “Pay attention, would you? What are you even doing?”
“Writing.” TJ says as if it’s the most obvious thing ever.
“No shit, Sherlock. I mean, what are you writing?”
“Movie ideas.” TJ still hasn’t looked up or stopped writing.
“I really hate you sometimes, you know that?” Zach says. He doesn’t, he’s just trying to get a reaction out of TJ.
“Yep.” Is all he gets out of TJ.
“Remind me again why we’re best friends?” Zach asks.
“Cause you’re the only person that tolerates my nonsense and actually laughs at my shitty jokes.” TJ says.
“Oh, so now he speaks more than one word.” Zach mutters.
TJ and Zach get into Zach’s car.
“Can you at least put that down while I’m driving? I don’t need you puking up popcorn in my car.”
“Fine.” TJ sighs. He puts the notebook in his bag.
“So…are you gonna tell me anything about this project or is this another secret thing you refuse to tell anyone, even your best friend, about?”
“Found footage monster movie.” TJ says.
“So….the movie we just watched?” Zach looks at him.
“That’s my inspiration!” TJ smiles.
“You’re gonna make me be in it, aren’t you? Just- please, no crazy stunts this time. Last time you put me in one of your movies, I almost broke my leg.”
“Yeah, yeah. I won’t.” TJ says.
Zach has a feeling he’s lying.
“Thanks for taking me, man.” TJ says as Zach unlocks their apartment door.
“Yeah, no. Don’t mention it.” Zach replies.
Zach heads into the bathroom to shower and change, leaving TJ to his own devices…which is never a good thing.
TJ sits on his bed, a bowl of ice cream in one hand and his notebook in the other. He’s mostly re-reading what he’s already written, but occasionally he makes a note or changes something.
Zach comes out of the bathroom. TJ can still hear the shower running.
“Hey T, have you seen– what are you doing?”
“Working.” TJ replies. “And no, I haven’t seen your hoodie.” TJ’s wearing it.
“No, I mean…the bowl. Are you eating ice cream for dinner?”
“...no.” TJ says.
“TJ, we’ve talked about this.” Zach sighs.
“Whatever.” Zach digs in his closet. He heads back into the bathroom and TJ just continues writing.
Lizzy Pollard and her best friend Penny are having yet another girls’ night, as they do every Friday. Penny is painting her nails while Lizzy talks.
“Y’know, there’s these two cute guys in my film class.” Penny says.
“For the last time, you’re not setting me up with some guy I’ve never met. You know I’m focusing–”
“On your studies, I know.” Penny rolls her eyes. “But come on, Liz. It won’t kill you to go on one date. I’ll even make it a double date so I can be with you.” She says.
“You say that every time.” Lizzy sighs.
“At least check them out in class on Monday. I think they have math with us.”
Monday arrives, and TJ is still hard at work.
“How about watching where you’re walking?” Zach asks.
TJ glances up.
“That’s not what I meant. Do I need to take that away from you?”
“No! I’m working!” TJ holds his notebook against his chest.
“This is why your grades are shit, T. You get too focused on other things.”
“I do not.” TJ huffs.
“Hey, there they are.” Penny nudges Lizzy as TJ and Zach walk by. “Isn’t the blonde one just so cute?”
Lizzy glances at them as they walk by.
“Dude. Dude, look up!” Zach says.
“What?” TJ looks up, only to see Lizzy looking at him. He quickly hides behind his notebook.
“Dude…Lizzy Pollard was totally just looking at you.” Zach smirks.
“N-no she wasn’t. There’s no way. I- she’s way outta my league, man. A-and, what about her friend, huh? You were totally being looked at too.”
“Well, duh, I’m a total babe.” Zach runs a hand through his blonde hair.
TJ rolls his eyes.
“You, however? I love you, man, but you’re like…a total nerd.”
TJ scoffs. “Well, thanks for the compliment.”
“So when a girl like Lizzy Pollard looks at you, you gotta be doing something right, man.”
“So?? They’re cute, right?” Penny says.
“I dunno.” Lizzy shrugs.
“Oh, come on! I saw you looking at the one with the notebook.”
“I only looked because you told me to.” Lizzy says.
“He looked at you, too, you know. I think he likes you.” Penny smirks.
“Do not set me up with him.” Lizzy says.
“Why not?! He likes you!” Penny huffs.
“I told you, I don’t have time for love.” Lizzy says.
“Ugh, you’re no fun.” Penny rolls her eyes.
“Hey, what do you think about being the lead in my movie?” TJ asks as they head into the boys’ bathroom.
“Thought you were the lead.” Zach says.
“No. I’m the cameraman. You’re technically the lead. Most of the focus is on your character.” TJ shrugs.
“Who else is gonna be in this movie?” Zach asks.
“I…haven’t thought that far ahead yet.”
“You should have a love interest and cast Lizzy in that role. Like Marlena and Hud.” Zach replies.
“What?”
“You heard me.” Zach smirks. “Create a love interest for your character and cast Lizzy Pollard.”
TJ sighs. “I’ll only do it if I can also create a love interest for your character and cast Lizzy’s friend in that role.”
“What?” Zach looks back at him.
TJ smirks. “You heard me.”
“You know I hate it when you use my words against me.”
“I know.”
TJ and Zach are walking to their film class when a girl walks by. Zach stops to look at her.
“Holy shit…Kiran Kumar…” TJ mutters.
“She’s so pretty, man.” Zach says once she’s out of earshot.
TJ jots something down in his notebook.
Kiran Kumar - love interest for Zach’s character
Zach goes to look over his friend’s shoulder, but TJ snaps the notebook shut before he can.
“Come on, let me see!” Zach says.
“Nope. Top secret stuff in here, man. For my eyes only.” TJ replies.
“I hate you.” Zach huffs.
TJ puts his notebook in his bag for now. Film class is really the only class he actually pays attention in.
Zach sits directly behind TJ in class. He leans up and tries to grab the notebook from TJ’s bag, only to be completely distracted by Kiran. Any and all previous thoughts? Completely gone. The guy is practically drooling over this girl.
TJ turns around.
“Earth to Zach. What’s got your– oh, I see.” He smirks.
“What?” Zach snaps out of his little trance.
“Kiran.” TJ smirks.
“What about her?” Zach attempts to hide his blush behind his textbook.
“You got the hots for her, don’t you?”
“So? Pretty much half of the school does. I mean, I don’t blame them, she’s so gorgeous…” He trails off.
“Oh, man, you got it bad, bro.” TJ says.
“So? You’re the exact same way about Lizzy Pollard.” Zach says.
“Yeah, but I’m not obvious about it. I don’t daydream about her in class.” He does, but he’d never admit it. “You, however? You’re crazy obvious. You practically worship the ground she walks on.”
“I do not!”
“Whatever helps you sleep.” TJ turns back.
After class, Kiran goes up to TJ.
“Hi.”
“Oh, hey.” He says.
“I was late to class…um, do you think I could borrow your notes?”
TJ smirks. “Shoot, I didn’t take any notes during this lesson, but you know who did? That guy.” He points to Zach. “Zach always takes good notes in class. Bet he’d be willing to help.”
“Okay, thanks!” Kiran smiles before approaching Zach.
TJ smirks as he watches Zach trip over his words, almost dropping his notebook on his foot as he gets his notes for Kiran.
“Thanks. I’ll give them back tomorrow.” She smiles.
“O-okay.” Zach clears his throat.
As soon as she’s gone, he shoots TJ a glare.
“I know you sent her to me on purpose.”
“Who, me? I’d never.” TJ says.
“Liar. You’re such a dick.” Zach smacks TJ on the arm.
“Hey, it was funny!” TJ laughs.
“You take joy in my misery, don’t you?”
“Well…maybe a little.” He’s joking and they both know it. Pulling shit like this is their love language.
TJ stands in the middle of his apartment, a corkboard in front of him. He has various notes pinned to it.
“What the hell are you doing? It's 1 am, dude. Go to bed.” Zach says.
“I'm busy.” TJ says.
“Where did you even get that? Please tell me you didn't steal it from campus.”
“...I didn't steal it from campus.”
“Smartass.” Zach mutters.
“That was kinda on you, though.” He pins another note card to the board. “But don't worry. I'll give it back when I'm done.”
“That's what she said.” Zach mutters. TJ doesn't hear it.
Zach walks over, taking a card down. “What is this, anyway?”
“Hey, no! No touching!” TJ takes the card back, pinning it back to the board. “It's planning. For my movie.”
“Right, I forget you plan everything at one in the morning.”
“Can't help it my brain works best at night.” TJ shrugs.
“Whatever. I'm going back to bed.” Zach yawns as he disappears into the bedroom. “Good luck with…whatever that is.”
TJ steps back, sitting on the coffee table as he examines the board.
He has a lot of work to do for this movie. And he loves every second of it.