Page 16 of Night and Day
Chapter 9
Mia leaned back againstthe door, her ears burning. This was the most uncomfortable crash-course into another person she’d ever endured, yet she could barely contain her curiosity. Hearing footsteps, she shifted closer to peek through the doorframe. It was Izzy, and he was alone.
“Are they gone?” she stage-whispered from the door.
Izzy crossed the floor and entered the bedroom, his wide chest looming over her. “Yeah. They left. Are you okay?”
Mia scrambled to her feet and snuck the books back onto the nightstand. “I’m sorry, I accidentally picked up your diary. I didn’t read it. I read a bit of the other one.”
Izzy glanced at the books, his body tensing. “It’s not a diary. It’s a project I’m working on. I use that book to write down dreams... or ideas.” He cleared his throat, looking away. “I’d be surprised if you could make any sense of it.”
Mia shot him an earnest look. “Honestly, I didn’t read it. If you don’t believe me, ask me aboutGrapes of Wrath. I’ll summarise the first chapter.”
He laughed. “That’s okay. I’d rather you read the screenplay I’m working on.”
“You’re working on a screenplay?”
“Yeah. I’m also putting together a film trailer to use for pitching, but it’s all computer generated and I have to update my equipment to finish it.”
Mia stared at him in disbelief. “Seriously? Who’re you working for?”
Izzy blinked. “Myself.”
“Oh. It sounds like a big project. I thought you must have... funding.” Mia shook her head, feeling hot. Had she offended him?
Izzy gave her a curt nod. “That’s okay. Lots of people think I’m weird, but I have this vision I can’t get out of my head, so I decided to see where it leads, you know? We only have one life.”
Mia followed him to the living room, the words ringing in her ears. What was she doing with her one life?
He paused at the foot of the stairs. “You must be hungry? I’m starving.”
Mia nodded, grateful that she didn’t have to raise the issue. With no money on her, she felt like a leech, and the thought of asking for anything, no matter how elemental, made her uncomfortable.
“I’ll order something. Do you like kebab? There’s a decent place nearby.” Izzy picked up his phone and sat down in his computer chair. His screens had gone to sleep, displaying the hypnotic black-and-green Matrix animation.
“Sounds great, thanks.”
Feeling at a loose end, Mia sunk into the one armchair she was already familiar with. The light outside had dimmed and someone had turned on an orange floor lamp that filled the room with a cosy glow. If she didn’t think about the last few hours, she could almost relax. “What kind of screenplay are you working on?”
Izzy looked up from his phone. “I’ll show you later. Anything you don’t eat? Onions? Chili?”
Mia shook her head. “Anything goes.” She wasn’t going to be picky.
Izzy held her gaze, his eyes slightly narrowed. “Anything? They make this horrible, dry falafel that sticks to the back of your throat. But if you say ‘anything’, I’m just going to order you that with extra jalapeños.”
Mia shrugged. “Order whatever you want.” The falafel sounded pretty yuck, but she’d eat it to survive.
