Adrian woke up at six as usual.
For a moment he lay there, staring at the ceiling. The empty bed. Shadow had been dead for three weeks. Every morning he still felt the absence.
But today was different.
Today he had to make the call.
He got up. He went downstairs to work out. Push-ups, sit-ups, stretches. Exactly one hour. He went back upstairs, showered, and got dressed.
In the kitchen, Rebecca was making coffee.
"Good morning."
"Good morning," Adrian replied.
"Are you going to call today?" she asked without turning around.
"Yes."
"Are you nervous?" Adrian considered. Was he nervous? "A little."
Rebecca turned around. She looked at him with that expression she'd been wearing lately—half surprise, half relief. As if every time Adrian showed a human emotion, she felt less alone.
"It's normal to be nervous," she said. "It's important."
"Yes."
"What time are you going to call?"
"After school. She told me before ten."
"I'm going to sign the papers today. I'm going to make copies of your birth certificate at lunch. And you need to get a physical. I can schedule an appointment for tomorrow if you want."
Adrian nodded. "Thanks."
Rebecca smiled. Small but real. "You're welcome, honey."
School was strange.
Adrian carried the card in his pocket. Small. Rectangular. But it felt like it weighed ten pounds.
First period, English. Tyler sat next to him as usual.
"So, today's the day?"
"Yeah."
"Dude, I'm more nervous for you than you are for yourself."
Adrian almost smiled. "You're not nervous for me."
"Okay, I'm excited. Is that better?"
"Yeah."
Ms. Martinez started the class. Tyler stopped talking, but every five minutes he glanced over at Adrian as if checking he was still there.
Story with Sarah.
Sarah arrived late as usual. She sat next to Adrian.
"Pen?"
Adrian handed her one.
"Thanks." Pause. "Hey, are you okay? You look... I don't know. Different."
"I'm fine."
"Are you sure? Because you usually look like nothing matters to you. Today you look like something does."
Adrian looked at her. Sarah was looking at him with genuine curiosity, not mockery.
"I have to make a call after school."
"Important?"
"Maybe."
Sarah nodded. "Well, good luck then."
"Thanks."
The rest of the day dragged on. Every class felt like an extra hour.
Lunch. Tyler kept talking about the call. Adrian listened without saying much.
Gym. Mr. Hayes made them run. Adrian ran without thinking, his mind elsewhere.
Art. Emma was working on a drawing of a cat. Adrian watched her without noticing.
"What?" Emma asked without looking up.
"Nothing. Just... nice drawing."
"Thanks."
Biology. Last class of the day. Tyler passed him a note.
You're gonna be great, bro.
Adrian put the note in his pocket along with the card.
3:20 p.m.
Adrian walked home. Alone. Tyler had offered to walk him, but Adrian had said no.
He needed to be alone for this.
He got to the apartment. He dropped his backpack. He took out the card.
JAKE MORRISON - STUNT COORDINATOR
One number. Ten digits that could change everything.
Or nothing.
He sat on the couch. He took out his phone.
He dialed.
One ring. Two. Three.
"Morrison."
The voice was deep. Direct. No nonsense.
"Hey. My name is Adrian Cole. Rick Tanaka told me to call."
Pause.
"Cole. Yeah. Rick told me about you. Says you're a natural."
"Guess."
"'Guess' isn't an answer, kid. Are you good or not?"
Adrian didn't know how to respond to that. "Rick thought I was good enough to give me his number."
Jake laughed. Short but sweet. "Fair point. Okay, listen. I have a project. Second unit. Reshoots. I need people who can fall, fight, move well. It's groundwork. Nothing glamorous. But it's a start."
"Okay."
"Do you have your paperwork? Birth certificate, parental permission, doctor's physical?"
"My mom's signing today. I can get the physical tomorrow."
"Good. If everything goes well, you could start Wednesday. Eight hundred a day. Long days. Ten, twelve hours sometimes. Hard work. Can you handle it?"
Adrian thought of Shadow. Of the park. Of crying for the first time in eleven years. Of deciding to try to be different.
"Yes. I can handle it."
"School?"
"I can work that out."
"Make sure. Because if you start, you can't just disappear halfway through. We coordinate with a hundred people. We can't replace you every time you have an exam."
"I understand."
Silence. Adrian listened to Jake typing something.
"Okay. Email me the paperwork today. The physical tomorrow. If everything's in order, I'll send you the set address for Wednesday. Six in the morning. Don't be late."
"I won't be late."
"Good." Pause. "Cole?"
"Yes?"
"Rick doesn't give his card to just anyone. He says you've got something. Don't screw it up."
"I won't screw it up."
"I hope so. See you Wednesday."
Click.
Adrian sat there, phone in hand.
That was it. Less than three minutes. And now...
Now he had a job.
A real one. On a real movie.
Something in his chest felt tight. Not bad. Just... intense.
He got up. Walked to his room. Sit on his bed.
Looked at the empty spot where Shadow slept.
"I start Wednesday," he said quietly. "I don't know what's going to happen. But... thanks. For making me realize."
Silence.
Of course.
His phone vibrated.
Tyler: So?????
Adrian texted back: I start Wednesday.
Three dots appeared immediately.
Tyler: THIS IS HUGE
Tyler: I'M SCREAMING
Tyler: MY MOM IS GIVING ME A LOOK
Tyler: BUT I DON'T CARE
Tyler: YOU'RE IN A MOVIE
Adrian: Not yet.
Tyler: BUT YOU'RE GOING TO BE
Tyler: WE NEED TO CELEBRATE
Tyler: COME OVER TO MY HOUSE
Adrian considered. A week ago he would have said no.
Now...
Adrian: Okay. I'll wait for my mom to get here. I'll tell her. Then I'll come.
Tyler: PERFECT
Adrian put down his phone.
He lay down on the bed. He stared at the ceiling.
Wednesday. Two days.
In two days his life would change.
Maybe.
Or maybe it would be terrible and he'd get fired on the first day.
Or maybe it would be exactly what he needed.
Whatever happens, happens.
The words popped into his head. Familiar. Comforting.
But this time they sounded different.
This time they sounded like... acceptance.
Not resignation.
Acceptance.
He closed his eyes.
For the first time in weeks, he felt... good.
Rebecca arrived at 6:10.
"Did you call?"
"Yes."
"So?"
"I start Wednesday. If I get all the paperwork."
Rebecca placed her keys on the counter. She turned to him.
"Adrian, this is... this is real."
"Yes."
"Are you sure? Is this what you want?"
Adrian thought. Was this what he wanted? He didn't know if "want" was the right word. But it felt... right.
"Yes."
Rebecca moved closer. She placed her hands on his shoulders.
"I'm proud of you. Very proud."
"Thank you."
"But," her voice turned serious, "you need to promise me you'll be careful. This job... is dangerous."
"I'm going to be careful."
"And school is still a priority."
"Yes."
"Not 'yes' because that's what I want to hear. 'Yes' because you're going to do it."
Adrian looked at her. Really looked at her. He saw the worry in her eyes. The fear. The love.
"I promise, Mom. I'm going to be careful. And school is going to be okay."
Rebecca nodded. She hugged him. Adrian raised his arms. He hugged her back.
"Tyler invited me over," Adrian said when they separated.
"Are you going?"
"Yes."
Rebecca smiled. "Good. Go. Have fun. Be back before nine."
"Okay."
Mrs. Chen greeted them at the door.
"Adrian! Tyler told me. Congratulations."
"Thanks, Mrs. Chen."
"Call me Susan. I already told you." She smiled. "Tyler's upstairs. Yelling about you."
Adrian went upstairs. Tyler's bedroom door was open. Tyler was on the phone.
"No, seriously. It starts Wednesday. Yeah. I know. It's insane." He looked at Adrian. "I gotta go. Yeah. Bye."
He hung up.
"Dude." He stood up. "You're HERE. This is REAL."
"Yeah."
"How are you feeling?"
Adrian thought. "I don't know. Nervous. But... good."
Tyler smiled. "Dude, you're gonna be great. Seriously."
"Maybe."
"No. Seriously. I saw what you did at that audition. You were... it was like watching someone who was born to do that."
Adrian didn't say anything. He didn't know if Tyler was right. But it felt good to hear him.
They played video games for two hours. Tyler kept making comments about the movie, speculating about what it could be. Adrian didn't say anything.
At 8:30, Adrian got up.
"I have to go."
"Okay." Tyler walked him to the door. "Hey, Adrian."
"What?"
"Thanks."
"For what?"
"For letting me be a part of this. Even if it's just as... the friend who cheered you on."
Adrian looked at him. Tyler seemed genuine. Happy.
"You wouldn't have cheered me on if you weren't my friend," Adrian said.
Tyler blinked. "That was... deep, bro."
"It's true."
"I know. That's why it was deep."
Adrian nodded. "See you tomorrow."
"Yeah. And dude... kill it on Wednesday."
"I'll try."
He walked home under the LA sky. Lights in every direction.
Two days.
In two days everything would change.
Or nothing would change.
But at least he was going to try.
And that was more than he'd done in eleven years.
He got home. Rebecca was in the living room, reading.
"Did you have fun?"
"Yes."
"Good." She closed her book. "You have a doctor's appointment tomorrow at four. After school."
"Okay."
"And I need you to sign these papers." She handed him a folder. "Permits. Authorizations. Everything Mr. Morrison asked for."
Adrian looked through them. There were a lot.
"I'm going to read them and sign them."
"Good. And Adrian."
"Yes?"
"Get some sleep. Tomorrow is a big day."
"Okay. Good night, Mom."
"Good night, honey."
Adrian went to his room. He changed. He lay down.
He looked at the empty space.
"Wednesday," he said quietly. "Wish me luck, Shadow."
The wind blew outside.
Adrian closed his eyes.
And for the first time in a long time, he slept without dreaming.
But he woke up feeling... ready.