Chp 114 : A Friend In Goths

After strolled section after section, searching for good books for Christmas gifts, his eyes caught a novel with a well-dressed cover and pulled it out from its shelf.

This book might be a good read for Toby or Jon and hoped they preferred to read a novel or textbook instead of comics.

"Ender's Game." He whispered and thinking if whether the writer, Orson Card has sold the film rights or not. He shrugged and added the novel to his list.

On his arms were stacked at least six or seven books with at least not less than hundreds of pages each of them.

Once again, he heard another grunt escaped from someone's mouth who was standing about a few meters on his right side. It was Robin and she was frustratedly reading the book he had recommended to her if she wanted to know in and out of the film business in Hollywood. Another goth girl on the left side of him was looking at her in amusement for a while before she went back to read the book in her hands. He saw that she was reading the book written by J.D. Salinger until she closed it after she realized he was staring at her.

Her eyebrow rose as if to ask if there was something wrong with her or her reading preference.

"Nothing, it's just hard to find someone who read that classic novel these days."

"Who? J. D. Salinger? I don't think this was old enough to be treated as classic."

He opened his mouth before closed it again while thinking that it might be true, he came from 2020 where that book was released maybe, 50 years ago.

"Besides, I don't think I can stomach what people are reading these days." She said while looking at the booth that sold best sellers. It was his book, Jurassic Park, Death Note, and A Song Of Fire And Ice.

"Sci-fi, Supernatural/Crime/Thriller, and Medieval Fantasy with lots of disgusting sex scenes? I bet if the one who writes those trash was not the teen celebrity, no one would even open the first page."

Her words stung a bit to his heart but this was an honest opinion from a reader, so he swallowed up his discomfort and tried his hardest not to defend his book, although he really want to.

"Have you read it yet?"

"Nah, but my friends worship it like it was a sacred object. I bet she sleeps with that book imagining that she was sleeping with Alphonse fucking Brandt."

"Haha... Oh look this one is good for you if you want to find yourself!" Letting out an uncomfortable laugh, he immediately changed the topic and grabbed a random book from the unknown shelf.

"14 steps to pleasure women?" She looked at him with bewilderment and a little bit of disgust.

Al looked at the book he grabbed randomly in surprise and threw the book to wherever it was till he heard a scream of pain followed by his furious word, "Who threw this book... 7 steps to pleasure women, god I need this book, thank you for throwing this book for me whoever it was." Then he left for the cashier and paid for his book.

She laughed hard and holding her stomach with both of her hands, "Well, I think you just made someone else's life better, Edward."

"I mean this book!" He searched another shelf until he found what he was looking for. But just reading the title brought him a trip to a memory lane, about last year where he spends a wonderful night with Minnie.

"Edward? Edward! Are you okay? You were spacing out there."

"Yeah, I'm fine. I just remembered something important. Here's the book I recommend for you." She wanted to ask what was it but realized they just met a few hours ago, she held back her tongue.

"Pride and Prejudice? Oh, I know this one, I think everybody knows it." Her face brightened up when she saw the title.

"Good, then the next one is this, it's called Little Women." He said and grabbed another book and gave it to her.

They talked awhile about the English Classic literature and his knowledge amazed her. From their interaction, she judged Al was a smart person and she guessed they were the same age.

Next, he explained to her his view about the novel and the philosophy behind them. Not a one second her eyes left his face and her face tainted in red after Al called her because she was spacing out.

When he was looking out another book and turned his back on her, she gave a faint smile at his back.

She got at least three books from his recommendation and she was giving him her uttermost gratitude. Then she turned her attention to the first book she had read and said, "I can't believe they had this in this store, I think I like living in here for a while." She mused.

"Where are you come from before staying here?"

"Mendocino County, it's a rural place and there's no television or electricity over there. The bookstore is miles away from my house and I only read the book from my father's collection."

"Whoa, that's really far away, but I think I want to visit the nature park over there. I heard they are very beautiful."

Another grunt was heard from Robin and they were both smiling in amusement.

"I think Robin might need help."

"Leave her like that. Isn't it funny? You both dress alike but I can see the difference very clearly."

"Hey, I dressed like this for research purposes, hoping to attract another goth and help me with the role I will be playing. Turned out the first person I met who dressed like this wasn't helpful." She said while looking at frustrated Robin. "But I think being friends with her might fun." She whispered.

"Oh, you can't imagine it. Maybe your life will be changed 180° with her."

Before she could reply to him, Robin's voice cracked their comfortable conversation again.

"Winny, ED, I think I'm done reading this. My brain is burning more calories than it has to." She said while holding her temple.

"I told you to just read the introduction chapter!? Is it that hard?" He asked in a disbelief face.

"You know I hate reading, can I just have an interactive learning video about these filmmaking things?"

"Oh, you both interested in filmmaking? Too bad I preferred acting to filmmaking or else we can spend our days talking about it."

"I know, that's why you are familiar like I saw you from somewhere. You were in <Lucas> right? Played as that Rina girl? Great performance by the way, although I almost thought that you were a boy when I first saw you appeared. At first, I thought that that film is about a gay relationship."

"Edward!" She screamed, both offended being assumed as a boy or embarrassed when he praised her performance.

His laugh infuriated her further and before she could hit him, Robin suddenly spoke, "Gosh stop it will you two, and ED, stop become a playboy for once."

He stopped laughing after seeing Robin's pissed look, "Are you done?"

"Yep, I'll read this at home." She huffed and threw the book on his arm.

Let's get back a few minutes earlier, after Robin and the girl shook hands, she introduced herself as Winona Horovitz.

At first, her name sounded so familiar and when he observed her look more carefully, he finally realized who she was. This goth chick is freakin Winona Ryder!!

He got a glimpse of an idea of why she would wear a goth dress. From the historical view, she should be offered a role as a goth girl in the new film directed by Tim Burton, before Warner Bros giving him a green light to direct one of his favorite superhero movies.

Sometimes he was so jealous of Warner Bros who had a whole IP of DC comics. The year would be 1987 soon and his plan to get a tremendous amount of capital would soon be commenced. His aim should be to get Marvel Comics first or at least their film rights who had been sold to some of the film studios across Hollywood.

Not long, Winona asked Robin whether she could help her learn to be a goth or not but Robin refused because she was actually was not a goth, well partially. She at least had an attitude of being a goth, that what she could teach her.

Winona showed disappointment at that. Then Al asked what was going on before he dragged Winona here and what caused her fight with that man.

Winona said that the man was bitching about her because he accused her of drawing a mustache in his advertisement. He said he saw her doing that even though she just arrived at this mall.

Then his head immediately jerked to Robin who whimpered in fear. That kind of prank could only be done by this little minx.

Robin let out a guilty laugh and said, "Enjoy a little thing?"

Al just sighed at her antics and Winona's brows furrowed for a moment before pinched the bridge of her nose.

She also didn't expect that someone else wore the same outfit as her and caused mischief. But soon they began to warm up and calling each other nicknames, Robin called her Winny and she called her Robs.

After he paid for all the books, he also offered to pay for Winona's and he insisted on it until she couldn't refuse him. He said as a sign of goodwill from Angelinos and as an apology for his sister-from-different-womb mischief.

"Thank you guys for the good time, it seems it's time for us to part ways."

Robin rolled her eyes, "What's with the formality Winny, we're friends right. Look, we're going to hang out for a while outside the mall with our friends. Do you want to come with us?"

"Really?"

"100% sure. Right ED?"

"You go first, I will meet with everyone else, see you outside." As soon as he disappeared from their sight, they also began to walk out from the mall and started a small chat.

"Why you called him ee-dee? It's not because of that 'thing' right?"

"It's my pet name to him," Robin said and Winona let out a disappointed face.

"Oh. Are you two, a thing?" She asked.

"Nah, he's my best buddy, why? Are you interested in him?"

Her face started to turn red at her question, "No, yes, I mean, he's cute, smart, and knew a lot of things about literature."

"Haha, he's a great guy, and he's also a top-class womanizer."

"What? Really?"

"Just kidding, but he already had a girlfriend though..."

"Too bad," Winona whispered in disappointment.

"Don't be sad, there's a lot of fish in the sea, there are many women who were still single."

"You mean men, right? right?" She repeated and started to get worried at how close their face was.

Robin didn't answer her and kept smiling at her. "Chill out, I got my own girl to chase."

"Girl? Wait, you are not kidding? Hey, wait for me." She chased after Robin who had already ten steps away from her.

Al had met with everyone else and their hands were also full of the gifts they would give to their relatives. Al told them that they met with a new friend and she wore a carbon copy outfit as Robin,

The one who was getting worried was Max as he was the only one in the group who had been teased by her constantly, although it was lessened.

Al assured Max that she was 180° different from Robin in terms of personality and... body. She only wore that outfit to deepen her understanding of the role she's going to play.

Ione was super excited to meet her as she would also have a friend who shared her interest in acting.

As they went out of the mall, they were finally introduced to Winona and were glad she wasn't like Robin. Although she was a bit skeptical and polite at them, she was quite easy to talk to. Soon, everyone and she began to warm up at each other and she began to open up and chatted with them.

Ione, Robin, and Winona formed a kind of sisterhood and the boys were sure that Winona would become another addition to their little group.

They sat with hotdogs and coke from street food vendors in their hands; watching the sight of people enjoying the holiday by playing with their roller skates and skateboards.

Soon, they found something weird about their new companion because somehow she was watching closely at Ione, River, and Al's faces and pondered like she was thinking about a mathematical equation or something.

They also found that she wanted to say something but her words died in her mouth.

Winona continued her observation of three people in the group intensely until finally, Al asked her. "Is there something wrong with me, River and Ione, Winona?"

"Wha!? No, I mean there's nothing wrong with you three. It's just, I've been meaning to ask, are you River Phoneix and Ione Skye? The one in <Stand By Me> and <River's Edge>?"

"Yes, yes we are?" River and Ione answered.

"Also, most of you call him Al but changed to Ed. I thought it was a slip-up until I was thinking. I heard River Phoenix and Ione Skye are friends with Alphonse Brandt, so..." She looked at Al until clarity hit her like puberty, "No way!? You are him, right!" She smiled in excitement like she was discovering a big secret but her expression dropped after feeling a change in the air. It was cold, the temperature suddenly dropped.

She knew it was winter now but Los Angeles was only 25° C.

She realized that it wasn't because of the weather. Edward or should she call Alphonse Brandt now(?) was looking at her with a bone-chilling gaze that made her shudder and gulped in fear.

"Um, sorry?" She whimpered.

"Well, whoop you go. Thanks for screaming that out loud. You have brought the secret came to light. Congratulations." He mocked, "So what are you gonna do? Do you want to shout it out from the rooftop? Exchange the information to the paparazzi for a little bit of pocket money? Should I congratulate you?"

"N-no Edward I mean Alphonse! I'm not that kind of person!"

"As far as I know, we only just met for what? An hour ago? You know I have some friends up there and with a snap of my finger, I can make your role only have at least two lines maximum for the rest of your career."

"You can't do that! It's not fair!"

"Life isn't fair Ms. Horowitz, especially the entertainment world. Full of two faces and backstabber who can't wait plunged their knives to your life and twisted. So what do you want Ms. Horowitz?"

"I don't know." She stuttered in fear. "I'm sorry Al-Edward, it was an accident. I swear I won't tell your secret."

Al put his hand on his chin, "You know what, I can let you but I don't trust you. I need you to do something for me."

"What is it?" She asked with her face whitened.

"I want you to... become our friends and join our little group." He said with a big smile painted on her face.

Everyone was laughing at their assessment and Robin had the loudest. Only Winona was staring cluelessly at them.

"I can't believe she fell for it." Robin said, "Winny, ED was just kidding, although he was being truthful about want to be our friends."

"Huh!?" She asked in surprise. "What? That's it? I thought, I thought you would request something ridiculous like sleeping with you or something!"

"You want to sleep with me? Not that I don't mind... ouch hey cut it out Ione!" He said after Ione was smacking his head.

"You have Gwen remember!" Ione said.

'Damn! He was joking?' Winona thought. 'But it was really scary, his gaze penetrated deep to my spine. At first, I didn't believe the one who was called Alphonse Brandt could act because he always playing the blockbuster film, but now I am convinced he can act. What will happen if he plays an art film or thriller, it must be amazing.'

Winona was brought back from her musing by his voice, "Sorry Winny, I'm just joking. No heart feeling right."

She smiled and nodded, "Fine, I accept your apology but don't do that again! You were pretty scary back there."

Al smiled sheepishly, "Guilty as charged, won't be repeated anymore. But I hope you keep the secret though. I got terrorized by a lot of paparazzi these days and I like to keep my privacy."

"Worry not Edward, wait, should I call you Edward or Alphonse now?"

"Just Al is fine."

"Okay, Al then. I am now your friend and I'm sure to keep your secret to the grave."

The day turned into an evening, and everyone went back to spend Christmas Eve with their families. Winona was living in an apartment complex near Crestview with her mother and Al invited her for dinner on Christmas at the orphanage and she said she would think about it and Al gave her his number.

~~~

"I'm home," Winona said.

"Welcome dear, how was your day?" A lady in her late 40s greeted her.

"It was great, I made a lot of friends. And did you know, one of them is the famous star!" She said excitedly, then he remembered how insightful their meeting was made her smiled from ear to ear in affection.

"Oh, I never see you smile like that. Who's this star? Is it a 'he'?" Her mother teased.

Winona again blushed, "Uhm, yes. Don't tell anyone else, it was Alphonse Brandt."

Her mother smiled, "It's him? I thought you didn't like him? You said he can't act, a pompous rich boy who only has a pretty face to be famous? A boy who writes some trashy novel..."

"Okay, okay, I get it! I'm sorry I may have some prejudice about him. He's nice, very smart, and I think he is a good actor. And that serious face he made in the bookstore, oh my god." She sighed wistfully.

She continued, "Mom, he asked me to come to his Christmas dinner at his orphanage tomorrow, is it okay if we come?" She asked carefully.

Winona and her family were coming from a Jewish family and they never celebrated Christmas. Although her father was an atheist and her mother followed Buddhist teaching, they never forget their heritage and where she came from.

Her mother looked at her daughter and smiled, "Of course, dear. Where does he live?"

"Oh, I kind of forget to ask him but he gave me his telephone number, I'm going to ask him." She said before leaving her mother who shook her head at her daughter. 'Puppy love.' She thought.

To Be Continued...

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