risingorfalling:
“What?” He repeated, feigned ignorance completely undermined by the wide grin still pulling at his lips. Would it still be like this – the four of them, more of a family to Elijah than his own had ever been, together and happy and reaching the heights – once they got to L.A.? Once they signed the television deal Elijah had to believe was coming their way?
Certainly some things were bound to change; their entire trajectory had been altered from the moment they chose to investigate those strange rumors of a haunting, only to find out it had all been a cover for something very real and very sinister.
Not all change was bad, either. Cara made a good point: Isaiah was hardly the person who should take point in business deals. That was a job for Eli. The team leader. “No way. If they try to tell us our ghost hunting show is in the middle of the afternoon or some shit, we’re walking. We’d be better of just sticking to Youtube, it’s not like we don’t already have a following. We’re in the power position here, so long as we play it right.”
And play it right he would, if he was in charge.
Him and Cara; she’d always had a good eye for this sort of thing too, something she was still proving even now. “Of course. We take them on this journey with us. Make them as excited as we are. Especially us,” he added with a conspiratorial grin, gesturing between the two of them with a finger after shooting another glance at Isaiah to make sure he was still asleep. It was no secret some of them popped on camera more than the others. They had to put their best foot forward; Isaiah would understand that, surely.
She rolled her eyes, a smile still tugging her lips as she teased, “this is why I get the better grades.” Despite the playful tone, there had been some truth behind her statement; Cara had known her strengths and now she wanted to capitalize on them. They weren’t driving so far to come back empty-handed.
And if succeeding meant tearing a friendship apart, then so be it.
“Sounds like a plan,” she added, her fingers stroking the dog who slept on her lap. “I mean, you’ll have to make sure everyone is on the same page of things. Brad will need at least three explanations and I’m sure you can handle Isaiah.”
He HAD to, she was tired of playing the negative role within the group. If there were going to be cameras everyone, Cara needed to reinvent her image; perhaps being the ‘sweetheart’ or ‘damsel in distress’ would win the audience over. They all LOVED a little show, didn’t they? And hadn’t the supernatural been the biggest con of all time? Ghosts, myths, and paranormal - obviously none of it was real, and with better camera angles and equipment, they would be even MORE convincing now. The thought pleased her, much like the dream of having her own makeup team and wardrobe selections. “Are you saying we should go public with our relationship?” she inquired.
It was no surprise that she didn’t like sharing, and if the show got as popular as she hopefully envisioned, then she wanted to claim dibs on Elijah from the very first episode. They could have scripted bickering and couple disputes if necessary - but she wasn’t going to be thrown under the bus for someone better.
“Because I think we should, I mean, what’s there to hide?”