Class Novel: Chapter 7 by Aaron Scobie

Author's note:
I decided to jump ahead a few days. I realized with the last two posts, there was a bit of a confusion so I tried to to combine elements of both (mainly characters) and have Nat fleshed out more through that. I realize I added in some very minor character (i.e. the crew members) I didn't really want to try and expand these characters other than acknowledging that they are there and serve the purpose of making the movie and wanting to do so. Hope you all like the chapter.

Chapter 7

            “What is wrong with her?” Susan asked.

            “That’s just how she is. She’ll come around to us I sure.” Nat replied.

            It had been a few days since Nat’s move. She was still trying to get use to the area, seeing as how she couldn’t get to cabin just yet. Some complications or another with who was actually suppose to stay there. Nat didn’t mind. She liked Unalaska and it was a good location for her film.

Nat, Susan, and a few other member of her crew were enjoying yet another breakfast at Amelia’s. There wasn’t much variety to choose from in the town, and it did have the best coffee in her opinion. Nat had gotten to know a few of the locals here, one of them being Cody. She seemed to enjoy his company the most, because most of the other residents in town were a bit uptight. Donna, the waitress that always served her, was coming around too. I think she likes to make the tourist feel uncomfortable. It reminded Nat of San Diego, and how you could tell who was a tourist and who wasn’t. Locals treat those people differently. Nat knew this, so it didn’t bother her when Donna gave the same routine to her crew when they first met her.

“So have you figured out what you want to do here? Location wise I mean.” Susan asked.

“I’m not sure exactly. I like the town and the mountains and everything,” said Nat, “I’m just having trouble if I want to move on to Anchorage so soon. Something tells me that this place will be perfect for my film.” Nat glanced over at Susan and saw her roll her eyes. “Our film. Sorry. I’ve just invested a lot of time into this screenplay and with my mother constantly calling and nagging me, I just…sorry.”

“It’s fine, Nat. Maybe we can call it quits for today and pick up early tomorrow. Oh! We could go to that volcano place near here. What’s it called?” Susan was snapping her fingers, mumbling m-sounds to herself.

Nat chuckled at her and looked around to see if anyone was staring at their table. Bill, Todd, and their friend, whose name she could never remember, and a few others glanced back, but quickly went back to eating. They seem to always be here whenever Nat comes and goes.

“Makushin Volcano,” said one of the crewmembers.

“That’s the one. Here I’ll put it in the planner to leave at, let’s say, 7:30…no 8:30.” Susan scribbled in her planner. Nat was fine with taking a break today. She wanted to get this film moving, but she knew if she didn’t take care of herself, it’ll only set her back more.

Nat had been up for almost two solid days. Stress, morning sickness, medicated side effects; all of it had done its toll on Nat, and she was so ready to give up. Nat had told Susan about how the night prior had been the worst one she’s had so far. She had spent the night in the bathroom trying to make herself fall asleep. She even brought a pillow and blanket in there but nothing helped. She looked and felt exhausted and was about to cuss the cook out for taking so long on the food. It was almost 1:15 and they had been here since noon.

Their food finally arrived and Susan went on chatting with the others about various things she had encountered or had to deal with upon moving here. The crew was getting into town a, few, each day, and Susan would give them the same story about how rude everyone on the plane was and blah, blah, blah. Susan was nice and smart person, she just loved to talk. Nat was tired of hearing the story and looked out the window. She looked up at the mountains and its frosted peaks. She thought about her brother and how much she missed him. In San Diego, she could preoccupy her thoughts with the people and attractions and colors her old home had to offer. All that touristy stuff she and her friends made fun of. But here, the only thing Nat could see was her brother.

She felt herself starting to tear up, so she quickly shook her head and snapped back to Susan and their conversation. She was telling the crew about the Church Nat had shown her a few days prior. This was yet another story Nat had heard before. Susan said that same story in the same way with each new member that showed up. Nat and one of the others had made eye contact, and simultaneously rolled their eyes and went back to eating.

“Hey, Donna,” Nat asked, “can I get another cup of coffee?”

Donna gave Nat a bland look and went back to get the pot of coffee.

As Nat waited on her coffee, she looked outside and noticed that more people started filling up the streets, or as much as one would except to see in a place of this size. She saw men, women, and children of all sizes, dressed the same, and paired up in a variety of ways. Nat noticed that many of them were families. One in particular, she watched, round a corner and make there way down the street. It was a mom, dad, and little girl and they were holding up the girl and she was swinging back and forth. All of them had a smile on there face. Nat smiled. She felt her hand move toward her stomach but stopped when she saw the family stop and talk to what looked like Cody. Nat’s eyes squinted and tried to see if it was him. She leaned in close to the glass.

“Nat?”

            Nat felt a hand on her shoulder and jumped. Her arm knocked over a water glass.

            “Jesus, Susan, don’t scare me like that.”

            Nat looked around and saw Donna standing by the table.

            “What is it?” Nat asked.

            Susan said, “Our waitress wants to know if you want some creamer.”

            “No…” Nat had a tone in her voice. Donna had served her coffee at least two dozen by now. Nat ordered it black every time. “I’m alright.” Nat brought her voice down and started pick up the ice cubes that fell out of her glass. Donna walked back to the kitchen with the same bland face as she always did.

            “Nat are you ok?” Susan asked

            “Yes, yes, I’m fine. You just startled me, is all,” Nat replied

            “Sorry about that. What were you looking at?”

            “Nothing.”

            Susan glanced out the window to see if she could see what Nat was looking at. Nat went back to her food, picking at it. Nat had a sinking feeling about Susan seeing Cody, but it passed. Nat realized she was worrying over nothing, because Susan hadn’t seen them together. At least that’s what she thought.

            Susan pointed her finger at the glass. “Oh look there’s Cody.”

            “How do you know Cody?”

            “Oh.” Susan smirked but it quickly left. “I came in here yesterday and he introduced himself. He said he had seen me with you and asked how we knew each other. He seems nice.”

            “He is.” Nat was trying to play it off and Susan took the hint. “Hey, why don’t we get one more look around the outskirts of the town before we call it quits today?”

            “You sure?” Susan asked.

            “Yeah. I know we went out earlier but I’d like to go to the base of the mountain today, and maybe take some notes.”

            “Do you still want to go the Machskin Volcano, whatever it’s called, tomorrow?”

            “Yes!” Nat said. He emphasized her voice in an attempt to show the crew that she was just as eager as ever to get to work on this film.

            “Perfect.”

            Nat, Susan, and the crew paid for their meals and filed out the door. The rest of the day seemed to go a slower but easier. Nat wasn’t feeling sick at the moment, and she was finally starting to enjoy herself. Thoughts of her brother seemed to come and go as she took notes at the base of the mountain, but something about standing there, looking up at the monstrous landform, seemed peaceful. Nat started to feel a connection with her brother; a way of understanding why he climbed these treacherous beasts. Nat smiled.

            “Nat, come on!” Susan shouted. “It’s getting late and I told myself I was going to make you go to bed early tonight if it kills me…or you.” Susan started laughing at her own joke.

            For once Nat felt tired, but that good tired. The kind of tired you get from working hard at something all day: feeling accomplished.