Chapter 83: Car Ride Convo
On the same set of car, passengers and driver but a different day. They took to the road but instead of going back to the Creed residence, it set off from there.
The journey might take a while, so the conversations started.
"Milla, what did I tell you about reading in the car?" Galina said with a stern as she viewed her passenger through the rearview mirror. Ever since her likeness was shown in that Bumblebee girl, she was always preoccupied with reading them.
It wasn't necessarily a bad thing but Galina had other plans during this ride to a film set and it needed her daughter to not be busy with other things.
The girl could only reluctantly keep her comic book to the side while not forgetting to whisper out her complaints. "Mommy, you're just jealous because I'm free to do what I want while you're busy driving."
"I heard that." It was too bad that her mother wasn't having it. "I'll have to tell Alex not to give you free copies from now on and I also won't give you money to buy one. Let us see who will be free to what they want in the car from there."
"No fair." Milla could only slump back again as she fiddled with her seatbelt. "What am I going to do now? You said we are going to take some time to get there?"
"Ask or talk to Alex. Even though you guys are the same age... you should be ashamed he knows things and behaves better than you!" Galina stressed the Alex part as she really wants her daughter to make a good impression given the importance of where they're going.
It was their chance at glory and Milica was blowing it if she read The Cybertronian Chronicles for the nth time of her life.
Milla knew what her mother meant about talking and asking Alex. She always repeated about using her 'friend privileges to get her a movie part before they left earlier.
It was too bad that she wasn't as scheming or knowing of the world's way as her mother so she didn't know why talking with Alex in the car would help.
Still, she could only do what she had been told to do earlier and implicitly been reminded now. This, however, put her in a dilemma once again as Alex wasn't exactly someone that likes conversation.
She turned to her friend Alex who had clearly listened to her being reprimanded with an unchanging face. Her eyes were passing a message that said 'what do I do now?' and 'help a friend out'.
Alexander could only feel sorry for the pleading girl who is clearly pushed to a task she didn't want to do.
Of course, he wasn't too enthused with exposing Miss Galina's textbook strategy and readable motives. So, he just had to help a friend out.
"You should probably listen to your mom. Reading in a shaky environment like a moving car is bad for you." Alexander just had to give them an interesting tidbit from the future.
"Why is it bad? I'm just reading your comic book?" Milla was perplexed by this comic guy's words. Shouldn't he be helping her out by saying that his comic books are okay for everyone everywhere to read?
"If your mom says you shouldn't, then you probably shouldn't." Alexander went on and said. "If you try and draw a straight line now, you have to try hard to do it. So, the same can be said to your eyes when reading. Everything's shaky that you'll strain your eye and you will probably feel dizzy."
"What?" Milla was perplexed at his words. "Is that even true?"
"I don't know but when you feel carsick later, then it's probably true." Of course, Alexander wouldn't divulge his controversial source for the information.
As perplexed as the girl was, so was her eavesdropping mom. Reading comic books now was bad for her because it would disrupt Milla from talking Hollywood with the boy. She never considered that there would be some science behind it.
"Mr. Advertiser would probably be sad to know that his little boss doesn't want kids to read comic books." Milla could only be in dismay and pointed out wrongdoings towards comic books.
"I never said I don't want kids to read. I just think that it's probably a bad idea to read in moving transportation or in an earthquake." Alexander could only be inwardly amused at her accusations.
Eventually, Milla realized that she probably won't get this friend of hers to stand on her comic reading side so it was probably better to just enjoy the view of the panning streets in the window. She would be able to escape her mom's wrath and give traitor Alex a silent treatment.
Of course, how could she beat Alexander who loves silence and being undisturbed so she'll probably lose out in the end.
Galina knew that her attempt through Milla had failed as the silence in the backseat ensued. She knew that the duo are used to such silent interactions but didn't know how they became friends from it. Shouldn't they be talking rowdy like kids and friends do?
Galina then remembered that Alex isn't exactly a normal kid so she decided to take the job for herself since Milla had already sunk into silence.
She found the perfect segway and decided to break the silence. "By the way, I never got to congratulate you on those Volume Books, Alex. I read on some newspaper that they were a massive success."
"Thanks for the congratulations. It's still starting but it should be enough as a start." Alexander answered while a smile unknowingly crept on his young face. He still hadn't adapted to the good news so his happy aftershocks were still popping up.
"I also haven't had the time to thank you enough for having teen Milla in your comic books. You don't know just how helpful it would be for us." Galina flattered truthfully as she saw some of the recent Creed popularity polls and how happy she had been to see her 'teenage' daughter wearing a rust 5 crown.
Although it was just in comic books and only a teenage reimagining, Charlie has the same popularity as Bulma and April O'Neil has on America at the moment. It was such a headstart compared to all that she's been preparing for.
"Milla's a friend so I'll be sure to help out as I can." Alexander simply baited himself with that. As interesting as it is to see her calculative attempts, it was better to have some initiative.
Sure enough, Galina hastened her probe with the opportunity and didn't even care for the quick topic jump. "If I'm not wrong, aside from your comic book success, you also happen to be the screenwriter of the film set were heading to. Can you tell me what that's like?"
"I'm not exactly the screenwriter. I just made a picture book and grandpa suddenly wanted to make it into a film." Alexander told the truth while keeping the manipulative suggestions stuff to himself. It was just months ago but it somehow felt like a really long time ago for him now.
Reassured by his clarifications, Galina's excitement was heightened with expectations and her mind churned for how to grab the chance.