The gray Nissan, an ordinary model from the eighties, arked in the farthest spot. The cold began to creep in, trasting with the day's warm weather, making the chilly night even more unfortable for those exposed to it.

  -I fot my jacket, - said Mi.

  -I think I have a spare in the car, - said Billy.

  -You're an idiot, give me your jacket, - said Mi.

  -Hahaha. Mi, you should be more direct, - said Billy, handihe jacket. It looked way too big on Mi's small frame. Billy approached and adjusted the jacket while zipping it up to her neck.

  -Better? - asked Billy.

  -Yes, - said Mi cheerfully.

  -Let's go. I think we stop by the gas station and grab a midnight snack. I don't know if the hotel is closed at this hour, - said Billy.

  -Well, the girls invited me to Vegas, but I decided to stay. Tomorrow, I'm flying to Fran the m. My parents live there, and I've been away for four months. I 't wait to get there; my parents will celebrate my birthday. Then, I'll return, rinse a, tih the ag, - said Mi.

  -Your birthday! - excimed Billy.

  -Yes, I turned 21 on March 30. The crew shared a cake in my honor. You were so focused that you lost track. Kurt even brought a great gift to the studio - said Mi.

  -I'm sorry; it was a bit rude, - said Billy, opening the passenger door for Mi.

  -Well, you're learning. You just o be more perceptive, - said Mi, smiling, her bck freckle standing out on her face wheretched her cheeks.

  Billy smiled baodded at Mi's words, gently closing the door, and pting Mi's birthday. He checked the surroundings, and eveel's toy store would open in the m.

  -It's so cold, - thought Billy as he got into the car.

  -Well, miss, within a thirty-kilometer radius, there's a small roadside dihat's opey-four hours. We go have something for dinner. Would you like to join me? - asked Billy.

  -Sounds great to eat something other than cookies and packaged potato chips, - said Mi.

  -Are you French, born in Israel? - asked Billy.

  -I am. I started ag in Israel. My parents moved to France for work, and leaping to California was much easier. Now, with my lead roles, I've improved my prospects. I'll buy a pd live in California year, - said Mi.

  -I'm gd you're thriving on Ameri soil. I'm a Californian; you find me anytime. Just give me a call, - said Billy.

  -Sure, - said Mi, squinting her eyes since Billy hadn't given her his phone number, and she hadn't given him hers. As an aspiring actress, having a phone number was a vital part of unication for any actor in a hurry to secure roles.

  -Is this your first py? - asked Mi.

  -As the protagonist, yes, although I've done a couple of voiceovers, participated ioy Story movie. Are you familiar with it? - Billy asked.

  -Who do you take me for? It's been in the neers since Hanukkah; everyoalks about the incredible film that broke animation standards. My ageiohat many panies are ied iing their movies, and dubbing work be seen as a way to gain visibility, - Mi replied.

  Stretg her arms in a V shape while crossing her legs, Mi fiddled with the car's heating. The night was freezing, and Mi was wearing a long white dress with matg sandals.

  -You should pay attention to yent, - said Billy, parking at Juan's gas station. - I'll put some gas in the car; wait for me a sed. -

  Mi nodded as she looked out into the air. Billy's phoarted ringing. Mi waited owice, and ohird ring, she decided to get out of the car, making sure to check the car keys. The worst thing that could happen was to get locked out, but the keys were still in the ignition.

  -Bill, they're calling you on the phone, - Mi shouted with the window down.

  -Answer for me, - Billy said.

  Mi nodded. -Hello. -

  -Hello, who's speaking? - asked the male voice.

  -Oh, hi. It's just Mi; Bill is buying some things. If it's urgent, you call him in ten minutes or wait for him to return your call, - Mi said.

  -Tell him that his grandpa is indignant because his beloved grandson has been absent and hasn't called in a month and a half, - said Richard Carson.

  -Sir, I'll give him the message as soon as he returns, - Mi said, happily responding to the pyful voi the phone.

  -With whom do I have the pleasure of speaking? - asked Richard.

  -I'm Mi, but you, sir, haven't givehe pleasure of knowing your name, - Mi said.

  -Richard. You call me Richi affeately randpa, - said Richard Carson, with his usual sarcastise of humor. "Hahaha."

  -Richard is fine, sir, - said Mi.

  -Well, young dy, my grandson is a bit slow with women. The boy has only dedicated himself to work and study. Did he tell you he studies at Stanford? He's one of the best in his css. Ah, my boy, unfortunately, he's too polite, -Richard auspiciously said, pushing the boy to have a wonderful date with a wonderful young dy.

  -Ameris, - though Mi as she watched how they teasingly left Billy on a joke.

  -, he's a good boy, -Mi said.

  -Without further ado, I have to say goodbye. Tell him to call me when he has time for his grandpa, - Richard said, hanging up the phone.

  -I'll be the first to tell him about his grandpa on the phone, - Mi said.

  -And his grandma, my dear Helen, wants to make him a meatloaf and take him to church, - Richard Carson added.

  -Hahaha, - Mi's sweet voice lit up the call. - Well, I'll talk seriously with Billy about not fetting his grandma, and I'll advise him that he 't go another sed without seeing his grandparents, - Mi said, pouting, as she normally did when exaggerating.

  -Jojojojo, hit him hard. That boy is a bird that es and goes. He visits us, but only stays a week and fets that his grandpa likes to barbecue on weekends and go to the rodeo. He's a plete fool. One summer, I bought a special heifer to make the best lunyone could wish for, but it turns out he left for New York the day, leavih all the work and no pany, - Richard added.

  -It's quite rude; we have t him forcibly. I'll take care of it, - Mi said, pyfully.

  -If you do it, Helen will be so jealous that her little bunny brings a woman. We'll have to prepare everything. Objectively speaking, she's the most territorial person you could meet. But yes, if you ma the boy, she'll five him, - Richard said.

  -What are you doing? - Billy asked from the window.

  -Ahhhhpp, - Mi screamed, clutg her heart. -- You almost killed me, - she said.

  -I'm sorry, - Billy said.

  -I was talking to yrandpa, - Mi said, handing him the phone, which was turned off as they had hung up. Richard Carson had fled after pining to what he thought was his grandson's new girlfriend, who, iy, was not very sociable.

  -I 't hear anything, - Billy said, grabbing the phohere was no one on the line.

  -He hung up! We were talking, - Mi said.

  -Grandpa is like that. I'll call him ter. We have to go eat at Roadside Dinner, - Billy said.

  They arrived ihan half an hour, so fast that Billy and Mi felt hungry.

  -I'm very hungry. I could eat ten ptes of rice with vegetables, - Mi said.

  -Oh, a good pieeat, - Billy said.

  -I don't like meat much, but it would be fantastic, - Mi said. Both got out of the car, tired, aered the restaurant with i fatigue. As they prepared to eat, Mi was taken pletely by surprise when a strawberry cake for four appeared in front of Mi and Billy.

  Billy took out a card with nothing more than a "Happy Birthday" written on a Christmas green postcard. Mi's eyes widened, and her cheeks lit up like yellow lights, silently captivated by the short and impromptu gift. In a sed, Mi Avital looked at the waitress who served the cake, and in surprise, she tried to say something more but was silently captivated by the short and impromptu gift.

  -How did you mahis? - Mi asked, taking a bite of the strawberry cake, and sav it silently.

  -I did what I had to. I bothered to order two special dishes, knowing your hunger. I wao surprise you with everything I had at my disposal, - Billy said.

  -I think you did surprise me. You acted so quickly and captivated me in a way that surprised me, - Mi said, expressing her emotions, affected by the serenity of the day.

  -After your birthday, what will you do? - Billy asked.

  -Finish my education. Ronald Emmerich hired me uedly. I didn't even know when I became part of this rec. When I got on the pne from New York, I cursed every sed because I didly know what I was doing and what movie would end up being made. You say, 'lie!' But it's quite the opposite, - Mi said.

  Did you get the role without even auditioning? - Billy asked, surprised.

  -Yes, as you speak, it seemed poihat ihan a night, I got the role, and well, everything has gone surprisingly well, more than expected, - Mi said.

  -What ued events, - Billy said, tasting the house specialty, a vegetable a sauce with rice, which was quite delicious, much tastier than he sidered for a roadside restaurant.

  -Excuse me, y me the menu? - Billy asked.

  -Of course, sir, - the employee said.

  Two minated menus, pstered in off-white, a atched with a meager menu.

  -Mi, would you like something to drink? - Billy asked.

  -Ahhh, I'd like an herbal tea, and if so, thank you very much for everything, - Mi said, toying with her fingers.

  -Of course, miss, - the waitress said.

  Have a pleasant evening.

  ...