The first few hours of the shoot go without incident and before we know it, it's break time.
Phew, thank goodness, that clingy actress is not here today; I wouldn't want to give Kate the wrong idea. Yes, surprisingly, I do have a conscience.
I scan the room, looking for Kate. Where is she.... Ah, there she is; happily chatting with Ms. Norris. She's completely absorbed in the conversation, huh...
Neha: Why the long face? Are you jealous that she's not paying attention to you?
Neha appears out of nowhere and springs the question at me with with a grin.
Ashton: What?... O-Of course not.
... Right?
Neha: Wanna rehearse the next scenes?
I sneak a glance at Kate. Ugh, whatever. I should probably not interrupt their conversation.
Ashton: Sure.
We both head over to a seating area and start practicing our lines. A few minutes in, the room starts getting noisy.
Ashton: What's with the commotion?
Neha: An... actress is here.
Ashton: Who?
She must be a bigshot if there's such an uproar.
Neha: Would it kill you to read the script properly for once?
Ashton: Why? What's in it?
Neha flips through the copy in her hand and points to something on one of the pages. I lean in and take a look.
It's the casting for this episode and the name she's pointing to is...
Ashton:..… You've got to be kidding me!
Neha: Life is not kind to you, is it. They brought her for the episode to get more publicity considering your... relationship.
Ashton:...
The one is question is Shirley Rider... one of my ex-flings. First Claire, then Kate and now this woman; why do I keep running into my exes?! To add, things got really bad between us once.
She wasn't a girlfriend per se, but a casual hookup. Of course, that was before I got to know that she was a complete whack job!
She was touchy, clingy, used to watch me in my sleep (for hours) and kept stealing my clothes (mostly underwear) to name a few things!
Eventually, I had had enough and stopped calling her. I had made things clear to her... or so I thought.
One day, she marched up to me and dunked my phone in a glass of juice yelling "You always say that you couldn't call or text me because your phone died so, I "juiced" it up for you!!"
She did A LOT of things after that and almost got a restraining order. That's when she stopped and we never crossed paths again.
It's been a couple of years since that, but looking at her still gives me the heebie jeebies.
Ashton: They didn't even tell me about this!
Shouldn't they have run it by me first? Wait, on second thought, one of the staff did ask me if I was alright with this script over and over again.... and I said yes.
I thought that it was weird then, but now it makes sense. Ugh, why the hell didn't I read the whole thing?!
Neha: Man, all this drama's making me hungry. Nutrition bar?
She produces two nutrition bars out of nowhere and offers me one.
Ashton:... No thanks.
I couldn't sleep the whole night so right now I'm working on caffeine and caffeine only. For some reason, I've been feeling nauseous whenever I try to eat anything since this morning.
I was starving, but just the news of Shirley's arrival has made me lose appetite. I leaf through the script once more.
Please don't tell me that I have to do a scene alone with her! There it is! Scene 24 and 38; they have a lot of characters. I have never been so thankful to God.
Wait, we JUST finished Scene 23! However, there's still a lot time until we have to get to it. I don't want to be spotted so I guess I'll go hide in my dressing room.
Ashton: I'm leaving...
Neha: 'Kay, "stay safe". I'll tell Kate to meet you there if she asks.
Neha teases me and I throw her an irked glance in response. I make a beeline for the room and manage to reach there without being spotted by Ms. Psycho.
Woah, why is it so hot in here? I peel off the jacket I'm wearing and throw it on a chair.
*Clink!*
What was that sound? It's like some metallic object fell on the ground. I inductively touch my left ear.
Ashton: !!!
It's gone! My ear pin's gone! This particular one was the one I bought with my first acting paycheck.
It's not as expensive as the other ones I have, but it's really important to me. I definitely can't afford to lose it!
I get down on one knee and start searching for it. Just then, someone knocks on my door. That must be Kate.
Ashton: The door's open.
I reply without taking an eye off the ground. Where is it?
*Ker-chlack*
The door opens behind me and I get up, rubbing my hands to shake off the dust. Geez, do they even clean this place?
I'll just look for it later... It's not like it'd go anywhere. Ugh, I feel terrible. If I knew that this was going to happen, I wouldn't have worn it at all!
???: What are you doing?
Ashton: !!!
A very familiar voice calls out me and my shoulders jerk up in response. However, it's not from who I was expecting. It's.... Shirley.
I quickly spin around and just as I expected, Shirley stands in the doorway with a grin on her face. Just the sight makes my skin crawl.
Ashton: What the hell are you doing here?
I ask, as I coldly stare at her for a response.
Shirley: You don't have to be so mad about it, I'm just here to say hi.
Does she seriously expect me to buy that after all she has done?
Ashton: I thought that we had deal; I won't report your inappropriate behaviour as long you a keep personal distance from me. FOREVER. What part of that was so difficult for you to understand?
I remember how her manager begged me over and over, asking if I could give her another chance. He would've lost his job if I didn't back down, so, I agreed.
Shirley: I know that, that's why I'm hear as a fellow cast member, "professionally".
She says, as she shuts the door behind and walks further into the room.
Ashton:...
Shirley: I wanted to rehearse the next scene with you.
I can't even stand her presence, and she's obviously lying.
Ashton: You just have to say 2 lines and you won't even be looking towards me. Now, if tgat was all, get out.
Shirley: Fine, I'll tell you what I'm really here for. I... I need your help with something.
Ashton: I don't owe you anything, why should I help?
She starts walking over to the sofa to take a seat... Whatever this is, I need to deal with this fast, it suffocates me to share a room with her.
Shirley: W-Well, as a favor from one actor to another, you could help me get better offers. I haven't worked in a drama this grand since years! And now I got this offer because of you- Ack!
Her heel twists when she steps on something uneven on the floor and she trips.... Unfortunately, dragging me down with her by clutching onto my sleeve.
Ashton: Hey!
*Flop!*
Shirley: Ow!
I somehow manage to ease the fall by supporting myself by holding onto the sofa's armrest, pinning us both together. Why did she have to drag me down as well?!
I'm about to peel away from her when the door opens again. This time, it really is the person I was expecting.... just not this way.
Kate: Neha told me that you're-... here...
Kate freezes at the sight, a look a dismay on her face. Seeing her like this almost feels like my heart has stopped beating.
No, no, no! This is EXACTLY what I didn't want to happen! I can't let her misunderstand the situation. I quickly get away from Shirley.
Ashton: Kate, this-
Kate:... I just came to say that I'm going home. Bye.
She says, expressionless and turns around, walking away.
Ashton: Wait!
I'm about to chase after her when a staff member blocks my way, asking me to get on the set. How did time go by so quickly?!
I look over the staff's shoulder to see Kate's figure becoming smaller and smaller, as she walks towards the exit with her shoulders drooped....