Kris T. Bethke's Something Like Box Set

Chapter 2

Chapter 2The scruff on my face was scratchy and irritating as hell. Since my character was hospitalized, they’d asked me not to shave to give realism to Riley’s situation. But I knew it would be a while before I was allowed to shave it off. Especially if we couldn’t get this f*****g scene done.

My part was easy. All I had to do was lie there and breathe, with my eyes shut, and not react at all to what was going on around me. Sedated after surgery, Riley was supposed to be out of it. But the cannula in my nose was making it hard to breathe, and this was our twenty-seventh take. I wanted nothing more than to yank it out so I could breathe normally. I could have dealt with it if there was any end in sight. Maybe this time, we’d get it right.

When the director called cut, I couldn’t help the groan that escaped. Not again.

“Logan, you really need to get your s**t together. What the f**k is your problem?”

“Sorry, Con.”

Constance O’Meara was one of five or six directors that rotated through. I always liked working with her. She’d been the one to direct the previous season’s finale, and I was glad she was directing the two-part season opener. I thought it made for nice consistency, and she made me feel comfortable.

“Don’t be sorry. Just get it together,” Connie snapped. She paused and then let out a sigh. “Let’s take a ten minute break. And when we get back, I expect us to get this done.”

I didn’t bother moving. When Connie said ten minutes, she meant exactly that, and woe betide anyone who wasn’t ready when she was. I wasn’t the only one who stuck close. Most people milled around close-by. But Lucas Logan stomped off set.

I couldn’t figure out what his issue was, but he’d been like this all day. Well, ever since we’d started shooting this scene three hours ago. And paranoid as I was, I couldn’t help but wonder if it was because of the fact that Frank Geary was holding Riley Cates’s hand. Murphy Rourke was supposed to overhear Geary telling Riley what he meant to him, and then come around the curtain and place a supportive hand on his friend’s shoulder. We got that far every time, but when Lucas was supposed to be silent as Frank told Riley to get better, that he’d be waiting, Lucas f*****g Logan kept f*****g it up. And I couldn’t help but think the prick was a homophobe.

“He’s better than this,” Dan mumbled from where he’d leaned back in his chair. I turned my head to look at him as he scrubbed his hands over his face. “Everyone has off days, but not him and not like this.”

“He’s being a jerk,” I said softly. Dan and Lucas were close friends and I didn’t want to say what I was really thinking. Dan snorted out a laugh that made me think maybe he knew anyway.

“I’ll talk to him after, see where his head is at.” Dan shook his head and sat up straight. “Here we go.”

Everyone was back within another minute, and as places were called, the set fell silent. I closed my eyes and did my best to even out my breathing and to make my face impassive. Connie told us where to start, and I was glad it was near the end of the scene. I couldn’t handle it if we’d have to do the whole thing all over again. Dan took my hand in his big, warm grip.

“Action.”

“You scared the hell out of me, kid.” Dan’s voice was low but strong. I knew the boom mike over our heads would have no trouble picking it up. “You have no idea what it did to me, seeing you take that bullet. I’ve let too much time go by, denying my feelings. And that’s going to change.”

A beat of silence and then the heavy clomp of boots on tile. I knew what was supposed to be taking place, and every second that went by without Connie calling cut made me breathe a little easier.

“Hey,” Dan said.

“Hey,” Lucas answered.

A beat and then a sigh. Dan’s voice was sure but full of emotion when he said, “Things are going to change, Rourke.”

“I can see that.”

So far so good. From what I could hear, this was the best take yet, but the next part was where it all went to hell. I had to remind myself not to hold my breath.

“Get better fast, Riley. I’ll be waiting for you. And then we’ll see where this leads, okay? No more pretending.”

Utter and complete silence. No one moved. No one said a word. The air was pregnant with expectation.

“Cut,” Connie said, and I nearly wept in relief because I could tell that this time, it wasn’t full of frustration. I opened my eyes and craned my neck to the side, where I could see Connie staring at the monitor in front of her. A few more seconds where no one dared to breathe, and finally Connie sighed. “That’ll do. Let’s call it a day, people.”

The set burst into activity as everyone started moving about, packing up, going on with their business. I was relieved to pull the plastic tubing out of my nose and reminded myself that if I threw it across the room, someone else would have to find it. I dropped it on the bed instead and then hopped over the side. I didn’t look back as I headed for my dressing room.

The hospital gown I wore wasn’t exactly warm, and I would be relieved to actually put on real clothes again. I pushed open the door and then looked around. I actually had a permanent room now that I was a full-time cast member, even if I shared it with Court Scully, who played the chief of police. He was a kind, older man, with hundreds of credits to his name. I liked him and we got along. Which was more than I could ever say for Lucas Logan.

God that man! What was his damage? Over the past couple of years, I’d shot numerous scenes with him and I’d never seen him f**k up so much. I thought he was a professional. Standoffish and a bit cold with me, in a way that Dan, Mary Alice, Allison, Court and the others had never been. But I just figured that was his personality, or maybe he’d let the fame of being the star of the show go to his head. Either way, he’d always done his job and done it well. But today he’d been a jerk, missing cues and messing up. Because why? For no good reason that I could see. What an asshole.

If he had a problem with the storyline, it was up to him to take it up with the producers. He didn’t need to be such an ass. I was sure he didn’t want to leave behind the show and the fame it provided in protest, but if he kept f*****g up like this, he’d be out anyway. Then again, maybe he wouldn’t. I’m sure his contract was ironclad. Maybe this was his way of protesting. It was irritating as all hell, and if it was a portent of the way the entire shooting season would go, we’d all be in for a rough time.

I carefully hung up my costume on the rack where it was supposed to go, then quickly changed into my street clothes. I was done for the day, and I wanted nothing more than to go home and relax, let the stress of this day wash away, and forget it even happened. I wasn’t scheduled to be on set tomorrow—they were shooting on location—and I intended to sleep late and go through my lines again. I only had a few, but they were important, and I wanted to be sure I got them right. Waking up and seeing the man that I’d been apparently pining for sitting right there was sure to be a pivotal moment.

I’d worry about Lucas f*****g Logan another day.

* * * *

It was a coincidence that I was on set when the last scene for the episode went into the can. I’d been called back to shoot some additional footage with the second unit, while Connie, Dan, Mary Alice, Court, and Logan were shooting on the other soundstage. We’d finished up only moments before and were standing around chatting when the announcement went out and a cheer rose up.

I grinned, the infectious feeling of the cast and crew seeping into me. I’d never been on the set when they finished shooting an episode, and I liked that there was a feeling of accomplishment shared with everyone.

Pleased that the episode was done, I was still smiling as I headed toward my dressing room. I needed to wash off the makeup and get changed.

“Aaron! Hey, wait up!”

I turned to find Dan jogging down the hall toward me, his big smile a welcome sight. I stopped and waited for him to catch up. He slung an arm around my shoulders, and gave me a little squeeze.

“Cast and crew are meeting at DeLorio’s at ten.”

“Okay?” I had no idea what he was talking about. Was that an invite?

He shot me a sidelong glance. “Tradition, man. When we finish an entire episode, everyone heads to DeLorio’s to celebrate.” He spoke slowly, like it should have been obvious. But up until last week, I’d only been a guest star on the show. I had no idea it was a thing.

“Oh,” I said. Then winced internally. “Good. Great. Sounds like fun.”

Dan gave a chuckle. “I thought maybe you didn’t know. I don’t remember seeing you there before. Okay, so show up. We always get one of the private rooms in the back. Tell them you’re there for the Rosenberg party. It’s kind of the code word.” He waggled his eyebrows.

I laughed. “Really?”

“Yeah, man.” He was still smiling, but he blew out a breath. “Some of the more…exuberant fans sometimes try to get in. The staff knows us pretty well, but you might be a new face.” He clapped a hand on my shoulder and then started to veer off toward his own dressing room. “See you later!”

A happy feeling warmed the pit of my stomach. Being a part of this cast was awesome, and I loved how friendly everyone was. Even Lucas had warmed a little. Or at least, we’d had no more problems like the one from earlier in the week. I still didn’t know what his issue was, but though he’d been quiet, he’d done his job. That was all I could ask for.

A thought struck me, and I stopped dead in my tracks. What if it wasn’t the gay storyline that Lucas had a problem with? What if it was me? I’d gotten a cold sort of indifference from him from the moment I started on the show, and that hadn’t changed in all the scenes we shot together. He’d never really even spoken to me other than on set. Perhaps his problem was solely with me.

It was a hard pill to swallow. I was genuinely liked by just about everyone I knew. I tried to be a kind person. I worked hard. I was nice. I didn’t know what I could have done to piss off Lucas.

Whatever. It wasn’t something I could change, and I probably shouldn’t worry about it. Some people just didn’t get along, and for all that it was an unconventional work place, it was still a job. There was always a coworker who didn’t like you or whom you didn’t like. This was no different. At least, that’s what I told myself.

Of course, Lucas would be at the restaurant tonight and that might make things awkward. Even though Daniel said cast and crew—which meant there’d be a pretty large crowd—it still might put a damper on things. Maybe I shouldn’t go. I was still the new kid, despite the fact that I’d guest starred on the last two seasons, and I didn’t want to cause waves.

“Aaron!”

I turned toward the voice to see Mary Alice hanging out of her dressing room door wearing nothing but a bra, pants, and a scarf. I didn’t want to know.

“What’s up, MA?” I asked. She was put together perfectly, and even though I didn’t want to touch, that didn’t mean I couldn’t appreciate her beauty. I gave her a grin and a pointed once-over. She just rolled her eyes. She was a friend, though maybe not a particularly close one, and I enjoyed her.

“You’re coming to the shindig tonight, right? Danny said he’d make sure you knew when and where.”

There was something hopeful in her pretty blue eyes. Dammit. There went my hope of bowing out. I didn’t want to disappoint her. Maybe I could leave early though, before things got weird.

“Yeah, I’ll be there,” I answered and was rewarded with a huge grin.

“Good,” she said decisively. “You should be there. You’re one of us now, and we’re happy to have you.”

With that proclamation, she ducked back inside. I shook my head.

“Not all of you,” I mumbled, continuing my trek.

Mary Alice’s brown bob reappeared. “What was that?”

“Nothing.” I waved her off. She squinted at me, assessing, then shrugged her delicate shoulders and disappeared again.

This was stupid. I was all worked up and worried about one man and trying to avoid something I’d enjoy because he would be there. I needed to let it go and just do what I wanted. So what if Lucas Logan didn’t like me? He might be the star of the show, but he was just a person. And there were a lot of people who did like me and wanted me to be there.

Mind made up and feeling better about it, I went to get changed and figure out how I was going to kill the next three hours before I showed up for the party.