He smiles fondly at her as she dances with the rest of the cast and crew, throwing in her character moves and silly faces. He wishes he could just hold her for a second, and that that second would freeze, and that they could stay in that eternal moment forever, and that he could show her he loves her, and that she'd love him back.
But that won't ever happen so shakes his head and pulls out some fun dance moves – including a semi-awkward hip thrust – and joins the rest of them while the film a Vine.
[the page breaks here]
He taps his pen rhythmically as he watches Raura videos on YouTube for the sake of giving his heart a reason to hurt. He has a playlist of them, his favourite ones with songs he hasn't heard before. Sometimes he watches Auslly ones to see if the fans are right – to see if it really is obvious he likes her, even when they're acting.
There are some that make him really happy. The ones where the fans manipulated footage to make it look like they're in love. There are some that make him really sad – pissed even – when the whole theme is that his and his co-star's love is a tragic tale and will end in disaster.
Ones that scrutinize him for letting her go or not trying hard enough. These are the reasons for the holes in his wall.
The fans knew. Why did he have to be such a loser and hide from the fact he loved her?
[the page breaks here]
He strums his guitar quietly while singing his favourite song off R5's album. The lyrics to Forget About You were far too accurate.
"You sound amazing," she says, leaning on his door frame. He looks up, startled, and a small smile rests on his face. He wondered if she could see the underlying sadness in him. He likes to think she doesn't. If she knew she'd be hell-bent on finding out why and he wasn't ready to deal with it.
Maybe he won't ever be ready.
[the page breaks here]
"Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the Teen Beach Movie cast," the man enthused.
He routinely smiled, never once letting his external guard down. He smiled and oggled at Maia, as per his instructions, without making it seem too legitimate. The Disney representatives wanted to create the idea that something was going on between them. They even had him pretend Pass Me By was about her even though she had a boyfriend.
How sick is that?
But he obliged because he was under contract and you don't ever hear about people who drop Disney. He didn't want to find out what would happen.
She hung on him and smiled, too, but he could tell she was slightly uncomfortable as she always was. He knew Ramy watched the segments. He was lucky that he wasn't the jealous type though, and that everyone knew his heart was waiting for someone else.
Everyone except her.
[the page breaks here]
"And... cut!"
He steps away from her and laughs as Calum's commentary catches up with him. She bursts in to a fit of giggles and leans on Raini for support.
"That was great, guys," the director says happily. "Tomorrow we will film the kiss in front of the live audience and use their reactions for the track. Take 5." He turns to talk to the producers.
Raini compliments her dress. "This is so cute," she enthuses. "You really do look like a prom queen."
"Thanks," she replies giddily. "I love it. I might find one like this for my prom."
"Who are you going with?" Calum asks her.
"No one," she says. "Friends, probably."
Ross hangs his head, fidgeting with his costume tie.
If only he could go with her.
[the page breaks here]
"Want to hang out?" he asks her after rehearsal one day.
She doesn't look up from her script. "I can't," she declines softly. "I'm meeting up with my friend Aaron from my English class."
"Ooh, like a date?" he teases her, though he's pretty sure he can literally feel his heart breaking.
"No, Mr. Nosey," she retorts playfully. "It is a date."
-insert sound of a glass shattering-
"Aw, good for you, Laura," he smiles.
[the page breaks here]
"Honey," Stormie soothes him. "You need to stop punching walls. You're hurting yourself pretty badly." She gestures to his bandaged hand sadly.
"I know," he says faintly, his voice cracking.
"What's this about?" she asks. He doesn't reply. "Laura?"
He shifts uncomfortably. She turns to Riker. "Do you know?"
Riker looks to his younger brother. "She's going out with a friend from school," he explains.
Stormie turns back to Ross and rubs his shoulder. "Baby, you knew this was a possibility. It's part of the job. Things get complicated. She might like you. Don't give up."
"It's too late, Mom," he says, leaving the doctor's office.
[the page breaks here]
"How about we write, 'you're the blue sky on a cloudy day, and by the way that guy you're with is probably fucking gay'," he suggests coldly to his band mates during a song-writing session.
"Whoa, dude," Rocky says, shocked.
"We can't say that," Riker complains.
"Why not?" Ross demands.
"Because Laura might be oblivious but she's not stupid," Ellington answers. "And we can't swear that badly. And he's clearly not gay."
He sighs. They were right. "Sorry," he apologizes. "How about... 'I get crazy and twisted and angry, it's true. But I can't help the way that I feel around you."
"I love it," Rydel grins.
He sighs at how his own words hurt him.
[the page breaks here]
"That's such a good song, Ross," she smiles. R5's new song, Twisted, finishes playing on Radio Disney. Calum and Raini grin in admiration.
"Thanks," he smiles genuinely. He was really proud of the song, actually. It didn't make him feel better though.
Her phone chimes then. She eagerly picks it up and smiles.
"Who is it?" Raini asks.
"Aaron," she grins.
[the page breaks here]
He wakes up to the sound of his phone ringing and groggily checks the number.
Laura, it read.
He answers it immediately. "Hello?" he said, straining to avoid sounding sleepy.
"Hey," she says. "Come over." She didn't sound upset or scared or anything.
"What's up? You okay?" he wonders.
"Yeah, I'm fine," she assures him. "I just can't sleep. You said to call if you if there every came a day," she laughs.
"I did," he recalls. "I'm coming."
"Great," she hangs up.
He's at her house in less than 15 minutes, all thanks to the dead roads at 3 am.
She gets in the car eagerly, still looking beautiful in sweats and a tank top. "My call-time is 5 today," she complains jokingly. "Might as well just stay up."
"5?!" he exclaims. "Why? I know Raini does sometimes, because, well... you know, her hair, but why you?"
"Something to do with episode," she shrugs. "What about you?"
"6:30, like usual," he grins.
"Lucky duck," she says, laughing.
"Sometimes," he says. "So how are things with you and Aaron?"
"Great," she says, tucking her feet in and hugging herself. He reclines in his seat. The car wasn't on anyway. "I really like him," she says.
One jab to the stomach.
"He's sweet and funny and polite and loves bad movies like me," she continues.
Another jab.
"And he wants to go to the same university. He's starting earlier than me because I have Austin & Ally, but his program is longer anyway."
This time, it felt like a punch.
"That's great," he smiles.
[the line breaks here]
"Dude, you can't pretend her dating Aaron isn't bothering you," Calum insists at lunch.
"You know it bothers me," Ross says angrily.
"Then why don't you tell her?" he demands.
"Because I don't want to risk ruining the friendship!"
"That's what Austin said, too but then he grew a set and told Ally he still liked her," he continues. "It took half of season three, but it happened. Now they're together."
"This isn't the show, Calum."
"Isn't it?"
[the page breaks here]
"Are you going to do it?" Riker says to Ross one day on set.
They were in his dressing room, Riker, Rocky, Ryland and Calum there for moral support. Rydel was with Laura.
"Yes," he sighs. "I am."
"Whoo," the four of them cheer collectively.
He smiles, nervous...
"Cut," the director says later. Calum and Ross stand up from their seats after the take. The live audience erupts in applause.
While the audience is leaving, Ross spots her. He gives a thumbs up to Calum and starts running after her. "Laura," he calls. "Laura!"
She doesn't hear him.
"Laura!"
He comes to an abrupt halt when he sees who must have been Aaron pull her close and kiss her gently. She smile under his lips.
Ross sighs.
[his heart breaks here]
