Lucy's POV
"Friends with benefits?"
"Yeah." I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Ian and me being benefriends? I just couldn't wrap my mind around it. Staring blankly at the wall, I sat down on the couch behind me in my dressing room.
"Just think about it Luce," Ian proposed. "We've always had really great chemistry and it's not like we don't find each other attractive. Dating each other would put our friendship and on-screen chemistry in jeopardy. Neither of us are seeing anyone right now and it could be a good way to get rid of some sexual frustration…"
Well he wasn't wrong. I have been in kind of a dry spell recently after my last breakup and then everything got so busy...
The silence became too much so Ian cleared his throat. "I mean if you don't want to, of course that's okay. It's just something to think about."
"Well you do make a compelling argument, Mr. Harding," I joked, trying to make things even a slightest bit less uncomfortable than they were right now. Not really knowing what to say, I don't speak for probably what was a couple moments, but felt like a couple hours. I look at Ian shyly. "Can I sleep on it maybe?"
I can't exactly tell what Ian is thinking by the expression on his face, but he nods. "Of course!" Neither of us speak, both not having a clue what to say.
Oh my god Lucy just think of something. You can't possibly make things more awkward than they are right now.
"Um…" Ian started. "I'm gonna head out. It's starting to get late. I'll talk to you later." His weight shifted back and forth as he rocked on his heals with his hands in his pockets, before turning around and heading towards the the door.
"Bye." I whispered. I gave a little wave and Ian forced a small smile before he stepped out of my dressing room.
I swiftly went over and closed the door very gently and waited there for a moment stunned, not letting my fingertips leave the metal doorknob. Thank god I don't have any more scenes with him today. Once I knew he was far enough down the hall, I relaxed my body and turned to press my back up against the door. I let out a huge breath that I didn't even realize I was holding.
"Holy shit," I murmured to myself. Friends with benefits? Where the hell did he even get that idea? I have to admit though, it did sound rather appealing. But I can't, can I? I mean it's not like we would be dating or anything. No strings attached. It would be the same old Lucy and Ian… just the same old Lucy and Ian that also happen to be sleeping together.
I shake my head as if I was trying to shake away this idea bouncing around my head and try to clear my mind. I glance at the clock to see I have five minutes until my call time. I pick up Aria's jacket off the couch and head down to the stage trying to focus on work and not the possibility of getting into bed with one of my best friends.
Ian's POV
Oh. My. God. Did I really just do that? Did I really just give Lucy and invitation to have sex with me? What was I thinking? I'm walking rather quickly down the hall towards the parking lot, desperately wanting to get home and have a cold beer. Or four.
I reach my car and start it up rather aggressively: yanking on my seatbelt and shoving the key into the ignition. Why and I acting so weird? I'm just anxious. Yeah that must be it.
My mind is going a million miles and hour. Why the hell did I let myself ask her that? God, she must think I'm crazy. What am I gonna do? I'll just apologize tomorrow and tell her it was a stupid idea and we should just forget it ever happened. But what if she likes the idea… No! Of course she wouldn't. She probably thinks that I'm some creep now. God damn it how did I mess this up! Lucy is one of my best friends; I don't want this to push her away.
Once I get home, the first thing I do is pull out a beer from the fridge and chug down half of it. I take my phone out from my pockets and start sending a text to Lucy. I start typing and then change my mind. I lock it before sliding it back into my pocket and then chug down the other half of the beer. I grab another one from the fridge and make my way over the couch. I collapse onto the cushions and try not to think about the friendship that I could have possibly ruined today and slowly drift into a deep sleep.
Lucy's POV
"That's a wrap! Great job ladies!" I just finished filming a scene with Troian. I quickly hurry of set towards my dressing room, but Shay catches up to me.
"Lucy!," she called out, pacing fastly to keep up with my hurried steps. "Is everything alright? You seemed pretty distracted earlier. Do you want to talk about it?"
"What?" I chirped trying to play it off. "Oh course not! I'm fine don't worry about me."
"Well you don't seem fine," she insisted. Damn it. Why can't she just leave it alone? "Is it boy trouble?"
Oh no. Can she really see right through me? Sometimes I wish we weren't so close. "No!" I said a little too harshly, causing Troian to be taken aback. I let out a sigh. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you. I've just been really busy and I'm just tired, that's all."
"It's okay. I get it." Her words were meant to assure me, but I could tell she didn't quite buy it.
We reach my dressing room and I bid her goodnight, desperately wanting this conversation to be over already. She smiles and head off to her own dressing room and I gratefully lock the door to mine and start taking off my costume.
What the hell am I going to do about Ian? I've been thinking about it the entire time Troian and I were filming. Is it bad that the idea is starting to sound really appealing to me? Damn it, why can't I get this out of my head. I should just tell him no thanks; he'll understand. But deep down I could tell that I didn't want to do that, and that I actually wanted to say yes. Why did I want this so bad? I mean Ian and I are good friends. Sure I maybe had a crush on him when we first met, but that was a long time ago. Did I still like him? I pushed the idea out of my head. That's stupid, Lucy. Of course you don't.
I slip on my high waisted shorts and crop top that I came to work in and pick up my phone off my vanity. I scroll through my contacts and pull up Ian's name. Was I really doing this? Am I really going to do this? I am really going to accept his offer. Just do it Lucy. He's the one that offered this in the first place! Just rip off the band-aid. I let out a shaky breath and press the call button.
It rings several times before I hear his voice. "Hi, you've reached Ian! Sorry I couldn't get to the phone right now. I'll call you back as soon as I can. Bye!" I end the call and set the phone down not wanting to do this over voicemail. Was he ignoring me? No, he wouldn't. He's probably just in the bathroom or something.
I stand there for a moment dazed and confused. Fuck it. I' going over to his apartment. I grab my keys off the table and make my way to the car afraid of what I'm about to do.
The whole ride over there I am shaking my head in disbelief. There's no going back after this. Once it's done it's done. After what feels like hours, I finally pull into his driveway. I sit in my car a minute trying to either talk myself out of it or gather up the courage to go up to his porch; to be honest I can't quite tell which one I'm doing.
Throwing caution to the wind, I step out of my car and strut my way to the front door. I raise my hand to knock on the door, but it doesn't move. This will change things between us, and I know it. But he's one of my best friends and I don't think anything could change that. Here goes nothing. I mentally collect all my strength and knock thrice on his door.