Only Just A Dream
Ian paced the five steps it took to get to one end of his trailer at work. He turned around and worked five steps in the opposite direction. He took a deep breath and threw his script on the small pullout table. He was never going to have his lines straight in the next twenty minutes. He was so stressed out lately with work, his charity, and of course, his feelings for Lucy. He couldn't deny it to himself, but to everyone else, he played it off like neither of them had feelings for each other. Well at least he knew that he could pretend to not be in love with her, he didn't think she had to pretend. She doesn't love him, how could she? She made his heart burst, but there was no way that she felt the same way. They were coworkers, and that was all they would ever be. Ian let out a frustrated sigh; he had to be on set in fifteen minutes. He decided to head down early since he had nothing else to do. He was shooting a scene with Lucy today that was to take place in Ezra's apartment. Lucy was already on set when Ian arrived.
"Hey bud, do you want to run lines quick while they set up the lighting?" Lucy approached Ian as he scanned the set. He nodded; he could use the practice.
"Ez, what was that? You can't just go around punching whoever you feel like because they're idiots! It didn't mean anything to me, what Noel says about me doesn't bother me, but you punching him does! You could have gotten arrested!" Lucy yelled, as Aria.
"I'm not going to sit around and let people say those things about you Aria! You aren't a slut, and he shouldn't get to say those things to you! God I hate that guy!" Ian had to act mad for this scene, but he didn't want to seem too frustrated.
"Hey, Ezra, look at me, I hate the guy too, but if it means that I have to put up with him so I can be with you, that's fine. I'd rather put up with him and get to be with you than be without you because you're in jail for assaulting a minor!" Lucy changed her tone towards Ian's character, becoming soft and understanding. They finished running their lines for that scene and waiting until the crew was ready for them to start shooting. They took their spots on the set and waited for them to start. Ian and Lucy had a casual conversation before the director called action.
Ian felt so many emotions that it wasn't hard to work up the anger and frustration he needed for the scene, but when Lucy changed her tone from angry to caring, Ian struggled to reciprocate the feelings. He wasn't angry at her; he was angry at the situation, that he let himself get this far into it. The director called cut and instructed Ian to play the part with more emotion. Ian was frustrated with everything.
"Can I just have five minutes please?" Ian yelled more than asked, and he stormed off the set. He needed air before he was smothered by the hot, humid air inside. The cool November air outside calmed him, but his head was still a furry. All of this was so confusing for Ian. He was in love with Lucy, and if he told her, things would never be the same. But if he didn't tell her it would be more of this constant frustration. He could hear footsteps behind him and he prayed to God it wasn't Lucy. He knew it was though, so he didn't turn around to face her.
"Ian? Are you alright?" Lucy touched his shoulder, trying to get him to face her.
"Yeah, I'm fine, I just needed to go over the lines in my head again. Get some air, you know?" Ian refused to turn around and wouldn't look at Lucy. If he did, she would know something was up. They were best friends and nothing was going to stop Lucy from figuring out what was bothering him.
"Alright, well are you ready to go back in?" Ian nodded and they finished the scene in the next thirty minutes. Right after they were dismissed, Ian rushed off to his trailer. He didn't want to sit around and chat with Lucy. He gathered his things he had brought with him to set that day and was about to leave his trailer when there was a knock on the door. Ian grabbed his things and opened the door. It was Lucy, of course.
"Hey, I'm actually on my way out." Ian walked past her out of his trailer.
"Well I'll walk with you. I'm heading out for the day too." The two walked for a few seconds in silence until Lucy broke the silence.
"So what's up? You're acting different lately."
"Nothing's wrong."
"Ian, we're best friends, we tell each other everything! I know when you're lying to me, what's wrong, really?"
"You know what? Get in the car, I'll take you home Luce." Ian opened the passenger side door, and put his stuff in the backseat. Lucy got in Ian's car and knew he would pick her up the next morning for work since she was leaving her car here. They started the ten minute drive home and went back to silence.
"So are you going to tell me what's up with you or not? Because you're being confusing as hell." Lucy was actually starting to get mad now.
"You want to know what's bothering me Lucy? You are! I'm so fucking insanely in love with you and you don't see it at all! I can't take it anymore! It's driving me crazy, I can't keep it a secret anymore. I am completely, 100%, head over heels, in love with you Luce," Ian started, almost yelling at Lucy. He felt so much emotion towards Lucy and he felt that if he didn't tell her now, he would explode.
"And I don't care if you hate me or never want to talk to me anymore, I just can't keep it inside anymore. When you walk into a room, I feel like I can't breathe because your personality just takes up the entire room. You take my breath away more and more each day. I am repeatedly amazed by your grace and resilience in the face of opposing forces," Ian continued talking until he had to pause when he was out of breath.
"I know that things will never go back to the way they were before, but I would hate myself if I didn't tell you because I'm done missing opportunities. So if after I'm finished with this speech, you want to never talk to me again, that's fine. But I knew I wasn't going to miss out on time I could be spending with you if I didn't tell you. So yeah, that's why I've been acting weird." Lucy sat quietly while Ian said everything he needed to. She took a deep breath, trying to process everything that was going on in her head. Ian loved her. She had never even thought about him that way, she needed him in her life though, she was sure of that. She tried to gather her thoughts, but he interrupted them.
"Just don't say anything quite yet, okay? Just think about it for the night and when you have a response, you can come to me. Just sleep on it, at least. Don't make any rash decisions." Ian pulled into her driveway and put his car in park. He felt slightly defeated when Lucy nodded her head and got out of the car. He figured he would wait until she came to him for him to feel happy or sad. He didn't want to get his hopes up, or down, for that matter, without knowing her response first. He drove home quickly and spent the night restlessly. He ate dinner and had a few drinks before heading to bed. The next morning he woke up at seven, with a text from Lucy waiting for him. It was sent at 4:18 that morning. He opened the message.
Pick me up at 8? Don't have to be on set until 11.
Ian quickly texted a response:
I'll be there.
He quickly showered and got dressed before getting gas. He pulled up to the apartment Lucy shares with her friend Annie and waited for her to come out of the door. She emerged from the apartment two minutes later. She got in the car and they sat in a strangely comfortable silence.
"So what did you want to talk about?" Ian awkwardly mentioned while they drove to a nearby coffee shop.
"Well I thought a lot about what you said yesterday. I was up all night trying to gather the right words to communicate with you exactly the way I feel." Lucy took a deep breath before starting her monologue.
"You know that you mean the world to me, I'll start with that. I feel like there is an undeniable connection between us that I can't figure out. I know for a fact that I'm attracted to you. I feel butterflies when I'm with you. Sometimes my mind is in shambles when I'm with you. But part of me feels that this could be a bad idea. If something bad were to happen, then our friendship would be ruined. Work would be awkward and our group of friends would feel the need to pick sides. It would throw everyone off. Part of me wants to take the risk and be happy, but the other part of me wants to protect our friendship and my heart." Lucy exhaled and gave Ian time to ponder what she said. It didn't take him long though.
"So what's it going to be? Are we going to take a risk or play it safe?" Ian pulled into an abandoned parking lot, waiting for her answer.
"I wish there was a way to have the best of both worlds." Lucy sighed as she looked out her window.
"Maybe there is."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that what if we can have the best of both sides? Why don't we do this? We don't have to tell anyone just yet, until we know for sure that being together is what we want."
"Are you sure you want to do this? This could be destructive." Lucy looked over at Ian who had a reassuring look on his face, while grabbing his hand.
"I'm positive." Ian looked back at Lucy, their faces only inches apart.
"Okay. Then let's do this." She whispered as Ian moved closer to her.
"Let's do this." Ian whispered even quieter, until their faces were only millimeters away.
"I've waited so long to do this." Ian whispered before he grabbed her face and embraced her. He passionately pushed his lips onto Lucy's. He could feel his heart beating in his throat. He has wanted this for so long and was over the moon that it was happening. They finally parted a few minutes later.
"So now we have to go to work…" Lucy giggled.
"Yeah, I guess so. So what, do we just act normally now? I don't know if I can resist you now that I've gotten the chance to kiss you." Ian laughed as he put the keys back in the ignition.
"Well we can try our best," Lucy giggled as Ian drove off to the studio. When they reached the set, they went their separate ways, but not before sharing a kiss in the car. Lucy headed to her trailer to get her script for the day and put her things down before heading into hair and makeup. Everyone else that was needed for the day was already on set because they had scenes earlier. All the girls were on set, along with Keegan. Lucy was bound to run into one of them in the makeup trailer, so that could keep her mind of Ian. She couldn't stop thinking about him, especially last night. She hadn't gotten any sleep, she was just thinking about what he had told her. It had been months actually, since she thought of him as just a friend. He was the sweetest man ever, he would do whatever he could to help her, and she was falling in love with him. He hadn't even had to try to make her fall in love with him, he just had to be himself. On her way from her trailer to hair and makeup, she felt her phone vibrate. It was a text from Ian.
Wish we didn't have to work today so we could just spend all day together! Dinner tonight? My place?
Lucy quickly typed a message back.
Of course! What time?
Lucy knew that Ian got off work a little later than she did, so she would have time to run home and change and do her hair before she had to head over to his place. Ian had to shoot a scene with Holly Marie Combs, which was scheduled to end around 7.
8? Lucy read the text from her boyfriend, maybe not her boyfriend; that still confused her a little bit. She replied with a simple yes and opened the door to the hair and makeup trailer to see that Troian and Keegan were both in there. They had to shoot the next scene, so they were doing touch ups.
"Hey guys!" Lucy greeted them with a coffee in her hands, she wouldn't be able to make it through the day without her coffee.
"Hey Luce! How are ya?" Keegan asked as Lucy took a seat next to him while a girl quickly began to brush her hair out.
"I'm good! Tired though, as always. I can't wait for the weekend. My bathtub is calling my name!"
"Tell me about it! I need a break so bad, I feel like I'm going to explode, but Patrick has a premiere this weekend, so it's going to be anything but relaxing." Troian countered, rolling her eyes, but laughing.
"That'll be fun though! I can't believe the movie is being released already! Tell him congratulations for me!" Lucy didn't know quite yet what her weekend entailed, but she had a faint idea that it would involve Ian. Troian nodded as they all turned their heads to see who was coming through the trailer doors. It was Ian, who looked around at the occupied seats. He smiled when he saw Lucy.
"Hey Ian, what's up buddy?" Keegan got up from his chair and did their man hug thing that boys do.
"Not much, how about you?" Keegan went on to detail the latest things in his life to his friends, but Ian couldn't help but keep his eyes on Lucy. Her hair was beautiful, it caught the light whenever a beam of light shone over it. It was healthy and thick. It wasn't as deep of a brown that it had been, she must have gotten it done, he assumed. Her hair was long and gorgeous, she was beautiful in general, but her hair really stunned him. How effortlessly it hung down her back, almost caressing the small of her back, but not quite. Soon, Keegan was out of the trailer and Ian took his chair. They didn't need to do much with his hair, but they had to do his makeup, which only took about five minutes. Lucy had come and gone to get into her outfit, but promised to see him on set for their next scene. It was Ian, Lucy, Ashley, Troian, and Shay. The scene was about the three girls catching him and Lucy in the act. It was quite ironic if he had any input. He changed into Ezra's clothes, which were khaki pants, a blue pin striped button up and a navy blue tie. He had brown shoes to go with it. Once he was dressed, he walked over to the set and met Ashley and Lucy there. Shay and Troian weren't there yet.
"Where are those two? Everyone's ready to get started!"
"What's the rush Ian? Got a hot date tonight?" Ashley joked at his urgency.
"In fact, yes, I do." Ian said to her, silently nodding to Lucy.
"What? Who is it? Anyone I know?"
"Nope you don't know her." Ian smirked.
"Well what's the plan? Is this a first date? Or has this been going on for a while?"
"I guess you could say it's the first date, but we've known each other for a long time. And I'm just making her dinner, and hopefully making her fall in love with me, but you can't wish for too much." Ian laughed, teasing Ashley.
"Ian, who are you kidding, no one could ever fall in love with you!" Ashley started laughing as Ian made a face at her, while Shay and Troian finally showed up to the set.
"For real Ian, who is it?"
"Sorry, I'm not one to kiss and tell." Ian said as he moved to his spot on the set. The girls took their spots outside the door, out of the shot, as Lucy took her spot next to Ian on the couch. They called action and the girls waited for their queue.
"So your day was that bad?"
"I'm telling you Ar, this kid literally stood up, said 'this blows, I'm not doing this shit.' And walked out of the classroom. It was all downhill from there." Ian drank from his glass that was supposed to be some sort of alcohol, but was really just apple juice.
"Well what can I do to make it better?" Lucy said seductively, as instructed.
"I think I have an idea." Ian countered as he put his glass on the end table next to the couch. He crawled on top of Lucy and kissed her. He started making out with her and he couldn't help but let his feelings get in the way of the scene. She started to loosen his tie, as the scene called for.
"You're so beautiful." Ian couldn't help but say as she ran her fingers through his hair. He wasn't supposed to say that, but adlibbing was encouraged, so he knew it would be overlooked. Lucy was supposed to attack him at that point and passionately embrace him. Seconds later, the door busts open with all three girls standing there shocked.
"Oh, um, sorry, Aria, we just thought you were hurt. Sorry." Ashley, as Hanna, said as Ian and Lucy scattered apart from each other and rearranged their clothes.
"What are you guys doing here?"
"We got texts from A! It said that we had to find you quick or you would be in the company of your former best friend! She said you were going to be dead Aria!"
"Well, I would much rather catch you and Mr. Fitz in the act than you be dead, but still not a sight I wanted to see." Shay read her lines perfectly.
"Well I guess I'll invite you all in now." Ian joked as he held the door open for the girls to come into his apartment as the director called cut.
"Guys, that was great ! That's what I like to see, one take and we got it!" Marlene announced, which was Lucy's signal that she only had one more scene before she could go home. She went to her trailer and called Annie.
"Banan, I need your help! So I have this thing later, and I have to look sexy. What should I wear?"
"Where are you going that you have to look sexy? Do you have a date?!" Annie exclaimed, excited that Lucy was branching out.
"Yeah, I guess you could say that, but it's too early, I can't tell you who it is yet." Lucy got quiet and knew that Annie's mind was going crazy.
"Alright, that's shady Luce, but how about that new bandage dress you got? It's tight in all the right places and if you wear a pushup bra with it, it will be perfect."
"You sure it won't be too dressy?"
"I thought you wanted to be sexy!"
"You're right, I'll wear it, thank you so much!" Lucy was excited now, the date was really happening. She hung up the phone and started planning out what her accessories were going to be and how she was going to do her hair because she wouldn't have much time. She quick sent a text to Ian:
So what's the dress code for tonight?
She got a text from him not even a minute later.
Why don't you come to my trailer and find out?
Lucy's face lit up, she was so giddy when he said things like that. The sexual tension between the two of them was insurmountable, and everyone could see it. She felt like she had to touch him when they were together. She left her trailer with nothing but her phone and walked the fifty feet to Ian's trailer. She knocked twice and entered before he could give a response.
"Hi love!" Lucy eagerly greeted him right inside the door and wrapped her arms around his waist. He was significantly taller than her, so his arms perfectly rested above her shoulders. Her head nestled into his chest and he rested his chin on her head after briefly kissing her head.
"Hi sweetie." Ian tipped her head up so he could see her face. He leaned down the eight inches to kiss her She stood on her tiptoes and met him half way.
"So what're you making me tonight?" Lucy joked as she sat down on the small full bed that was in every trailer.
"Well that depends. What would you like me to make you?" Ian asked as he got closer to Lucy.
"I don't care what we eat, I just want to know what to wear." Lucy smiled as Ian sat down on the bed next to her.
"Well I can tell you what you can't wear. And right now you're wearing some of the things that you can't tonight. Like this." Ian took off Lucy's cardigan she had put on because it was a little windy out. Lucy smiled.
"Oh yeah? And what else can't I wear?" Lucy was enjoying this game.
"This, for sure." Ian motioned towards her shirt as Lucy pressed her lips into Ian's. She moved so she was straddling Ian. They continued to make out for a few minutes before Lucy pushed Ian back so they were lying down on the bed with her on top of him. Ian's hands lingered at the hem of Lucy's shirt.
His hands slowly moved their way up Lucy's shirt. She smiled in her kiss at his motions to take her shirt off. He didn't know if that was too risky of a move, especially since it was so early in their relationship. Lucy nodded her head and Ian took that as his answer. He pulled her top over her head and he went for her neck. He sucked on a spot of her skin near her collarbone. She moaned in response and grabbed the bottom of his shirt. She ripped it over his head and he broke the kiss for that only. She sucked on his earlobe.
Lucy took the initiative and went for Ian's belt buckle. When she got that off, she went for the button on his jeans. She pulled the zipper down and he slid his jeans down. He flipped them over and started to unbuckle Lucy's jeans. He slid them down past her thighs, her knees, and her shins. He threw her jeans on the floor as Lucy went for the elastic on his boxers. There was a knock at the door and both Lucy and Ian flew up from their spot on the bed. They met gazes and both had deer in the headlights looks on the faces. Lucy sprung up and grabbed the first piece of clothing she could find and ran to the bathroom. There was a knock on the door again and Ian got up from his spot on the bed.
"One sec!" He yelled and threw his jeans on. He couldn't find his shirt so he opened the door without his shirt on.
"Hi buddy, do you want to run lines for our next scene?" Holly was at the door and Ian had a guilty look on his face. His hair was disheveled and he was trying to think of something to say to excuse his appearance. He put his arm up to scratch his head as Holly moved her way past Ian into his trailer.
"Oh, I can see I interrupted something!" Holly said and mouthed the word 'sorry.'
"Is she here right now? Can I meet her?" Holly was excited and didn't realize that would be extremely awkward.
"Um, yes, she's here right now, but I think it's too early to introduce her to everyone. "
"Is this the hot date Ashley's telling everyone about?"
"Yes!" Ian ushered her out of the door and breathed a sigh of relief when the door clicked shut behind him.
"You can come out now!" Ian couldn't help but laugh at the situation. They had gotten carried away, and this was the universe's sign of telling them that it was too early. Lucy opened the bathroom door and stuck her head out before the rest of her body followed. Lucy emerged with Ian's light blue t-shirt on and nothing else except her bra and underwear. Her jeans were on the floor and she picked them up and slid them on over her legs.
"Do you know when my shirt is?" Lucy found her cardigan, but her top was M.I.A.
"I have no idea hun, did you check under the bed?" Lucy nodded her head and double checked.
"Well it looks like you aren't going to find it, just wear that, I have plenty here." Ian liked the idea of Lucy having his shirt and wearing it. She smiled and grabbed her things.
"So I'll see you at eight?" Lucy said before pecking his lips. He nodded and Lucy left his trailer. She ran into Shay on her way back to her trailer and hoped that she wouldn't notice that she was wearing Ian's shirt. They had a casual conversation before Shay interrupted Lucy.
"Wait, why are you wearing Ian's shirt?"
"Oh, uh, we were running lines and I spilled coffee all over myself. He gave me this to borrow until I could go back to my trailer and change." Lucy relayed from the top of her head. Shay nodded in understanding.
"Alright, well I'll see you on Monday!" Shay said. It was Thursday and Lucy had off tomorrow. A lot of people had the next day off, including Ian. They would probably spend the day together, Lucy thought. Lucy finished her next scene in a few takes and then she hurried home.
"Hi Annie! I'm going to get in the shower!" Lucy yelled and ran up the stairs to her room. She undressed and was in and out of the shower in fifteen minutes. She shaved her legs and washed her hair and was out. She put her robe on while she dried her hair. She curled it lightly so it was wavy and then did her makeup. She was still on the fence about the dress, it was really dressy for just dinner. She was all ready to go but wasn't dressed.
"Annie, do I look stupid?" Lucy asked her roommate and best friend.
"Lucy Hale, you look hot!" Annie said as Lucy blushed.
"Really?"
"Hell yeah! Who is this guy who has you all concerned about how you look?"
"I want to tell you but I can't right now! I promise once things are like official, you'll be the first to know." Lucy promised as she ran out the door, putting her shoes on. She quickly drove over to see Ian; she couldn't wait any longer. She ran up the flight of stairs to his apartment and knocked on the door. She waited a minute before she knocked again. When she didn't get an answer for the second time, she checked her phone. It was 8:05, so he should be here, right? She tried the door, but it was locked. Finally, she heard him inside heading towards the door. He opened the door with his hair dripping wet and in only a towel.
"I'm so sorry, I was going to leave the door unlocked, but I forgot and I got home late and had to shower!" Ian mumbled as he let her in.
"It's okay!"
"Yeah, but that means I haven't started dinner yet." Ian said reluctantly, "But you look amazing!"
"That's alright I think we have better plans now." Lucy smiled as she looked down at the towel wrapped against his waist. She looked back up him and she had a devilish smile on her face.