Hey there. Here's something I really had fun with...
Morilla, you guys. What a couple. I usually don't write about actors, I prefer to stick to tv shows and fictional characters, but the rumors about Jennifer and Lana hating each other were too juicy an occasion. And so here I am. Writing about real people that I don't know anything about. Which is creepy. And kind of exciting. Turns out I have all these head canons about Jennifer Morrison...who knew.
Of course this is purely fictional. Enjoy and review.
Jen was sprawled out on the couch in her apartment, her blonde hair pulled up in a messy bun, with next to no make up on her face and a glass of half finished white wine in her right hand. She had a full stomach, her favourite yellow socks on, an oversized hoodie to keep her warm and one of her best friends at her side.
That night, the world was indeed a wonderful place. And that was quite the happy thought, coming from such a grumpy person as she was.
She was tired, yes, but a good kind of tired.
Her body ached, her vision was a bit blurry, still it was the kind of fatigue she loved: the one that hits you at the end of a long but satisfying day of work. She liked it, it made her feel whole, fulfilled. It didn't happen very often, because she was such a perfectionist when work was concerned, but with this show she couldn't be more happy about how things were turning out so far, so she allowed herself to wallow in the feeling. Tired and content.
They had been shooting the third episode of season four for a few days now.
Those numbers still managed to amaze her: the fourth season still having that kind of audience and attention after all that time was kind of a big deal.
Everything went perfectly, it had been a good day, her face still hurt from smiling too much, and that was the other thing that never ceased to amaze her: how at ease she was with these amazing people she worked with. Even when they didn't see each other for months, all it took was ten minutes on set and boom, the old spark was back. They just clicked, she guessed. As actors and as friends. She was a pretty closed off person, so she didn't experience that kind of bond with just anyone. She really loved the cast, and she was so happy to be back.
She had a funny scene with Jared in the morning, then one with Josh in the afternoon, and she was even able to eat dinner at home, which -she had to admit- happened rarely. Since she had finished her scenes for the episode, she was given a couple of days off. Ginny had the same luck so they decided they should meet up.
Her work schedule was usually kind of crazy when Once upon a time was involved, but she really didn't care. She loved the show. She loved her work.
Still, it was nice having the night off for once. She knew some of her colleagues were still shooting...Jen didn't envy them at all, it was freezing outside. A shiver ran through her spine at the thought.
Ginny was lying next to her, all wrapped up in a very green, very Ginny-ish sweater, her short raven hair completely out of control, her feet on the table because, as Jen always said, "manners are overrated". Her pixie face showed the same emotions of her friend's.
It was the blonde that broke the comfortable silence first.
"God, I've missed this. You have no idea how much I've missed this".
As soon as the words slipped from her mouth, Jen became suddenly very interested in the intricated patterns of her carpet. She had known Ginny for a while now, and she was very comfortable around the woman, but she still couldn't express her feelings without being a bit embarassed. Even if it was with Ginny, whom she considered to be one of her closest friends.
"Yeah, I've missed this too. I've missed you. Hell, I've missed your wine!". Ginny said, and her smile grew bigger, as she took one sip from her own glass. It was just the third week of shooting and they had already fallen back into their old habits.
"It's not that I don't like it when we go out all together. Believe me, I love it. But, with me being a mother, I'm getting too old for tequila, and this is nice too, being able to return to our weekly tradition. You and me, a cooked meal, wine. It's been a while, I nearly forgot how comfortable your couch was".
"Yeah, I love our cast nights out too, but Wednesday evenings with Goodwin and Chardonnay are my favourites", Jen agreed whole-heartedly.
"Are you turning into a softy, Jen? Look at you, being all grown up, expressing your feelings without covering them up with your usual, thick layer of sarcasm. I'm so proud of you, honey".
That comment earned her a light, playful slap on the shoulder. "Shut up, Goodwin. Way to ruin the moment, by the way, when you should enjoy it while it lasts".
"Now I recognize you, Morrison", Ginny winked at her.
Jen had a sarcastic comeback right on the tip of her tongue, but she had to swallow it because a phone rang, interrupting their friendly banter.
"Is it yours?" Ginny asked her. "Please tell me it's your phone, I don't think I have the strenght to get up. That second dish of pasta killed me".
"You know it's yours. Jesus, Goodwin, you've had the same ringtone since I've known you, how is it possible that you still don't recognize it?".
"Just kidding. I know it's mine. I wanted to see if you'd get up first. Oh God, I swear my legs turned into jello" Ginny said, as she clumsily and unwillingly abandoned what she claimed to be her "personal spot" on the big couch.
She took her iphone from the wooden table where her feet previously were and answered the call without bothering to check the caller ID.
"Hello, this is Ginnifer speaking".
Jen could hear a voice from the other side of the phone, but it was to feeble to recognize the person behind it. She didn't have to wait a lot to know who was calling, though.
"Hey Lana. Yes, yes. Of course our lunch is still on. I'll see you tomorrow. Same place, same hour. Is it a problem if I bring with me a certain little boy? Josh is still working full day tomorrow and I owe him, since today I got the evening off while he's with him. He still can't speak properly, but I know he's pretty excited to see you. He practicaly squeals everytime he hears your name. I don't know what it is with you and kids, you just seem to put a spell on them. Pun intended. ... Yeah, perfect. Oh, how was it? I suppose emotional is an understandment. ... I bet you are beaten, just sleep it off. ... You really work too much, Parrilla. Good night honey, I'll talk to you soon". And with that, she hung up, a proud smile plastered on her face.
"That was Lana". Ginny informed her, even though it wasn't strictly necessary.
"I figured that much".
"She wanted to check if our lunch was still on tomorrow. Can you believe she just finished her scene with Bob? I mean, it's midnight. Does that woman get any rest? She sounded like she could use a good night sleep. And tomorrow she's still on this crazy late night schedule. Maybe I'll have a word with Eddie about it. Plus, have you read that scene? It was so emotional, it must have been so hard. I'm sure she killed it, though. She always does".
"Yeah, yeah". Jen dismissed her, and her shortness caused Ginny to frown. It seemed like her previous good mood had vanished.
"What is it, Jen?".
"Nothing" the blonde murmured. She knew she was beginning to sound childish, but she didn't care.
"You jealous, Morrison?" Ginny provoked her, and that got Jen's attention. Ginny really knew her too well: sometimes provoking her was the only way to get a reaction out of her.
"Of Lana? Why should I be?".
"Because your best friend in the world is going to have lunch with someone who isn't you tomorrow, of course. Wanna join us? I'm bringing little Jeff too. I know all about your secret adoration". Ginny knew Jen had a soft spot for her kid, even though she'd never admit it out loud.
"Nah". Another monosyllabic answer came from the blonde.
"Why not? It'll be fun" Ginny insisted, while she returned to her previous position on the couch.
"Don't feel like it. I just want to sleep. Like, a lot. It's not really everyday that we get to enjoy some time off", Jen unconsciously began to fidget with the hem of her shirt.
"We've been working together for four years now, poor girl is going to think you hate her, Morrison. You know those rumors about you two hating each others guts were pretty insistent back in day".
"Maybe I do hate her", Jen mumbled, eyes still focused on her shirt, not wanting to meet her friend's scrutinizing eyes.
"We both know you don't".
Jen couldn't see them, but Ginny's eyes twinkled maliciously. The slight change of tone in her friend's voice wasn't lost to her though, so the blonde finally decided to make eye contact with her, seemingly confused by the sudden change of mood in the conversation.
"What are you trying to imply?".
"You have the biggest crush on her, Jen. I still don't understand why you won't admit it. It's been years. Avoiding her isn't the best plan to get her attention, you know? And she could really use a...friend, right now".
"For fuck's sake, for the last time, I don't have a crush on Lana Freaking Parrilla, when will you stop with this nonsense? I shouldn't have told you about that one time in college...now you try to set me up with every attractive woman we know".
"So you do admit she is attractive. And Jen, I bring it up because you don't talk about it, and when yo do, you talk about it like it wasn't a big deal. I mean, you lost your virginity to that girl. I bet she had black hair". She had to suppress a wink: it would have been too much.
Ginny knew she was pushing too hard, but she really couldn't help it. She loved Jen, but sometimes the woman behaved herself like a twelve years old boy with a crush. She was in her thirties, and even a hypothetical twelve years old would have been less in denial and more in touch with his emotions than she was.
"It was a one time thing, and it's not like I am embarassed about it. I just don't understand how something that happened a long time ago is somehow relevant to this present conversation. A conversation that, by the way, you felt free to initiate and that I'd rather not have at all".
"And why is that? Are you scared to find out that I'm right?".
Oops, there it is. I unleashed the dragon - Ginny thought, as Jen looked at her with an open mouth and eyes shining with disbelief.
"When I think about it, you are the one who is going to lunch with her once a week, Goodwin. And you always bring her up. Lana did this, Lana said that. Seems to me you are the one with the crush".
Jen really snapped at her, she couldn't help it: she had just reached her boiling point. She wasn't known to be a very patient person, and that particular topic always seemed to bring up the worst in her.
"How very mature of you, Jennifer".
Oh, she used her full name, she was in for trouble. Ginny wasn't one to back down from a fight when it was for a good cause.
"Would you please drop it? Just...drop it".
Jen was still hiding under her tough and mad exterior, but Ginny was able to perceive a slight weakness in her words. It wasn't a confession, but it was a start. That softened her immediately.
They had two strong characters, that much was true, and they both expressed their opinions fiercely, so things between them always escalated quickly, but the difference between them was that Ginny always knew when to stop. She could be quite the peace keeper, when she wanted to be.
"I'm sorry, Jen, I stepped over the line. I just...I don't understand how, after four years, your relationship with Lana is still so...formal. It's almost like you don't want to open up to her. Almost as if something was holding you back. And I just want you to know that you are missing out, because yes I do have lunch with her every week, and that's exactly how I know she is a wonderful human being. You two could really be fast friends".
"You know me, Gin, I'm not an open person. I am shy and goofy, borderline on socially awkward. I just...it's not easy for me like it is for you. I am not a ray of sunshine like you are. I don't do fast friends".
Jen nearly blushed at that confession, and she decided to focus her attention on the droplets of rain running on the big window of her living room. The noise the water made against the glass was soothing. Plus, she would have looked anywhere but at Ginny's eyes. Another thing she usually wasn't good at was talking about herself. It took her some time. A lot of people perceived her as cold and detached and couldn't go past this first impression, but the truth was that she just didn't trust easily.
"Don't use the shy card with me, Morrison. You opened up to me. And you seem pretty chummy with the rest of the cast, too. I still think you should give her a chance".
"Maybe she's the one who should give me a chance", Jen protested.
"What do you mean by that?", Ginny asked her, confused.
"I don't know, it's just that she's always so carefree around you guys, with you and with Bob she is the most hilarious, silly person, and then with me...she's like a completely different one. She's so cold and professional. It's confusing". Jen hoped that what she had said didn't sound so stupid as it did in her head, because it was exactly what she had always thought about the woman and she wouldn't have been able to say it in any other way. Thankfully, Ginny seemed to understand her.
"Maybe she just thinks you want her to behave like that. You know, I have this theory...that your relationship has been influenced by the fact that your characters couldn't stand each other in the beginning. She's very into the roles she plays, she identifies with them on a deep level, you know how she works as an actress. It's almost unhealthy, but the final result is outstanding. Now that Emma and Regina's dynamic changed, maybe yours could too".
That little speech caused Jen's eyebrow to rise. She didin't seem very convinced.
"Yes, but does it have to? I mean, I am pretty happy with what I have right now. It's not like I don't have any friends. And it's not like me and Lana aren't civil to one another. There is not a written rule in our contracts that says we have to be bffs with every cast member we meet in our career. I am not ashamed to say I hated some of my colleagues with a passion. Me and Lana...we just don't click. But we tolerate each other. And that doesn't affect our work. So I won't lose any sleep because of that".
Ginny shook her head. She wanted to say that maybe it didn't affect their work, but it sure as hell affected their lives. But she knew there was no point in talking with the blonde when she was so convinced about something.
"I guess you are right". Ginny offered her a feeble smile. Her way of saying that, even though she decided to drop it for now, the conversation was not over.
They talked about everything and nothing for a little while, and peace was easily restored. When Ginny looked at the hour, she seemed genuinely surprised to see how late it got. She really lost track of the time.
"Well, Morrison", the brunette said, getting up, "as much as I love your wine, I have a family to return to. I know we have a few days off, but don't be a stranger okay? I'll talk to you soon".
"I promise. Bye Gin. Thanks for the company. It was exactly what I needed". She tried to get up in orded to accompany her to the door, but her friend stopped her.
"There's no need for formalities, Jen. I know my way out. This is like my second house, I practically live here. Good night honey".
In any other occasion, Jen would have protested. But her feet hurt and her eyelids felt heavy. Ginny didn't seem very pissed about their previous discussion, so she was pretty sure she was leaving because it was time for her to do so, and not because of the fact that Jen couldn't keep her stupid mouth shut when provoked. So she just smiled tiredly at her friend and murmured "G'night", wrapping herself up in her hoodie.
As Ginny took her purse and closed the door behind her, she finally released the sigh she was holding.
The blonde was completely oblivious and her usual stubborn self. It was sweetly infuriating, really. If only Jen could see the look on her face while she unconsciously stared at Lana when she thought nobody was looking.
What a waste...