Chapter 1
Shay was told she just need to do two more scenes for the Halloween episode and then she's off to go. She looked for Lucy and the rest of the cast but they're all filming their respective scenes. Keegan on the other hand was sitting beside Troian, both holding their iPad…
Shay smiled at the sight of Keegan. "He looked so peaceful…" Shay thought to herself. Keegan was wearing his gray-blue long sleeves plaid on top of his gray tee shirt while Troian was wearing a blue off shoulder top. Shay reckoned Keegan looked engrossed with whatever is on his iPad. She also thought that Keegan looked so… serene. Like his inner calm radiates on the outside, something to that effect.
Troian glanced up and couldn't help but notice Shay staring at Keegan. Shay must've thought nobody can see her… Meanwhile, Shay could see a smile forming at the corner of Keegan's lips. Whatever Keegan was smiling about, Shay had no idea. But she liked seeing him smile. It was a good sight. "Yeah, a good sight." Shay reaffirmed to herself. Keegan on the other hand was aware that Shay has been staring at her. He couldn't help but let out a hint of smile…
Troian smirked at her own observation between Shay and Keegan... She's always had a knack for details and has been told a number of times m she has a keen observation… And these secret exchanges of glances between Shay and Keegan did not escape her scrutinizing eyes. She had a hunch on what's been going on between the two but she'd rather keep it to herself. She's actually curious if Shay, Ash and Keegan even have an idea about the tension growing among them especially on set or whenever they're together.
It took Shay a few seconds before she realized that she must've have been staring at Keegan because her make up artist had to get her attention, telling her she's gonna be up in a few seconds for her scene. Shay immediately blushed when she met Troian's eyes giving her a meaningful look as if telling her "I know who you're staring at." Shay shied away from Troian's eyes and looked at the mirror instead, making sure she's all set up for her scene…
Shay got off her chair and scanned her surroundings. Her eyes looked for Ash but she was nowhere to be found. She thought that Ash may be hanging out with the PLL crew again like she would often do while waiting for her to finish her shoot. But she's seen most of Ash' crew buddies and they don't seem to have any idea where she is when she mouthed "Where's Ash?" Almost everybody answered her with a shrug.
Now she's wondering if she and Ash would still be having dinner after her shoot. Shay grabbed her iPhone and dialed Ash' number but her line was busy. She wondered where Ash could be. Ash hasn't left her any messages for the day and she's been acting weird the past few days too. Ash was rather quiet even if they're together, like something's bothering her. Shay could tell Ash is trying to hide whatever it is that she's not telling by goofing around [more] than she regularly does—as if Ash is trying to hide whatever it is that's bothering her. Shay knows better though… Her instincts about Ash have never failed her. Or so she thought.
Ash on the other hand is already done with her shoot. She went outside to get some fresh air. She was also looking for Tyler and as if on cue her iPhone rang...
"Hey partner!" Tyler teased. Ash could tell Tyler was smiling on the other line. She couldn't help but smile back to Ty even if they can't see each other. "Let's hang out," Tyler finished his sentence.
"Like now… now?"
"No, of course not now. Tomorrow, I mean. Yes, now, silly. What are you doing? I thought you're done with your scenes already? I'm going out with the boys. I just thought you might wanna go. You're kinda off your game lately, you know."
Ash wondered if Tyler had any idea that he actually hit a spot with what he said. But what could Tyler possibly know about what's bugging her? "He can't possibly know, can he? Nobody knows." Ash wondered to herself.
"Hey, Ash. Still there? You comin?" said Tyler.
"Um, yeah. Still here. Sorry about that. Uh, listen… I don't think I can go tonight. I promised Shay I'd wait for her. We'll have dinner after her scenes. I wanna say… she'll be done in an hour… So… tomorrow, maybe?"
"Oh, okay. Next time… Bye now…" Tyler said with a feeling of defeat.
"Bye…" Ash said absentmindedly. She noticed she missed Shay's call because she was on the phone with Tyler. She thought of calling her back but she figured Shay must be doing her scenes already.
Tyler wasn't actually planning to bring Ash with the 'boys'. It's just that he noticed Ash hasn't been herself these past few days. He thought maybe Ash needed some time off. Tyler figured maybe they could hang out like they used to. Or maybe he can take her out for dinner. He hoped to do some music jam with her if Ash was feeling up to it, but like he figured, Ash seems to be off her game. It's not like him to pry... He usually minds his own business and could care less about his cast members' personal lives. But Tyler felt like he owes it to Ash to be there for him. He reckoned they've kind of grown to each other, especially now that they've been doing more scenes together.
"Shay? You ready?" Marlene asked.
"Yep! I was born ready, Mommy," Shay said with a wink. Everybody's been accustomed to calling Marlene "mommy" especially Shay since she coined it for her.
"Ok, places then, sweetie." Marlene said while checking Shay's costume, making sure everything's perfect. "You know, Ash should've been here." Marlene said out of the blue. "I'm betting she'd tease you nonstop because you're dressed up as Pocahontas for the Halloween ep. She was the one who kept bugging me to make you dress as Pocahontas, anyway. Where's your girl?"
Shay's eyes widened at the mention of Ash as 'her girl'. She wasn't entirely sure if Marlene was just teasing her… Or if she was just being casual about it… Shay tried to let it go by convincing herself that she probably just added more color to what Marlene said than she should have…
"I… actually… " as if on cue, Shay's iPhone vibrated. She beamed as soon as she saw Ash' sent her a text message… "Mommy, can I take this? It won't take long, please?"
"Is that Ash?"
"Yes!" Shay said with a smile. Marlene gave her a meaningful look but Shay just dismissed it. Instead she playfully stuck out her tongue at Marlene and promised to her that she'll just talk to Ash for a bit.
Ash: Hi babe. Dinner in a few? xoxo
Shay: Yes, please! Where are you? I was looking for you… I was trying to call you, you know… : (
Ash smiled at the thought of Shay looking for her. It was a rather relief for her knowing that Shay's still looking forward to their dinner…
Ash: I'm sorry… I went outside. I was on the phone with Tyler. Meet you at my spot later?
Shay: What about my car?
Shay knew exactly where Ash' spot is.
Ash: We'll figure it out… ; )
Shay: Awww… Alright. Gotta go. Almost done here… See you in a few. Miss youuu! Xoxo
Ash: Miss you more…
Shay left her iPhone on the table and started with her scenes…
Ash couldn't make up her mind... restless even. She was just in the lot like everybody else but she preferred to go off the radar as soon as she was done with her scenes. Her crew buddies have been buzzing her non-stop, looking for her, but she has been deliberately ignoring them. She was rather ashamed of herself for dismissing Tyler a while ago. She knew Tyler was just trying to reach out but she just doesn't feel like talking.
Finally Ash went to her favorite spot on the lot. People don't really frequent on her spot… Probably because it's usually dark in that area and was rather considered as a stock room for unused costumes and props… Ash just likes the fact that she can go to a place somewhere quiet anytime even if she's at the lot working. She's only brought one person here… Shay.
"Okay, guys! Good job! Pack up! Tomorrow we'll have our last table read and we'll do a couple more scenes, okay?" Marlene announced after Shay's scene. Everybody nodded in agreement and bid and hugged each other goodbyes.
Shay let out a smile and was happy to know that everybody's almost done with their scenes. Everybody seems to be happy too especially now that the show will be in hiatus. It seemed like the cast and crew already cooked up some plans for their upcoming vacay.
Troian walked towards Shay and found her busy rummaging her bag, as if she lost something important. Troian grinned at the thought that Shay must have tossed her bag twice already. She's betting she misplaced her iPhone again…
"Hey there, Pocahontas, looking for something?" Troian teased, seeing Shay hasn't changed from her Pocahontas costume. It seemed to her that changing clothes was the least of Shay's concern.
She didn't get any response from Shay. Shay was still busy tossing her bag and her stuff looking for something…
"Shay!" Troian cleared her throat and slightly raised her voice to get her attention.
Shay looked at her with disbelief, immediately changing her expression from shock to frantically worried… relieved even that Troian came to her.
"Oh, Troi! I'm so, so sorry I didn't notice you. Have you seen my charm bracelet? The one where it says "love"? You've seen that before, right? The one that I usually wear after my shoot? How about my iPhone? Did you see it? Can you ring it for me please? I don't remember where I put it. Oh gosh! What izzz happening?" Shay said frantically, worried because she's already late for her dinner with Ash.
Troian crossed her arms and teased Shay, "You're well aware you're just 24 but you're showing early signs of dementia already."
"You're not helping…" Shay said helplessly.
"Ow! I'm sorry… too soon? Okay, chill… Let me ring your iPhone first and then we'll look for your bracelet, okay? Maybe Lucy saw your iPhone but I'd have to call her since she left already." Troian said.
"Oh my god, I put my iPhone on vibrate mode! How will I find it now?" This time Shay sat on her chair feeling defeated by her clumsiness. She rested her forehead on her right palm. She's worried that Ash may have been trying to get a hold of her already. She's been looking for her iPhone and her bracelet for almost half an hour already.
Troian grabbed her Blackberry and tried calling Shay's phone. It didn't take long for Troian to see that the other table's vibrating and figured immediately that it was Shay's iPhone that's probably causing it. The other table was full of pile of clothes though, "no wonder Shay couldn't find it," she thought to herself. Troian walked a few steps away from where she was standing and continued calling Shay's iPhone until she got a hold of it underneath the pile of clothes. "Where are you going?" Shay asked.
"Getting your iPhone, what else?" Troian said in a matter-of-fact tone.
"Oh…" Shay on the other hand felt exhausted already. She's had a long day doing her scenes… She felt like it was already bad enough that she and Ash haven't spent a lot of time together these past few days. She didn't want to add any more reason for Ash to feel upset especially now that she's running late. Truth be told, all she'd want to do is to spend the night with Ash for dinner downtown.
Troian walked back to Shay's spot and handed to her her iPhone. She extended her left hand holding Shay's iPhone, but Shay immediately stood and thanked her with a tight hug. "Um, you can let go of me already? I got your iPhone now," Troian let out a laugh while saying it.
"You have no idea how many times I looked for it," Shay said with a relief. "Oh wait! I haven't found my bracelet yet."
"You mean this?" Troian smirked while she showed off her right hand holding Shay's charm bracelet.
"Where'd you find it?" Shay asked in disbelief.
"At your bag's back pocket, where else?"
"Huh? But it wasn't there when I was looking for it. I checked that pocket twice. Oh, thrice, I think," Shay said in confusion.
"Well you know things, they like to show up when you're not looking for them."
Troian was the only person who knows exactly where Shay puts her charm bracelet. She had a hunch on who gave that bracelet to Shay during their 2011 New Year celebration but she'd rather keep it to herself. Troian can still vividly remember what she witnessed during their New Year celebration but she never mentioned to anyone what she saw Shay and Ash were doing. She never really bothered. She figured it's not her business to do so and if Shay and Ashley didn't want to keep it as a secret, other people would've known already including Lucy.
"Here you go forgetful-Shay. At least you didn't lose your car in the parking lot… again." Troian teased.
"Nice one!" Shay pouted while she crossed her arms and sat down.
Troian recalled when Shay called her for help. She also remembered that Shay tweeted she couldn't find her car. She was relieved to know that Alex went to Shay to rescue her. She would've done the same if only she wasn't on the other side of the city with her boy friend. She was a bit curious though as to why Shay called for Alex' help instead of Ashley's. Normally, Shay would call for Ash help and Ash would immediately run to Shay's side…
For Troian, Shay and Ash were interdependent to each other whether they admit it or not. She sees it in them. Scratch that. She's seen it since Day One. She was kinda hoping others would see what she has observed so far between Shay and Ashley. But she was rather content knowing she sees things between the two that not a lot of people had really noticed. She was in fact enjoying what she's been witnessing so far…
Shay interrupted her thoughts when she asked, "are you going home already?"
"Oh, me? Nopes. You know, girl friend duties." Troian said with a grin.
Shay nodded. She knew that by "girl friend duties", Troian meant she'd be spending the rest of the day with her boyfriend. Shay and Troian used to hang out a lot before especially on weekends watching movies or just dining out. But that changed eventually when Troian started spending more time with her boy friend. Shay was okay with it though... If she and Troian did not spend less time together before, she probably wouldn't have started hanging out with Ashley.
Shay checked her phone and got worried when she saw ten text messages and 5 missed calls from Ash. The only words on Ash' text message were "where are you?" in uppercase letters. By now, Ash has been waiting for her for almost an hour already. She immediately dialed Ash' number…
Shay: "Im so, so, sorry… I couldn't remember where I put my iPhone again."
Ash: "Bet you also lost your bracelet, did you?" Ash said not trying to hide the fact that she's upset.
Shay: "I… No, I mean… Yes, I did. I just… Well Troian helped me look for it. Dinner still?" Shay said while crossing her fingers, hoping she could make up to Ash soon as they meet.
Ash: "Of course… Go to my spot. I'll wait for you."
Ash said, changing her tone of voice this time, unable to stay mad at Shay…
"Yes, bosss!" Shay said with a smile and then the line went dead.
Ash was sure Shay said "yes, bosss" with a smile, she couldn't help but smile back even if Shay couldn't see her.
"Dinner… Here we go…" Ash said… Trying to relax her self… Trying to muster some courage for a dinner she was actually trying to avoid.
PS: Fun fact... Troian and Keegan do have a picture of them holding their iPads. Just look it up on tumblr. And there's actually a picture of Shay with her charm 'love' bracelet. I just couldn't find it in my files. I'll post it once I see it. = l
Don't forget to hit the review button! :P I know you want to. Xoxo G