"Right guys," Tori began, "If we're gonna do this we really need to establish what role we're gonna take. Clearly Jen and I created this idea."
"So what?" Ian scoffed, "We all contributed to this. If it wasn't for every single one of us, you wouldn't even have a show now."
"So what would you suggest?" Jennie folded her arms
"I want my brand involved." Ian said firmly
"No, no. I'm not turning my show into an ad." Jason warned
"Your show?" Ian snapped
"I'm the director!" Jason insisted
"What? Who made that call?" Ian retorted.
The gang came to blows as each one had their own agenda for this second chance at hollywood fame.
Luke headed over to Jennie amidst the drama... "Drink?" He asked, she nodded, as they snuck out and headed to the nearest bar.
Luke and Jennie had about several drinks between them at this point. Trying to numb the anxiety.
"You ever wondered what would have happened if we had never done that show?" She asked, staring at her shot glass.
"Everyday..." He sighed, before chugging another. "Our lives would've been a lot simpler for sure." He chuckled
"You got that right." She nodded
Flashback - Shooting Star/An American in Paris
"I'm kinda nervous." Luke whispered over to Jason
"Oh this is... this is the scene." He grinned
"Here goes nothing." Luke chirped.
"I can't just kiss a guy I've had a major crush on and pretend that it doesn't mean anything... I just don't know what."
"Maybe it means... that we like each other."
"Maybe... we were both feeling lonely... and went a little too far."
"I don't think you mean that." Luke swallowed a gulp as he anticipated this moment. Jennie felt shivers down her spine as his hand stroked her hair behind her ear... And then it happened.
After the kiss, she pulled away. He couldn't tell whether she was just in character or she felt the spark he had and panicked.
As soon as the director yelled cut, she walked off set, catching her breath. He did the same.
"So?" Jason asked once Luke entered his dressing room, "How'd it go?"
"Weird..." Luke, slumped himself on the couch. "It was like... fireworks. And I think she felt it too."
"Oh boy, you're in trouble."
"You think?" He asked
"You asked for this, remember?" Jason chuckled
"Hey, I'm trying to be as professional as possible." He jokingly warned
"Sure you are." Jason laughed
"I think..." Jennie said pacing around Tori's dressing room, "I think I enjoyed that a little too much."
"So?" Tori shrugged, "When you're working that close with an attractive actor all day, it's gonna blur the lines a little. It's just the unspoken rule of this job. As long as it doesn't get out of hand, it's okay to feel the way you feel."
"Yeah..." Jennie sighed, "I guess you're right. I just don't want to stress Dan."
"Leave these issues at work and it'll be fine."
"Since when are you the wise one." Jennie smiled, "I'm the one who has to beat up all your bad boyfriends." She chuckled
"Maybe you're rubbing off on me." Tori grinned
"Well, I'm proud."
Modern day
"You know, I should've known you suggested that whole thing." Jennie rolled her eyes
"Gotta go after what you want." Luke smirked
"You have always been trouble..." She laughed
"Harmless!" He assured, which made her chuckle more.
"Oh really? Harmless, I guess you're forgetting about that pool scene or that time we filmed on a boat." She gazed at him.
Flashback -I want you, I've always wanted you
"Okay, guys!" The director called out, "I know it's cold but one more shot under the water and then we're done for the night."
"I can't go under again." Jennie shivered,
"Me neither." He said holding her close
"Hey!" She gasped, "I felt that."
"I'm just... I'm cold." He joked, pulled her body close to him
"Well something's heating up." She warned, trying to pull away before he got excited
"What can I say?" He let out that cheeky smirk, "I'm warmer when you're close to me than when you're not." He winked
"You better start operating Doc, 'cause I'm out of here in an hour."
"An hour?"
"Mmhmm, but it's quality not quantity that counts."
"Cut!" The director yelled, "Right, excellent. That was much better, Luke you stopped the grabbing that time finally. We're done."
"Uhm..." Luke cleared his throat. "I... uh... I can't get up just yet... I'm gonna need a minute."
The crew laughed, as Jennie walked away blushing.
Modern day
"Oh come on!" Luke insisted, "That's basic biology..."
"You should learn to control yourself." She smirked
"Around you? Impossible." He grinned, "...Another round?" He gestured over to the bar
"Sure..." She nodded
After another few rounds of drinks, there was a lot less tension. They had relaxed around each other. Which normally meant trouble. But they didn't care. There was something so comforting about being around each other. It felt like home.
"We had some good times..." She began, "We were so young and so optimistic."
"Yeah... I remember that year... I couldn't wait to get to work everyday." He smiled, brushing her hair out of her face with his fingers.
"Yeah... but you didn't have to tell the world that!" She laughed, playfully slapping his arm.
"It was Howard Stern... he pulls it out of you." Luke grinned.
The next thing they knew, they were drunkenly checking into a room. Passionately kissing up against a wall, until Luke picked Jennie up and her legs were around his waist. Falling into bed they couldn't help but make love, and fall into bad habits. Unfortunately for them, life imitates art one too many times.
Once they awoke, the feeling of satisfaction didn't last long. Jennie jumped out of bed.
"I gotta go!" She cried, grabbing her clothes
"Why?" He moaned in that sleepy voice of his, lying in bed, craving more.
"I uh... I have to take my daughter to soccer practise."
"Which one, Lola or my namesake?" He smirked
"Neither, Fiona, my youngest."
"Hey, she's doing soccer too?" He asked
"And no one knows about Luca's name. So keep your mouth shut!" She stormed out
"Last night was amazing for me too..." He remarked to himself.
"Oh my god..." Jason sighed, nudging Ian.
"What? What?!" Ian groaned
"She showed..." He replied
Just then Shannen appeared through the door. Everyone was silent. Brian was the first to go greet her, having been the only one who had spoken to her often.
"Hey guys! I'm back!" She smiled, as they all forced smiles too. "Relax I don't bite... not anymore" She winked
Still silence.
"Oh come on, lighten up. I have."
"Yeah uhm." Jason cleared his throat. "Good to have ya back."
"Right, let's get started!" She prompted herself at the table.
"I wanna do something different." Shannen suggested, and everyone looked up
"Excuse me?" Gaby asked
"No, I'm not going back to that dramatic Brenda role and having a bunch of 'I hate Brenda' newsletters around again. Let's change it up. Brenda has mellowed, she's centered. She's found herself through yoga, or saving the world, or whatever."
"Okay..." Tori said anxiously, "But you know, we have to play these characters, that's what the fans want..."
"Oh really?" Shannen eyed her closely "Is that why we're all here?"
"Uh yeah..." Ian scoffed and Shannen stood up
"Shannen, don't." Brian pleaded
"No, no..." Shannen folded her arms, "Now suddenly we're all close friends who want to do something for the fans, right? You wanna keep me in that villainous role?"
"You did that to yourself..." Luke chimed in
"You threw me under the bus first!" Shannen snapped. "Besides, you've got Riverdale! Oh that's right, you can't make out with Jennie over there and pretend to the world that your friendship had nothing to do with benefits... And Tori, two reality shows cancelled, so you need to make a quick buck... Ian you're a walking ad that no one is listening to... which is probably why your wife is sleeping with someone else, because you're too busy acting in your own house! Gaby, I don't even know why you're here since the job you have with SAG is clearly better than this torture. Brian, I love you but if you think this will get you out of Megan Fox's shadow... you're wrong... unless you're here for Tori... and Jason... It's one thing to say what you said about me in your book, but you left a lot out don't you think? After all Christine wasn't the only passion in your past... Or did you forget the months you spent in my bed!"
"Alright that's enough!" Jason warned, "We're not gonna get anywhere like this. Do you have a point?"
"Yes..." Shannen continued, "Stop being afraid of what the public will say. We have kept each other's secrets. Take the power back. There is nothing the media haven't said about me, and you know what? It's fine. They can't get to me anymore. So stop hiding under these excuses and stop giving a fuck!"
"She's right!" Tori stood up, "A little harsh, but right! We have been so afraid of any of our pasts coming out. Let them talk. We will show them with this show, we are taking the power back! We are not has-beens, We are relevant!"
"I'm sorry, but there is nothing wrong with wanting to keep some things private." Jennie shook her head
"Because of Dave?" Luke rolled his eyes.
Flashback - Howard Stern Show, 1993
"So what's going on with Shannen? She gets a bad rep... you know she dissed me at the awards." Howard asked
"That's the thing she can't go around slagging everyone off." Luke sighed,
"And the rumour about storylines? Is it because her character lost Dylan to Kelly?" He asked
"I think she was the star of the show, and now this season things have shifted and everyone has a main part... she didn't like that too much." Luke shrugged, "You should've seen her face when they gave the Diet Pills storyline to Jen."
"Is she here next year? There's a rumour she won't be." Howard asked, eagerly
"I don't know, I haven't spoken to anybody yet."
"So you're all going off to college next year..."
"I don't wanna go to college." Luke shook his head, "I don't want Dylan to go. I don't believe everybody has to."
"And how about your love scenes with that blonde?" Howard grinned
"I could do with some more of those." Luke winked
"She's your girlfriend right?" He asked
"On the show, yeah."
"Not in real life? Could've fooled me."
"No, I've just started seeing someone. Great girl, not an actress thank god!" He chuckled
"Bet, you enjoy those physical scenes though, my god!" Howard urged
"Yeah I do. I mean, there's always been a certain attraction there, but you know, half the world has a crush on Jen at this point. Fidel Castro got a satellite tv to watch her." He chuckled
"Bet Jen is fun to kiss..." Howard loved to rock the boat with his guests.
"Best on the show." He replied
"Describe Jennie in one word?" Howard insisted
"...Sweetness." Luke grinned.
Flashback - Towards the end of season 3
"So..." Luke headed into Jennie's dressing room, they had just finished shooting 'Senior Poll'
"What's up?" She asked
"I gotta get something off my chest..." Luke hesitated
"What?" She asked
"I, uh... I really..." He began moving towards her, "It's getting really hard for me." He got very close now. Standing behind her as she took out her earrings. She could feel his breath on her neck,
"Luke..." She warned, barely a whisper. "Don't do this."
"I want you." He whispered
"We're work together." She tried to stand her ground
"Was all that flirting over the years innocent?" He asked, moving her hair out the way
"I'm engaged." She pleaded
"I know..." He sighed, as she moved away from him. "I'm sorry. It's just getting harder to control."
"I know..." She nodded. He headed back over to the door, not wanting to make things worse. But just then she called out,
"Wait..."
