"Guys! We're on a deadline. We have no script and Christine is about to pull my hair out!" Tori panicked
"If none of the writers are working out, why don't we write the script?" Gaby suggested
"Do you have any experience in that?" Ian mocked
"Guys, guys... let's not get into it again." Jason sighed
"Yes, can we have one discussion about this project without clawing each other's eyes out." Jennie groaned
"Tell yourself that." Shannen rolled her eyes
"Me?" Jennie snapped, "You're the one who lifted up my skirt on set!"
"That was 30 years ago, get over it. Besides, you threw a script at my head!" Shannen growled
"Because you wanted the damn diet pills storyline so badly that you threw a tantrum." Jennie exclaimed
"I was the star of the show." Shannen yelled
"And you let everyone know..." Luke sighed
"Enough!" Tori cried out, "That was 30 years ago!" She glanced at Jennie for confirmation
"Yes, 30." Jennie nodded
"Right... 30 years ago. We were kids with so much going on and our lives were changing. We're grown ups now. We're married, with kids... I thought coming back here to our tv family would feel safe and comforting. I just wanted us to bring some of that magic back. We created a show that defined a generation. Does anyone else remember that? Or am I the only one who cares?"
"We care, Tori..." Jason insisted, "But the truth is, we are so disconnected, we don't know where a bunch of teenagers lives would be now."
"Well, it's not like we have nothing to draw upon... We lived and loved these characters, we made them. And the show lasted for 10 seasons, we got a glimpse of where these kids were at 25."
"10 seasons?" Shannen raised an eyebrow. "You guys did 6 seasons without me?"
"Well I only did 8." Jason added, "But I directed a few."
"I took a break mid season 6." Luke uttered
"Yeah, why did you leave?" Ian asked
"Do you remember that ridiculous storyline where Dylan was supposed to avenge his father's death?" Luke asked
"Yeah." Ian chuckled, "Teen show meets soap opera."
"I wasn't on board and basically the writers said if I didn't like it I could leave so..."
"Wish you hadn't left." Jason sighed
"Well, I didn't wanna watch Dylan have this ridiculous downfall. He had absolutely nothing going for him, not even Kelly, or at least Valerie. Then he gets married only to have her die in what? The next episode?"
"Dylan got married?" Shannen asked, "Boy, I've missed a lot."
"Yeah, Kel got amnesia, joined a cult, Donna did drugs... I think Kel did drugs too." Jason laughed, "Steve had a baby... that's probably the most unbelievable storyline."
"Hey!" Ian playfully warned
"You know what." Brian stood up, "Donna, I mean Tori is right... See look at that. We worked as these characters for so long we're so used to calling each other that. We remember so much from that show, that just goes to show you, what an impact it had. "
"I don't remember anything.." Jennie shrugged
"I'm serious." Brian interrupted, "We need to do this. For the fans and... for us. It feels good to be home."
"Thanks, Brian." Tori smiled at him, "Now can you all at least try to figure this out with me?"
The room was silent as they all speculated where these characters would be now... reminiscing the 10 years of memories.
"...I have something." Shannen spoke up, "I know I don't have as much to draw upon since the last I had of Brenda was when she was 19... But I'd like to believe going to London or wherever they said she was, all alone and independent had mellowed her. I believe she'd be saving the dolphins and meditating."
"Okay..." Tori nodded slowly, "We could try that... anyone else?"
"Brandon would be president." Luke chuckled
"You know, I don't wanna do that." Jason insisted, "The kind of guy Brandon is... or the Brandon I remember would take over the peach pit for Nat. He'd make a home where everyone felt welcome."
"I like that." Gaby smiled
"See... we're connected to these people." Tori assured, "and so were so many others. Everyone could relate, whether they were as smart as Andrea, as kind as Brandon, as bold as Brenda, as fun as Kelly, as rebellious and Dylan, as talented as David or as funny as Steve. We were the voice for a generation, and we can be again."
"I remember once, this fan came up to me and said he related to David because he loves music and he loves drugs." Brian laughed
"We inspired so many." Luke mocked, laughing.
The gang began jotting down ideas and bouncing off one another. Finally bonding again like old times. Through all the ups and downs, there was a lot of love there.
"Hey Shan," Luke caught up with her before she left.
"What?" She asked
"I'm sorry for the way we left things. You were just a kid and going through a lot and you're right, I did kinda throw you under the bus."
"It's fine." She chuckled, "It was a long time ago."
"I know, but I have a teenager now. I'm a little more compassionate."
"Hey, like Tori said, we all were kids, and I know I contributed to a lot of drama."
"Yeah, you three girls were the worst." He joked
"You're the one who dumped me after a 2 week fling in 1990 to go flirt with Jen."
"Wow, I was a bit of an asshole."
"Yeah... " She laughed, "We all were. And we got into a lot of trouble. I remember when Jason and I were dating and it got really hard to pretend he was my brother at work."
"Remember when we found out Brian and Tori hooked up?" He chuckled
"I remember that." Tori joked, walking by with Jennie, "I'm so happy to see everyone together again."
"Me too." Jen nodded, "And Shannen, I'm sorry too for how we left things."
"I'm just glad we're friends now." Shannen smiled
"See, you just needed me to be the mature one." Tori teased
"Yeah, the same girl who auditioned under a fake name because she thought that would fool her dad." Jennie teased back and they all laughed.
"Jen." Luke called after her, "Fancy a drink?"
"I don't know... after what happened the last time."
"I'll be on my best behavior." Luke grinned
"Molly asked me yesterday..." Jennie began as her and Luke sipped on drinks, "Why her middle name was Perrie."
"She didn't know she was named after me?" Luke asked
"I think it's just the rumours getting to her you know. They did this when John and I got divorced and she had to read that her father had an affair.. even though I've told her time and time again that he didn't."
"Remember the 2012 debacle?" Luke chuckled
"Oh after we did that Old Navy ad, and everyone was convinced we were dating, just because you were there for me during my divorce."
"Well, we did hook up a little." He winked
"You're so bad!" Jennie rolled her eyes, laughing.
Flashback -End of Season 4
The director had just yelled cut over Jason and Jennie's first scene in bed together playing Brandon and Kelly for the season 4 finale. Luke walked over and pulled Jennie up, dragging her away from Jason yelling, "The director said cut, it's over. End scene, she's mine now." And all the cast and crew laughed
"You are so jealous of my scenes with Jason." Jennie teased
"Call me possessive." Luke smirked
"You know, you can't hog my attention all the time." Jennie warned
"But you're mine." He joked
"So possessive..." She rolled her eyes, playfully hitting him
"It's that ego thing." He winked
"Not a good thing..."
"Probably not." He grinned, "But you're the one who said in an interview that... what was it?" He pretended to ponder, "Oh yeah, 'If Luke is kissing you, you forget everything around.' "
"Well, clearly I shouldn't have said that." She teased, "and you shouldn't have said there's always been an attraction there and you love our physical scenes."
"Did I lie?" He winked
As the beginning of season 5 began shooting, Luke and Jennie hadn't been in touch since she started filming during the summer. Luke grew committed to his new girlfriend rose and Jennie had met John on set. As their friendship remained platonic, they knew there was always a spark there, was it just flirty friends at this point. They figured they had scratched the itch for each other enough last year, maybe that was all they needed to go back to their real lives, and they had the odd physical scene in the show which helped with their sexual attraction. Which worked well for good while. They knew their friendship could withstand anything, but all that changed, towards the end of the year.
"Luke..." Jennie stood in the doorway of his dressing room
"What's up?" He asked, noticing the look on her face
"I -I wanted you to hear it from me... before you read it somewhere." She began,
"What is it?" He asked concerned
"John proposed..."
"Don't they all?" He laughed, but quickly stopped when she looked serious. "You said yes."
"Yeah.. it's different this time. It's not like Dean. I know it."
"Oh..." Luke nodded slowly, "Well, I'm very happy for you. I hope... uh, I hope it works out." He forced a smile, and she forced one right back.
