Upside Down
Calm down
And get straight
It's in our eyes
It's how we operate
You're true, you are
I'd apologize but it won't go very far
Turn me inside out and upside down
And try to see things my way
Turn a new page, tear the old one out
And I'll try to see things your way
"Jen." Luke called as he walked over.
Jennie, with her bag over her shoulder, was about to head into her car.
"Jen, come on, what are you gonna do, not talk to me? We work together!" He insisted as he grabbed her arm before she could open the car door.
"Luke, I gotta go." She said firmly.
"Where? To hang out with that musician?" He groaned
"Not that it's any of your business but yes, I have seen him a couple of times."
"Not my business? Okay." He scoffed with a light chuckle. "Less than a week ago you were talking about a commitment but yeah, fuck any link I have to your personal life." He said sarcastically.
"Yeah, the commitment you wanted nothing to do with." She sneered as she once again tried to get into her car but he stopped her.
"Let's get one thing straight here, you're the one who ended things; all I said was I'm not ready for a relationship. You didn't want to wait, so I'm trying to be a friend."
"That's just it." She brushed her hair back in frustration, "Luke," she said after a breath, "I get it, alright? I know and I appreciate it but I just need some space. We work together 14 hours a day..." She sighed. "...I need to come to terms with this emotionally. I just - I can't be your friend right now."
He remained silent.
She finally got into her car and drove off, as he watched on.
The 14 hour work day was affecting everyone. Everyone was getting restless and agitated with one another. And the bigger the show got, the more pressure everyone was under.
"You can't do that!"
The gang all turned around as they heard one of the crew members arguing with Shannen
"I don't give a shit." She hissed back as she headed over to the gang, lighting her cigarette.
"What's wrong?" Jason immediately jumped in the middle
"She needs to be pulled down a peg!" The man growled, "We don't take orders from her and it would be nice for her to show a little consideration for the hours we put in."
"You know what?" She rolled her eyes, indifferent to the whole argument. "I really don't get why you're so mad. Maybe my idea is just better than yours. And maybe if you didn't put the lights there, they wouldn't be right in my fucking eyes when I'm trying to see my scene partner."
The man exhaled "You see, that's why. That's why they say what they say about you. This is it." He pointed over to the magazine on the table. "You keep this up, and I bet everyone you've ever worked with will speak out."
"You're lucky I don't care enough to get you fired." She hissed as Jason went to pick up the magazine. The man walked off.
"What is it anyway?" Shannen asked and Jason quickly brought the magazine down to his side.
"It's nothing. Just tabloid shit." Jason assured
"Come on, show it to me." She urged before snatching out of his hand.
"...What the fuck?!"
The three female cast members ran into Chuck's office
"90210 Darling or Diva?" Shannen spat as she threw the magazine on Chuck's desk
"Look, they're just trying to sell their bullshit magazines. All this means is the show is finally a hit and now they all want to jump on the bandwagon."
"This is so unfair!" Tori exclaimed, "I'm barely in the article except in one sentence where they say I only got the role because of my dad. Oh and did I mention that they had a lot to say when comparing my looks to Jennie and Shannen?"
"At least they didn't call you the heaviest girl on the show." Jennie folded her arms
"Oh please. They still compared you to Marilyn Monroe."
"Oh yeah..." Jennie began to read her portion of the article. "Voluptuous Kelly Taylor... slightly on the heavier side next to her petite costars, Jennie Garth seems to be preparing for her winter bod now that summer's over. That's just sexist!"
"Screw both of you!" Shannen rolled her eyes, "The entire article is about me. Look at this." She snapped after taking the magazine from Jennie. "Ever since the push back the show received from their Spring Dance episode, a source tells the National Enquirer that Shannen's character isn't the only one taking a walk on the wild side."
Shannen took a deep breath, "They mention how short my engagement was, got word for word statements from old directors who hate me apparently. And now rumors of me being difficult on set."
"Alright." Chuck sighed, "But as Mr Spelling always says, there's no such thing as bad publicity!"
"I'm telling you if it's one of the crew members selling shit stories about me, I want you to find out who they are and i want them gone!"
By the end of summer, the gang had all skyrocketed to a level of fame no one could prepare them for. They were invited to the Emmy's in August, and while they were happy for the success of the show, the girls struggled to cope with the media.
Everyone was bombarded with photographers and tabloid journalists made it their mission to find dirt on Hollywood's hottest teens.
"Have you noticed they never pit you guys against each other?" Shannen turned to Luke while they were waiting to shoot their scenes
"Who?" Luke he mumbled
"The newspapers." She replied. "I mean yeah they try to find stuff out about you and Jason but you're never compared."
"Are you kidding me?" Luke laughed, "Shan, this summer alone, the job offers I turned down got immediately offered to Jay afterwards and vice versa."
"But they don't hate you..." She scoffed
"Just.. I don't know. Don't be a bitch." He teased, and she huffed, not finding this amusing.
"...You guys were right by the way." She eventually softened. "They shouldn't have forced us to correct the storyline."
"Look..." Luke sighed, "We can look at this in two ways. 1... the storyline got us worldwide recognition, and 2... teenagers are having sex, so Brenda and Dylan are still having sex. And we're gonna keep finding honest stories to tell because that's what our show is about."
They had all arrived at the Emmy's and while Luke had given Jennie the space she needed, she struggled to hide her feelings about the fact that he brought a date to the show.
"Are you okay?" Tori whispered once she saw Jennie's face fall.
"It's just... I don't know." Jennie shook her head, "It's hard to pretend it's all okay."
"Yeah..." Tori agreed, "But it's just a date."
"I know... it just hurts to know that someone didn't like you as much as you liked them."
Luke was about to head into the men's bathroom when he heard someone sound like they're struggling in the women's.
He pushed the door slightly open to find Jennie tearing up in front of the mirror. He immediately headed in
"Hey..." he soothed.
She turned around, shocked to see him there. She quickly wiped her eyes with her fingers.
"What's wrong?" He asked, walking closer to her.
"...Dress doesn't quite fit." Jennie fidgeted as she tried to zip up her dress, not wanting to tell him the real reason she was crying. "They keep offering me the same skimpy little dress that I don't want to wear and then forcing me to fit into it." She said, agitated
"Hold on." Luke said as he reached for the zip and pulled it up.
"Thanks." She muttered once he was done.
"Sometimes, it just takes a little patience." He smiled at her
She stared into the mirror, unable to face him. But she could feel his eyes on her.
He couldn't help but stare as he breathed her in, wanting to reach out and hold her, but he stopped himself.
"Don't waste your time with clothes that are too tight and magazines full of crap. ...You're beautiful. In fact, you're like the most beautiful girl ever." He chuckled and she began to blush, struggling to conceal it. "So fuck what they write." He continued after a beat. "You know what.. when we go back to work on Monday, we're gonna throw out all the clothes on the rack that you don't like. Give it to the goats." He assured and she laughed.
It felt good to hear her laugh. It made him smile.
She finally turned to face him, offering an appreciative smile, and he finally reached for her and stroked her hair.
"Jen..." He uttered, "If only you saw yourself the way I see you."
"Hey." Jennie said as she walked onto set. Luke was sitting by himself with a book.
"You're talking to me..." He joked as he looked up
"I just wanted to thank you for the other day." She said as she joined him on the couch.
He watched her as she looked down at the floor before answering her, "Not necessary."
"Yes it is." She turned to face him "...It made me realize why you meant so much to me in the first place. And I... I don't want to lose that. My mother said I needed a little bit of country here in LA and... well, you're it."
"Well... I'm always here for you, babe." He stretched his arms out
"I know." She murmured
He finally pulled her in for a hug.
"Maybe you were right." He said as she rested her head on his shoulder. It felt so good to be in each other's arms again.
"About what?" She asked
"Our friendship. Maybe it shouldn't be less, or more, than exactly what it is." He drawled.
There is no line that you can't step right over
Without you well I'm left hollow
So can we decide to try a little joy tomorrow
'Cause baby tonight I'll follow
The way that we've been speaking now
I swear that we'd be friends, I swear
'Cause all these little deals go down with
Little consequences, we share, we share
And I'm gonna love you anyway
I try to see things your way