Chapter 1 - Ron POV

I was leaving for London today. I had packed everything last night and said goodbye to my friends and family, so it was easy to slip out of my house. I was going to an actor boot camp in London before filming the new HBO series Band of Brothers. HBO had asked me to do a film diary of the boot camp so I had to pack a camera. I still had no idea who I would be working with actor wise, I just knew that I would be playing Captain Lewis Nixon and that he was best friends with Captain Richard Winters. I had done my research about everything I would need to know. All about who Nixon was and all about military strategy, as Nixon was an intelligence officer.

I loaded my bag into my car and started driving for the airport. I got there, and since it was like 3:00 a.m. there was almost nobody there. I boarded my flight and the journey began. I slept for around three hours before waking. Fortunately for me, HBO had been able to get me a first class ticket so the seat was actually really comfortable. I watched a couple of movies and of course I read all about Nixon.

When the plane finally landed Matthew Settle and Eion Bailey didn't have their work permits. I didn't know who they were or who they were playing until an HBO person gathered us to go through customs together. I made acquaintances and found that they were playing Spears and Webster. We ended up waiting for over an hour for them to work everything out. All I knew was that I was tired. So far I had been meeting all the people who had been flown out from America, and learned who they would be playing. None of them had said they would be playing Winters. I was puzzled at this but didn't think much about it.

When Settle and Bailey were finally allowed to leave the airport we all got on a bus and were driven to the hotel. It was a tall building, but of course it was in the city center so it blended in with all the other buildings. We were all led into the lobby. There were shining lights set in elaborate fixtures, along with floral patented carpets. Definitely not my style but it was elegant. They handed out key cards to everyone and told us what floors to go to. I was to be staying on level six. I got in the elevator and pressed the button. It illuminated and the lift started to glide upwards. It stopped at floor four, and I assumed some random person would be joining me. I was incorrect though I didn't know it at the time.

A tall man — roughly a couple inches taller than me — stepped inside. He had slightly broad shoulders and ginger hair. He went to push a button but didn't, realizing that he was going to the same floor as myself. He looked over to me and I was met with a pair of striking blue eyes. He glanced away quickly which surprised me. What also was surprising was this fluttery feeling in my stomach. I didn't have much time to think about that as the elevator dinged again and it was at floor six. I walked out and looked at the sign saying what rooms were down which hallway. I turned left and started to walk. The ginger haired, blue eyed, man followed me.

I found my room and realized that the man was standing at the door next to me. I was told that the hallway I was staying in was all Band of Brothers cast, along with several other hallways in various parts of the hotel. I looked over at him the same time he looked at me.

"Are you part of the Band of Brothers cast?" He asked, shocking me with his British accent.

"Ya, I-I-I am," I stuttered before sticking my hand out for hime to shake, "My name is Ron."

Shaking my hand he said, "My name is Damian." He said no more and walked into his room. I quickly entered mine. Why did I have to stutter? What's wrong with me? I thought. I flopped down on my bed exhausted from the day of travel. Before I could dose off, there was a knock at my door. I groaned and got up.

I opened the door to find Damian standing there with two pairs of boots. "Someone dropped these off at my room a minute ago. They told me to give you one pair, and that we should soak them in the bathtub and wear them as much as possible, because boot camp starts on Monday and we'll be training in these." He mumbled.

I gently took the pair that he was holding out to me, and my hand brushed his. I felt sparks pass between us and a shiver went down my spine.

"They also told me that I should soak them with you so I'd get a chance to know you, since you're playing Nixon."

The gears in my head clicked and I asked, "So are you playing Winters?"

He nodded his head and slipped by me into my room. He walked towards the bathroom and I hear the water running for the tub. Fuck, why does he have to play Winters. He's so god damn gorgeous. It was then that I realized what I had thought. Why did I think he was hot? Before I could confuse myself more he hollered, "You coming Ron?"

I answered him by walking into the bathroom. He was sitting on the edge of the large tub that was gradually filling up with water. He was lacing up his boots. I sat down next to him and started to copy him. Once the boots were on he dipped them in the water.

"Your not American." I said.

"No, I am not," he said with a glint of something in his eyes, "But I can act like one." His voice switched from his deep British to a slightly harsher American accent.

I chuckled before giving him a playful shove on the shoulder. We were already getting along.

"So where are you from?" Damian asked me.

"Iowa. You?"

"St. John's Wood." Comfortable silence followed his reply. Than my phone started to ring and I realized it was my girlfriend. Why did I feel disappointed that she was calling me?

I answered her call and told that I had landed safe but that I was a busy. Even though I was just sitting in a bathtub with an extremely handsome guy. Our conversation felt short and clipped. I ended up hanging up on her. I let out a sigh.

"Hey man are you alright?" He asked, already attuned to my mood swing.

I don't know what prompted me to give him an honest answer but I said, "No not really. My girlfriend just called me but I just didn't feel like talking to her. I actually felt annoyed and disappointed that she called." I said the last part quietly.

Damian just stared at me with is electric blue eyes, a flash of recognition crossing his iris's. He didn't prod or ask any more questions he just changed the topic. "So we're supposed to play life long best friends," he rested a hand on my shoulder and I felt those sparks return, "I am glad it's you who is playing Nixon."

"Why?"

"Because, you just seem like a great guy, someone that I can talk to. Jesus, I just met you and I already trust you." He exclaimed.

"Ya we did just meet and now we're sitting on the edge of a bathtub wearing leather boots."

He let out a barking laugh and gripped my shoulder even more. I joined in his laughter. We then started talking about our lives and telling each other stories. Damian was a genuinely funny guy and the hours we spent talking just formed some kind of bond between us. Like we were the real Nixon and Winters. One thing I realized during that time was how much I loved his laugh. It was deep and rich. At some point late into the night he got up to go to his room. "Make sure you sleep in those, apparently it will help them fit better."

"I will. See you tomorrow."

"Yes, I can't wait for boot camp."

Damian had told me about how excited he was to go and learn all of these new skills. If I had been mildly interested Damian would be downright ecstatic.

I just chuckled and gave him a clap on the shoulder before closing the door to my room. As soon as I heard his room door close I slumped down on the wall that separated our rooms and raked a hand through my hair. Thoughts of Damian and I spending hours on end together made me feel warm and happy. Thoughts of him and I together also brought that fluttery feeling back into my chest. Little did I know, Damian was leaning against the exact same wall thinking the same thoughts and feeling the same things. I drifted off to sleep before I could even make it to the bed.