Keep in mind that the timing of filming this is BEFORE all the other chapters, so they go down a few notches on the acceptance of their feelings and are still fighting themselves and trying to be less obvious about it.
It was fun writing this, even with the challenge of jumping around to a different character/feelings development level, so I hope you all enjoy :)
This by no means reflects the true thoughts/feelings of Troian Bellisario or Keegan Allen. No disrespect meant to anyone, clearly a work of fiction.
2x11
It had definitely been one of the most fun nights of filming of the summer. Nolan North was always an entertaining co-star to have on board and Norman Buckley was one of Keegan's favorite directors that he had had the opportunity to work with.
Tonight they were filming a rather intense scene. It was intense for Keegan for two reasons- one, he and Troian had to fight with Nolan's character and have it get pretty heated; two, because the pair was scripted to make-out and that too was supposed to get pretty passionate.
He wasn't nervous for the fight scene; but the make-out session in the truck would be his and Troian's hottest make-out scene to date. She had been his first on-screen kiss and the intimate scenes that followed hadn't gotten too intense. Tonight the heat would be turned up a notch and he wasn't sure if he was ready for it. He was all for kissing Troian, she was pretty talented at it and always kept things really professional and comfortable, but he knew his feelings for her were growing and that this wouldn't help him be able to get her off his mind any easier.
Norman explained the basics of how they wanted the camera to move so they knew when to be where and how to keep it at a nice flow. That was the thing about onscreen kissing; it was so planned out it was hard to have it feel romantic.
But Keegan's feelings for his co-star made it harder to feel that way.
She was currently sitting next to him in Toby's truck, her knees bent so her feet could rest on the seat too. She was picking at her nails, almost looking bored, while Keegan practically sweated it out.
It's not as though they hadn't kissed before, right? Hell, only a few episodes ago they had to flirt outrageously while he was kissing up and down her neck tenderly, whispering things in her ear. That had been fun though. This, he wasn't nervous so much as worried that his feelings would get away from him… or his hormones.
It didn't help that Troian looked particularly beautiful in the moonlit-type set. Her ivory skin was glowing and her hair was loosely curled so the waves framed her attractive face. She was in skinny jeans and a layered black tank top with a lace detailing on top. It hugged her body perfectly and he found himself envying her clothes; an emotion he tried to beat down in annoyance.
"All right, let's run it!" Norman called out once the cameras were all in order.
Troian sent him a dazzling smile before situating herself more comfortably and letting her hand play with the hair on the back of his head. "You better have brushed your teeth." she teased before meeting their lips.
As soon as her lips touched his, his heart jumped in his chest cavity. She had that effect on him. Even when he knew it was coming, the physiological reaction his heart and lungs had from being so near and intimate with her always threw him off.
Getting his head, mostly, back on straight, Keegan kissed her in return. One of his arms curled around her waist to hold her close, and the other cupped behind her neck. His fingers tussled with her soft waves of brown, and he gladly aided her into straddling his lap. Was that in the script? What script? His brain was fuzzy.
Keegan couldn't help the grunt that slipped out when she firmly seated herself so their lower halves were nice and snug. At the noise, she only made it worse by melting into his kiss and pushing herself further into his body. Her hands jumped to cup his face and anchor him there, her lips eager against his own, and he couldn't help himself. He left the acting at the very back of his mind as he kissed her back. She was just too good at this.
His hands rove up and down her back, wishing he could touch her bare skin, wishing he could be doing this for real. His hips responded of their own accord and pushed into the friction between them. To his surprise, he heard a whimper from the girl in his lap.
Almost too stunned to do anything, Keegan followed Troian's lead. Her hand shook as she raised it to bury her fingers in his hair and pull his mouth more fully over hers. She broke swiftly away from him to brush her lips sensually across his jawline and slid behind his ear. His eyes were practically rolling in his head as he tried to face them forward to spot the shadow in Jason's house he was supposed to be distracted by.
Unfortunately, Troian chose that moment to tug at his earlobe with her teeth and he grinded into her a little, letting out another half-grunt/half-moan, his hand pushing on her lower back to pull her flush to him.
This was getting out of hand. He almost drunkenly handled his line, eyes completely zoned in on her lips. When it was time to kiss again, he couldn't even help his request of "C'mere" slipping out before their lips collided in sensual harmony.
Keegan was desperate to be closer to her, desperate to kiss those immeasurably soft yet eager lips. When she was kissing him, he felt like he had warm homemade applesauce in his belly; his insides felt like a happy kind of mush.
He supported her body so she was comfortably leaning against the side of the truck and began his trail of loving kisses down her neck and into her shoulder. Troian reflexively arched into him, or maybe it was just acting. She had been making so many noises. When did she get so vocal? She was driving him insane.
"Let's run it again. Camera B, I want you as main focal this time." Norman directed authoritatively.
Keegan easily retracted them into the previous position of Troian in his lap, both of them panting a little.
This time when their mouths crashed together, Troian was more aggressive with her hair tugging. She was nibbling on his bottom lip and he was sure that wasn't in the script. Not that if you asked him even his name right now he could give an accurate answer. Without even thinking about it, his tongue darted out to run between her lips and she let out another approving sound. She was certainly making enough noise to drive any straight man crazy.
And that's when he felt it. If his eyes were opened, he would have closed them in defeat. He could feel the heat rising to his neck as he realized the effect her mewls and pelvis bumping and incredible kissing skills were doing to his anatomy.
How in the hell was he going to avoid this? She was going to feel it sooner or later. He may have jeans on but his body didn't care. His body wanted hers pretty damn badly and it didn't understand what acting was. This felt like the real deal to it.
Norman cut and reviewed the recording to see where the cameras were lacking and the couple in the car broke apart.
Troian was still in his lap though. Keegan didn't want her to know, but at the same time, how could he avoid the obvious?
Either she hadn't noticed yet, or she was too polite to say anything. The latter made him want to die a little.
Troian was always professional and he was sure he couldn't be the first person to ever get physically excited during scenes of this nature. But it was still mortifying. And if Norman asked them to get out of the truck…
"Everything okay, Keegs? You're awfully quiet." Troian asked him, sounding concerned, twirling a bit of his hair in her fingertips absentmindedly. How she could be so casual like they hadn't just been making out and approaching third base was beyond him.
And what exactly was he supposed to say here?
"Fine."
It would have come out a lot more believable if his voice hadn't squeaked.
Troian looked worried now. "Keegan, what-" But simultaneously, she adjusted herself in his lap and accidentally bumped his misdemeanor, causing him to groan and reflexively thrust into her, his hands tightening on her waist in desire.
Well, he decided, a meteor crashing into the earth right then would have been much appreciated.
She stiffened instantly and he felt the sudden urge to cry. Oh god, was she going to chew him out for having that reaction over her? Was she disgusted? Angry? Embarrassed?
No, of course not. She was Troian Bellisario and she always was surprising him.
She chuckled.
Not in the demeaning, look-at-you-you-moron way or in a way-to-go-at-hiding-your-attraction-to-me way. No, she was chuckling in a light-hearted, why-are-you-being-so-weird-about-this-it's-not-a-b ig-deal way.
"Keegan…" she began, trying to control the amusement in her voice.
But he interrupted. "I'd much prefer if you waited for whatever you're about to say for my funeral." he mumbled, looking at the truck seat like he was solving the Da Vinci code.
Troian giggled at him. "I'm sorry you're so embarrassed. But it's really not a big deal."
"Easy for you to say." he replied gruffly, refusing to look her in the eyes. "You're not the one being turned on by your best friend."
She smirked, holding her tongue from her honest reply to that. "Well, it's not like this is really about me. It's about whatever girl you're thinking about to get into character. I for one am trying not to feel flattered."
Keegan knew he must be red as a fire hydrant by now. If only her words were true. The problem was the girl of his dreams was the one who was currently in his lap. His mind wasn't on someone else like she assumed, but he wasn't about to tell her that.
"Would it help if I got off?"
The unintentional innuendo had him break off into nervous laughter. "No, no, stay where you are. You'd be surprised at how well humiliation works as an ice bucket." he quipped, causing her to laugh again.
"Anything I can do during the scene that would make this easier on you?" she asked softly, leaning her head on his shoulder now. Norman was still busy discussing technical stuff on the sidelines and she wouldn't mind a nap right about now. It had been a long day of filming.
He shrugged, playing with her hair absent-mindedly. His free hand rubbed circles in the dip in her lower back. "I don't think so. I mean, unless you can do this making out scene without kissing me or touching me at all, then we might get somewhere." he teased.
She rolled her eyes, chuckling at his ridiculousness and trying not to blush at the implication that he was turned on that easily by her.
"I don't think that's possible." she reminded him.
"Maybe not. But I figure if anyone can pull it off, it'd be talented you." he said, the teasing in his tone being replaced with admiring affection.
Without really thinking about it, she pressed her lips against his softly. Before he could pull her closer, she broke them apart. "You are far too sweet to me, Mr. Allen."
He smiled, raising his eyebrows at her. "Are you not the one that just rewarded me by kissing me? You're definitely a keeper too you know." he murmured amusedly.
She shoved him lightly, playfully, without much force at all.
Thankfully, Norman interrupted and the scene took off again. Keegan was even more eager than before and Troian felt herself turn to jelly as she reciprocated. She still was trying to figure out what had possessed her to kiss him out of the blue like that. It was one thing if they were filming or even trying to get into character, but this was different. This was impulsive and reckless and just… instinctive. The craving wasn't foreign to her exactly, but she was surprised at how strong it was around this man.
She had Patrick though, so she couldn't feel that way over Keegan too, right? Patrick was amazing. Patrick was… everything. And she was going to have to control herself from doing that from now on because it wasn't fair to Patrick, or Keegan. She didn't want to lead Keegan on.
Although… 'leading on' implied that there was no hope for her and Keegan ever forming a relationship.
And based on the butterflies that filled her stomach when he smiled at her, she wasn't sure if she could truly rule that out.
..anyone else notice how noisy they were during this scene? ;) I did. But then again, I'm a creep so...