Chapter 9
I don't own Lucian
Totally meant to post this first thing this morning. Time flew by today. Sorry about that guys!
Lucy's POV
Waking up this morning was a bit of a struggle. I had woken up at seven this morning, rolled out of bed, took a shower, threw on a pair of denim shorts and a racer back light blue tank top then I was out the door. I hadn't put much effort into my appearance this morning. As long as I didn't look like complete crap it was alright because I don't want it to be obvious that I am feeling like crap.
Travis seemed very energetic this morning when I showed up on his front porch with my Starbucks in hand. At first I had to act happy and excited as my pending fight with Ian is slowly draining me. I hate not having him to kiss good morning and good night to these past couple of days. He is my rock. With this fight I just can't find myself to be happy about something knowing we aren't on the best terms right now.
About half an hour after arriving at Travis's place I settled in and began feeling completely at ease and comfortable. We talked for quite some time before settling down for business to run lines. Around eleven we take a break deciding we were at a good point and needed some lunch. Travis leads me into the kitchen to start preparing our food. We strike up usual small talk while he moves around the kitchen and I remain seated on a barstool at the island.
"I really think you will get the part tomorrow. I don't see why you wouldn't. I mean you and I connect a lot better than I do with Marie I feel like. I only met her briefly at the last audition but I feel the chemistry test tomorrow will prove you are the right woman for the job."
I inwardly smile at his words. "Thank you. That means a lot coming from the male lead." I laugh softly. "I really do want to catch this role, I think this movie would do wonders for my career. Oh thank you, this looks delicious." I nod approving of the pasta dish he sits in front of me.
"I guarantee you, there is nothing to worry about tomorrow. I hope you like the pasta, it is a secret family recipe I learned to cook when I was a teenager at my grandparent's house."
Travis takes a seat next to me at the island as we enjoy our meal together. We share a few comments about the food, mainly me complementing him on his cooking skills and him wanting to dry one of my master deserts I have crafted in the past.
"What do you say we go through it one more time then call it a day that way you have plenty of time before your meeting with your manager?"
Travis nods in agreement. Getting up from his barstool he takes my plate and empty water glass to the sink along with his own dishes to wash them off then place them in the dishwasher.
Returning to the living room I take a seat on the couch where I had been sitting most of the morning while he took a seat on the armed chair a couple feet to my right. Turning to face each other we hold our practice scrips in our hands prepared to start from the top.
We are only a couple lines in before my phone starts ringing. I go to silence the call then refrain when I see who it is.
"Oh it's my manager! One sec, I'll be right back." Jumping up from the couch I take the call into the kitchen for a little bit of privacy.
"Hello?" I answer the phone quickly.
"Hi Lucy, I have some news for you regarding the latest movie role we were working on getting you. Are you busy?" Jasmine says getting right to the point.
"I was just practicing my lines for the next audition, what's up?" Leaning back against the counter I wait for her reply.
"Actually that is what I need to talk to you about. This isn't the easiest to say but you are no longer being considered for the role."
My heart stops instantly and my mouth drops open. "Wait, what? What happened?"
"I'm so sorry Lucy. The producers called me first thing to let me know they are no longer interested and they send their apologies." Jasmine couldn't be more sincere in her apologizes.
"But did they say why? Why not wait until my call back audition? They seemed so pleased with my audition last week."
Jasmine sighs softly. She always hates giving me bad news. "I don't know sweetie. They didn't say anything other than you are out of the running and the other girl is getting the character."
"Okay well I guess I'll talk to you later. I'll try and drop by the office tomorrow to give you my sample script so you can return it to the producers."
"I look forward to seeing you. Bye Lucy."
With that the lines goes dead and I am stuck leaning against the counter with all happiness out the window. Taking a deep breath I compose my emotions then head back into the living room.
"Hey! So what did she have to say? Just letting you know about the change in audition date?"
"Um no actually Jasmine called to tell me I am no longer being considered for the role. I got a thanks but no thanks basically. I'm sorry to have wasted your morning with the rehearsing. Seems pointless now. Nonetheless I had fun this morning and lunch was amazing."
"What? How can they just change their minds like that? Something had to have happened because they loved you the minute you walked in that room. Let me make a call real quick, please have a seat. Don't leave just yet."
Sitting down on the couch I zone out slightly not paying much attention to Travis's phone call. I don't lift my eyes up from where they had been locked on my hands.
"Okay, yeah thanks. I'll see you tomorrow."
Travis rubs the back of his neck in an uncomfortable manner prior to speaking up. "I am close friends with one of the producers, Josh. He just said he was asked to take you personally out of the running for the role and give it to the other woman."
"What?" I gap in shock. "Why me?"
He shakes his head in silence. "I don't know. All he would say is he owed some guy named Ian a long overdue favor which he cashed in first thing this morning asking for you personally to be pulled."
My mouth hits the floor in disbelief. "I have to go!"
Jumping up from the couch I gather my belongings and run out the door completely ignoring Travis shouting after me in confusion. I drove as fast as possible to my destination getting me there in record time. I am so furious I don't even bother parking my car in the garage. I simply throw it into park in the middle of the driveway then storm into the house through the front door using my key. Looking around the house I take in the quietness on the main level and can only assume Ian is upstairs. Storming up the wood staircase my five inch stiletto heeled boots make powerful noises as I scurry up the steps.
"Why did you do that!" I shout at Ian the moment I find him in his bedroom folding laundry.
Ian turns around not expecting my presence or my outbreak. "Uh, I'm sorry?" Ian stutters in confusion.
"You got me pulled from a role that could have made my career! Why would you do that?" I all but scream at him. With my arms crossed over my chest resting under my bust I give him a dead stare expressing my displeasure.
Ian's face drops in shock at my words. Clearly he wasn't expecting me to know about what he had done.
"I did that for your own good. For our own good." Ian replies curtly before turning back around to resume folding laundry.
"What are you talking about? This role would have been the perfect way for me to have mature adult movie tied to my name. How is any of this for my own good?" Ian remains silent with his back towards me. His silence causes me to rack my brain for the explanation myself. After a few moments it dawns on me. "This is about Travis!" I snarl at him.
"Of course it is about him Lucy! Why else would I have done this?" Upon my demand for him to expand on his reasoning he continues reluctantly. "A mutual friend told me he heard Travis carrying on about how hot and sexy you are. How he couldn't wait for you to be given the role so he could swoop in and offer his guidance. He was planning on taking you to his own bed after set. Hell he probably still is planning on it!"
"That is not true. Why must you think every guy I interact with wants to sleep with me? In this day and age women are capable of having platonic friendships with males." Stepping closer to Ian I feel the tension between us rapidly rising. I am furious and he is quickly getting there.
My phone breaks the growing tense silence within seconds. Pulling my phone out of my pocket I secretly wish it is Jasmine telling me the producers changed their minds. Sadly it isn't. I frown when I see Travis's name flash across the top of my white iPhone. Silencing the call I return my attention to Ian.
"Who is that?" Ian snaps when my phone rings an additional two times. Before I can react Ian has snatched my phone out from my hand to look at the screen himself. Ian scoffs loudly when he sees it is Travis. There is no stopping him from answering the call. "She is unavailable so quit calling!" Ian snaps through the phone.
"Excuse you!" I scoff at him when he turns my phone off then throws it onto the bed. Taking the necessary steps I walk over to the bed to retrieve my phone in order to return it to my back pocket of my denim shorts.
"You had no right to do that."
"Please," Ian chuckles to himself. "He needs to know you are not available to him. I've said it once and I will say it again, all he wants is to get into your panties. He is just like all of the other guys in this town who want to act like your friend when all they want is to get you into their bed. It's about time he knows I am the only one who those panties belong to."
"Fuck you! I have plenty of friends who are guys, Travis being one of them. He has done nothing but help me prep for this role in hopes of me getting it then you had to go and screw it up. Not every guy I meet is trying to get me in their bed. At this rate, you won't be getting me in bed any time soon! And neither I nor my underwear belongs to you so get that straight."
"Fuck me? Really Luce? Fine, if you want to be that way then go ahead. Go off and fuck him if that is really what you want. I couldn't care less right now."
My mouth drops open at his words. "You are such an asshole." Turning away from Ian I quickly storm out of his bedroom and down the hall. My eyes swell with tears from his words.
"Lucy! Wait. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that." Ian runs after me towards the staircase.
Keeping my back to him I try my hardest to prevent him from seeing my tears. I will not let him know how much his words can affect me. My high heels can only carry me so fast down the hall to the staircase but I don't let it discourage me. I am only a couple steps down the wooden staircase when I feel Ian's hand wrap around my bicep in attempt to stop my fleeing. I try to pull from his grasp which causes me to teeter a bit on my wobbling shoes.
"Lucy I'm sorry! Please stay and we can talk about this?" Ian keeps ahold of my arm while I continue struggling against him.
Unexpectedly I take a wrong step while pulling away from Ian with too much force. My body weight shifts too far forward resulting in me losing my balance and go tumbling down the stairs. I try to catch myself which only causes more trouble. Whimpering in pain I feel the tears start to run down my checks in an even stream. Ian rushes to the bottom of the stairs to help me up.
Ian's words rush out of his mouth so quickly I can't process them all but I catch a few. "Are you okay? What hurts?"
"I'm fine. My left arm is killing me is all." Pushing away from him I continue on my escape from Ian's house.
"Whoa where do you think you are going? We need to get that looked at. You must have broken your arm because I heard the bones snap. It is already starting to swell up. Come on I'll take you."
Ian places his hand on my back in attempt to lead me out to his car but I'm not having it. Just because I am hurt doesn't mean I will fall into his arms and let him take care of me. I'm still pissed with him.
"I can drive myself. We are still in the middle of a pretty big fight in case you forgot."
Ian doesn't take no for an answer like always. Despite my refusal Ian leads me out to my car as it is parked in the middle of the driveway blocking his in then helps me into the car. He quickly drives us to the Emergency Room in what had to have been the quietest, most awkward car ride we've ever endured.
Once we check in and fill out all of the necessary paperwork we sit silently in the plastic chairs lined up along the waiting room. As we sit here silently I glance around at the few other people who are waiting to be treated. I am still cradling my arm against my chest as if it will soothe the aching pain emitting from my arm and wrist. My tears have ceased greatly compared to how they were when we first left the house. I still have tears slowly rolling down my face from time to time. When you're an actress you have to have damn near complete control over your emotions. Thankfully, I can control my emotions extremely well which is how I am able to pull in my emotions and act as if everything is okay on the exterior.
A younger woman with a clipboard in her hand catches my attention when she enters the waiting room. "Lucy Hale?" She calls out.
Getting up from my chair I start walking towards the woman. I stop dead in my tracks when I see Ian getting up as well to follow me.
"I'd rather go back by myself." I tell Ian in a low tone, almost as if it was a whisper. Not wanting to see the look of hurt on his face from my words I avoid eye contact all together. Keeping my eyes focused on the ground in front of me I walk to older woman who appears to be late forties with short blonde woman. She introduces herself as Sarah while leading me to an empty room to examine my arm.
"Alright Miss Hale, let's take a look at your arm. Are you ready?"
"Yes." Releasing a deep breath I sit up straight and await what is to come.
A little over forty-five minutes later I am walking back out to the waiting room to rejoin Ian only this time, I have a light blue cast on my left arm.
"Well, it's broken." I sigh in a low tone when I walk over to Ian. He instantly spews out a million questions but I don't let him finish. "Can you please just take me home so I can forget about today? I don't want to talk about it."
Ian can sense all of my patience has flown out the window long ago. He nods his head in agreement then heads towards the exit. The drive to my house isn't terribly long but it felt much longer than I would have preferred due to the dead silence in the car.
When he pulls into my driveway I grab my purse from the floorboard before heading to the front door. With my garage door opener messing up lately I don't even bother trying to fiddle with it. My fingers instantly detect my house key out of the other keys hanging on my key ring. I pause with the key in the door when I feel Ian's presence behind me.
"I'd rather be alone right now."
Ian stutters for a moment before regaining his ability to give a proper sentence. "I understand you don't want to talk about it right now but I would like to at least be here for you in case you need something."
"I'll be fine. I'm going to get some sleep. I just want some alone time. I'll talk to you later." Pushing open the door I step inside.
"Wait," Ian puts his hand on the door to prevent me from shutting it. "I don't have any way to get home."
"I'm sure your buddy from this morning wouldn't mind if you called in another favor." With that I slam the door shut behind me and flip the dead bolt loudly to further deliver my point to Ian. I hear him huff in frustration on the other side of the door. Not bothering to worry about him any longer I head upstairs to strip down out of my clothes in hopes of getting comfortable enough to get some sleep.
The last image on my mind as my eyes flutter shut before drifting off to sleep is Ian's face when he first saw me walking into the waiting room with a cast on my arm. I know this was all just a fluke accident but I am still pissed with him for being jealous over Travis.
I know it has been a while since the last update. I've been really busy lately. Working over forty hour weeks, thirteen hour shifts on the weekends, all while being enrolled in college full time prevents me from having any free time for writing. I know we are at a sad point right now but you all know I always give these two very good make up scenes. ;)