She watches her walk down the aisle. The tall, tan, brunette in a flowing white dress looks at her and she forces a smile. She covers up the tears and pain she has inside oh how she wishes she was her bride. Just a little more and it's over she says. The ceremony starts and she tries to keep focus. How masochist of her to watch her marry. She tightens her grip on the bouquet on her hands and keeps hold of herself as she hears the three most heartbreaking words, 'I do'. The blonde is on the verge of breaking down until someone from the crowd shouts "cut!" She's drawn back to reality. She was supposed to be Hanna Marin not Ashley B. She was supposed to be the happy best friend of a marrying Emily but damn it she just can't fake it. Soon all these would come true and no one would cut it off, soon it wouldn't just be a scene but real. She secretly wipes off the teardrop that she wasn't able to stop from falling and passed the bouquet to the other girl beside her. "Excuse me" she said as she left the so called Rosewood Church and hopped into the pink PLL golf cart and drove away to her trailer locking herself inside. Little did she know that the tall bride, her eyes were glued to a while ago, was looking at her once the shooting has stopped. The brunette's face was plastered with worry as she saw the blonde walking away.
It was unbearable to watch her marry someone else even if it only was as scene. Oh my God Ashley couldn't you be more obvious to everyone? She scolded herself. She hadn't been the usual Ashley everyone knows. She was irritable and lonely and obviously her walk out at the scene wouldn't escape the attention of her cast mates. She heard the door knob turning. Shit! I thought I kept that locked. She quickly fixed herself.
"Ashley? It's me" Marlene poked her head on the door
"Come in mommy Mar and please lock the door" she tried to fake a smile at her producer whom she considered as her other mom.
"You don't have to pretend with me Ash" Marlene said with so much concern.
"I'm sorry about what happened…I…It's just…I can't" she tried to make her words but every time she attempts to talk she only feels like crying and on her last words she let the tears flow.
"I know." The older lady held the blonde on her arms and comforted her through her sobs. The blonde had buried her face on Marlene's shoulder. She stayed like that, crying, for a while.
"Why don't you take the rest of the day baby girl." Her producer said.
"What? No. No. I don't want to delay the schedule because of me. I promise I'll keep myself composed. I'm an actress for God's sake." She insisted but her producer didn't take it. She was sent home. Marlene cared for the girls and the rest of the casts like they were her own spawns. She knew how hard it was for Ashley and as much as she wanted to keep things on the timeline she also wanted the best for her.
After their lunch break everyone went to their respective positions and switched back to their characters.
"There would be slight revisions of the scene since Ashley can't continue shooting with us today but it wouldn't affect much of the lines. Troian instead of saying that Spencer's doing the toast because the maid of honor isn't the speaker type I want you to say that she made a quick rendezvous with the best man. Tyler you could go on with your break. Caleb wouldn't be needed on the scene" Marlene announced to bring questioning looks on everyone's faces and much of worry to Shay.
"Is something wrong with Ashley?" she secretly asked the crew nearest to her.
"Not much that I know off but I heard Marlene talked to her during the break" the crew replied to her and she gave a thankful smile to the crew. Should I talk to her? Should I ask her how she is? Shay's trail of thoughts was cut short as their director yelled "action".
-Shay's POV-
Ashley didn't show up the next day nor the day after that I wouldn't be surprised if she didn't show up today either. You should have called her or atleast texted her. No one has heard from her or none that you know of. I'm starting to worry, heck I'm very much worried. I know we've been cold as ice since that confrontation at the parking lot but she's still my best friend. I unknowingly bit my lip and furrowed my brows, the thing I usually do when I'm in deep thought to which Sasha didn't fail to notice.
"Missing her much?" I looked at her in the eye to much of my regret. She just reminds me of Ashley; blue eyes, blonde hair, bubbly girl. It's been so long since I was able to look at her without whipping my head to the opposite direction. Her blonde waves that I brush with my hand.
"Hey Shaaaaay!" Sasha waved her hand in front of my face. I snapped out of my trance.
"Oh sorry. What? Get your hand off my face" I playfully slapped her hand.
"Somebody's moody. Buttah needs the benzo dose" she poked my arm repeatedly. Sasha was the youngest among all of us and she was like a younger sister of mine like the girls on set.
"Whatever squasha" She pouted at her nickname. She didn't want us calling her that. I tickled her on her sides and her pout was replaced with laughter.
"The bitch is back!" Troian said blissfully while walking in with arms hooked on Ashley.
"I'm back!" Ashley says in the same tone as Troian. I guess her short absence did her good. She looked better. She was back to her bubbly self. She looked fresh and if I didn't know her better I would have believed her dimples were enough proof that she's really that happy. Sasha made her way to give Ashley a welcome hug. Just as they pulled apart Lucy came running to Ashley's arms.
"Slow it down little girl" Troian gained a slap on her arm from Lucy for her tease. I laughed at it and everyone's eyes were all on me. I faked a cough trying to rub off the awkwardness.
"Is this the part where I say 'I want to hug you and slap you at the same time'?" I asked her referring to that scene we had before in PLL.
"And I get to say 'I could use a hug'?" she smiled at me. "Come one Shay. I don't bite." I went to her and gave her a warm hug. Gosh! I forgot how good this feels. She pulls away before I could even enjoy the feeling of us together.
"So is it true? You and Ryan?" Lucy asked almost immediately after we were apart
"What's with us?" Ashley questioned her back
"Shut up Ash. It's all over the news" Troian told her.
"You guys are back? People are saying it online too" Sasha joined the interrogation. If their attention weren't that focused on Ashley they would definitely notice how uncomfortable I was with all the questions. Say no. Please. No. No. No. I hoped for it deep inside.
"Just let them think whatever they want to think. Same old same old" The 3 other girls interrogating her felt disappointed with her vague answers.
"I hate to take her away from you but Hanna Marin here has some catching up to do" Marlene said taking Ashley with her.
"Bye bitches!" She winked and blew us a kiss. That's when I realized what was wrong. Ashley wasn't being herself, yes she was the energetic one but it's too ecstatic. It's like what we've seen was only a façade, a mask, a character…Hanna Marin.
After finishing all the scenes we had for the day we were called by one of the crew for some shots for the PLL instagram. We were given papers with our ship names written. Sasha and I were just about done for Emison when Ashley approached the group.
"What did I miss?" she asks everyone with enthusiasm that I know for sure was half faked
"Shay's mirror face" Janel said laughing and everyone except me laughed along.
"Ha. Ha. Funny nerdy mona!" she stuck her tongue out and Ashley giggled. Now that giggle sounded true.
"Hey Ashley. Come on. I'm sure the fans are dying for Hannily" The guy holding the PLL phone said
"It's not a real ship!" Sasha said with fake annoyance
"We have a jealous Alison right here" Lucy said pointing at Sasha. Troian and Janel pointed with her and everyone just laughed.
"Let's make her die of jealousy Em." Ashley said riding along with them. She held the paper in between us and we made few poses.
"Now this" the guy said handing us a paper with 'ButtahBenzo' written on it. "A lot had missed it" he smiled and aimed the camera on us again. Ashley and I tried to recreate the old poses we had. I laughed hard when Ashley exaggeratingly imitated my mirror face again. I playfully smacked her shoulder and she made a funny 'what' face. Unexpectedly a burden of weight was on my back. I kept my balance and supported Ashley's weight on me. She waved the paper she was holding while enjoying the ride on my back. I missed this girl. She went down from my back and without thinking I pecked her cheek. She jumped slightly from where she was standing and I was surprised by my own impulsive action.
"Nice one girls now I'm going to post your pictures" the guy said and left.
Nice one Shannon it's was fun until you had to make it awkward. Before I could kick myself for what I just did someone approached us.
"Shay Mitchell?" I raised my hand signaling that it was me "Delivery. Please sign in here" I signed the paper and took the bouquet of beautiful flowers.
"Thanks" I pull the flowers closer to my nose and took a sniff. I always loved the smell of flowers.
"Who are those from lucky girl?" Troian asked and I looked for a card
"Is it from Ryan? Awww. So sweet" Lucy cooed. I saw a small envelope and inside was a card.
"No it's not. This is weird" I say with some giggles. Sasha took it from my hand and read it out loud.
"A's story is old school. You had enough from that villain. It's my turn now. -B" All of us laughed at how quirky the note was.
"Whoever sent these, I'm thankful but a pizza could have had come in handy with this." We all shared a laugh and they took turns sniffing the flowers. Who could have given those?