When Two Worlds Collide
Chapter 6
Andy took the last bite of his food and scooped it into his mouth. He looked up at Melissa who was sitting back in her chair, watching him. After he chewed through most of the bite, he asked, "Can I help you?" He chuckled and swallowed.
"Just enjoying the view, like I've always done actually, except this time…" she leaned forward, placing her elbows on the table and her hands on her chin, "I don't have to hide it."
"Ooo, is that so?" Andy nodded, smirking.
"Yeah, it is," Melissa dropped her voice into a deeper, sexier tone as she had done on the show may times.
"Don't you use that voice with me, Mel, you know it….does things…." Andy wiped around the corners of his mouth and stood, grabbing his plate and hers and taking them to the sink.
"Hmm, maybe I want it to…" she smirked back at him, tossing her hair over her shoulder.
"Wow, ok, ok, cool, cool, cool, cool."
"Keep it in your pants, Samberg, we've got to get back to work soon. But don't you worry, tonight, when we're done…it's you, me, and a whole lot of fun." She winked and stood, pushing in her chair and sipping the remainder of the coffee and creamer combo she had in her mug.
Andy walked over to her, reaching through her arm and waist, wrapping his arm around her lower back. He pulled her body against his and leaned down close to her lips, pausing, "Why wait?" His voice was just above a whisper.
She pushed her finger against his lips, "All in good time, sir, all in good time!" She kissed his cheek with a giggle, "Now come on, we have to get back to the lot. My hair and make-up call time is soon and I am not a person to show up late!" She reached around her back and grabbed his hand, intertwining her fingers in his as she placed her mug down on the counter and pulled him towards the front door.
…
Andy pulled his car back onto the lot, greeting the guard at the gate, "Hey, Marv, I've got Melissa with me too!"
Melissa waved and smiled from the passenger seat. Marv waved back and pushed the gate release button, "Have a great day, guys!"
Andy pulled into his usual parking space and turned the car off, "So," he cracked his knuckles as nerves began bubbling in his stomach, "How do we want to play this out? I'm willing to keep it private, I find that very important, especially with you."
Melissa undid her seatbelt and grabbed his hands into hers, "It's all so fresh, I definitely don't want anyone in our business. And I definitely want to see where this goes without anyone else's input."
Andy smiled, "I'm glad we're on the same page. One for the road?" He leaned over the middle compartment with a smirk on his face.
Melissa giggled and pecked his lips, "One for the road, indeed. Let's go!" She released his hands and opened her door, climbing out. She was met with a moment of grief that they had to pause their early morning fun, but knew it was for the best. The thought of also getting to kiss him again later on set made things a lot easier.
Andy climbed out on his side and hit the lock button on his keys, meeting Melissa at the back of the car, "I'm walking you to hair and make up, there's nothing out of the ordinary about that."
"I'd like that," Melissa winked at him, fighting every urge to grab his hand in hers.
Andy jumped shoulders with her gently, laughing. The two walked in comfortable silence to the trailer, both lost in thought of the other. When they had finally made it to the trailer, Andy looked around for signs of anyone else. Noting they were alone, he pulled Melissa in for a quick hug and kissed the side of her head, whispering, "See you on set." He winked back at her and walked off to his own trailer to drop off his wallet and keys.
Melissa smiled, feeling giddy. Andy had always had an effect on her, but now that they were moving forward in their relationship, things felt so much better with him. She gathered herself and opened the trailer door, walking in and greeting the hair and make up artists. She sat down in her usual chair and popped in her AirPods, letting them get to work.
…
Andy opened the door to his own trailer and walked inside. He went to close the door behind him but was stopped by a hand. "What the hell?" He turned, realizing rather quickly that Joe was the person attached to the hand.
"What's up, my man?" Joe smiled as he walked in behind Andy, closing the door.
"What's up, dude?" He high fived him and pulled him in for a half shoulder hug.
"Where ya been? Figured I'd see you after our first scene but you disappeared." Joe stepped back and leaned against the counter top.
"Oh, uh, I met a friend for a late breakfast." Andy stated matter of factly.
"Oh, a friend, huh," he nudged Andy's arm, smirking. "Was she pretty?"
"Come on, Joe!" Andy shooed away his arm and turned in the direction of his fridge to grab a Gatorade.
"Uh huh, ok, not ready to talk about her, huh? I won't push," he put his hands up defensively, "but you were smiling pretty hard when you walked up to your trailer. She must be pretty great!"
Andy looked down at the ground, smiling, but quickly recouped and turned around, "Whatever you say, Joe, whatever you say! Come on man, we gotta get over to wardrobe before they kill us for being late again."
Joe chuckled to himself and led the way out the door, "Good for you, Andy. Something's been up with you the last few days, I'm glad it's something positive. You need a good woman in your life."
Andy shut and locked the trailer door, "Alright, Lo Truglio, let's go." He stepped down and wrapped his arm over his friend's shoulder, shaking him a bit.
..
A while later, Andy, Melissa, Stephanie, and Joe all walked on to set, the girls walking with linked arms up to the white van they were going to be getting in.
"Hey, ladies!" Joe waved, smiling at them.
"Hey, Joe!" They said in unison, laughing and calling out the jinx and trying to punch one another for it.
"Calm down, ladies, we have a job to do," Andy tried his most serious tone, but failed. They all laughed together and climbed into the van upon instruction. Stephanie took the driver's seat, Joe the passenger's seat, and Andy and Melissa climbed into the back, sitting on a bench like seat.
"Alright," David popped his head into the back of the van, causing all of them to turn and listen, "Steph, you'll be actively driving during this scene, so ya know, play it safe. We'll have you on the walkie talkie located in the middle compartment. We'll radio if we need anything. Otherwise, we'll grab this scene from a couple of different angles. Yeah?"
"You got it," Stephanie nodded.
"Clear," Andy stated.
"Of course!" Melissa chimed in.
"You got it, boss man!" Joe finished it up.
David nodded and closed the back door. Stephanie started the van and began driving down the road. David's voice picked up over the walkie talkie, "Get past this red light and you guys can start your lines!"
"Copy that," Stephanie pressed the button and responded back. She drove up to the red light and waited, "You guys ready?"
The three nodded in unison, situating in their seats. The light turned green and David's voice scratched through the tiny speaker once more, "And…action!"
Melissa started, "Why is he getting out here? I thought your CI said the drop was happening in the park?"
"Maybe he's having dinner with his side piece first?" Stephanie switched her voice into the deeper 'Rosa' octave.
"Augustine has the laptop with him, we should just arrest him right here."
"No," Andy cut in, "the buyer is the bigger caller, we gotta follow him in and wait for the hand off." He looked out the window as if to be actually following what they were pretending to see.
"Ok, if you're going in," Joe remarked, focusing on the same point as Andy, "this place has an amazing bone marrow custard," he decided to laugh maniacally before continuing, "not that I've ever had one."
Andy acted disgusted, "No, alright," he turned to look at Melissa, "go."
"No, wait, we look like cops," she looked down at her own clothes and Andy's, "we're never gonna blend in dressed like this. Uhm…" she took a deep breath and unbuttoned the top button of her blouse, "ok, there, how's…how's that?" she brushed her hair back away from her face and chest.
"Uhm," Andy pretended to feel awkward, though he really wanted more buttons undone, "I don't know, all I see is clothes hanging off of a gender less blob." He had to look away to recollect himself.
Stephanie cut in, "You look fine. Here, wear this." She tossed her jacket back at Melissa. "Jake, you need a jacket or something." They made eye contact with one another.
"Well, Scully left his sports coat back there," Joe looked from the front of the van, back and forth between Stephanie and Andy, "it'll never fit Jake's athletic body," he took a deep breath, "unless…" and turned his gaze back to Andy.
"No, I don't wanna do that…"
"You have to!"
"I'm not gonna do it!" Andy made his voice more firm.
"You're doing it," Joe smirked matter of factly.
"What? What do you have to do?" Melissa threw her line out.
"Don Johnson it," Andy's voice dropped low and annoyed.
"Don Johnson it!" Joe mimicked in a high voice that caught Stephanie off guard. She tried to cover a laugh but it was too late.
"CUT!" They heard over the walkie talkie speaker.
"I'm sorry! Oh, no! Joe!" Stephanie covered her face, hiding even more laughter.
"Sorry, sorry! I just think it's the perfect way to say it! Boyle is excited to see Jake pull this off!" Joe threw up his hands in defense.
"Alright, go from Andy's line, try again….and ACTION!" Feedback shrieked through the small speaker and Andy counted to five before saying his line again.
"Don Johnson it."
"Don Johnson it!" Joe shrieked again. Stephanie maintained her composure this time.
"And, cut! Thanks guys. Go ahead and pull over so we can adjust the camera angles."
Stephanie found an empty spot along a curb and pulled over, throwing the van in to park. She turned back to look at Melissa, "Hey beautiful, want to undo some more of those buttons?" She licked her lips and made a kissing sound before busting up laughing.
Melissa turned on her seductive voice, "Oh yeah, anything for you hottie!" She pretended to undo a few more buttons while simultaneously licking her upper lip. She couldn't keep a straight face and busted up laughing too.
Andy and Joe watched the two interact, both of them smiling.
"Alright, ladies, keep it in your pants," Andy laughed. Melissa shot him a side glance and smiled.
Suddenly, two of the camera crew members were at the sides of the van, adjusting the cameras placed on the outside windshield. When the cameras were switched, they opened the front two doors and adjusted the cameras along the inside. They closed the doors, nodded at Stephanie and Joe, and walked back to the camera van behind them.
"We're ready to do this scene a few more times, keep driving and we'll let you know when to stop again."
"Got it!" Stephanie responded and did as she was instructed. Everyone got settled into their seats for the start of the scene and Stephanie pulled back out on the road they had sectioned off to use.
They ran through this scene twelve more times to capture all the angles necessary to piece together the few minute scene. After the Final Cut, David told them to move forward to the next scene of the four of them in the van. After he yelled action, Joe started with his lines.
"So, how was the restaurant?"
Melissa, staring forward, raised her voice in response, "Such a normal time!"
Joe looked back over his shoulder, acting confused, "Why're you being weird?"
Andy stared straight ahead, wavering his eyes some but not looking at anything in particular to deliver his next line, "Amy and I kissed."
"What!?" Joe raised his voice to screeching volume once more.
"To keep our cover from being blown, we didn't have a choice," Melissa looked at him, trying to maintain her straight face.
"Tell me everything!" Joe screeched again.
"Charles, it was just a kiss, ok? It was for work, it was nothing," Andy looked at him, keeping his voice level.
"Who cares about a kiss, call me if you grab each other's asses," Stephanie chimed in.
Andy and Melissa's facial expressions were that of guilt and confusion as the scene continued.
"He's pulling over, it's going down," Stephanie continued.
"You guys are so naive, it's never nothing," Joe turned to look back at the duo on the bench, but paused halfway, "In high school, I played daddy Warbucks in Annie, Becca Merse played Annie, and we were supposed to hug on stage…and at first that scene meant nothing too, but by opening night, we were full on making out."
"As Daddy Warbucks and Annie?" Melissa acted disgusted. She felt Andy shift his gaze to her but kept her eyes on Joe.
"Mhm, the audience was not on board, playwright sued the school," Joe smirked and shrugged.
"Guys, guys, it's not a hand off, he's leaving the package."
"Ok," Andy started, "You and Rosa follow Augustine."
"Right," Joe cut him off, "And you and Amy follow your hearts!"
"No! We're gonna stay with the package."
"And each other, forever."
"Come on, man!" Andy raised his voice in pretend annoyance. He began to climb out of the van behind Melissa.
Joe smiled widely, proud of how Andy responded as Jake.
Andy shut the door behind him and tucked both hands into the his coat pockets.
"How is it so cold?" He whispered, his breath visibly seen in the air.
"I know, right? This jacket is not warm enough for evening temps, even if we don't get a true winter!" Melissa turned over her shoulder to look at him.
"Alright," David jumped out, "load back up, let's do it again!" He walked past them and up to Joe's window, signaling him to roll it down to share the information with them.
Once the scene had been worked through a few more times, Stephanie was given the directions back to where to park it on the lot. They all climbed out once the van was parked and. Joe spoke first, "What's for dinner, guys? My tummy is a grumbling!" He patted and rubbed his stomach.
"Actually, dinner sounds great," Melissa noted, chuckling at Joe.
"I'm in, could use a bite to eat," Andy added, glancing at Melissa then shaking his head at Joe.
Stephanie joined in, "How about that sushi restaurant down the road?"
The other three chimed their agreement and once cleared to leave set, they headed off to get changed. Melissa had switched to dark denim jeans, a black and cream, off-the-shoulder sweater, and a black headband for her hair. Andy had changed into charcoal colored pants with a black fitted t-shirt and a gray and white undone button down. Stephanie had chosen dark denim jeans and a cropped sage green long sleeve. She had pulled her hair back into a low ponytail. Joe had chosen dark jeans and a navy blue quarter button sweatshirt.
Meeting in the parking lot about a half hour later, they decided whose car would be driven the short distance as parking in LA was a nightmare, especially in the evening hours when everyone was out and about. They landed on Andy's car as it was the largest and easiest to cart everyone around in without feeling cramped. Melissa and Stephanie climbed in the backseat while Joe took the front passenger seat.
The girls began their whispers of gossip and giggles in the back while Joe took lead of the conversation in the front. The drive was quick and Andy found a parking spot in the side lot, near the front of the building. They got out and walked inside. Luckily for them, this place and the people who frequented it were used to their presence, so it wasn't a shock nor were they confronted for pictures or autographs often. They walked in and found the hostess standing behind her podium. "How many?"
"Just the four of us tonight," Andy glanced at them and back at the hostess.
"Great, follow me." She grabbed four menus from the side of the podium and walked them to the back of the restaurant. She placed the menus down on the booth table and motioned for them to be seated.
Andy slid onto the bench seat, Joe sitting down next to him, while Melissa slid in first on the other side, Stephanie following in after her. Andy took the opportunity to nudge her feet under the table and throw a grin in her direction. Melissa pushed back against his feet, her stomach fluttering at his public, yet private, intimacy. She couldn't help but grin and quickly covered her face with the menu before the other two noticed.
"Take a minute to look at the menus, your waitress will be over in a moment to take your drink order!" The hostess spoke happily before walking back to her podium to greet other patrons.
"You know, for as often as we eat here, I never actually know what I want," Stephanie picked up the menu and looked over the drink section.
"Literally, same," Melissa agreed, lowering her menu enough to see Andy looking from his menu to her and back down again. She felt her cheeks warm at his glance. Everything felt different, yet the same. His lips had been on hers, his arms wrapped around her, that was new, but he was still the same old Andy, one of her best friends and confidantes. She needed to hold it together until they got together later. She slid her foot between his crossed ankles and focused back on the drinks.
"I will be having an "Umeshu," Joe set his menu down in front of him, "I hear it pairs well with sushi and I haven't tried it yet."
"You're always trying things that sound the complete opposite of appetizing," Andy laughed, "I'm going with a basic whiskey."
"Wine sounds good!" Melissa turned and looked at Stephanie, "White or red?"
"White," they agreed in unison.
Banter carried on during the remainder of dinner. They ordered sushi appetizers to share and soups and salads for themselves. The group dined and enjoyed one another's company for almost two hours before Melissa finally spoke up, "Guys, I love you, but I am exhausted." She forced a yawn while simultaneously rubbing her foot up and down Andy's ankle.
"Agreed, I could definitely use some sleep," Stephanie wrapped her arm around Melissa's shoulder and side hugged her, "love you too, schoogs!"
"I should get home to my wife anyways, she's been texting me about house work since like two this afternoon. It never ends," Joe shook his head, "she's lucky I love her so much! Andy, you going to go see that girl?"
Melissa froze, eyeing Joe then Andy, back to Joe.
"Uh, what?" Andy cleared his throat, sitting up straighter.
"The one you won't talk about?" Joe mentioned again.
"Uh, I mean, I don't know, maybe, I guess."
"Uh-oh, that doesn't sound good for her," Joe smirked, sliding out of the booth and standing.
"She's fine, great actually. I just wasn't expecting you to bring her up." Andy glanced to Melissa who had fear written all over her face. Andy tried to dip his chin to give her a side glance only she saw, but it wasn't registering the way he needed it too.
Stephanie slid out and stood up, Melissa following suit behind her. Andy was the last to slide out and stepped behind Melissa, "lead the way," he told Joe and Stephanie.
"He's talking about you," Andy quickly whispered, "he just doesn't know it."
Melissa sighed audible relief at her now understanding of the situation. The thought of Andy with some floozy sickened her to her core, but she couldn't admit that aloud now. The four of them walked out to Andy's car, got in, and headed back to the lot. Once parked, Stephanie, Joe, and Melissa exited the car, hugging and saying goodbye to one another, walking off in the direction of their own cars.
Andy quickly pulled his phone from his pocket, opened his messages to his conversation with Melissa, and typed, My place or yours?
Melissa heard the ping of a message alert from her phone as she unlocked her car. She climbed into the driver seat and shut the door, grabbing her phone. She read the unopened message from Andy and felt that familiar warmth returning.
Yours. See you soon. XX
She tucked her phone back into her purse, started her car, and headed in the direction of Andy's house for a night neither one of them would soon forget.