CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
DREW
Drew didn't have near as many scenes in the movie as Jason did. Poor guy. Almost never got a break--he was in almost every scene! She had to hand it to him, though, he took everything they threw at him like a champ.
Since this was Drew's first movie experience she wanted to soak it all in. The entire process thoroughly fascinated her. There would be several days at a time where she wouldn't have any scenes to film so she would sit behind the scenes and watch Jason film. Sometimes she would take personal notes for professional reference, other times she snuck pictures of Jason to send to Mel.
On one such day Jason was on fire. Literally. There was a scene where his character jumped--well she didn't really know what he jumped. Stumps with fire? They set up a green screen, placed all these stump-like
objects around on a tarp and set them ablaze. They would CGI the rest later. Jason had argued with Gerard about a stunt double. Gerard demanded that he use one but Jason refused and insisted on doing the stunts
himself.
Jason won the battle and now, five takes in, his pant leg was on fire.
Not in the script.
After the crew ran in and took Jason off the set, and after Gerard had yelled his obligatory "I told you so's" along with a few other choice four-letter words--and maybe some British slang she didn't recognize--he took a seat in the director's chair beside Drew and sighed. "I bloody told him to use the double."
Drew attempted to be optimistic. "Well they put out the fire pretty quickly, I'm sure he's fine."
"He better be. We can't afford any setbacks. Listen, as long as I have you here, I wanted to let you know there's been a rewrite in the script. For the water scene."
Drew was hopeful. She hadn't really wanted to do it anyway. She didn't exactly fancy spending the day in and out of the water.
"We've written in a nude scene," Gerard stated bluntly.
Drew's jaw dropped. She knew it did. She was rendered speechless for a moment. "Um, uh--is that really necessary?"
"It will intrigue our target audience."
"Intrigue the--?" Drew couldn't even finished her sentence.
"Well I wasn't exactly anticipating a problem here," Gerard said. "I mean, it is in your contract. 'Tasteful nudity.' Did I interpret that the wrong way?"
"Um, no...but I just don't exactly see this movie and 'tastefully nude' really belonging in the same sentence..."
"Oh, darling, it's nothing to get your knickers in a twist over. I mean it's not like you'll be having sex or diddling yourself or anything. Just a frontal shot. And maybe a back. Nothing serious."
Drew blushed and sank down in her chair, desperate to get away from this conversation. And away from the word "diddle." Had he seriously just said that? "Yeah, I don't...know..." Drew's voice trailed off. The day had taken a turn in a direction she was not ready to face.
"Drew, I wasn't asking a question. I'm TELLING you there's been a rewrite. There'll be makeup and latex involved, don't worry. You're lucky I gave you the common courtesy of a warning before springing it on
you. Most actresses don't even get THAT. WHERE'S JASON?!" He suddenly screamed in the opposite direction, his voice ringing in Drew's ear. "Surely he wasn't hurt, I don't have time for this! GET HIM OUT
HERE!"
Drew was in a daze. Take her clothes off in front of a room full of men? She was one of only a handful of females on the entire project. And in front of Jason? The scene was her, Jason, and a couple of bit actors. She felt sweat forming above her brow and she quickly wiped it away. Gerard had said tasteful. She didn't have much choice but to trust him. He hadn't exactly steered her wrong yet. And she had to admit she admired him as a director. He definitely had a handle on his vision and how to achieve it. Even Jason--massive, towering Jason--submitted to him. Gerard just had a way of commanding respect. Nude scene or not, Drew just couldn't find it in herself to disrespect him.
When Gerard left her side, Drew quickly shot a text message to Zac. "They did a rewrite. I have a nude scene."
Twenty minutes later, she received a response. "How do I get my hands on movie passes?"
______________________________________________
I see you shaking in your boots
Why don't you put your petty fears aside
It's time to get your dancing shoes
I'm about to show you why
I've Got Soul
And I'm not afraid to use it
You want more
Let me know you how we do it
Don't just stand, just stand still
Cause I, I've Got Soul
I've got a rhythm you can't lose
If you let your body lead the way
It's just a syncopated groove
It might be more than you can take
I've Got Soul
And I'm not afraid to use it
You want more
Let me show you how we do it
Don't just stand, just stand still
Cause I, I've Got Soul
ISAAC
Things had been awkward at 3CG the past couple of days. Taylor was out of town with Natalie and Mel kept to herself. Isaac and Zac had discussed their situation at length and had been working in the studio by
themselves since Tay had been gone. Neither one of them had seen Mel since Tay had left--it was almost as if she'd been avoiding them or something. Ike and Zac opted to just let nature run its course. They knew she would eventually come around.
One day when Ike and Zac had decided to take a day off from the studio, Ike opted to come in later in the evening to work on a couple of things alone. Walking into a closed business office, he was ultimately surprised at the smell of the fumes and the sound of the music coming from Mel's open office door.
He popped his head in and spied the mess as Mel quickly switched off her music. Paint and brushes were all over the place. He didn't care much about the fact that she was painting. He was more interested in,
"What are you listening to?"
She looked like a deer in headlights. "Uh, music," she said.
They stared each other down for a moment before Ike nodded at her suspiciously. "Uh-huh...well I'll be in the back if you need anything."
"Okay."
He noticed that she waited until she thought he was gone before she turned her music back on. He listened for a moment. He knew it! He knew he wasn't crazy!
He poked his head back in her office and she turned her music off again. "You have GOT to stop scaring me like that," she said.
"Sorry. Hey, you never mentioned you were still singing." He was referring to when they were teenagers. Poor Mel had been dealt the corporate card. Mel and Ike had bonded over music as teenagers. She was an incredibly talented singer and songwriter but she had never wanted to make a career out of it. Ike and Mel had usually collaborated in secret until Love Song, which would eventually appear on the second album, came
about. Mel and Ike had co-written the song and what were now Tay's harmony parts had originally been written for Mel. It was beautiful. It was perfect. Hers and Ike's voices blended like magic. But then
the corporate hammer crashed down and they wanted no part of Mel. No writing credits, no vocals, nothing. They said it would hurt their appeal to their fan base and, in turn, hurt their record sales. The guys fought
hard for her but to no avail. Mel was a sport and signed her rights over. To this day, Ike had never forgiven himself for it.
"Um, well it's kind of like riding a bike..." Mel answered him hesitantly.
"Come to the back with me," he said. "I'm working on something and I could really use your help."
"I don't know..."
"Please. It'll only take a minute. There's only one of me right now and I really need to hear this harmony part. I was just gonna play it out on the piano, but since you're here..."
Mel put her paint brush down and stood back up, looking back at him. "You say it'll only take a minute."
"Yes."
"And that you just need to hear what this one part sounds like and then we're done."
"Cross my heart."
She stared back at him, eyes hardened. "Okay," she agreed.
A few minutes later, Ike and Mel were in the studio. He handed her a sheet of paper with song lyrics written out on them. "The parts in parentheses is where I want you to come in. I'll go through it first so you can hear what it sounds like."
"Ike," Mel said. "It's been so long since I've done this. I'm so out of practice and my voice isn't warmed up..."
"Based on what I heard coming out of your office I'd say your voice is warmed up just fine."
"Ike--"
"Mel, it's me. Come on. This used to be our thing, remember? I used to be the only one you would sing with." Ike desperately searched Mel's eyes, hoping he'd gotten through. Finally she caved. Ike grinned.
"Well you're right..."
Still grinning, Ike picked up his acoustic and began to play his song for her. He was incredibly proud of it and he just knew the parts he had written were perfect. He was so excited that he would actually get to hear
what it would really sound like before presenting it to Taylor and Zac.
When he finished he said, "Okay I'm gonna start over. You just come in and harmonize on the parts in parentheses."
Mel stared at the paper in her hand and blankly at him. "Um...I can't..."
"You can't what?"
"I can't do this. I can't just pick up a harmony like that. My brain just won't go there. Hell, I still can't even read music."
Ike was stunned. "Are you serious?"
"Yeah. I just never grasped it."
"You sound like that all these years and never learned to read?"
"Well I never really had to--"
"So then how do you learn?"
"By listening."
Ike was stumped for a moment. This was not exactly going according to plan. "Would it help if I played it for you?"
Mel nodded and he began to plink out the notes he wanted her to sing on the keyboard. He felt like he was giving a voice lesson. After they were confident she had it down--it was really only a series of about four notes--he started his song over and Mel joined in more confidently.
It was absolutely amazing. They both knew it. The sound was so rich and pure. When they sang together it was almost as if the earth moved.
They both grinned excitedly. "That was amazing!" Ike said. "Here, let's try this..."
What was only supposed to take a minute turned into five hours. What was only supposed to be a simple two-part harmony turned into Mel not only singing the entire song, but recording it as well. It was a turn in events
neither one of them expected but both were thrilled with.
Before Ike could think about what he was saying, he said to Mel, "We should record an album. Just the two of us! Or you could record one and I'll produce it! Under our label! Just think how awesome that would be!"
Mel crossed her arms in front of her chest from inside the sound room, not amused. "You have lost your damn mind," she said.
___________________________________________
Every single time I see you I start to feel this way
Makes me wonder if I'm ever gonna feel this way again
There's a picture that's hanging in the back of my head
I see it over and over
I wanna hold you and love you in my arms and then
I wanna need you cause I need to be with you till then end
Then I hear myself reply "You've got to hold it in" this time tonight
If Only I had the guts to feel this way
If Only you'd look at me and want to stay
If Only I could take you in my arms and say
I won't go cause I need you
I sit here waiting, wondering, hoping that I'll make this right
Cause all I think about is your hands, your face, and all these lonely nights
There's a feeling that's screaming in the back of my head
Saying it over and over
I wanna hear you say
It'll always be this way
We'll be hand in hand for every night and every day
I wanna scream and shout
Cause I'm losing any doubt
And all I care about is you and me and us and now
DREW
Drew grinned excitedly as she connected to the Skype session with Zac. She had forgotten that it was the first time Zac had laid eyes on her since her hair and eyebrows had been done. "Oh my god," Zac said when he
first appeared on her laptop.
"I know, it's weird, isn't it?" Drew asked, fluffing her extensions with her hand.
"It's actually kinda hot," Zac answered, smiling.
"Well that doesn't surprise me coming from you," Drew flirted.
"So a nude scene, huh?" he said.
She rolled her eyes. "I don't see the point. I don't see how the promise of a naked woman is gonna sell movie tickets."
"Naked women always sell movie tickets. I'm gonna buy, like, five thousand of them. See? Profits already."
Drew laughed. "I miss you, you know that? You're crazy but I miss you."
"I think about you all the time," Zac responded.
Drew stared at Zac through her computer screen. Things had just gotten serious.
"Constantly," he continued. "Like, you're the only thing that makes sense about me lately. I can't wrap my head around it. There's just--there's nobody like you. Anywhere. In the world. Not even...not even her...you know? I mean, I can't--I can't feel about her the same way I feel about you. Drew, I--"
Zac cut himself off nervously. Meanwhile Drew was sitting on the edge of her seat. "Yes? I'm here," she pressed. Was he finally going to say it? Would this be the moment--?
"I think I'm regretting a lot of the decisions I've made," he finished.
Drew had difficulty hiding her disappointment. Definitely not what she expected. Close, but still so far away.
"Call me crazy, I don't know," he said. "Maybe this is me trying to hold on to something that isn't there anymore."
"But I am here..." Drew responded in a small voice.
"I know, that's just it. Being around you and talking to you is bringing up all the 'what ifs' and 'what might have beens' and it's completely fucking with my head. What I WANT is for us to be together and for us to
be US again. But I'm not sure if I'm that person anymore."
Drew was completely perplexed, and perhaps a little heartbroken. It was like he wanted to say something but had basically said nothing. "Um...I'm not really sure what I'm supposed to say here..." she said hesitantly.
"Then don't. I've been working on something and I really want you to hear it. Okay? Just listen."
Not really having a choice, Drew could only watch her computer screen and listen to Zac sing to her. It had been so long--more than ten years--since he had privately serenaded her. Her heart had stopped and it was as if she couldn't breathe. He sang to her a cappella, a song she wasn't familiar with. But then she guessed she wouldn't be since he said he had been working on it. It was beautiful and the lyrics moved her, perhaps more than they should have. He sang about a love lost and found and then lost again. He sang about regret and loneliness and longing. The lyrics were moving and heartbreaking. Drew could barely get through it.
When he finished, Zac asked her, "So what do you think of it so far?"
Unable to fight the tears back any longer and determined not to let him see her cry, Drew simply said, "I have to go." She barely had her laptop closed when she burst into uncontrollable sobs.
The crying was so painful but it felt so good all at the same time. She realized that this was the first time she had really allowed herself to cry since she and Zac had reunited. Drew wasn't normally a crier. She was strong and in control. She took life by the horns and wrestled it with a vengeance.
But not this time. This time life had proven to be overwhelming and now she needed that release only a good cry could give her.
As she sobbed she thought she heard a knock at her trailer door. Drying herself up and opening it, she saw Gerard standing at the bottom of her steps. Upon seeing him, the dam broke and the waterworks started
again. Something about seeing him and the reality just crashing down on her--perhaps Zac wasn't the only reason she wept. Perhaps life in general had finally caught up with her.
Gerard hesitantly climbed the steps and stepped just inside her doorway. "Um, is everything all right?"
Without thinking, Drew threw her arms around Gerard's neck and sobbed on his shoulder. He didn't hug her back but she didn't care. She was just grateful to not be alone at that moment.
"Uh...this isn't very Magdara-like..." Gerard chuckled a bit, obviously trying to lighten the mood. "Is this about the rewrite? I promise it won't be that bad."
"Uh-uh," Drew's voice was muffled in his shoulder and she shook her head.
"Uh...well all right then..."
Drew felt Gerard's hand on her back, patting it awkwardly, obviously unsure what to do in this situation. Embarrassed, Drew realized what she was doing and quickly pulled away, wiping her eyes. "I'm sorry. I am so
sorry about that. You just--you caught me at a bad time."
"Uh, it's quite all right. I brought you the new script, thought you might want to look over it. Not many differences, really, just some minor things. However, all important."
Drew nodded and took the script from him. "Yeah, okay. Thanks."
Gerard looked her over once more. "You're sure everything is fine?"
Drew smiled through her remaining tears. "Yeah. I'm good, promise."
Gerard smiled a small smile. "Okay," he said. Then he said softly, "You know, it is lonely when you're filming on location sometimes. It gets to all of us. That's why we all form our large, quirky family when
we film. Because sometimes you feel so alone and in need of the support. But not to worry. You have Jason and you have the rest of the crew--and you have me. I may seem like a hard-ass sometimes, but I'm on your side."
Drew smiled and nodded, oddly feeling better. "Thank you."
"Okay," he said with a small wink as he left her trailer.
Drew took a deep breath and sat down in an arm chair. Collecting her thoughts, she began to mindlessly flip through the script Gerard had given her. She suddenly remembered cutting Zac off and immediately felt terrible about being so rude. Picking up her phone, she saw a text from Zac. "Was it something I said?"
___________________________________________
DREW
Drew didn't have near as many scenes in the movie as Jason did. Poor guy. Almost never got a break--he was in almost every scene! She had to hand it to him, though, he took everything they threw at him like a champ.
Since this was Drew's first movie experience she wanted to soak it all in. The entire process thoroughly fascinated her. There would be several days at a time where she wouldn't have any scenes to film so she would sit behind the scenes and watch Jason film. Sometimes she would take personal notes for professional reference, other times she snuck pictures of Jason to send to Mel.
On one such day Jason was on fire. Literally. There was a scene where his character jumped--well she didn't really know what he jumped. Stumps with fire? They set up a green screen, placed all these stump-like
objects around on a tarp and set them ablaze. They would CGI the rest later. Jason had argued with Gerard about a stunt double. Gerard demanded that he use one but Jason refused and insisted on doing the stunts
himself.
Jason won the battle and now, five takes in, his pant leg was on fire.
Not in the script.
After the crew ran in and took Jason off the set, and after Gerard had yelled his obligatory "I told you so's" along with a few other choice four-letter words--and maybe some British slang she didn't recognize--he took a seat in the director's chair beside Drew and sighed. "I bloody told him to use the double."
Drew attempted to be optimistic. "Well they put out the fire pretty quickly, I'm sure he's fine."
"He better be. We can't afford any setbacks. Listen, as long as I have you here, I wanted to let you know there's been a rewrite in the script. For the water scene."
Drew was hopeful. She hadn't really wanted to do it anyway. She didn't exactly fancy spending the day in and out of the water.
"We've written in a nude scene," Gerard stated bluntly.
Drew's jaw dropped. She knew it did. She was rendered speechless for a moment. "Um, uh--is that really necessary?"
"It will intrigue our target audience."
"Intrigue the--?" Drew couldn't even finished her sentence.
"Well I wasn't exactly anticipating a problem here," Gerard said. "I mean, it is in your contract. 'Tasteful nudity.' Did I interpret that the wrong way?"
"Um, no...but I just don't exactly see this movie and 'tastefully nude' really belonging in the same sentence..."
"Oh, darling, it's nothing to get your knickers in a twist over. I mean it's not like you'll be having sex or diddling yourself or anything. Just a frontal shot. And maybe a back. Nothing serious."
Drew blushed and sank down in her chair, desperate to get away from this conversation. And away from the word "diddle." Had he seriously just said that? "Yeah, I don't...know..." Drew's voice trailed off. The day had taken a turn in a direction she was not ready to face.
"Drew, I wasn't asking a question. I'm TELLING you there's been a rewrite. There'll be makeup and latex involved, don't worry. You're lucky I gave you the common courtesy of a warning before springing it on
you. Most actresses don't even get THAT. WHERE'S JASON?!" He suddenly screamed in the opposite direction, his voice ringing in Drew's ear. "Surely he wasn't hurt, I don't have time for this! GET HIM OUT
HERE!"
Drew was in a daze. Take her clothes off in front of a room full of men? She was one of only a handful of females on the entire project. And in front of Jason? The scene was her, Jason, and a couple of bit actors. She felt sweat forming above her brow and she quickly wiped it away. Gerard had said tasteful. She didn't have much choice but to trust him. He hadn't exactly steered her wrong yet. And she had to admit she admired him as a director. He definitely had a handle on his vision and how to achieve it. Even Jason--massive, towering Jason--submitted to him. Gerard just had a way of commanding respect. Nude scene or not, Drew just couldn't find it in herself to disrespect him.
When Gerard left her side, Drew quickly shot a text message to Zac. "They did a rewrite. I have a nude scene."
Twenty minutes later, she received a response. "How do I get my hands on movie passes?"
______________________________________________
I see you shaking in your boots
Why don't you put your petty fears aside
It's time to get your dancing shoes
I'm about to show you why
I've Got Soul
And I'm not afraid to use it
You want more
Let me know you how we do it
Don't just stand, just stand still
Cause I, I've Got Soul
I've got a rhythm you can't lose
If you let your body lead the way
It's just a syncopated groove
It might be more than you can take
I've Got Soul
And I'm not afraid to use it
You want more
Let me show you how we do it
Don't just stand, just stand still
Cause I, I've Got Soul
ISAAC
Things had been awkward at 3CG the past couple of days. Taylor was out of town with Natalie and Mel kept to herself. Isaac and Zac had discussed their situation at length and had been working in the studio by
themselves since Tay had been gone. Neither one of them had seen Mel since Tay had left--it was almost as if she'd been avoiding them or something. Ike and Zac opted to just let nature run its course. They knew she would eventually come around.
One day when Ike and Zac had decided to take a day off from the studio, Ike opted to come in later in the evening to work on a couple of things alone. Walking into a closed business office, he was ultimately surprised at the smell of the fumes and the sound of the music coming from Mel's open office door.
He popped his head in and spied the mess as Mel quickly switched off her music. Paint and brushes were all over the place. He didn't care much about the fact that she was painting. He was more interested in,
"What are you listening to?"
She looked like a deer in headlights. "Uh, music," she said.
They stared each other down for a moment before Ike nodded at her suspiciously. "Uh-huh...well I'll be in the back if you need anything."
"Okay."
He noticed that she waited until she thought he was gone before she turned her music back on. He listened for a moment. He knew it! He knew he wasn't crazy!
He poked his head back in her office and she turned her music off again. "You have GOT to stop scaring me like that," she said.
"Sorry. Hey, you never mentioned you were still singing." He was referring to when they were teenagers. Poor Mel had been dealt the corporate card. Mel and Ike had bonded over music as teenagers. She was an incredibly talented singer and songwriter but she had never wanted to make a career out of it. Ike and Mel had usually collaborated in secret until Love Song, which would eventually appear on the second album, came
about. Mel and Ike had co-written the song and what were now Tay's harmony parts had originally been written for Mel. It was beautiful. It was perfect. Hers and Ike's voices blended like magic. But then
the corporate hammer crashed down and they wanted no part of Mel. No writing credits, no vocals, nothing. They said it would hurt their appeal to their fan base and, in turn, hurt their record sales. The guys fought
hard for her but to no avail. Mel was a sport and signed her rights over. To this day, Ike had never forgiven himself for it.
"Um, well it's kind of like riding a bike..." Mel answered him hesitantly.
"Come to the back with me," he said. "I'm working on something and I could really use your help."
"I don't know..."
"Please. It'll only take a minute. There's only one of me right now and I really need to hear this harmony part. I was just gonna play it out on the piano, but since you're here..."
Mel put her paint brush down and stood back up, looking back at him. "You say it'll only take a minute."
"Yes."
"And that you just need to hear what this one part sounds like and then we're done."
"Cross my heart."
She stared back at him, eyes hardened. "Okay," she agreed.
A few minutes later, Ike and Mel were in the studio. He handed her a sheet of paper with song lyrics written out on them. "The parts in parentheses is where I want you to come in. I'll go through it first so you can hear what it sounds like."
"Ike," Mel said. "It's been so long since I've done this. I'm so out of practice and my voice isn't warmed up..."
"Based on what I heard coming out of your office I'd say your voice is warmed up just fine."
"Ike--"
"Mel, it's me. Come on. This used to be our thing, remember? I used to be the only one you would sing with." Ike desperately searched Mel's eyes, hoping he'd gotten through. Finally she caved. Ike grinned.
"Well you're right..."
Still grinning, Ike picked up his acoustic and began to play his song for her. He was incredibly proud of it and he just knew the parts he had written were perfect. He was so excited that he would actually get to hear
what it would really sound like before presenting it to Taylor and Zac.
When he finished he said, "Okay I'm gonna start over. You just come in and harmonize on the parts in parentheses."
Mel stared at the paper in her hand and blankly at him. "Um...I can't..."
"You can't what?"
"I can't do this. I can't just pick up a harmony like that. My brain just won't go there. Hell, I still can't even read music."
Ike was stunned. "Are you serious?"
"Yeah. I just never grasped it."
"You sound like that all these years and never learned to read?"
"Well I never really had to--"
"So then how do you learn?"
"By listening."
Ike was stumped for a moment. This was not exactly going according to plan. "Would it help if I played it for you?"
Mel nodded and he began to plink out the notes he wanted her to sing on the keyboard. He felt like he was giving a voice lesson. After they were confident she had it down--it was really only a series of about four notes--he started his song over and Mel joined in more confidently.
It was absolutely amazing. They both knew it. The sound was so rich and pure. When they sang together it was almost as if the earth moved.
They both grinned excitedly. "That was amazing!" Ike said. "Here, let's try this..."
What was only supposed to take a minute turned into five hours. What was only supposed to be a simple two-part harmony turned into Mel not only singing the entire song, but recording it as well. It was a turn in events
neither one of them expected but both were thrilled with.
Before Ike could think about what he was saying, he said to Mel, "We should record an album. Just the two of us! Or you could record one and I'll produce it! Under our label! Just think how awesome that would be!"
Mel crossed her arms in front of her chest from inside the sound room, not amused. "You have lost your damn mind," she said.
___________________________________________
Every single time I see you I start to feel this way
Makes me wonder if I'm ever gonna feel this way again
There's a picture that's hanging in the back of my head
I see it over and over
I wanna hold you and love you in my arms and then
I wanna need you cause I need to be with you till then end
Then I hear myself reply "You've got to hold it in" this time tonight
If Only I had the guts to feel this way
If Only you'd look at me and want to stay
If Only I could take you in my arms and say
I won't go cause I need you
I sit here waiting, wondering, hoping that I'll make this right
Cause all I think about is your hands, your face, and all these lonely nights
There's a feeling that's screaming in the back of my head
Saying it over and over
I wanna hear you say
It'll always be this way
We'll be hand in hand for every night and every day
I wanna scream and shout
Cause I'm losing any doubt
And all I care about is you and me and us and now
DREW
Drew grinned excitedly as she connected to the Skype session with Zac. She had forgotten that it was the first time Zac had laid eyes on her since her hair and eyebrows had been done. "Oh my god," Zac said when he
first appeared on her laptop.
"I know, it's weird, isn't it?" Drew asked, fluffing her extensions with her hand.
"It's actually kinda hot," Zac answered, smiling.
"Well that doesn't surprise me coming from you," Drew flirted.
"So a nude scene, huh?" he said.
She rolled her eyes. "I don't see the point. I don't see how the promise of a naked woman is gonna sell movie tickets."
"Naked women always sell movie tickets. I'm gonna buy, like, five thousand of them. See? Profits already."
Drew laughed. "I miss you, you know that? You're crazy but I miss you."
"I think about you all the time," Zac responded.
Drew stared at Zac through her computer screen. Things had just gotten serious.
"Constantly," he continued. "Like, you're the only thing that makes sense about me lately. I can't wrap my head around it. There's just--there's nobody like you. Anywhere. In the world. Not even...not even her...you know? I mean, I can't--I can't feel about her the same way I feel about you. Drew, I--"
Zac cut himself off nervously. Meanwhile Drew was sitting on the edge of her seat. "Yes? I'm here," she pressed. Was he finally going to say it? Would this be the moment--?
"I think I'm regretting a lot of the decisions I've made," he finished.
Drew had difficulty hiding her disappointment. Definitely not what she expected. Close, but still so far away.
"Call me crazy, I don't know," he said. "Maybe this is me trying to hold on to something that isn't there anymore."
"But I am here..." Drew responded in a small voice.
"I know, that's just it. Being around you and talking to you is bringing up all the 'what ifs' and 'what might have beens' and it's completely fucking with my head. What I WANT is for us to be together and for us to
be US again. But I'm not sure if I'm that person anymore."
Drew was completely perplexed, and perhaps a little heartbroken. It was like he wanted to say something but had basically said nothing. "Um...I'm not really sure what I'm supposed to say here..." she said hesitantly.
"Then don't. I've been working on something and I really want you to hear it. Okay? Just listen."
Not really having a choice, Drew could only watch her computer screen and listen to Zac sing to her. It had been so long--more than ten years--since he had privately serenaded her. Her heart had stopped and it was as if she couldn't breathe. He sang to her a cappella, a song she wasn't familiar with. But then she guessed she wouldn't be since he said he had been working on it. It was beautiful and the lyrics moved her, perhaps more than they should have. He sang about a love lost and found and then lost again. He sang about regret and loneliness and longing. The lyrics were moving and heartbreaking. Drew could barely get through it.
When he finished, Zac asked her, "So what do you think of it so far?"
Unable to fight the tears back any longer and determined not to let him see her cry, Drew simply said, "I have to go." She barely had her laptop closed when she burst into uncontrollable sobs.
The crying was so painful but it felt so good all at the same time. She realized that this was the first time she had really allowed herself to cry since she and Zac had reunited. Drew wasn't normally a crier. She was strong and in control. She took life by the horns and wrestled it with a vengeance.
But not this time. This time life had proven to be overwhelming and now she needed that release only a good cry could give her.
As she sobbed she thought she heard a knock at her trailer door. Drying herself up and opening it, she saw Gerard standing at the bottom of her steps. Upon seeing him, the dam broke and the waterworks started
again. Something about seeing him and the reality just crashing down on her--perhaps Zac wasn't the only reason she wept. Perhaps life in general had finally caught up with her.
Gerard hesitantly climbed the steps and stepped just inside her doorway. "Um, is everything all right?"
Without thinking, Drew threw her arms around Gerard's neck and sobbed on his shoulder. He didn't hug her back but she didn't care. She was just grateful to not be alone at that moment.
"Uh...this isn't very Magdara-like..." Gerard chuckled a bit, obviously trying to lighten the mood. "Is this about the rewrite? I promise it won't be that bad."
"Uh-uh," Drew's voice was muffled in his shoulder and she shook her head.
"Uh...well all right then..."
Drew felt Gerard's hand on her back, patting it awkwardly, obviously unsure what to do in this situation. Embarrassed, Drew realized what she was doing and quickly pulled away, wiping her eyes. "I'm sorry. I am so
sorry about that. You just--you caught me at a bad time."
"Uh, it's quite all right. I brought you the new script, thought you might want to look over it. Not many differences, really, just some minor things. However, all important."
Drew nodded and took the script from him. "Yeah, okay. Thanks."
Gerard looked her over once more. "You're sure everything is fine?"
Drew smiled through her remaining tears. "Yeah. I'm good, promise."
Gerard smiled a small smile. "Okay," he said. Then he said softly, "You know, it is lonely when you're filming on location sometimes. It gets to all of us. That's why we all form our large, quirky family when
we film. Because sometimes you feel so alone and in need of the support. But not to worry. You have Jason and you have the rest of the crew--and you have me. I may seem like a hard-ass sometimes, but I'm on your side."
Drew smiled and nodded, oddly feeling better. "Thank you."
"Okay," he said with a small wink as he left her trailer.
Drew took a deep breath and sat down in an arm chair. Collecting her thoughts, she began to mindlessly flip through the script Gerard had given her. She suddenly remembered cutting Zac off and immediately felt terrible about being so rude. Picking up her phone, she saw a text from Zac. "Was it something I said?"
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