by Chloe Summer
‘Well I’ve really got to get going.’ Jason suddenly blurted, leaping from the bed like his butt had caught fire.
‘What?’
‘Going. I’ve got too…be up in the morning.’ He stumbled over his words almost as much as he did around the room; hastily throwing his outfit together.
Liana was stunned. Hands over her mouth stunned. Surely this was some sort of joke? ‘You’d think an actor would be able to come up with something better than that?’ She asked, trying her best to add a sense of levity to the question.
Jason however just seemed offended by the question, as if it were a personal attack on his moral worth. ‘Lie?’ he asked as he put his jacket on (noticeably without a t-shirt). ‘Why would I lie?’
‘I just thought you’d want to maybe stay or…I don’t know and --,’
‘It’s not a lie I’ve…look. I’ve just got to go alright. I’ll call you.’ He leant in to give her a quick peck on the cheek and was out the door a second later. Like a tornado he had blown through the room in the blink of an eye.
Liana hated clichés, but she had just become one herself. She had known right from the beginning that this was who Jason was, without a doubt. And yet she still went through with it anyway. As she sat naked in bed, cold now, although still covered in a light haze of warm sweat, Liana cursed herself for being so stupid.
--
Liana didn’t get much sleep that night. She just couldn’t believe how stupid she had been. She had always prided herself on how much smarter she was then her friends when it came to dating, often scolding them for falling for such obvious tricks. And now she was just like them, a sleepless night wasted over some jerk not worth the tears.
She woke up the next morning totally past the regret stage, now having entered full anger mode. She was furious, downright furious over the way he had treated her. Everything from the promise to read her script through to the sex and subsequent exit from her house. So, in a moment of pure passion and unadulterated anger, Liana threw on a quick outfit and practically sprinted over to Jason’s apartment, determined to have it out with him.
She was still in the same frame of mind when she hammered on his door five minutes later, angry and full of passion. She didn’t know what she was going to say, or how she was going to say it. She had never been that great with actually saying words, just writing them. She hoped that when she saw his face that everything would just come out naturally.
Jason answered the door after the second flurry of heavy knocks. Wearing nothing more than his usual pair of dirty underwear, with his hair tied back in a ponytail, he looked still half asleep. The fact that he had had a good night sleep made Liana all the angrier.
‘Liana…’ He started; not seeming surprised at all, like the idea of a return service was to be expected.
‘Listen here…’ Liana began, not sure where she was going to go. Not that it mattered. Without a word, Jason reached out, grabbing Liana by the hand. Then, as if this were the plan all along, he pulled her into the house and slammed the door behind her.
Liana couldn’t tell you how it had happened, or why she didn’t stop it…maybe she just didn’t want to? Lay it up to the emotions currently forming a tempest inside of her or the heat coming off her entire body as she shook from apparent rage. As she would say, she had no idea, but a second after the door was closed, her back was pressed up against it as Jason ravaged her neck with a series of short kisses.
‘Don’t…’ she tried to say only half-heartedly, not really wanting him to stop at all. And to Jason’s credit, he didn’t.
They didn’t leave the doorway that morning. Pressed up against the closed door the whole time, Liana’s dress was easy to hoist up around her waist as her panties were even easier to drop to the ground; allowing Jason full access to all of her. This was a privilege he took full advantage of.
And from the doorway the two eventually moved, taking advantage of the entire apartment; the kitchen, the shower and even the linen closet. Nowhere was safe from the hunger that the two felt for each other. This wasn’t love, but full unbridled passion and lust. Liana had seen this passion in Jason’s acting and now she was able to experience it transferred to the bedroom. Yes, she knew that it was stupid, getting tangled up with a boy who by all intents wanted her for purely selfish reasons. But Liana didn’t care because right now she was alive, in a state of ecstasy that she didn’t want to let go of anytime soon.
CHAPTER FIVE
An Unrequited Reading
The next two weeks were some of the most unencumbered and freeing Liana had ever had. When she went to his house that first morning she had fully intended to let him have it. She had images in her head of her screaming at him as he cowered in the room, begging forgiveness. But obviously it hadn’t gone down this way. What resulted was a marathon session of sexual delight the likes of which Liana had never experienced. So much so that she knew that once wasn’t going to be enough.
So the next day and even the day after that she went back to his house; fully expecting and receiving the same treatment. Sure, she knew that he was using her, but she didn’t care. For the meantime she was happy to get hers, and who knew, maybe over time he would begin to see her in a new light too? It could happen…
This possibility was only made more plausible by the fact that Jason got a call back on his audition the very day after they had first slept together. He was now in full preparation mode, readying himself for his next reading. Liana was of course only too happy to help. With her script finished she was more than OK with taking the time off to help him read and get ready.
In truth, she loved watching him work. Not only did it inspire her the way it did, but now that she was able to call him hers, it was almost empowering. And most definitely a turn on. He was so talented, so certain for something great. Liana just couldn’t believe that she had him all to herself.
There was really only one problem as far as Liana could see, and that was the tiniest of problems. It was just that as Jason was so busy with his own audition that Liana’s script kind of lay forgotten…totally unread. Jason had almost single handily inspired her to finish her script and now that she had, all she wanted was for it to be read. Seeing the way that Jason had responded to his call back made her realise how much she wanted it. She knew that once Jason approved it then it really would be perfect; ready to be sent out.
But during all those two weeks, he just never had time to read it. And what’s worse, he never even made the effort. She had hoped that after a few days, maybe even a week of them sleeping together, that he would offer. But of course he didn’t, not even close. And try as she might, she really couldn’t bring herself to blame him. This audition was a huge, life changing deal. She was sure that once he read for the part again he would be free to help her.
--
It was the day after the audition and Liana couldn’t have been more excited. Not just for Jason, but for her too. Finally, Jason was going to be able to read her screenplay. She had been sitting on it for weeks and where before the very idea of letting anyone read it seemed preposterous, now all she wanted was for someone to read it. To provide feedback. She was desperate to feel that same sense of achievement that Jason had.
On her way over to Jason’s, Liana came to the decision that today she was going to insist that Jason read it. She had been helping him for over a month and they had been sleeping together for over two weeks. Surely that constituted semi-girlfriend privileges? Was he going to make her beg before he would even consider it? Somehow she wouldn’t have been surprised.
Jason was on the phone when he answered the door, ushering Liana into the living room.
‘No way! Are you…If you’re playing with me…No way!’ He yelled into the phone. ‘OK! I’ll come right down!’ Hanging up the phone, Jason turned to face Liana. ‘You’ll never believe it? They loved me. Like, really loved me the very embodiment of the role, they said! My agent wants me to come meet the producers right now. He thinks they’
re going to offer me the part! Can you believe it?!’ He exclaimed as he pranced around the room, barely able to control his excitement.
‘Oh…’ Liana responded, honestly a little disappointed. As thrilled as she was, her thoughts were quick to drift back to her own script…still sitting in his inbox, unread. And now that this had happened, she wondered if he were ever going to read it?
‘I know right!’ Jason said, laughing with glee as he rushed around the apartment, quickly throwing an outfit together; so excited that he didn’t even notice the meek response from her.
‘That’s, that’s awesome.’ Liana said, trying to sound a little more positive.
‘I’ve got to go --,’
‘Jason.’ She interrupted, unable to stop herself. ‘When are you going to read my script?’
‘What?’ Jason asked, pulling up. He looked genuinely confused by the question.
‘Nothing it’s just…I sent you my script two weeks ago now. I know you’ve been busy and I’m a self-involved girlfriend for asking but I really really want you to read it.’
‘Your script…are you being serious right now?’
‘Well yeah. Why wouldn’t I be serious about this?’
‘Liana,’ he began using a tone that she hated. It was a demeaning tone; one he used as if he were talking to an infant. ‘This is the biggest thing that has ever happened to me…that may ever happen to me. I’m sorry but right now your script is a little low on my too do list.’
Why was he such an asshole sometimes? For a guy that could be so sweet and so caring when he wanted to be, it was moments like this that reminded Liana of the kind of guy he really was. Every time that they got just a little closer he pulled away, demonstrating again that he was just using her.
He must have been able to tell what Liana was thinking as a second later he swooped down on her, taking her in his arms in an act of reassurance. ‘How about this?’ He said. ‘If all goes well I’ll come over tonight and we can…celebrate.’ He offered with a sly smile. ‘And hey after that I might even read your script.’ There it was again, that sweet side. He was so manipulating that it was hard to tell where his head was out. But of course, Liana couldn’t help but fall for it.
‘Promise?’ She asked, unable to resist his charm.
‘Promise.’
Liana’s broad smile seemed to be all Jason needed as he quickly pecked her on the cheek and darted from the room. She was happy for him. There was no doubt about that. But the more she thought about it the more she realised that what she really wanted, just once, was to be happy for herself. She was sick of having half a career and half a boyfriend. She wanted the full thing.
Sitting on the end of Jason’s bed, alone, Liana decided that enough was enough. One way or another she was going to get what she wanted. And, it was going to start with her screenplay.
--
Sharing a glass of red wine with herself, Liana sat at her laptop as she typed furiously. It was eight O’clock at night and Jason was sure to be over at any moment. She hadn’t been able to stop thinking about him reading her script all day and as such decided to do a little editing. The thing was damn near perfect, she decided as her writing came to a stop. Now she just needed Jason.
As if he could hear her thoughts, Liana’s phone rang a second later; Jason on the other end.
‘Babe, I got it! I got it!’ He began the moment she answered the phone. ‘Can you believe it?!’
‘What?!’ Liana couldn’t quite hear him. He was obviously outside, somewhere busy as the hum of traffic and people drowned his voice out.
‘I got it! They signed me then and there! Can you believe that?’ He shouted into the phone.
‘Oh my god that’s great!’ She yelled back. ‘Come on over and we can cele --,’
‘I can’t! They’re taking me out to dinner to celebrate! That’s where I am now –
‘At dinner?’ Liana half yelled.
‘Yeah.’ Jason responded, as if it were so obvious.
‘Oh, so you’re not…’
‘Babe I’ve got to go. I can barely hear you!’
‘So you’re not coming over?!’ Liana yelled back into the phone, a little angry now, preparing herself for a fight. Not that it mattered as a second later she was greeted with the long beep of a hung up phone.
Why was she so angry? Maybe it was the wine talking? Maybe it was all her misdirected excitement, burning out over a still unread screenplay? She should have been ecstatic for Jason, but right now she couldn’t summon the enthusiasm. All she wanted was for someone to read it. And more than that, she wanted to achieve something from it. She was tired of watching Jason do so well while she waited. She was tired of…It was at this moment that she spotted agent Henry Golding’s’ card, sitting innocently by her laptop.
It was a moment of drunken anger, but it was all Liana needed. She didn’t care about the opinion of Jason, or even of Henry Golding for that matter. All she cared about was taking control of a life that had seemingly gotten away from her.
Opening up a new email, she addressed it to Henry Golding’s personal account. Then, attaching her screenplay she took a deep breath before hitting ‘send.’
Even through the anger and haze of wine, Liana couldn’t help but be proud of herself. She had come what seemed so far in just a matter of weeks. It was amazing what meeting the right person can do for you.
CHAPTER SIX
Changing Expectations
In true Jason fashion he bounced back from their cancelled night with terrific gusto, reminding Liana once again why she had fallen so hard for the up and coming actor.
It began the next morning, when he surprised her bright and early with a coffee and breakfast. And this wasn’t just some takeaway coffee with a side order of bacon and eggs. No, after practically hammering her door down with his incessant knocking, he forced her to his car and drove the two to a café in the heart of L.A. Try as she might, Liana couldn’t maintain her anger as Jason spoiled her with an amazing breakfast and unbridled enthusiasm. Like a bright-eyed child, he really was impossible to stay mad at.
Plus she felt more than a little guilty for acting so immaturely last night and sending her screenplay off. At the time it had felt like a smart move, now it just seemed childish; like a way of getting back at him for no reason. It was therefore a relief when Jason announced that he wanted to take a two week break from anything film related.
‘They said it will take them another two weeks to cast the role of the President’s Daughter. The way I see it is I’ve just scored myself a two week break. I don’t want to think about work, or scripts or movies or anything until they’re ready to start filming.’ He announced as he shovelled eggs into his mouth. ‘Do you know what that means?’
‘Wouldn’t have a clue.’
‘It means that that’s two whole weeks of freedom. Totally devoted to you…or us. How does that sound?’
Liana had some serious mixed feelings about this offer. On the one hand this would give her a great excuse to not mention her script and give her time to see if anything came of her email because, regardless of how embarrassed she might be, she did still send it out. But on the other hand it also felt like another excuse for Jason to not read the script. He didn’t know that she had sent it off? For all he knew she still desperately wanted him to read it for her…yes, the more she thought about it the more it felt like a snub.
But then again, this was a huge step for him. Up until now, Liana and Jason had been little more than sex buddies. Sure, she harboured dreams of them being something more, but she knew that that just wasn’t Jason’s way. But now this offer…who knows? Maybe he was ready to take this a step forward?
‘Just so long as you promise to spend a little extra attention on me.’ Liana teased.
Grinning with mischief as Jason took a sip of his coffee. ‘I think I can arrange something.’
--
Liana cancelled all her shifts at work for the next two weeks, content to spend every day s
he could with Jason; if he was going to make the effort than so was she. This was a gesture that he was only too happy about, running with the idea and planning a huge list of activities that the two could do together. Everything from drinking mini-golf (a favourite of Jason’s) to time allocated for Netflix binging and pillow talk, was thought of and included. Liana couldn’t wait.
And true to form the ‘holiday,’ as they had taken to calling it, started out in spectacular fashion.
One thing you could never say about Jason is that he is boring. If there’s a moment of prolonged silence or a dull situation, Jason is the one who will end it. This charismatic desire to be interesting carried over perfectly to their ‘holiday.’ A series of events which went from fun to strange to downright crazy.
‘Come on!’ Jason yelled over his shoulder as he sprinted down the wharf, Liana struggling to keep up. ‘The boat is just down here. You’ll love it!’ Like a school boy he let off a loud ‘Woop’ before charging toward the water.