COSTAR CHAPTER 2 - TAKE 5
The rehearsals were grueling, stretching late into the evening as we ran through scene after scene. Ricky's intensity never wavered, and I could feel his eyes on me, gauging my every move, testing my limits. After several hours, we seemed to be getting along great, making jokes, laughing about scenes, even discussing what we thought should be changed. Overall, I was enjoying the first day of preparation.
We finally took a full break, and I gathered my things as we left the rehearsal room. I let out a breath and wiped the sweat from my face. My entire body ached, and I was ready to collapse. I followed Ricky as he led the way, making jokes at how I had managed after all the action sequences. I definitely wasn't used to it but I would manage.
"They've probably set you up with one of the small trailers for when you come on set. But I've got a pretty sweet setup, if you want to crash here. Definitely would save traveling back and forth to set." Ricky said as we walked through the lot. Walking through several trailers, I spotted my name on one. I considered checking out the set my own set up. "And we won't be in each other's way."
I nodded, and we continued pass until we came on a lot that several larger vehicles. I was surprised to find Ricky had one that was basically a tour bus. It was large and had plenty of room and seemed luxury.
The walls are lined with soundproofing materials in rich, dark hues, creating a cozy and private atmosphere.
"Make yourself comfortable," Ricky said.
I was impressed by the interior with plush leather seating, accented with gold or silver detailing. There was a sleek entertainment center with a large flat-screen TV, perfect for watching rehearsals or unwinding after a performance. A mini fridge stocked with snacks and drinks, along with a kitchen.
"Must say I'm impressed. This is pretty sweet. Look at you Mr. Lead Actor."
Ricky walked backwards, shining a rare smile again. He continued giving me the tour. Towards the middle of the bus, a spacious area with large mirrors perfect for wardrobe and styling, hair and makeup. On the counters seemed to be scripts and other paperwork. The open area was separated by a fully equipped bathroom.
Inside definitely felt larger than it looked from the outside. We passed by a section of bunkbeds, that probably held about 6 people and in the rear, was a master suite that had a king size bed and was spacious enough for reclining chairs and a fold-out bed.
"Lots of space, back here and up front,"
I set my bag down near one of the reclining chairs and took a seat. I thought to ask how Ricky had this set up but thought back to him mentioning how the production was for him. That was a rabbit hole I didn't want to go down. I was silent for a moment as I tried tried to process everything that had happened today. My head was spinning from the whirlwind of events--the unexpected casting, the intense rehearsals, the plan to start shooting in two days, then the mysterious atmosphere surrounding the production. It was a lot to take in.
I watched as Ricky continued on throughout the bus just as my phone started to ring. I pulled it out to see my agent's name flashing on the screen. Perfect timing.
"Hey," I answered, leaning against the wall. "I've been waiting to hear from you."
"Sorry for the delay," Chelsea said, her voice bright and chipper. "Things kind of went into overdrive with how quickly they wanted things to move. Negotiations went even better than expected."
I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Better how?"
"Well, first off, the pay. You're getting the same rate as the lead, they didn't fight me on it but I do wonder how I made that happen. Keep that to yourself. Plus, they're covering all your expenses--travel, accommodation, the works. And--get this--they're giving you a percentage of the back end if the film does well. Not bad, huh?"
I blinked, trying to absorb what she was saying. This was far beyond anything I'd expected. "Seriously? That sounds... too good to be true."
She laughed. "It's all legit, trust me. They're really banking on this film, and they see potential in you. They want to lock you in, make sure you're fully committed. That's why the terms are so favorable."
I hesitated, still feeling that nagging doubt. I looked up at Ricky who returned from probably a shower, as he laid in the king size bed with only a towel on. "What's the catch?"
"No catch," she assured me. "Just the usual NDA and confidentiality clauses. They're keeping everything under wraps until the official announcement, so you can't talk to anyone about the details until they give the green light. Other than that, you're in the clear."
Of course, an NDA and confidentiality clauses... based on the events, they must have wanted me to keep whatever they thought I knew under wraps.
I zoned out, weighing the options. I was already locked in. Things had already started moving. I couldn't back out. Should I have backed out?
"Alright," I said finally. "The way today has gone, it's like they'd knew I'd sign on."
"They're really banking on you," she replied. "And don't worry--I'll keep an eye on everything. You just focus on doing what you do best. This is your moment, so make the most of it."
We hung up, and I exhaled slowly, feeling a mixture of excitement and apprehension. The terms were good--better than good, really--but I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more going on beneath the surface. Still, a decision was made. Now it was time to follow through.
As I tucked my phone away, my eyes went back to Ricky. He was shirtless, a towel slung casually around his neck, and a towel wrapped around his waist. I tried not to stare, but it was hard to ignore how effortlessly he commanded attention, even in this moment.
"So, it's settled, huh?" he remarked, catching my eye as he tossed one towel onto a nearby chair. He seemed completely at ease, as if the intense rehearsal had barely fazed him.
"Yeah," I replied, trying to keep my tone neutral. "It's kind of surreal."
He sat up. "You worked hard to be here. Shouldn't be that surreal."
"You're right," I said, unsure how to respond. His compliment felt genuine, but there was an edge to it that I couldn't quite place. There were moments where it seemed he didn't want me on the project but then moments like this.
I started to change out of my clothes, readying myself for a shower. I hurried for some reason, trying to give him some privacy or get a break from the view of him lying on the bed. But out of the corner of my eye, I couldn't help but notice how casually he flaunted his physique, as if it was all part of the performance.
"You'll get used to it," he said suddenly, breaking the silence.
"Used to what?" I asked, glancing up.
"Being at this level of stardom. Soon you'll have people watching your every move, expecting things from you. It's part of the job, but it can mess with your head if you're not careful."
I considered his words, sensing that there was more behind them than just casual advice. "How do you handle it?"
He shrugged. "I'll admit, it gets stressful. A lot of things riding on me. The pressure to maintain the level or performance from project to project. I try to focus on the work, the craft. But it isn't easy."
I nodded, mulling over his words, almost shocked that he was sharing incite about this. Didn't think he could be vulnerable. There was a strange kind of camaraderie in his tone, as if he he was glad to not be in on this alone. And he could understand it from my point of view. I was starting to learn more about him other than him just being the lead actor.
"Anyway, don't let me hold you longer from your shower." he said. "Plenty of places to sleep so wherever you decide is fine, definitely want to get some rest for tomorrow."
I nodded, and finally took what I needed to shower. His presence lingered while I was alone but also showering where he had just showered. Some of his things were placed around on the counters and hung on towel racks. It intrigued me how he remained in my mind as I showered and washed the day away.
I returned and found him under covers, the lights dimmed. He seemed to have been sleep. I searched around, attempting to figure out where I should sleep. The bunk beds seemed a distance away and I was already in the master suite, there was plenty of room -- the reclining chairs and the pull-out bed would work fine. I settled on heading to the front and not having us 'in each other's way'.
Tomorrow would be interesting, thinking on how it would be my third day on set but also 2 days until things would be filmed.
I grabbed my phone and opened the email from my agent, scrolling through the contract. Everything was as she had promised--solid terms, good pay, and a clear path forward. I signed it with a few quick taps and sent it back, feeling a strange mix of relief and anticipation.
The next day arrived too quickly. I awoke to knocking on the trailer's doors, insistently, pulling me out of a restless sleep. I groaned, not feeling like I got enough sleep, my body protesting every movement. Rehearsals had left me sore and exhausted, but there was no time to dwell on it. I did choose to sleep up front, so I wondered if I should check who was knocking. It was definitely for Ricky.
I pulled some pants on and headed to the front, where the knocking continued. There was a second thought to wake Ricky but the annoyance of the knocking, I wanted to stop. I figured out how to open the door and found a PA waiting outside.
"Not Ricky. Where's Ricky. What are you doing here?" Her questions were to fast for me to comprehend what to answer. What was I doing here? It was a question I wondered.
