Part 4
Spencer had found out this morning.
His agent had called up all happy and elated, saying that Spencer’s stint on the soap opera had actually been pretty good for his career, that casting agents that hadn’t even looked at him twice were calling with parts in great movies.
“Remember that movie you did a screen test for? The one with the guy going through the wilderness with his friends and they get eaten by wolves or whatever? Anyway, the guy they hired had to be let go due to scheduling conflicts or whatever and they want you. They want you, Spencer. They say your range is fantastic”
The praise had gone on and on like that until Spencer had to hang up because he was going to miss his early morning call if he stayed on the phone any longer.
His agent would understand.
And it’s true that Spencer’s been sort of getting his fair share of the limelight. Everyone is really, but lots of different interest groups and magazines are picking up on the fact that Spencer’s playing a woman and he’s a man and that he’s doing it believably or whatever.
He’s been on more magazine covers than ever before.
His parents are seriously proud of him, even if his dad does joke around about it. They’re proud of him.
Everyone is proud of him.
And he really likes playing Melinda. He does.
He sort of likes it more because Ryan’s there.
Right now, Ryan’s gently scrubbing the make-up off of Spencer’s face. He does this every time they’re done with shooting.
“I could probably do this myself. I mean if you had other things to do,” Spencer says.
Ryan shakes his head.
“I have a team, Spencer. A whole team. They know you’re make-up takes longer,” Ryan says.
“You’re not putting my make-up on though. You’re taking it off.”
“Do you know how irritating make-up is if you don’t take it off properly?”
“So you’re just looking out for me?”
“Yup.”
“Ryan…”
Ryan’s not looking at him. He’s staring at the wall behind Spencer, slow strokes of the cotton rubbing Spencer’s face deliberately.
“Would you really not have taken this job if I hadn’t gone with you?” Spencer asks.
He watches as Ryan blinks, imperceptible to most, but Spencer’s known Ryan almost as long as he’s been alive, so he knows. He knows Ryan better than anyone else, better than Ryan even knows himself some days. Ryan bites his bottom lip and tosses the cotton ball. He turns to his table and douses another one with make-up remover.
“You wouldn’t have been able to make rent without me,” Ryan says with a shrug.
“I would’ve managed. I would’ve found another roommate.”
Ryan frowns.
“I promised.”
“What did you promise?”
“I promised you that we would do this together. I meant that,” Ryan says.
Spencer sighs.
“That doesn’t mean we have to do the rest of our lives together.”
Ryan shakes his head.
“It doesn’t matter. You’re here, right. We both are. And this is a pretty good opportunity. Everyone loves the show.”
Spencer frowns.
“I got a part in that movie. The one I was auditioning for before I came here. They’re offering me a lot of money. My agent thinks I should take it. I’d be taken care of.”
“I know you can take care of yourself,” Ryan says.
Spencer blinks, frown turning into puzzlement. He knows that he knows more about Ryan then anyone else, but he forgets that Ryan knows him just as well.
“I…”
“If you want to take that movie, then do it. It’ll be good for your career.”
“I signed a contract,” Spencer mutters.
“It’s Pete. He’ll let you out of it for a little while. He’ll make Melinda slip into a coma or something. Helena will seek comfort in Julio’s arms and the plot thickens.”
“You’d be okay with that?”
“I want you to succeed. That’s all I’ve ever wanted for you, Spencer.”
Spencer nods.
“I’m thinking about taking it, Ryan.”
Ryan’s hand freezes, just for a second, before he swabs cotton over his eyes.
“You’re gonna do a great job.”
Spencer frowns.
“Ryan?”
“Hmm?” Ryan says, eyes and hands focused on taking Spencer’s make-up off and Spencer will never get used to Ryan’s laser focus attention focused on him.
Especially when Spencer’s sitting on a table, feet loose, legs almost dangling if he doesn’t set them down firmly or anything and Ryan’s between them, one hand idly resting on Spencer’s thigh.
This is close. This is super close. This is closer than most people normally get to each other and it’s just always been that way, Spencer’s head in Ryan’s lap or Ryan practically curling himself around Spencer. He doesn’t remember a time when they weren’t close like this, in each other’s space.
So Spencer puts his hand on Ryan’s waist and Ryan doesn’t even blink, hands don’t even falter in their work. It’s just comfortable.
“Ryan?”
“Hmm?”
“Can you look at me?”
“I’m busy.”
“Ryan,” Spencer says a little more sternly.
Ryan looks down.
“Yes?”
Spencer leans forward and then his lips are on Ryan’s, slightly off center and Ryan’s lips are kind of thin and they’ve done this before, when Ryan was sixteen and Spencer was fifteen and Spencer had been worried about his technique.
Ryan’s a really good kisser though. He’s heard enough actresses going on and on in countless different magazines about it and Spencer pulls him close, one hand on Ryan’s waist and the other on Ryan’s face and Ryan’s starting to kiss back and it’s great.
It’s better than great.
And then it’s over.
“Spence?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m done taking off your make-up.”
And that’s it. Like Spencer hadn’t been macking on Ryan just a few seconds ago. Like Ryan hadn’t started warming up to it before he’d abruptly pulled away.
Like it hadn’t even happened.
“Oh.”
“Yeah. So… I guess you can go home now.”
“What about you?”
“I’ve gotta make a few adjustments on the mariachi suits. I’ll be home later. I’ll catch a ride with Ashlee.”
And then he’s gone, out from between Spencer’s legs and practically on the other side of the room.
It’s really just the story of Spencer’s life.
~*~
Jon’s watching the dallies.
Bob M and Chris will get their hands on them later, but right now, Jon’s enjoying watching over the work for the day.
Everything is going really well.
Extremely well even. Jon likes the work he’s doing. He likes Travis as a director and he likes the team and he likes the cast of actors and the writers and the composers and the producers. He likes everyone involved.
He’s starting to get that itchy feeling.
The one that’s telling him that maybe he should talk to his therapist about upping his dosage because clearly everything is fine. Everything is going great. There should be no reason for him to be feeling any anxiety of any kind.
He’s still got the itchy feeling.
It’s not like the suffocating feeling that led him to destroying two thousand dollars of equipment and fleeing to Chicago, but it’s that before feeling. That feeling he got whenever he’d walk the red carpet with Brendon to some music award ceremony. Brendon would be rubbing elbows with people like Danny Elfman, boosting his career and people would be asking Jon when he was going to start directing and all Jon could do was smile and say we’ll see.
It’s that feeling, just under his collar that made him desperate to be on the other side, looking at all the glamorous people passing him by.
Jon started his career as a photographer, taking pictures of the beautiful celebrities, but never actually talking to them. He’d been a kid just out of college making his way to the big city with a boyfriend attached at his hip and a cat in a carrier.
It’s not that Jon wants to go back to those days. It’s just that that’s the last time he remembers not having the itchy feeling.
“Hey, you looking at anything interesting?”
Jon looks up and there’s Brendon in that old tan corduroy blazer that he’s had since before Jon can remember. Brendon thinks it makes him look professional, but Jon’s pretty sure Brendon got it at a thrift store or something. Not that he doesn’t like it. It’s Brendon’s favorite jacket and it was the jacket he’d been wearing when Jon had first met him.
Back when Tom had introduced them because he’d met Brendon in one of his music classes and said Brendon had looked lonely.
He’s wearing the red glasses because he said it was a red day and Jon had just smiled and kissed him until he didn’t feel sleepy anymore.
“Just the dallies. Things that didn’t make it to the cutting room floor,” Jon says.
“Hmm. Any funny goof ups?”
“There’s a scene where that chicken the Alexes got Pete ran through the shot and Travie cursed the damn thing and almost killed it with his boot.”
Brendon frowns.
“The chicken’s okay, right?”
Jon nods.
“Yeah. Pete promised to take it to a farm tomorrow. Although, I think Patrick’s gonna have to man up and do it for him. Pete’s kind of already named the thing.”
“How did the Alexes even get their hands on a chicken?”
“They’re not telling. They think it makes them look mysterious or something.”
Brendon nods and throws an arm around Jon’s waist.
“You’re not gonna have a nervous breakdown, right? I told Pete if you were going to come close to a nervous breakdown that I would make you take a break,” Brendon says.
It’s weird that Jon is used to this question, that he doesn’t even bat an eyelash at Brendon asking it. Brendon sounds super nervous and Jon feels like a complete ass. He’s been dragging Brendon down into it for years and Jon is getting sick of it.
“I’m fine, Brendon.”
“Are you sure? Bob said he heard you yelling at Jack.”
Jon sighs.
“He was dropping equipment. He’s been dropping equipment for a while. That’s why we put him on the special project. It just got to me today. I’m not losing my mind again.”
Brendon still looks like he’s walking on egg shells, kid gloves and soft eyes. Brendon’s been with Jon since it all went down, since before and Jon’s not quite sure why Brendon is still with him.
“I swear.”
“I know. I’m just worried about you. I know we haven’t had much time together what with Ryan and Spencer living with us. I guess I’m just checking in.”
Jon smiles.
“Well, how are you doing? I hear some of the stuff coming out of the composer room and it’s pretty good.”
Brendon smiles, big and wide and so open and Jon knows he’d be drowning if he didn’t have Brendon around.
“I love everyone I work with, Jon Walker. I’m so glad Pete allowed me to have Greta. But Bob… he’s great and so is Michael Guy Chislett. I’ve got a great team. And Patrick comes in and helps every once in awhile. Every episode is like coming up with a new song,” Brendon says.
“I’m glad you like it,” Jon says.
“I do, Jon. I like it even more because I think you actually like what you’re doing.”
“I do, Brendon. I do,” Jon says.
“Good. I just want you to be happy.”
And that’s the thing. Jon’s been with Brendon since Brendon was a new freshman in a big city like Chicago with a big smile and sad eyes. Brendon’s followed Jon to LA to Europe and back to Chicago. Brendon’s dodged glass vases and camera lens and he puts Jon’s pills together.
Brendon’s always taking care of him.
“I don’t know how I got so lucky,” Jon says.
Brendon’s fucking beaming and Jon sort of hates that it’s so easy to get that look on Brendon’s face.
“Jon, I’m…”
“Don’t say you’re the lucky one because you’re not. I don’t think I could’ve made it these past three years without you around.”
“You saved me first, Jon. I was only trying to do what you did for me. Because that’s what people who love each other do.”
Jon smiles.
“I really, really love you, Brendon,” he says.
Brendon’s still beaming and Jon leans over and kisses Brendon softly.
“I love you too, Jon.”
And Jon thinks he really hopes it stays that way.
~*~
It’s the end of the day and William’s hanging back for some reason.
Siska and Butcher have left which means William’s going to have to take a cab or possibly walk. Gabe knows his apartment isn’t really that far away. Of course, he could get a ride with Pete, if Pete ever leaves the studio. No one has offices in Chicago yet, in case this doesn’t pan out and for some reason Pete and Gerard can’t get the creative juices flowing in the writing rooms Gabe knows they have in their houses. So they’re always in the studio, writing away in their cramped offices.
Gabe’s not sure why he’s still hanging out. It has nothing to do with William, really, but it does seem kind of odd when he thinks about it.
Like he was drawn to it.
His attempts at getting William to date him have been less than spectacular. They’ve been downright terrible all things considered, all of them leading to fights and hysterics and craziness. Maybe because he hasn’t been serious about it, but William keeps brushing it off with a rolls of his eyes.
Normally it wouldn’t matter. Normally Gabe would just start flirting with someone else and he has, Victoria can tell you he has, but he hasn’t really put much into it because William’s always there.
It’s fucking unnerving.
Because he knows William’s sexually attracted to him, at the very least because Gabe remembers the dare lap dance and he knows William was hard. But Gabe also knows that Siska was right. William’s not one to blow it on a one-nightstand.
“You’re still here? Also, you’re staring.”
Gabe shakes himself and there’s William, standing right in front of him with his hips cocked and his arms crossed over his chest.
“You’re still here,” Gabe says.
“Yeah, but I didn’t think you were. What are you doing here?”
“I don’t know. Guess I just lost track of time. It’s quiet here though. Easy to run lines.”
“You run lines?”
“Yeah. It’s kind of frustrating. You know, not having read throughs. I kind of miss them,” Gabe says.
William nods.
“I know. It’s a lot more difficult then it seems. Still, the writing’s great and we’ve got some really good actors.”
Gabe smiles.
“Even me?”
William rolls his eyes.
“Yeah, you too. But you’re right. We gotta be perfect. No time for double takes.”
“And I’m sure I’m fucking up my lines. There’s no one to call me on that shit either.”
William bites his lip.
“You seem to be doing a good job.”
It’s tentative because William’s called him a hack and a loser and nonprofessional before now and Gabe’s almost going to call him on his strange compliment, but it’ll probably just lead to more arguments, so he shakes his head and sighs.
“Yeah, but you know, I’d really love it if you would run lines with me.”
William rolls his eyes.
“Oh, I get it. This is another…”
“We could go over lines. Just go over lines. I mean if you want to,” Gabe says.
William clearly isn’t one to go for the obvious route. No, William needs subtlety. William needs to be wooed. William needs a lot of work that Gabe isn’t really used to, but he’s willing to do for some reason completely unknown to him.
Except, of course, for the fact that William is hot.
“We don’t have any lines together,” William says.
“We’ll borrow a wig from the prop department and take turns being the Helena character,” Gabe says with a smile.
And then William does something he hasn’t really done since Gabe met him.
He smiles.
“Somehow I don’t think you’d look good in a wig.”
Gabe smiles.
“Man, I’d look good in anything,” Gabe says.
It’s really tough for him not to add ‘or in nothing at all’, but he keeps it from falling off his tongue because William is still smiling and Gabe wants to keep it that way.
“I guess it couldn’t hurt,” William mutters.
“Awesome. I really need this man. I’m used to read throughs. I’m used to practicing over and over again until I get it right. I’m never gonna get the hang of this soap opera thing.”
William frowns.
“What?” Gabe asks.
“Nothing, I just… you don’t always come off as this serious.”
Gabe shrugs.
“I’m serious about my acting, man. It’s my art, you know. I just… why stress yourself out so much by acting serious all the time. The business doesn’t expect you to.”
“And that’s why you end up in trashy tabloids for getting into fights with Vegas hookers.”
Gabe smiles.
“Seems to me you’ve ended up in your fair share of trashy tabloids. Just for existing man. Just for doing what you love. I’m not gonna let them dictate my life, yo. I’m just living the only way I know how. And maybe I don’t come off as serious, but I’m just staying true to who I am. Ain’t nothing wrong with that.”
William tilts his head and nods.
“I guess.”
“Come on, you’re gonna tell me it isn’t a good way to live? Rumor has it the staunch-y side of things is why you lost it.”
William makes a face and it’s a pretty spectacular bitchface. Gabe’s only seen better on Spencer Smith, but William gives Spencer’s bitchface a run for its money. He knows he probably shouldn’t have pushed the issue, but that’s also a part of who he is.
“You don’t pull punches,” William says.
“Naw, man, pulling punches’ll just get you punched in the face. Look, I don’t know. I could be totally wrong. It seems we’ve all got our own problems here. Maybe you gotta loosen the tie, so to speak.”
William pulls a face and then he’s biting his bottom lip and snorting, just a little. His eyes are kind of squinty and that’s not a good look on anybody except for the fact that it’s totally a good look on William. He’s also sort of laughing.
“Alright, Mister Philosopher. How about we just run some lines?”
Gabe smiles.
“Sounds perfect.”
~*~
So, Gabe’s hot.
It’s not like it’s a secret or anything and William’s not stupid. He’s also not blind. Gabe is an attractive man. William’s not really forgetting that lap dance any time soon even though he’s tried and tried to purge the memory from his mind. He blames it on Victoria because it’s all her fault and he wonders what he ever did to her to make her this vindictive against him.
Anyway, Gabe’s an attractive man who’s really handsy and has this weird policy about life that William’s sort of not used to seeing in someone who isn’t a perpetual pot smoker or musician.
Although apparently Gabe plays bass.
That maybe explains it.
He’s not that bad of an actor either. He’s a little over-dramatic in places, but that seems to work for the material they’ve got. And he seems to really be focused on actually working on it. He’s taking it seriously.
Apparently he takes all his material seriously.
“Su belleza canta a mi alma,” Gabe says.
And he sounds really sexy when he’s speaking Spanish.
“What… what are you saying?” William asks.
They’ve been reading lines for a few hours now. William’s honestly surprised they haven’t been kicked out, but Pete and Gerard are still there and they can stay for as long as they want. They have been taking turns playing Helena, which has lead to some really funny moments when Gabe was putting on a fake falsetto voice and batting his eyelashes.
He stopped because he said it was hurting his vocal chords, but not before he had William laughing so hard he felt like he was going to pee his pants.
“Basically, your beauty sings to my soul. I think Pete’s using an online translator, though. It’s not all that good.”
“You fix it?”
“Some of them. Some of them I leave. Some of them really need to be changed, you know, keep the… dialect right or whatever. I was taught Spanish a little differently. I also kind of feel fake.”
“Fake?”
“Yeah, because, Jewish parents. I mean I guess I look the part and Pete did put the explainer or whatever. Just…”
“Hey, Hollywood does it all the time, man.”
“Yeah, I know, just… Julio’s a good character right? I’m doing him justice?”
William frowns.
“Yeah, I mean… I mean I don’t understand half of what he’s saying. Okay, I don’t understand all of what he’s saying, but you make it all believable.”
Gabe smirks.
“Really?”
The word drips over confidence, but there’s also an edge to it. A really weird edge that makes William think he’s not nearly as confident as he’s trying to sound.
“Yeah, man. Seriously. Pete made a good decision when he picked you.”
Gabe’s smirk widens a bit and it almost looks like a real smile.
It’s a nice smile.
“Okay, so, um… my line next, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Right, okay, so…”
“What the hell are you guys still doing here?”
William turns around and looks up to see Gerard and Pete standing there.
“Could ask you guys the same thing,” Gabe says.
“Finishing up some scripts, man. We’d still be here if Gerard didn’t get a call from the Missus,” Pete says.
William rolls his eyes.
“You know if Frank hears you calling him that, he’ll shank you with a toothbrush, right?” Gabe says.
“That’s why I say it when he’s not around,” Pete says with that big, toothy grin.
“Please don’t act like you didn’t get a similar call from Patrick because your dog is driving him crazy. At least my going home is going to get me laid. Your going home is going to get you pooper scooper duty,” Gerard says.
William smiles and he hears Gabe snort and Pete just glares.
“I love my dog,” Pete says.
Gerard snorts.
“Yeah, snuggle up real tight.”
Pete’s glaring and maybe before that might have meant blows, but Gerard and Pete seem to have had some sort of heart to heart conversation that didn’t involve any words and one day they were like weird friends who pick on each other about everything.
It’s mildly weird.
“Yeah, whatever, look, we gotta lock up, so it’s time to go, kids,” Pete says.
“Oh, it must be pretty late then,” William says.
“Close to midnight,” Gerard says with a nod.
“Shit,” Gabe says.
“Yeah, you guys should’ve been tucked in a long time ago. Early call tomorrow,” Pete says.
“Oh, um. Pete, do you think you could give me a ride?” William says.
“I can take you,” Gabe says.
“You have a car?” William says questioningly.
Gabe frowns.
“Well, no, but… I mean your place isn’t that far,” Gabe says.
Gerard and Pete are giving him that look.
“Your place is,” William says.
“Yeah, but… I’ll walk you home and then catch a cab.”
William frowns and Gerard and Pete are still giving him that look.
“Um…”
“It would really help me out if I didn’t have to give you a ride, man. I think Patrick’s about to bust that vein in his forehead. He’s not exactly a dog person,” Pete says.
Gabe’s giving him that pleading look and he’s been sort of standoffish to Gabe lately and tonight’s actually been pretty good. They’ve talked and they’ve run lines and William’s seen a side of Gabe that he’s pretty sure not a lot of people have seen.
But he’s attractive.
And it’s not that William’s shallow. William is completely not shallow and he hates that he’s in an industry that is completely shallow.
But before Gabe was a pretty face that would spout off a lot of bullshit and slept with girls and told reporters that he didn’t call them back ever. He’s the guy that flips off the paparazzi and puts wigs on for fun and wears ridiculous sunglasses. He’s the guy that hits on William all the time and is never really serious about it because Gabe Saporta is not serious about anything.
Except apparently he is.
And William’s been down this road before.
But Gabe’s pleading look has got a fake pout and he’s batting his eyelashes ridiculously and it shouldn’t be this hard to just say no.
William smiles.
“Okay.”
~*~
Walking William home is pretty great.
Every once in a while, William knocks into him and gives him this small, sneaky smile and Gabe feels his skin start to get hot.
He’s thinking maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.
Because he can deal with attraction. He can deal with a one nightstand. It probably isn’t the smartest thing he’s ever done, but no one’s ever accused Gabe of being a great thinker.
But it’s not just some hot and dirty sex, though he’s pretty sure sex with William would be fantastic. He’s got these hips and sure his ass isn’t really there, but he’s got legs that go on forever and would be completely awesome wrapped around Gabe’s waist.
So, yeah, sex with William would probably be really fucking amazing.
Gabe kind of doesn’t want it.
Well, that’s a lie. He wants it. He wants it so bad he can fucking imagine the sounds and the way William would look under him, but he wants it to be more than once. He wants it to be maybe all the time and he’s fucking wooing William.
Wooing him.
And he’s not so sure that now that he’s in, he can stop.
“Well, this is me.”
Gabe nods.
“Your place really isn’t that far.”
“Yeah, well, it’s just for right now. If this really takes off, then I might think about getting my own place. Nothing as big as Butcher and Siska’s though.”
Gabe nods.
He sort of really close to William and he’s aware of it. He’s aware of every part of himself that’s touching William, his hand gripping William’s wrist and their legs sort of whisper touching and their hips, part of William’s hip is touching Gabe’s hip.
And he’s smiling again, that wonderful, glorious smile that Gabe’s been doing anything he can think of to get on William’s face again and he’s doing it while Gabe’s hip is pressed up against his.
“Um… so, good read through,” Gabe says.
His voice sounds scratchy and hoarse and he’s completely aware of the way William’s hip feels against his more than he should be, more than he usually is when he’s in William’s presence and it’s just one little sharp hipbone.
“Yeah, I enjoyed it. I didn’t think I would.”
“Don’t sound so surprised,” Gabe says, shuffling a bit and then it’s both hipbones, hips against hips and Gabe has to breath a little more.
“I’m sorry. I’m surprised, but pleasantly so.”
The smile’s wider now, just a hint of it in his eyes too and William’s got really fucking great eyes.
“It was really helpful.”
“Yes, it was. I didn’t realize how fast paced everything would be. There’s barely any time to memorize anything. And Pete being on set everyday is fairly nerve wracking.”
“He’s just being Pete. He demands perfection.”
“I think Travis is starting to get a little annoyed.”
“Starting? Travie’s been annoyed with Pete’s ass from day one, but he knows its Pete and that’s just the way Pete operates, you know. He gets so attached to something and he’s gotta be all up in it. He’s really fucking dedicated you know, but he’s also overly paranoid. And since fucking Sixteen Candles, he’s been even more paranoid.”
He feels William’s eyes on him, smile bemused and William’s watching him closely, not that it’s hard considering how close they are and Gabe doesn’t even know when his hand ended up on William’s waist, fingers playing with the hem of his jeans.
“What? I got something in my teeth? Snot dangling out of my nose?”
William laughs and it’s high and breathy and so perfectly William.
“No, nothing like that, just… I think that’s the longest I’ve ever heard you speak in English. I mean discounting today.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah, it’s just… weird.”
“Good weird right?” Gabe says waggling his eyebrows.
William rolls his eyes.
“Yeah, good weird.”
“Good.”
And then they just sort of stay there, looking at each other and Gabe’s fingers are skimming skin and he pushes the thoughts of ‘oh fuck this is gotta be the stupidest fucking thing I’ve ever done’ right out of his head.
“You’re trying to get into my pants,” William says.
Gabe smiles.
“Not right now.”
“Hmm, I actually believe you.”
“Not that I wouldn’t love to, but…”
“But?”
“You’re not gonna invite me up. I wouldn’t expect you to invite me up and you wanna know what the real fucking kicker is? I don’t think I want you to invite me up. Not right now anyway. Soon though.”
“You think so?”
Gabe nods and his fingers go under William’s thin shirt, dancing up William’s side and William lets out this breathy little sigh that Gabe knows is going to drive him crazy just remembering.
“Yeah, yeah I do.”
“You’re confidence is overwhelming.”
“Oh, your big words turn me on so much, baby,” Gabe says playfully.
“And your dirty talk could use some work. Your seduction technique up until that point was thumbs up though.”
He knows William means that too because William’s skin is pink and his mouth is just slightly open and Gabe’s probably the stupidest guy in the history of ever for not dialing this up to eleven and just taking what they both want.
But Gabe’s done the whole one nightstand thing and he’s done it with costars and that never ends well and he wants more than that with William. This isn’t just an itch he’s gotta scratch. This could possibly be an addiction and Gabe wants that slow burn in his veins before hitting the good part.
So he pulls away.
“Well, well, Gabe Saporta the gentlemen.”
“Yeah, well, don’t go around telling everyone. I’ve got a rep to uphold,” Gabe says jokingly.
William snorts.
“Sure you do,” William says.
He leans in close, hand gripping Gabe’s forearm and he kisses Gabe’s cheek.
“I’ll see you at first call tomorrow,” William whispers into his ear.
And Gabe can’t hold back the thoughts of just how screwed he is.
~*~
Pete’s finally accepting his help.
They’ve been writing scripts together, flushing out characters and adding new twists. It’s tentative because Pete’s kind of twitchy with new people and Gerard is too.
He’s not sure when it happened. He thinks maybe when he told Pete, straight out that there needed to be a writing staff or at least one other writer. He’d put a lot of thought into that script, into fine tuning certain characters that hadn’t gotten much air time previously like Maja’s Olga and Tom’s Trenton.
Pete hadn’t said much, but when Gerard’s script got copied and passed around as official, Gerard knew what that meant.
So he and Pete are finally working together and it’s great. It’s more than great.
Except for the fact that the whole studio is whispering.
“So… you and Mikey have been spending a lot of time together,” Gerard says.
He tries for smooth, tries to be nonchalant and he knows he pretty much sucks at that- Frank has told him that he does numerous times- but Pete’s sort of in that writer zone that makes his mind one track and his eyes go kind of squinty.
“Yup. He’s cool.”
“Yeah, Mikey’s really great. Best brother ever.”
Pete just sort of nods distantly like he can’t hear a word Gerard is saying.
“He’s really happy with Alicia too.”
Pete frowns.
“Yeah, I know. He told me that.
“So you know they’re going to get married right? And that they’re ridiculously happy? And he’s not looking to, you know… like hook up or whatever,” Gerard says.
Pete nods.
“I know. I just… I like spending time with him. It doesn’t have anything to do with sex or anything,” Pete says.
“The two of you were making out at your party,” Gerard says.
Pete frowns.
“How’d you know that?”
“I heard about it from Frank.”
“How’d Frank know?”
Gerard shrugs.
“He didn’t tell me. He just knew. But he’s not the only one. I’m pretty sure its all around the studio by now.”
Pete’s frown deepens.
“Really?”
“It’s gossip. The whole studio loves gossip. People are still talking about William and Gabe’s sexy dance thing.”
Pete sighs.
“We weren’t really making out. I mean, okay, we were kind of making out. But it doesn’t mean anything. Mikey went home with Alicia. Mikey’s always going to go home with Alicia and that’s the way it should be. They’re good together,” Pete says.
“I agree.”
There’s a prolonged silence before Gerard opens his mouth.
“Look, I don’t know why you were making out with Mikey. I don’t really care. It’s just that we’ve all been through some shit lately. Getting Monroeville Productions up off the ground has kind of been the fresh start for all of us. I just don’t want anything to fuck that up.”
Pete nods.
“I’m not going to fuck up your brother okay. It was just… it was just a thing you know. Me… expressing my gratitude or whatever. I know it sounds stupid, but Mikey’s been a good friend, you know. There for me even though he hasn’t had to be. It’s weird to have more than one friend that really gets you.”
Gerard smiles.
“I know. Mikey’s like that. He’s special.”
Pete seems to agree and that’s all Gerard really needs to know. He knows that Mikey’s happy with Alicia, that soon they’ll be settling down and getting married and he couldn’t be happier. He also knows that Pete has some warped issues, possibly more warped than Gerard’s ever got if only because it seems that Pete hasn’t really asked for help yet.
When he does, Gerard will be there. He doesn’t know why or how come things changed. He just knows that they have and that this working relationship is going to go far because it’s more than that. There’s some seeping friendship here and Gerard thinks it could really turn into a strong friendship.
It seems like Pete could use a few more of those.
~*~
William is bemused.
Gabe’s trying to rap, trying being the operative word and Travie looks like he’s about to stick a pencil in his ear and poke his eardrum. Ryland is strumming along some tune that Gabe’s rapping too and William knows Ryland’s a kick ass guitarist, but he keeps missing notes and strumming too hard because he’s laughing hysterically.
It probably shouldn’t be as amusing as William finds it, but every once in awhile Gabe looks over at him and he’ll do this thing where he rolls his hips and leers in William’s direction, but it’s so goofy and ridiculous that William has to laugh.
“You are so fucked.”
William frowns and looks over to see Adam sitting beside him, eyes focused on Gabe doing some sort of hilarious dance and Alex Suarez has joined in, waving his hands around sporadically in what William thinks is supposed to be dancing.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Oh please, Bill. You totally know what I’m talking about. I’m talking about this weird thing you’ve got going on with Gabe. Everyone on set is talking about it. It’s bigger than Patrick’s obliviousness.”
William’s frown deepens.
“It is not.”
“It so is. Dude, this is Gabe Saporta, okay. The press has this very certain image of who he is.”
“He’s not like that.”
“Well, I know that. And everyone here knows that. Still, it’s Gabe. And he’s acting just as lovesick as you are. From you, it’s expected.”
William glares.
“It’s not… we’ve only gone out a few times, okay. It’s not like it’s…”
Except when Gabe touches him, he feels sparks all over his skin and when Gabe wraps an arm around William’s shoulders and spouts his mouth off about whatever, his body’s always turned towards William, his eyes always soft when he looks at William.
“It’s just a good thing you guys aren’t having sex yet.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Because if the two of you were actually having sex, the amount of heated glances would be heightened. You two wouldn’t be able to stop touching each other and while that’s, you know, cool. I’m totally cool with that, you know it. Anyway, it’s cool, but on stage, in front of the cameras… you could see how that would not be as cool… right?”
“I… yes. But we barely have scenes together anyway,” William says.
“Yeah, but you’re both going after the same girl. Eventually Pete is going to write a scene with the both of you in it. Then where will you be.”
“I…”
“Look, I’m not saying you shouldn’t. I haven’t seen you this happy in awhile and fuck anyone who says you can’t have that, but remember that girl, Christine or whatever, with the movie about the zombie werewolves? Where you thought you were in love with her and you got all… weird on set.”
“Are you saying I’m not a professional?”
“I’m saying that sometimes you forget to be. And the way you’re acting with Gabe…”
“What?”
William watches as Adam’s lips quirk and his brows furrow and he looks kind of helpless, at a loss for words if his hand gestures between William and Gabe are anything to go by.
“I’ve never seen you like this before. Honestly. Not with anyone else.”
And that right there is a punch to the gut because yeah, William’s kind of never felt this way before and it’s completely cliché, but totally true. There’s something about Gabe, the way he talks and acts and how everyone underestimates him, but William knows better. It simultaneously makes all the sense in the world and none at the same time.
“I’m fucked.”
“You’re not fucked,” Adam says dismissively even though he’s the one that had said it in the first place.
“Yes, yes I am. I’m so utterly fucked.”
“No, you’re just, quite possibly, in love.”
“With Gabe Saporta.”
“Yeah, okay, so the choice is a little weird, but it makes this weird kind of sense, you know. You just seem to get each other.”
“I shouldn’t be getting involved. This… this is the first thing I’ve done since…”
“Dude, don’t talk yourself out of it, okay. It’s a good thing. Butcher…”
“You’ve been talking to Andy about it?”
“Dude, the whole set knows. I think I heard the little Alexes talking about it. Anyway, Butcher thinks it’s a good thing. He’d been getting sick of drawing you all sad panda. His words, not mine. You’ve got people that care okay. So don’t trip.”
“You’re the one that was making me trip.”
Adam rolls his eyes.
“Right, I forgot. You have to be handled like a delicate flower. Look, I say you’re fucked because you’re so deep in this thing with Gabe that you didn’t even realize it. This is not a bad thing though, okay. So don’t think it is.”
“I don’t need to be handled like a delicate flower,” William grumbles.
“Yeah, whatever. Look, man, this… just remember yourself okay.”
William nods.
He’s still fucked.
~*~
Brendon’s kind of on edge.
It’s this thing with Sean. It’s not that Sean’s being overt in his advances or creating a hostile work environment or whatever. Brendon is the boss after all. Sean’s not even particularly smooth about his advances or anything. He’s actually kind of awkward which makes Brendon smile and remember himself being really awkward when he’d tried to ask Jon out for the first time.
He remembers the finger puppets Tom made after that and how Jon had smacked him on the back of the head and asked Brendon to the movies.
Its stories like that that make Brendon wonder why anyone would hit on him. He knows he’s attractive, in a way. He’s been told by various different people that he’s adorable and cute and oddly sexy some times.
It’s just that Brendon’s been with Jon for so long that all of his good stories have Jon in them in some form or another. Brendon doesn’t think he knows how to not be with Jon. It’s not something he’s ever wanted to do.
So he doesn’t get why Sean is still hitting on him.
Because Brendon’s made it really, really, really clear that he’s with Jon and he’s always going to be with Jon and the flirting just puts him on edge. It’s another thing he’s got to hide from Jon, something to step on eggshells with.
And he needs to talk about it.
Spencer and Ryan are out, as much as he really loves them and would confide in them in any other circumstances if they didn’t live in Brendon’s home and the only time Brendon saw them was on set or at the house with Jon there. And Brendon can’t really sneakily invite one of them for drinks without inviting Jon too.
So Spencer and Ryan are out.
But, luckily, there’s Shane.
Shane who, up until a few weeks ago was living in LA before Travie’s whining finally got to Pete and they had to hire another camera man. Shane was just the perfect option because they all knew him and they all loved him and he was kind of Brendon’s best friend outside of everyone.
No one would think twice if Brendon asked Shane out for drinks just the two of them.
So that’s exactly what he did.
“I just don’t get it,” Brendon says.
Shane shrugs.
“You’ve told him you’re taken right? I mean he knows that you and Jon are like epic love story, right?”
Brendon nods.
“Of course. It’s not exactly a secret.”
“Well, then, I guess he just likes you Brendon.”
“I know and normally I would just brush it off or whatever, but with Jon there…”
“You and Jon having problems?”
Brendon shakes his head.
“No, no of course not. I just… he’s doing so well and I just don’t want him to get down again.”
Shane shakes his head.
“I’ll never understand your relationship with Jon, Brendon.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean that he’s the first guy you’ve ever been with. Don’t you think maybe…”
“I’m in a very happy relationship,” Brendon says adamantly.
Shane nods.
“I know, Brendon. I know you’re in a happy relationship. I know that you love Jon.”
“So, then… people know, right? Then why is he hitting on me?”
“Because, dude, you’re a good looking guy and he likes you.”
Brendon frowns.
“But he knows about Jon. Everyone knows about Jon. And I’ve told him no already and he’s still hitting on me.”
“Is it bothering you that much? I can kick his ass for you, if you want. Although I really think Jon should be the one threatening bodily harm in this situation. I mean you are his boyfriend.”
Brendon frowns.
“I haven’t told Jon.”
“Why not?”
“Because I don’t want him to get upset. He’s doing so well lately and he actually loves his job. I mean you’ve seen him. He’s happy. If I told him…”
“Brendon, he should know. He deserves to know.”
“I can take care of it myself.”
“I’m not saying you can’t. I just… I guess I just think it’s something he’d want to know, you know.”
“I do, Shane, I just… I don’t want him to worry unnecessarily. It’s not like I’m gonna do anything.”
“Then just tell him.”
Brendon bites his lip.
“You’re right. You’re right. I should just tell him. There’s nothing to hide or anything.”
“Just don’t be surprised if Jon goes all caveman and tries to get him fired.”
Brendon nods.
“I know. I wouldn’t let Sean get fired though. I mean the hitting on me thing is weird, but I think he’ll get over it. And he’s really good at his job.”
“Alright, well then just tell Jon so you can stop being so edgy and then maybe Jon can like, mark his territory in front of Sean and Sean’ll back off. Or something.”
Brendon smiles.
“Thanks Shane. This really helped. I’m glad you’re here.”
Shane smiles.
“Yeah, well, everyone told me it’d be crazy, but I didn’t listen.”
“You like crazy.”
Shane’s smile widens.
“Maybe I do.”
~*~
“I need out of my contract,” Spencer says.
He’s been trying to think of the best way to tell Pete, what he’d say and how he’d say it. It had been pestering him ever since he told his agent he’d do the movie and his agent and the lawyers have already started drafting papers, so Spencer thinks it’s probably time.
He figures he’ll do it like a band-aid. Just tell Pete and get it over with and then explain and, hopefully, Pete will understand.
Pete’s sort of staring at him like Spencer killed his dog.
“What?”
“My contract. I need… there’s no hiatus time, man and I have this movie…”
“You want to stop playing Melinda? After everything she’s been through? The critics… man they love you,” Pete says.
“And if I don’t capitalize on this now, I’m going to miss my chance.”
“Capitalize on this?”
“Come on, Pete. It would only be for five months. This is a great opportunity.”
“But Melinda. Gerard and I were coming up with some pretty great shit for her. You can’t just… Spencer.”
“I know, man, but it’s a soap opera right? Things take forever to happen in these things. I can fall down a ditch or something. I know it’s a lot to ask, but…”
“No.”
Spencer frowns and opens his mouth to argue, but Pete holds up his hand. Pete’s brows twist in confusion and he bites on his bottom lip a little, but he doesn’t put his hand down and Spencer’s getting worried that Pete’s not going to let him out of his contract.
“You’re right,” Pete says.
“I am,” Spencer says a little confused and shocked.
“Yeah, you are. It’s only fair right. The show’s getting so much publicity and you want to come back. We can do something with Melinda so you can go off and do your movie. Although, I’m not going to lie, it’s gonna be pretty fucked without you here. You’re a great actor, Spencer Smith.”
Spencer smiles.
And then Pete’s eyeing him like he’s an animal in the zoo and Spencer shifts and feels like there’s this nervous energy seeping into him because Pete just keeps looking at him.
“Do you want this?” Pete asks, inquisitively.
Its plain and simple, Pete’s voice as neutral as possible.
“Yeah, kind of.”
“Kind of?”
“I… I like it here. I mean I may not be up for any Emmys or whatever, but I like this character. I don’t like having to dress up like a woman, but Melinda… she’s a strong character.”
Pete nods.
“So… you wanna do this movie, but you don’t want to give up this gig,” Pete says.
“Yeah, so don’t take it personal. I want to come back. If you want me back.”
“Of course we want you back, Spencer. Just… it’s gonna be weird is all. We’ll figure something out though.”
“Thanks Pete. Ryan said you’d understand.”
Pete nods.
“So, you’ve told Ryan?”
Spencer nods.
“Yeah, I told him when I first found out. He said you’d probably let me out of the contract for a little while or find some way to make it work.”
“And he’s okay with you leaving?”
Spencer frowns, but it’s quick and he schools his face to be happier and less like he doesn’t really know the answer to that question.
“Yeah, he said he was. He said it’s great.”
Pete nods.
“That’s great.”
Spencer knows it’s probably a lie. Or maybe it’s not. Or maybe he wishes it wasn’t. Either way it doesn’t sound like Pete believes him at all.
Spencer can’t blame him.
~*~
They’re making out more than they’re running lines.
In fact, Gabe’s pretty sure that the whole running lines thing is just a cover now anyway. Not that Gabe thinks anyone cares. Vicky T fucking catcalled them when they were walking out of the studio today and all Gabe could do was smirk and hold William closer.
So they’re making out and Gabe’s got William’s shirt off, all that pale smooth skin, goosebumps raising on William’s skin under Gabe’s fingers and William should always been shirtless except that Gabe kind of doesn’t want anyone else to see him. He’s got one hand on William’s hips, fingers just dipping under the waistline of his jeans and pulling William closer to him, sweet friction and he’s hard and William’s hard and he thinks maybe tonight might be the night.
And it’s fucking odd that if it isn’t, Gabe’s totally, perfectly fine with that.
Ryland says he’s fucking sprung, like a kid with his first crush and Gabe’s not sure what to make of that, could be true. Could be so fucking true that it’s nauseating, but William does this thing to his chest and he knows what love feels like.
It’s not quite there yet, but Gabe’s hurdling towards it faster than he ever has.
“Jesus Christ,” William says breathily into his mouth.
“I could… I could go,” Gabe says.
William gets this awesomely hot confused face and he leans up again and Gabe can’t help but chase William’s lips with his own, William’s hands under his shirt and on his chest.
“You’re wearing too many clothes. Why are you wearing so many fucking clothes?” William asks.
“I ask myself that every day.”
William laughs, breathy and warm against Gabe’s skin.
“You should be wearing a lot less clothes,” William says into Gabe’s ear.
Gabe smiles.
“So no leaving then?”
“If you leave I’ll fucking strangle you.”
Gabe smirks and sits up and takes off his shirt, throwing it somewhere.
“Okay, okay. Don’t wanna get strangled,” Gabe says and he leans down to kiss William again.
William’s fingers rake up and down his back, nails scraping and Gabe moans into his mouth.
“Damn.”
“Seriously, less clothes,” William says.
“Yeah, yeah, I get ya,” Gabe says.
His hands go to William’s jeans, unbuttoning and he’s got his full weight on William. He doesn’t want to move, but clothes seriously needs to be removed and the only way to do that is to move away. So he gets up off the bed and starts unbuttoning his pants, watches as William does the same, only with less desperation in his movements, slow and languid as he arches his hips and shucks off his pants.
Gabe doesn’t really care about finesse at this point. He scrambles out of his pants, fast and positions himself between William’s legs, pushing them apart more before he leans in for more kissing.
They’re naked, skin on skin and Gabe can’t help moaning and William makes this ridiculously hot whimpering noise as Gabe starts nipping at his jaw, kissing his neck.
“You’re a goddamn tease,” Gabe whispers into William’s ear.
“You love it,” William says arching his hips so there’s friction between them.
Gabe groans.
“Fuck.”
“That’s the general idea.”
Gabe leans up, hands firmly planted at William’s sides and he smirks.
“You’re so fucking hot.”
“Thanks,” William says with a smirk.
Gabe groans again.
He knew this was going to be fiery. He can already feel the sweat on his skin, can feel the way William’s already got his legs rubbing against his own, trying to wrap around his waist.
“Lube?”
“Everything you need is in the drawer,” William says pointing to his beside table, voice breathless.
Gabe hastily opens the drawer and pulls out a tube of lube and a condom. He slicks up his fingers and William’s making some impatient mewling noises that almost make Gabe drop the lube.
“Come on. Come on,” William repeats, over and over again, voice barely above a whisper and Gabe’s rewarded with a groan when he pushes his fingers inside of William.
William’s breath hitches and he’s hot and tight around Gabe’s fingers. He should probably only have pushed in one, but William’s making needy noises, legs wrapped around Gabe’s waist, heels digging into Gabe’s ass and everything about it screams urgent, now, more.
Not to mention that William’s saying it, filthy words coming from his pretty mouth and he’s so fucking hot.
“Come on, Gabe. I’m ready. Fuck me,” he says, leaning up and saying it into Gabe’s ear before he bites at Gabe’s neck.
“Jesus. Are you… fuck…”
“Yeah, come on.”
“Are you…”
“What did I say about strangling you?”
“Alright, fuck. Just trying to be a gentleman.”
“Well be a gentleman who’s fucking me.”
“God, I love it when you talk dirty, baby.”
William rolls his eyes and Gabe never thought that would be sexy considering how often William used to do it before they ended up together.
Gabe lets out a shaky breath and pulls his fingers out and away and William whimpers at the loss even if he doesn’t want to and Gabe smiles as he carefully rolls the condom on his cock.
It’s been awhile despite what anyone else may think and it’s William, which makes this whole thing a bit more surreal and hot. William’s making encouraging noises and Gabe pushes his thighs a bit farther apart, lifts his hips a bit and pushes in.
It’s like an explosion behind his eyeballs, white light and noise in his ears and Gabe pushes past the resistance until the slide is easier and William’s breath hitches some more, panting almost and a half grunt, half shriek emits from his lips and all Gabe can do is push in even more, thrust and slide and William is tight and hot and so fucking perfect.
“Shit,” Gabe groans.
“Come on,” William says again.
Suddenly William’s lips are on his again and it’s great, it’s fucking perfect and William’s fingers are on his back, soft pads instead of sharp nails, but still awesome. Gabe knows he’s sweating now. They both are.
Gabe moves his hips, pulls out a little thrusts and William moves away from his mouth, shrieks again and Gabe can’t stop moving, can’t stop thrusting and William seems to be totally down with this plan, so he keeps moving. He changes his angle a bit, hips moving of their own accord and he can tell the exact thrust that hits William’s prostate by the way William’s eyes get glassier, the soft, low needy moan that escapes his lips.
It’s over too fast, but it feels like it last forever. Some part of Gabe’s mind had been afraid that it was going to be terrible and it probably is, some of Gabe’s thrust being too hard and William’s nails being ridiculously too sharp. It’s too desperate. It’s too needy.
Gabe loves every second of it.
Because William underneath him, his hands on William’s bare skin, on his cock, is better than even the best sex Gabe’s ever had in his life.
Gabe is totally fucking sprung.
And he can’t seem to care.
Then William’s coming, moans getting higher pitched and Gabe wants it, wants to see him come on his hand, see William’s face and make lick the come off his hand. He wants to do it all and he knows this won’t be the last time, that he doesn’t have to rush it all, but he wants it.
After William comes, Gabe’s thrust get erratic and it’s one, two, maybe three thrusts before he’s coming himself, hard and he probably screams loud enough to wake William’s neighbors, but he doesn’t particularly care.
He’s panting and he doesn’t particular catch himself before he collapses on top of William. He does manage to avoid head butting him, which is good. William’s starring up at the ceiling, eyes wide and they should probably get cleaned up. Gabe knows he should at least get the condom off, but his bones feel like jelly and he can’t do anything more than pant into William’s ear.
“Damn,” William says breathlessly.
Gabe snorts.
“Yeah, damn.”
“That… that was…”
“Really fucking great.”
William laughs a little, still kind of breathless and panting and that’s definitely the sign of good sex.
Phenomenal sex.
“We should get cleaned up,” William says, voice quiet and sleepy sounding and Gabe nods.
“Yeah, we should.”
“Yeah.”
They don’t speak for long minutes, the sound of their harsh breathing the only sound in William’s room and Gabe smiles.
“We need to get up to clean up.”
William snorts.
“Yeah, I’m familiar with the concept.”
“You gonna do it?”
“I don’t feel like I have bones right now,” William says.
“Yeah, me neither.”
“Still…”
“Yeah.”
Gabe kisses William’s cheek, legs still entangled with William’s and he’s pretty much half way on top of William which probably isn’t comfortable, but William’s not complaining.
It’s going to be a bitch later, but Gabe figures they have a few more minutes of post-fucking bliss and endorphins.
He’s not going to ruin that with something stupid like moving.
Part 5