"Sunset Road" - An AU RPS Story - Chapter Two
This is a multi-chapter story (not sure how many chapters yet) with Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal as actors on a nighttime soap opera called "Sunset Road." Both are in their early 20's in this story.
Chapter Two
The next day, they filmed the episode. Heath was nervous at first, but then lost himself in Ennis. Jake and the other actors were flawless. After filming, which took most of the day, everyone was handed a copy of the next week’s script. Heath was pleased to see that he had three relatively-substantial scenes this time. The first required Ennis to tell Jack his life story, including being orphaned at a young age. The second had both Alma and Cassie flirting with Ennis. In the last scene, Ennis visits Jack’s house and is fascinated by the opulence therein. Heath was excited about all three scenes.
“You were great today,” Jake told Heath in the dressing room, as they changed out of their characters’ wardrobes and back into their regular clothes.
“Thanks,” Heath said. He tried to keep his eyes away from Jake as they dressed, but couldn’t help but sneak a peek once or twice. Jake had a great body, and wasn’t shy about showing it. At one point, he walked around the dressing room without his shirt on, talking a mile a minute about his plans for going out to a club that night.
“You want to come with me?” he asked Heath.
“Nah, I’m not a club guy,” Heath answered. “I think I’ll stay home and look over the script.”
Jake shrugged. “Suit yourself.”
Heath immediately regretted his response. Maybe he should go out with Jake; it could be fun. But by the time he’d talked himself into it, Jake was fully dressed and heading out the door. “See ya tomorrow,” Jake said.
When heath left the dressing room a few minutes later, he found Michelle standing outside the door. “Oh, hey there,” he said.
“You did an excellent job today,” she told him.
“Thanks. You, too.” They started toward the exit.
“Have you looked at next week’s script yet?”
“A little.”
“Linda and I have to fight over you,” she said, laughing.
“Well, you’re both good actresses. You can make it convincing.”
“Ennis is a good guy,” Michelle said. “I hope they don’t make him into a villain.”
“It might make things more interesting.”
“Maybe. But, Jack’s father is already a bad guy; now his friend will be one, too?”
“Well, we don’t know what’s gonna happen yet,” Heath said. “Maybe it’s just a rumor.” At this point, they were outside. “I, uh, I have to go now.” He started looking for a taxi.
“You mind sharing a cab?” Michelle asked.
“Oh, no, sure,” Heath replied.
A cab pulled up; they got inside and Michelle gave the driver her address. The ride there was mostly silent. Heath spent the time thinking about what Jake was possibly doing at the moment.
At Michelle's apartment, she said to Heath, “Well, I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“See ya,” Heath said. As the cab pulled away again, he sighed inwardly. He should have gone with Jake. Then he would have avoided all the awkwardness with Michelle.
At his apartment, he ordered Chinese food and set about studying the script:
“Quite a house you got here, Jack.”
“Yeah, it’s all right, I guess.”
“’All right’? Hell, your bathroom is bigger than my dorm!”
“You’re funny, Ennis.”
“I’d love to have a house like this. And a driver to take me to school…”
“It’s not all it’s cracked up to be, trust me.”
Later that night, Heath climbed into bed, not overly tired but knowing he had to get some sleep. As he stared up at the ceiling, his thoughts turned once more to Jake. Specifically, Jake’s body. Before he knew what he was doing, Heath was reaching down into his underwear. He pulled out his stiffening dick and began to stroke it. Images of Jake’s bare chest filled his brain. Wonder what the rest of him looks like, he thought. He increased the speed of his hand, while fantasizing about taking off all of Jake’s clothes and touching him everywhere - his face, his chest, his ass, his cock…
Heath came then, moaning loudly into his pillow: “Fuck, Jake.” Breathless, he got up to clean off and wondered just what the hell he had gotten himself into.
The next day at script reading, Heath couldn’t look Jake in the eyes. Every time Jake spoke to him, Heath directed his gaze to the script. Eventually, Jake asked if something was wrong.
“No, no, everything’s fine. Great,” Heath answered. But once lunchtime rolled around, he couldn’t put up the pretense any longer.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Jake asked, once they were all seated with their food.
“You’ve been acting kind of strange today,” Linda remarked.
“Do you feel all right?” asked Michelle.
“I’m fine,” Heath said. “I just didn’t get much sleep last night.”
“See?” Jake said. “You should have gone out with me.”
Heath finally glanced over at him. He looked gorgeous in a red t-shirt and khaki pants. “Maybe next time,” Heath said, with a small smile.
“Not everybody likes going out to clubs, Jake,” said Anne.
“It’s okay to be a homebody,” Michelle chimed in. “I’m one.”
“Heath’s not a homebody,” Jake said teasingly. “He’s just shy.” He nudged Heath’s knee with his own.
Heath felt his body light up like a Christmas tree from the brief touch. Silently, he cursed himself for acting like a teenaged girl. “I’m not shy,” he mumbled, causing the others to laugh. Impulsively, he knocked knees with Jake again, secretly delighting in the way the other man’s blue eyes shone with humor.
The night of Heath’s television debut arrived. With his heart in his mouth, Heath watched the broadcast, alone in his apartment. When it was over, he gave a sigh of relief; he hadn’t been too bad. He went to bed humming the “Sunset Road” theme song and woke up the next day in good spirits.
When he walked onto the set, Michelle met up with him. She was holding a couple of the local papers. “The reviews are in,” she said, not able to keep the smile off of her face. “Want to read them?”
“Maybe later,” Heath said. He wasn’t overly concerned about what the critics had to say about his performance. He went into the dressing room and found Jake there, sitting at his mirror and combing his hair.
“You read the reviews?” Jake asked. “They’re pretty good.”
“I haven’t seen ‘em yet,” Heath replied.
“One guy called you ‘a star in the making.’ How cool is that?”
Heath shrugged. He didn’t want to be a star; he wanted to be an actor. Accolades were fine, but he was more interested in honing his craft.
That afternoon, his agent called and told him that he had a brief interview scheduled early in the evening with a local TV magazine, for their “Ones To Watch” column. Heath felt his stomach tighten, but knew that this was part of the job. Besides, it was a phone interview, so that made it easier. At the appointed time, Heath went into the dressing room and called up the magazine.
The interviewer asked five questions, and Heath answered them as best as he could. The last question was, What did he see in the future for Ennis? “I’m not sure,” Heath answered. “He’s a fish out of water right now, around all these rich kids, so he has some adjusting to do. Maybe in the future he teaches them that money and objects aren’t everything, that you need some kind of human connection.”
Jake walked into the room just as Heath was hanging up the phone. “You’re first interview, huh?” he said. “How’d it go?”
“Very well, I think,” Heath replied.
“Say, would you like to go out to dinner tonight?”
“Are the girls coming?”
“No, it would just be you and me.”
Heath pretended to think about it. But, really, there was only one answer he could give. “Sure. Sounds good.” Actually, it sounded more than good; it sounded fantastic. He’d have Jake all to himself, in a manner of speaking.
They chose an Italian restaurant a couple of blocks from the studio. Heath wasn’t sure they’d be able to get in on such short notice, but as soon as Jake gave the maitre d’ his name, they were ushered to a corner booth. The seats had high backs, which afforded plenty of privacy.
During the meal, the two men discussed their respective upbringings - Heath’s in Australia, Jake’s in California. They talked about their favorite pasttimes, and found they had much in common, such as a love for surfing.
“I miss riding the waves,” Jake said.
“Yeah, me, too,” said Heath, toying with his pasta.
“You must miss your family, too.”
“Yeah…but I’m glad I’m here. I have more opportunities as an actor.”
“I’m glad you’re here, too,” Jake said.
Heath looked up at him. Their eyes met across the table. What exactly is going on here? Heath thought.
“It’s good to have another guy my age on the show,” Jake said.
Heath merely nodded and went back to his food. He wasn’t flirting with me, he told himself. He was just being nice. God, if he only knew the things I’ve done while thinking about him!
They finished their meal. Jake insisted on paying the bill. “Okay, but the next time is on me,” Heath said, hoping that there’d even be a next time. They walked out onto the sidewalk, which was teeming with people. “I better get home,” Heath said. “Gotta study that script.”
“Okay. See you tomorrow,” Jake replied. The two of them went off in their separate directions. Seconds later, Heath heard a commotion behind him and turned around to see Jake surrounded by women, all clamoring for his autograph. Jake was gracious to them, signing things and posing for pictures.
That could be me one day, Heath thought. He tried to picture himself bombarded by adoring fans, and immediately felt jittery. Suddenly fearing he’d be recognized, he hurried down to the curb to flag a taxi.
Heath’s second episode aired; as before, he watched it alone, scrutinizing his performance and making mental notes about where he could do better. Afterwards, he curled up in bed with the latest script and read until he could no longer keep his eyes open.
That night, he dreamt that he and Jake were Ennis and Jack, only instead of college students, they were herding sheep on a mountain in Wyoming. At one point in the dream, they shared a tent and ended up having quick, rough sex.
Heath awoke with a dual feeling of excitement and sadness, and wondered what it all could have possibly meant.
TBC
Chapter Two
The next day, they filmed the episode. Heath was nervous at first, but then lost himself in Ennis. Jake and the other actors were flawless. After filming, which took most of the day, everyone was handed a copy of the next week’s script. Heath was pleased to see that he had three relatively-substantial scenes this time. The first required Ennis to tell Jack his life story, including being orphaned at a young age. The second had both Alma and Cassie flirting with Ennis. In the last scene, Ennis visits Jack’s house and is fascinated by the opulence therein. Heath was excited about all three scenes.
“You were great today,” Jake told Heath in the dressing room, as they changed out of their characters’ wardrobes and back into their regular clothes.
“Thanks,” Heath said. He tried to keep his eyes away from Jake as they dressed, but couldn’t help but sneak a peek once or twice. Jake had a great body, and wasn’t shy about showing it. At one point, he walked around the dressing room without his shirt on, talking a mile a minute about his plans for going out to a club that night.
“You want to come with me?” he asked Heath.
“Nah, I’m not a club guy,” Heath answered. “I think I’ll stay home and look over the script.”
Jake shrugged. “Suit yourself.”
Heath immediately regretted his response. Maybe he should go out with Jake; it could be fun. But by the time he’d talked himself into it, Jake was fully dressed and heading out the door. “See ya tomorrow,” Jake said.
When heath left the dressing room a few minutes later, he found Michelle standing outside the door. “Oh, hey there,” he said.
“You did an excellent job today,” she told him.
“Thanks. You, too.” They started toward the exit.
“Have you looked at next week’s script yet?”
“A little.”
“Linda and I have to fight over you,” she said, laughing.
“Well, you’re both good actresses. You can make it convincing.”
“Ennis is a good guy,” Michelle said. “I hope they don’t make him into a villain.”
“It might make things more interesting.”
“Maybe. But, Jack’s father is already a bad guy; now his friend will be one, too?”
“Well, we don’t know what’s gonna happen yet,” Heath said. “Maybe it’s just a rumor.” At this point, they were outside. “I, uh, I have to go now.” He started looking for a taxi.
“You mind sharing a cab?” Michelle asked.
“Oh, no, sure,” Heath replied.
A cab pulled up; they got inside and Michelle gave the driver her address. The ride there was mostly silent. Heath spent the time thinking about what Jake was possibly doing at the moment.
At Michelle's apartment, she said to Heath, “Well, I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“See ya,” Heath said. As the cab pulled away again, he sighed inwardly. He should have gone with Jake. Then he would have avoided all the awkwardness with Michelle.
At his apartment, he ordered Chinese food and set about studying the script:
“Quite a house you got here, Jack.”
“Yeah, it’s all right, I guess.”
“’All right’? Hell, your bathroom is bigger than my dorm!”
“You’re funny, Ennis.”
“I’d love to have a house like this. And a driver to take me to school…”
“It’s not all it’s cracked up to be, trust me.”
Later that night, Heath climbed into bed, not overly tired but knowing he had to get some sleep. As he stared up at the ceiling, his thoughts turned once more to Jake. Specifically, Jake’s body. Before he knew what he was doing, Heath was reaching down into his underwear. He pulled out his stiffening dick and began to stroke it. Images of Jake’s bare chest filled his brain. Wonder what the rest of him looks like, he thought. He increased the speed of his hand, while fantasizing about taking off all of Jake’s clothes and touching him everywhere - his face, his chest, his ass, his cock…
Heath came then, moaning loudly into his pillow: “Fuck, Jake.” Breathless, he got up to clean off and wondered just what the hell he had gotten himself into.
The next day at script reading, Heath couldn’t look Jake in the eyes. Every time Jake spoke to him, Heath directed his gaze to the script. Eventually, Jake asked if something was wrong.
“No, no, everything’s fine. Great,” Heath answered. But once lunchtime rolled around, he couldn’t put up the pretense any longer.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Jake asked, once they were all seated with their food.
“You’ve been acting kind of strange today,” Linda remarked.
“Do you feel all right?” asked Michelle.
“I’m fine,” Heath said. “I just didn’t get much sleep last night.”
“See?” Jake said. “You should have gone out with me.”
Heath finally glanced over at him. He looked gorgeous in a red t-shirt and khaki pants. “Maybe next time,” Heath said, with a small smile.
“Not everybody likes going out to clubs, Jake,” said Anne.
“It’s okay to be a homebody,” Michelle chimed in. “I’m one.”
“Heath’s not a homebody,” Jake said teasingly. “He’s just shy.” He nudged Heath’s knee with his own.
Heath felt his body light up like a Christmas tree from the brief touch. Silently, he cursed himself for acting like a teenaged girl. “I’m not shy,” he mumbled, causing the others to laugh. Impulsively, he knocked knees with Jake again, secretly delighting in the way the other man’s blue eyes shone with humor.
The night of Heath’s television debut arrived. With his heart in his mouth, Heath watched the broadcast, alone in his apartment. When it was over, he gave a sigh of relief; he hadn’t been too bad. He went to bed humming the “Sunset Road” theme song and woke up the next day in good spirits.
When he walked onto the set, Michelle met up with him. She was holding a couple of the local papers. “The reviews are in,” she said, not able to keep the smile off of her face. “Want to read them?”
“Maybe later,” Heath said. He wasn’t overly concerned about what the critics had to say about his performance. He went into the dressing room and found Jake there, sitting at his mirror and combing his hair.
“You read the reviews?” Jake asked. “They’re pretty good.”
“I haven’t seen ‘em yet,” Heath replied.
“One guy called you ‘a star in the making.’ How cool is that?”
Heath shrugged. He didn’t want to be a star; he wanted to be an actor. Accolades were fine, but he was more interested in honing his craft.
That afternoon, his agent called and told him that he had a brief interview scheduled early in the evening with a local TV magazine, for their “Ones To Watch” column. Heath felt his stomach tighten, but knew that this was part of the job. Besides, it was a phone interview, so that made it easier. At the appointed time, Heath went into the dressing room and called up the magazine.
The interviewer asked five questions, and Heath answered them as best as he could. The last question was, What did he see in the future for Ennis? “I’m not sure,” Heath answered. “He’s a fish out of water right now, around all these rich kids, so he has some adjusting to do. Maybe in the future he teaches them that money and objects aren’t everything, that you need some kind of human connection.”
Jake walked into the room just as Heath was hanging up the phone. “You’re first interview, huh?” he said. “How’d it go?”
“Very well, I think,” Heath replied.
“Say, would you like to go out to dinner tonight?”
“Are the girls coming?”
“No, it would just be you and me.”
Heath pretended to think about it. But, really, there was only one answer he could give. “Sure. Sounds good.” Actually, it sounded more than good; it sounded fantastic. He’d have Jake all to himself, in a manner of speaking.
They chose an Italian restaurant a couple of blocks from the studio. Heath wasn’t sure they’d be able to get in on such short notice, but as soon as Jake gave the maitre d’ his name, they were ushered to a corner booth. The seats had high backs, which afforded plenty of privacy.
During the meal, the two men discussed their respective upbringings - Heath’s in Australia, Jake’s in California. They talked about their favorite pasttimes, and found they had much in common, such as a love for surfing.
“I miss riding the waves,” Jake said.
“Yeah, me, too,” said Heath, toying with his pasta.
“You must miss your family, too.”
“Yeah…but I’m glad I’m here. I have more opportunities as an actor.”
“I’m glad you’re here, too,” Jake said.
Heath looked up at him. Their eyes met across the table. What exactly is going on here? Heath thought.
“It’s good to have another guy my age on the show,” Jake said.
Heath merely nodded and went back to his food. He wasn’t flirting with me, he told himself. He was just being nice. God, if he only knew the things I’ve done while thinking about him!
They finished their meal. Jake insisted on paying the bill. “Okay, but the next time is on me,” Heath said, hoping that there’d even be a next time. They walked out onto the sidewalk, which was teeming with people. “I better get home,” Heath said. “Gotta study that script.”
“Okay. See you tomorrow,” Jake replied. The two of them went off in their separate directions. Seconds later, Heath heard a commotion behind him and turned around to see Jake surrounded by women, all clamoring for his autograph. Jake was gracious to them, signing things and posing for pictures.
That could be me one day, Heath thought. He tried to picture himself bombarded by adoring fans, and immediately felt jittery. Suddenly fearing he’d be recognized, he hurried down to the curb to flag a taxi.
Heath’s second episode aired; as before, he watched it alone, scrutinizing his performance and making mental notes about where he could do better. Afterwards, he curled up in bed with the latest script and read until he could no longer keep his eyes open.
That night, he dreamt that he and Jake were Ennis and Jack, only instead of college students, they were herding sheep on a mountain in Wyoming. At one point in the dream, they shared a tent and ended up having quick, rough sex.
Heath awoke with a dual feeling of excitement and sadness, and wondered what it all could have possibly meant.
TBC