Need, Chapter 7
Title: Need
Author: luckyj52587
Pairing: Jackson/Ashley, implied R/K
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I don't own anyone
Summary: This is a many-chaptered story following Jackson/Ashley from the start of New Moon filming, and beyond.
Author's Note: This is shaping up to be a long story, so I'm going to start posting chapters more frequently :)
Click here to catch up on earlier chapters
“In his company, I am grieved to the soul by a thousand tender recollections.” -Jane Austen
Chapter 7
Ashley found Jackson already seated at the bar. She slid onto the stool next to him gracefully. “Hi.”
“Hey,” he said, turning his whole body to face her.
They smiled at each other hesitantly, both unsure if the other was still angry. “Uh, do you want a drink?” he asked.
There was a bottle of beer sitting in front of him. “Actually, I’m okay,” Ashley said, crossing her legs. “I have a meeting with my agent after this.”
She wanted to establish an out right away. Ashley would listen to what Jackson had to say, apologize, and then quickly exit. She knew that if she was going to hold strong and not beg him to tell her what she did wrong that caused him to end things, she shouldn’t spend much time around him. “Okay, then I’ll be quick,” Jackson said briskly. “I just wanted to apologize for the other night. I know I shouldn’t have lost my temper like that, and I’m sorry. I know I had no right - “
“I’m sorry too,” Ashley burst out, relieved that Jackson didn’t seem angry anymore. “It was inappropriate to bring Ian. I realize that now.”
Jackson was relieved as well. Ashley wasn’t mad, and she even seemed to understand where he was coming from? This was going better than he had expected. “Yeah, well - I shouldn’t have yelled at you.”
Ashley gave him a small smile. “Well, if you remember, I screamed right back.”
Jackson took a swig of his beer. He put the bottle down, a wry smile on his face. “I do remember that, yes.”
There was a moment of silence as both of them looked away from each other and down at the bar. Suddenly Ashley sat up straight. “Okay, I have to ask. Did you really think I was seeing someone else while you and I were…”she trailed off.
Jackson shifted in his seat. “I was mad, Ashley, I was just…saying stuff,” he said, uncomfortable.
“That doesn’t really answer my question.”
She put a hand over his, and he looked into her eyes. She looked sad, and tired. Without thinking he brought his other hand to her cheek. “You look sad,” he said softly.
“Well, I would hate to imagine that you would think I could do something like that to you,” she replied, her voice low.
“No. I know you wouldn’t cheat on someone if you were in a relationship, but it’s not like we were ever officially…we never talked about it,” he finished lamely, his hand dropping away from her face.
Now he could see a kind of resigned acceptance cross over her features. “Well, I didn’t,” she said simply. “I met Ian through Rachelle’s friend up here. And that’s done, anyway.”
“What happened?” Jackson asked, wondering as he did so if he really wanted to hear about this.
Ashley’s eyes slid away from him as she drew out the word, “Weeeelllll.”
She looked over and met his gaze again. “Let’s just say, there was too much drama the other night and I don’t think he’ll be calling again anytime soon.”
Jackson struggled not to show his relief. “Well,” he finally said, squeezing her hand. “Thanks for telling me.”
Ashley gave him a small smile, then looked at her watch. He was being too nice, and she wanted him to keep holding on to her hand. It was definitely time for her to make her exit. She gently pulled her hand away from his as she spoke. “I should really get going. Do we need to talk about the scene before tomorrow, or…”
“I think we’re good,” he answered.
“Okay, well.”
Ashley hopped down off the barstool. She hesitated, then leaned in and gave him a peck on the cheek. “I’ll see you.”
She walked away before he could respond. Jackson watched her go, then finished his beer. He got up and, walking to the elevator, realized he felt lighter. He had cleared things up with Ashley, and in the process found out she wasn’t going to see Ian anymore. Things seemed to be looking up.
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The next day Ashley felt nervous. This was such an important scene for her character. This would also be her first time seeing Kristen since their fight - and while Ashley had made up with Jackson, she still found herself angry with Kristen. That probably wasn’t fair, but Ashley couldn’t help how she felt. Usually Ashley got over her anger quickly and had trouble hanging onto it, but Kristen had a way of getting under her skin. And Ashley was hurt that Kristen apparently considered Jackson more of a friend than she did Ashley. Ashley hadn’t seen Rob for awhile, either, although of course he would take Kristen’s side.
At least the rest of the Cullens would be there as well. Ashley knew there would be a little work with just her, Jackson, Rob, and Kristen, but the others would still be around. Elizabeth, perhaps knowing that Ashley would be nervous, had texted her and asked if she wanted to go over together. Pathetically grateful, Ashley had agreed.
They met in the lobby, and then the two of them rode over to the set together. They were filming indoors, so there wouldn’t be any paparazzi pictures. Elizabeth chattered the whole ride there, and Ashley tried to be just as cheery as her onscreen mother. Apparently she hadn’t succeeded, because when the car came to a stop Elizabeth leaned over and squeezed her arm. “Everything will be fine, Ashley. And you’ll do great.”
The two of them got out of the car, and Ashley turned and gave Elizabeth a hug. “Thanks.”
Arm-in-arm, they walked over to where the crew putting the finishing touches on the setup. Everyone except Kellan and Rob were already there. Ashley and Elizabeth went over to talk with Jackson and Peter, and out of the corner of her eye Ashley could see Kristen and Nikki whispering together. Peter said something about one of his daughters, but Ashley wasn’t paying attention. She felt Kristen’s eyes on her, but Ashley refused to turn around. “Hey,” Jackson said, putting a hand on her shoulder. “You okay?”
Ashley smiled at him, hoping the tension didn’t show in her face. “Yeah. I - “
But she was cut off with the arrival of Rob, Kellan, and the director. Chris talked to them all for a few minutes, and then everyone separated and went to hair and make-up.
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Jackson knew this scene was important because it demonstrated the relationship between Alice and Jasper. Which, in his opinion, was the core of his character. So he felt the pressure to perform well. “Okay, let’s do just you two first,” Chris said to Jackson and Ashley. “We’ll do a close-up, then one with Rob and Kristen, then a full shot that shows Bella and all the Cullens.”
Ashley and Jackson nodded, then took their places. They rehearsed the scene before, and they knew what they were supposed to do. They started walking towards each other when Chris yelled “Action!”, and when they were close enough to touch Jackson put his hands on Ashley’s wait. His palms were open, as if he would pull her hips to his at any moment, but he didn’t. He put his forehead to hers and stared into her eyes. Ashley brought her hands to his face, caressing his jaw slightly, and looked at him with emotion-filled eyes. “Cut! Okay, good.”
Ashley’s hands quickly dropped from Jackson’s face, but he kept his hands on her hips as they both looked over at Chris as he yelled over to them. “Let’s do it again. Ashley, look a little more apologetic this time. Remember, Alice is sorry she lied to Jasper - and she’s also sorry because she knows she’d do it again. Okay? Let’s go.”
Ashley gave Jackson a wry smile, then stepped back. They went back to their original positions and waited for Chris to tell them to go again. They repeated the scene, Ashley adhering to Chris’ directions, when he yelled for them to stop again. He got up and came over to Ashley and Jackson, who quickly stopped touching each other and stepped apart. “Okay, let’s talk,” Chris said.
“What’s the matter?” Ashley asked, chewing her bottom lip anxiously.
“I want both of you to tell me what your character is feeling right now. Ashley, you first.”
“Okay. She’s feeling love for Jasper, and relief that they’re all okay. She’s sorry, because she lied to him and because she let Aro know her power. She’s also a little nervous because she lied to Jasper and because of the deal they made with the Volturri, and because Aro knows about her power now. But she’s happy that everyone in her family is together, including Bella.”
She stopped talking, and Chris looked to Jackson without saying anything. Jackson began to speak. “Jasper’s…he’s feeling love too. But he’s also a little angry and worried, because he knows Alice lied and he can feel that she’s nervous. He’s mad she went to the Volturi, because she went into danger without his protection. He wants to swallow her up, keep her safe, keep her his. Away from the Volturri, whom he doesn’t trust and is a little afraid of. He was scared, too, because he had to wait ever since that phone call to see her and know for sure that she was okay. So now there’s this relief that she’s here.”
Chris nodded. “Good. Yes, that’s exactly right. Neither of you said anything about longing.”
Jackson and Ashley were confused, and looked at each other quizzically. “Longing for what?” Ashley finally ventured.
“Exactly!” Chris said, clapping his hands together once. “There is no longing. No yearning. They’re together, and as long as they’re together they both have everything they want or need. When you two were looking at each other there was this vague sense of longing. I don’t want that. So let’s take it again!” he said loudly, walking away from the two actors.
Jackson was working furiously to battle the flush he could feel spreading from his neck up to his face, and Ashley looked away from him awkwardly. Both looked embarrassed when their eyes met, and Ashley gave a nervous giggle. “We’ll get it this time,” she said.
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Ashley was tired. She and Jackson had completed their scene to Chris’ satisfaction. It was mortifying to think that Chris probably thought she wanted Jackson. Still, he had said it to both of them and Ashley had noticed Jackson turning red, so maybe it wasn’t all her fault. Still embarrassing, she thought.
Then Rob and Kristen had come on set, and they had done a few shots of the three of them walking into the airport. Ashley was only peripheral in this scene. The focus was on Rob and Kristen, who were clinging to each other, and Ashley was off to the side, eagerly looking for Alice’s Jasper. Thankfully it hadn’t taken long to get that shot done; Ashley and Kristen didn’t speak to each other, and Rob tried to break the tension by - well - by being Rob, joking and chatting with the two of them in turn.
Next was the long shot, with all of the Cullens. Ashley, Rob, and Kristen walked towards Jackson, Peter, Elizabeth, Nikki, and Kellan. Ashley and Jackson had to do what they had done in their close-ups before, just with the others around them this time. Ashley and Kristen didn’t speak to each other, but other than that, everything seemed normal. We were never that close, anyway, Ashley thought.
Peter, Rob, and Kellan were joking around and ribbing each other as much as they always did; Nikki and Kristen were deep in conversation in-between every take; and things seemed normal between her and Jackson, although they were both careful not to touch each other as much as they used to. It was almost like the past week hadn’t happened.
If there was an ache in her heart because she knew Jackson would never feel for her what she did for him, she ignored it. She talked and laughed with him like she always did, and she was pleased when he responded as he usually did. If things continued like this, Ashley was pretty sure she would be okay. She would ignore her feelings for Jackson until they went away, and they would just be the great friends that they had always been. Minus the sex, which was a bummer, but she could live with it.
Her feelings for him would go away soon. He had broken things off, so now she could move on. She was sure she could do it. “Didn’t I tell you?” Elizabeth said into her ear, giving Ashley a hug. “Everything’s fine.”
Ashley smiled. Everything would be fine. She would make sure of it.
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“He hasn’t said anything, but Jay must be back with Ashley. He’s been in a much better mood lately.”
Jackson stopped moving. He had been walking back from the bathroom and had overheard what Jerad had said. 100 Monkeys were at Neptoon Records and they were currently taking a break He stood where he was in the hallway, curious as to what the others were going to say.
“I don’t know what happened,” Ben said. “But yeah, he’s been in a much better mood.”
“I don’t think they’re together,” Ben put in.
“I can’t believe you’re gossiping like a bunch of old women,” Jackson said, walking into the room.
None of his friends looked embarrassed to be caught talking about him. Ben even had the nerve to grin. “Tell us, then,” he invited.
“As I have told you a million times, Ashley and I are just friends,” Jackson stated.
Nobody looked like they believed him.
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“Come on, I’m done. Can we please go?” Ashley whined.
“Quit your bitching,” Kellan said as he continued doing squats, grinning at her when she scowled at him.
Ashley, Kellan, and Rob were working out at the gym. They had been at it for awhile, and while Kellan - who was a machine - wanted to keep going, Ashley was finished. “That’s it for me too,” Rob said.
“I’ll be done in a few,” Kellan said.
“We’ll go outside and wait for you, yeah?” Rob said, looking to Ashley.
Ashley nodded. She and Rob left, then loitered out front waiting for Kellan. “So you and Jackson made up, huh?” Rob said, lighting a cigarette and taking out another for Ashley.
Ashley took the cigarette Rob offered. “Yeah,” Ashley said, not offering any details.
She didn’t say anything about Kristen, and Rob didn’t either. “I was thinking about going to his show tomorrow,” Rob said. “You should come.”
Ashley looked surprised. “You’re going? Really?”
“Yeah. I want to see them play, and it’ll be easier for me to go to the Rio without complete bedlam happening, you know?”
“Who else is going?”
“No one,” Rob said with a laugh. “I’ll be all alone. Come. Don’t make me go by myself.”
Ashley cocked a brow at him. “Just you and me? If anyone sees us the gossip magazines will go crazy making shit up.”
Rob leaned forward, wiggling his eyebrows. “It could be true.”
Ashley laughed. “Yeah, right. Maybe I’ll ask Rachelle to come with, she didn’t get to go the other night either.”
“Only if the both of you fawn all over me for the entire night.”
Ashley rolled her eyes. “Yeah, that’s going to happen.”
“Text me about it later,” Rob said, as Kellan walked over to them.
“Text you about what?” Kellan asked.
The three of them started walking. “Rob’s going to cheat on Kristen with me,” Ashley joked.
“It’s going to be the new drama on set,” Rob said. “I don’t think we have enough of that.”
“Great!” Kellan exclaimed. “I’ll tell Nikki, and then everyone will know before dark.”
Rob and Kellan burst into laughter. “Come on, she’s not that bad,” Ashley protested half-heartedly.
There was a slight pause, and then all three of them started laughing.