Behind The Limelight 03: Couples Counselling

The rest of the reading was tense.

Something was off with both Ryker and Ashton, and the other people in the room could see it. They were both stiff, uneasy, and their heart just wasn’t in it anymore. Everyone seemed to ignore the elephant in the room though, at least, until the reading was over.

Everybody was shaking hands and saying their goodbyes, but Erick asked Ryker and Ashton to stay behind. Ashton sighed, but nodded, he knew what this was going to be. He just hoped that it wasn’t enough to get him fired already. That would not only be super embarassing, but it would absolutely destroy his ego and his career.

“Boys,” Erick paused, exhaling deeply with a disappointed frown on his face. “I’m sure you know why I asked you both to stay.”

“Might have a hint as to why,” Ryker muttered. Erick nodded, looking between the two young actors before speaking up again.

“I know you both have a history. Or a present. Whatever. But let me be frank here, I do not give a single shit about you two hating each other. When you’re on set, then you’ve got to work together. You both have a fair share of experience so I don’t think I need to tell you how important it is for actors to have chemistry on-screen,” Erick said.

“You don’t,” Ashton murmured, his voice nervous.

“I’m not here for tantrums. And I will not be happy if you both ruin this movie for me. I’m not letting this be a stain in my perfect twenty year career.”

Well, you should’ve thought about that before hiring two actors that despise one another, Ashton said in his head.

“The shooting starts in two weeks. I don’t how you’re both going to do it, but I need you to work on whatever issues you have and learn how to keep them aside. Till the movie is shot and released and we all make bank and win awards, you two are best friends. After that, I don’t give a flying fuck if you want to yell at or punch each other. But until then…best friends, am I clear?”

Ashton gulped. Erick’s words brought flashbacks of the last time Ashton saw Ryker before today- the night of the award show. And how Ashton left him with his nose bleeding in the empty restroom.

Ashton was fully expecting backlash after that. He thought Ryker would at least go public, heck, he was even prepared for a lawsuit. The only person he told was his agent, Malcolm. Malcolm had been pissed, and was ready with his lawyer on speed dial just in case Ryker decided to pursue legal action. But he didn’t.

Ryker didn’t do anything, for that matter. Didn’t retaliate in any way whatsoever. And only a few weeks after that incident, he announced that he was taking a break from acting. Then he went off to God knows where, though all the sources said he went travelling to different countries in Asia to ‘find himself‘. Whatever the fuck that meant.

No matter how much Ashton hated Ryker, that night was still his biggest regret. Not because he feared the consequences of his actions, but because he felt ashamed of them. He was not a violent person, not in the slightest. He had no idea what took over him and that made him punch the other man.

But whatever it was, Ashton hated himself for it.

Malcolm suggested, no, he insisted on going for therapy, but Ashton denied. He didn’t want to open the can of worms that was his mind. He wanted to keep it sealed. To keep it locked deep inside and throw away the keys.

Erick looked at the men one last time, before muttering that he was late and walking out of the room.

Ashton and Ryker both stayed there, neither of them making a move or saying anything. They weren’t even looking at each other, just staring into space.

Ashton needed this movie. He needed it desperately to save his career, and there was no way in hell that he could lose this opportunity. So for once, he made the first move. He turned to face Ryker as he awkwardly scratched the back of his neck.

“Um-“

“So I guess I was right,” Ryker cut off the other man. “Maybe Tate saying it would have more impact on you ’cause you clearly don’t care about what I say.”

Ashton bit his tongue to keep himself from making a remark. Ryker’s snarkiness was evident in his tone, and he was really testing Ashton’s patience.

Be nice. Do it for your career. Do it for your family, Ashton thought to himself, repeating the words again and again in his head.

“Yeah. You were right.” Ashton gagged internally. He tried his best to not let his true emotions show on his face, but by the way that Ryker scoffed, Ashton could not help but feel that the dark haired man saw right through his act.

“How much did it kill you inside to say that?” Ryker retorted. Ashton sighed, he was truly very close to losing it again. He dug his nails into his palm, trying to keep himself calm.

“Actually? Very much so,” Ashton replied. “But fuck that. I’m man enough to admit if I was wrong about something. And I was about this. You were right. We need to get along if we want this to work.”

“About fucking time,” Ryker muttered. He paused, furrowing his brows slightly as he stared at the other actor. “And how do you suggest we do that?”

“I don’t know, I’m not a bloody shrink,” Ashton mumbled.

“Are you suggesting relationship counselling?”

“What?” Ashton blinked in confusion. “We’re not a fucking couple.”

“Right,” Ryker spoke softly. “What then?”

“I don’t know. Do you know?” Ashton asked.

“Well, I’m not a shrink either,” Ryker shrugged. “But I guess we should start by, I don’t know, maybe hanging out or something?”

“Hanging out?” Ashton repeated.

“Yeah, that’s when two or more people spend time together. There are plenty of things that they can do, play games or watch movies or-“

“I know what hanging out means,” Ashton snapped. Why did Ryker have to be so goddamn annoying?

Ryker chuckled at the agitated expression on Ashton’s face, which only pissed off the other actor more. Why was he having so much fun when Ashton was clearly suffering? This simply wasn’t fair.

“Okay. We’ll hang out.” Ashton kept his thoughts to himself. “When do we do that? And where?”

“My place?”

“No. Mine,” Ashton argued. He didn’t want to go to Ryker’s house. No way in hell.

“Yeah, so that we can constantly be hounded by the tons of staff that you have?” Ryker said with an eye roll. “No thanks.”

“Fine,” Ashton muttered, scrunching his nose slightly in displeasure. “I’ll come over. When?”

“Do you have plans after this?”

“Not really,” Ashton answered.

“Then come home with me.”

“Now?” Ashton blinked.

“Yes, you genius, that’s what I just said,” Ryker said. Ashton narrowed his eyes at Ryker’s sass, not liking it one bit.

“I’m not ready right now,” Ashton replied.

“Ready? Ready for what? We’re just going to hang out, watch a movie and have a beer maybe. Not get married, for fuck’s sake,” Ryker retorted.

“What’s up with you and the fucking sarcasm today?” Ashton snapped. “Can’t you talk properly like an adult?”

“Oh, so I’m a kid now?” Ryker raised a brow. “‘Talk like an adult‘, says the one with the anger issues.”

“I do not have anger issues!” Ashton retorted.

“Oh please, I’ve known you for eighteen fucking years, Ash. You always get worked up over the smallest of things,” Ryker said.

“I do not!” Ashton was now offended at the accusation.

“Yeah right,” Ryker spoke, “my bruised jaw thought otherwise.”

“That was- that was…” Ashton trailed off.

Ashton did not know what to say to that. He had no defense. Ryker got him with that one. No matter what he said, it was turning out to be a losing argument for him. But did that mean he was going to back down? Not in front of Ryker. He could never let his guards down with him. Never.

“That was what?” Ryker asked.

“A one time… I’ve never… I’m not…”

Ashton kept stumbling on his words as he took a step back. Neither of the two had realized how physically close they had gotten to each other during their fight, and Ashton was only now taking notice of it as he tried to create some distance between them.

Ryker’s taunting expression turned a little soft as he stared at the vulnerable look on Ashton’s face.

“Look, Ash.” The scorn in Ryker’s voice and face was now gone, as he took a step towards the other man. “Just forget about that. It was in the past.”

“Really?” Ashton was surprised. And confused. Ryker was just arguing with him and now he was being nice? What was going on?

“Yeah. I forgive you.”

Ashton was taken aback. He stared right at Ryker with a blank expression, a million things running through his mind at a thousand miles per hour.

“You forgive me?” Ashton hissed. “I never asked for your forgiveness.”

“Well, you should’ve-“

“Oh, fuck you.” That’s it. Ashton was losing it now. “You always think you’re better than me, don’t you? I never said sorry and I never asked for your forgiveness. I asked you to leave me alone multiple times that night but you didn’t. I told you to-“

“How could I leave when you were having a goddamn panic attack in the restroom of a building full of people?” Ryker asked in disbelief.

“I was not having a panic attack! I don’t- I don’t get those! Don’t talk when you don’t know shit, Ryker!”

Ashton’s chest was rising and falling rapidly. His face was red. Bright red. And his hands were beginning to tremble. He had to leave. He could not be in the same room as Ryker anymore.

I need to get out. I need to get out. I need to get out.

“Ash-“

“No, no,” Ashton shook his head rapidly. “Not anymore. Just leave now, Ryker.”

Ryker frowned. He looked confused and hesitant, as if he did not want to go. Ashton’s breathing was growing faster by the minute, and he was starting to feel short of air. Ryker parted his lips to say something, but closed them shut almost immediately. He finally nodded, taking a step back as he looked away.

“Just take care of yourself,” Ryker muttered before turning around and leaving the room, leaving Ashton alone.

***