After Rain

Love overcome is a battle half won,

The view from both sides of the gun.

I’m so afraid to be ready,

To change all these locks,

To disconnect the dots.

~Ship in the Dock- Kate Voegele

I looked through the script one last time, mentally adding in actions and expressions as I went along.

“Ready to start?” Rory Thompson asked after a couple of moments. I felt almost tempted to scream no, but held it in. Instead, I just bit my lip and nodded. I didn’t look at Kaden, but I assumed he did the same because a moment later, the cameras flickered on.

ME AS ALYSSA:

Question time. Colton, why don’t you do the honors this time?

I fiddled with the laptop in my lap for a second; pretend to actual use it before passing it to Kaden. For a moment, as I was passing it over, our fingers brushed. It wasn’t much, it was barely anything at all, but it was enough to make me snap back. Breathe, Raine, it’s not you and Kaden, it’s Alyssa and Colton.

KADEN AS COLTON:

Have you seen these before?

It seemed like Kaden was already in character, a weirded out expression on his face as he looked at the computer screen. Probably because this didn’t mean anything to him. To him, it was probably just another audition.

ME AS ALYSSA:

No, Keera put them together, why?

I felt just a bit more comfortable now, which was good since I would probably need to be in full character for the parts after this. I leaned over to Kaden, pretending to try and look at the laptop screen. He pulled away, shielding the computer from me.

KADEN AS COLTON:

No reason. Okay, first question, blondes or brunettes? Ladies first.

ME AS ALYSSA:

Don’t care that much. If I had to choose, blondes, I guess.

KADEN AS COLTON:

Brunettes for me. Next question... I think this guy likes me, but I don’t like him back, what do I do?

Whoa, Kaden was better at this than I ever would’ve guessed. I mean, it made sense, he was pretty famous for his acting, but still, I almost found myself believing him and I knew the script. Or maybe this was just easy for him. Colton was somewhat like Kaden had been when I had known him.

ME AS ALYSSA:

If only we got a dollar for every time we were asked a question like that...

KADEN AS COLTON:

Don’t do anything. If he hasn’t done anything about it, no need to worry.

ME AS ALYSSA:

Just don’t lead him on, obviously. Don’t flirt with him and stuff. If he does do something... Well, it’s up to you; you could give it a shot to see if you like him, or you can reject him.

KADEN AS COLTON:

Next question, are you two dating?

He had a weird look on his face, though I wasn’t sure if it was just him playing in character or if something about that line actually affected him. Probably the former, though.

ME AS ALYSSA:

Oh, it complicated, but let me put it down in two words... Hell no.

It actually took a bit of work to keep a disgusted look on my face since I kind of wanted to smile. It wasn’t like I had been ever been asked that question or anything, but it reminded me of before, when everything used to be okay. It reminded me of the flippant jokes, offhanded comments and meant-but-not-really insults.

KADEN AS COLTON:

We could be if she stopped denying the attraction between us.

ME AS ALYSSA:

Pft. We’re about as attracted to each other as I am to shoving a finger in my eye.

KADEN AS COLTON:

She’s just in denial.

ME AS ALYSSA:

Don’t flatter yourself.

KADEN AS COLTON:

I know you love me.

ME AS ALYSSA:

Not even in your dreams.

KADEN AS COLTON:

You can’t control my dreams, sweetheart.

ME AS ALYSSA:

Okay, I think it’s time to wrap up the video. Check out our other tips, like, subscribe, leave your comments below. If you have a question or request, our Twitter’s in the box below. Thanks for watching!

I stood up to fake turning off a camera and took that moment to try and calm myself. It was starting to feel ever so slightly, just a little bit familiar. Not the video thing, but the whole flinging insults back and forth.

ME AS ALYSSA (Cont.):

What the hell was that Colton? I have a boyfriend! What are y-

KADEN AS COLTON:

He’s cheating on you.

ME AS ALYSSA:

What? No. No. He’s not.

KADEN AS COLTON:

With your best friend.

ME AS ALYSSA:

Oh, Keera? The one who’s dating your best friend?

KADEN AS COLTON:

Not Keera. The other one. The blonde one.

ME AS ALYSSA:

I don’t have another best friend. If you’re talking about close friends, you’ll have to be more specific.

KADEN AS COLTON:

The one with gray eyes? Kind of tall? Talks really quietly?

ME AS ALYSSA:

Ashlie? She’s a client. She wants me to match her up with someone.

I pulled out all the stops and did my best to give off a confused feel. Yeah, it was my old best friend’s movie, but I couldn’t let that make me not do it. I mean, I wasn’t exactly jumping at the thought, because while I was happy to see Kallie again, I was still unsure if she was mad at me or not.

Kaden shrugged and looked me dead in the eye. Crap. This is about to get awkward.

KADEN AS COLTON:

She’s still the one doing your boyfriend.

ME AS ALYSSA:

Why should I believe you?

KADEN AS COLTON:

I’ve seen them. And I know how people cheating act.

I’ll admit, I looked away. I know, it’s bad, and it probably just turned down the intensity by, like, ten notches, but do you know how awkward it is having the guy who cheated on you tell you he knows how someone cheating acts while staring you in the eye?

ME AS ALYSSA:

From all the times you’ve done it to someone?

KADEN AS COLTON:

*coldly* Yeah, sure, sweetheart, from all the times I’ve done it to someone.

ME AS ALYSSA:

Why do you care?

KADEN AS COLTON:

It’d be such a shame if it got out that the matchmaker was being cheated on.

ME AS ALYSSA:

Like you’re one to care about my rep.

KADEN AS COLTON:

Must I have a reason? I can’t just help a friend?

ME AS ALYSSA:

I would hardly call us friends. Really, what’s your reason?

KADEN AS COLTON:

Maybe I just wanted you to know.

ME AS ALYSSA:

Or maybe you’re just trying to ruin my relationship. Wouldn’t be the first time you’ve done it.

KADEN AS COLTON:

Oh really? Enlighten me, Sweetheart, when have I ruined someone’s relationship?

ME AS ALYSSA:

Do you know how many girls come to me asking me to get them back together with their boyfriend? Who they broke up with to date you, since you flirted with them? Only to find out all you wanted was a one night stand?

KADEN AS COLTON:

Interesting. But trust me, I have better things to do than ruin your perfect little relationship.

ME AS ALYSSA:

I’m not gonna believe you if you don’t give me a reason.

KADEN AS COLTON:

I guess you won’t be believing it then.

ME AS ALYSSA:

You know, if you weren’t who you were, I’d think that-

KADEN AS COLTON:

I like you? That’s not it either.

ME AS ALYSSA:

Course not. You’re Colton Walker. You don’t do ‘liking’.

KADEN AS COLTON:

You shouldn’t believe all the stories you hear.

ME AS ALYSSA:

Are you denying them?

KADEN AS COLTON:

Maybe not all. But you don’t know the whole story.

ME AS ALYSSA:

Oh, enlighten me.

KADEN AS COLTON:

You could say it made me who I am.

ME AS ALYSSA:

Okay, let’s hear exactly what made Colton Walker.

KADEN AS COLTON:

I assume something similar made Alyssa Jacobs.

ME AS ALYSSA:

I doubt a science experiment made you like that.

KADEN AS COLTON:

Hmm, guess your story’s less interesting than I thought. Let’s just say, for me, it started with a girl. And it wasn’t supposed to mean anything. Maybe you’ll find out the rest someday.

ME AS ALYSSA:

Oh that was great in making me understand.

KADEN AS COLTON:

Maybe I don’t want you to understand.

ME AS ALYSSA:

Are you bi-polar or something?

KADEN AS COLTON:

Not exactly, sweetheart.

ME AS ALYSSA:

Right, sure. If we’re done here, I’m gonna go.

KADEN AS COLTON:

Wait.

The previous two pages had been fine, since I was pretty in character now, and there hadn’t been anything awkward, but this, this was, just a little bit. For the previous bit, we had been pretty far apart, but now, we weren’t. As instructed in the script, Kaden had grabbed my arm and pulled me back so we were face to face, all too close for my liking.

KADEN AS COLTON*(Cont.):

I’m not lying, you know.

ME AS ALYSSA:

I’ll decide for myself. It’s my relationship.

KADEN AS COLTON:

I’m just warning you, I know it’s your first serious relationship.

ME AS ALYSSA:

Are you stalking me or something?

KADEN AS COLTON:

I’m more observant than you think.

ME AS ALYSSA:

Let go, Colton.

KADEN AS COLTON:

Why won’t you believe me?

ME AS ALYSSA:

Why should I?

KADEN AS COLTON:

We live in the same house. We go to the same school. I’ve heard you on the phone, I know he’s been canceling randomly. I’ve seen him coming out of closets at school. Don’t be oblivious, Alyssa.

ME AS ALYSSA:

Let go, Colton.

KADEN AS COLTON:

Just think about what I said.

The scene should’ve ended with that last line. And technically it did. It just didn’t feel like it. For a couple moments, Kaden and I stared at each other, our faces just a breath apart. This time, though, it was him who him who looked and pulled away first.

I looked away from his now turned face to see Kallie watching Kaden and I with a thoughtful, slightly devilish expression on her face and Rory Thompson scribbling frantically on her clipboard. Neither of them spoke.

Well, this is kind of awkward.

One minute later.

It couldn’t have been that bad, right? I mean, yeah, it was kind of awkward, but I think I did okay in ignoring that.

Another minute later.

Say something. Someone. Please.

Yet another minute later.

Okay, breathe, Raine, it’s only been three minutes.

Four minutes later.

Why hasn’t Kallie said anything? She just keeps examining us.

Five minutes later.

Should I clear my throat? Or would that be rude? Am I supposed to leave or something?

Six minutes later.

Oh, wait no, Kaden beat me to it.

...Did I really just spend six minutes talking to myself?

“Oh, sorry. That’s all we need for the audition. Thank you, Raine, we’ll let you know if you get the part,” Rory Thompson told me with another one of her kind smiles.

“Uh, thanks.” I flashed them a quick smile before swiftly leaving the room. Wow, I’m an awkward person.

“Hey, you okay?” I asked approaching Bells who looked like she had just seen Dracula sucking blood out of her best friend.

“Yeah, I just saw someone,” she replied. Her voice was calm, but slow and her breathing was just a little bit shallow.

I raised an eyebrow and looked around the room. “Who did you- oh.” Standing at the front of the room, talking to the girl at the desk, was Clark.

Also known as Bells’ ex.

Don’t ask me happened, I’m still not sure. When I had bumped into Bells a year and a half ago, I had asked about Clark. She had looked down and told me it was over, and that she didn’t want to talk about it.

I didn’t ask again after that.

I didn’t blame Bells for being so shaken up, I mean Clark had been her first boyfriend, and the longest one she’s ever had. They had unofficially been voted ‘Mostly likely to get married’ junior year. We hasn’t had a yearbook, really, but someone had made a website with that kind of title stuff.

“Do you wanna go? I’m done with the audition,” I offered.

Bells shot another glance at Clark before turning to me. “Yeah, let’s go.”

Two days later, I was attempting to drag one hundred and seventy pounds of muscle and maybe five pounds of fat down a busy New York street. Not really my definition of fun, but luckily, no one looked at us funny. One of the things I love about New York. You could collapse on the ground spasming and no one would blink an eye. Okay, maybe not something that extreme, but that’s not the point.

“Why are you randomly taking me to Starbucks?” Devon asked, dragging his feet. “I have an exam tomorrow, I need to study.”

“I need you to meet someone and tell me what you think of them,” I replied shortly though I couldn’t help but grin. Yesterday Shawn had texted me saying he would give the blind-date-set-up-by-a-stranger-that-I-know-the-name-of thing a try- his words, not mine. Personally, I think if you know someone’s list of enemies, they’re not a stranger. Anyway, we had arranged to meet today, at Starbucks, at three.

Devon stopped completely, which made me almost crash back into him. Wow, I feel weak. “Raine, we’ve been over this. Just because I’m majoring in psychology, doesn’t mean I’m actually psychic.” Yeah, Devon was studying to be a either a child psychiatrist or a forensic psychologist (obviously, he hasn’t decided yet), and when I had fount out, I may or may not have a cracked a few psychic jokes and asked a couple of questions. Needless to say, he still held it against me, two years later.

“It’s not like that, I swear! I just met someone and I feel like he’s your type!” I protested.

Devon’s eyes widened. “Raine Evans are you trying to set me up?”

“Possibly, potentially and any other synonym that starts with ‘p’, if there are any left.” I told him with a shrug before pulling him into Starbucks. I shot a look around. Doesn’t look like Shawn’s here yet. Unless that’s him in the corner booth pinning a girl down. As Devon and I stepped up to the counter to order, I double checked. Yeah... I really don’t think that’s him.

“So you’ll never guess who I saw today,” I said once we sat down. He raised an eyebrow, a silent gesture asking me to continue. “Bells took me to an audition and- Oh, there’s Shawn,” I cut myself off when I saw Shawn enter, not particularly wanting to explain the whole thing to him.

“Tell me later,” Devon told me quietly as I waved Shawn over.

“I thought you were bringing someone?” I asked, as Shawn sat down across from us.

He nodded. ’My roommate. He’ll be here in five,” he told me, his eyes examining Devon carefully.

“Devon, this is Shawn. Shawn, this is Devon. Um, talk,” I instructed awkwardly. Yup, I don’t suck at this at all. Oh well, this is a onetime thing. I hope. I mean, who else would I do it with?

Shawn grinned. “Hiya Devon. So Raine’s a really awkward person, isn’t she?”

I cut in before Devon could respond. “Hey, when I said talk, I didn’t mean about me! Talk about other things. And, uh, I’ll be playing games on my phone.” I shot them a grin before pulling out said electronic out of my bag.

“Oh hey, there’s my roommate. Guys, this is Blake,” Shawn said. I looked up and barely managed to hold in a gasp.

Shawn’s roommate was Blake Jordan.