Just friends

3

As expected, Ava had the most to say about the change in the reading. She did try her best to stay professional as long as she could, I'll give her that. Her mouth fell open before tightening into a scowl when we first started reading, opening with the scene of Shawny and Austin hooking up and then casually avoiding each other when they went to school, but when Austin's character ends up coming back to Shawny's place at the end of the episode admitting that he didn't want it to just be a one-time thing Ava had lost it. "This is absurd. I don't see how the fans want them to be together, they don't fit at all!" She practically bellowed when we went through the read. 

Ava had burst out of the room the second the table read was over. It was fair to say that most of the cast was a bit shocked at how the tables had turned but apparently not everyone. Two of our castmates- Michael and Lindsay- said that it was bound to happen. "People love the whole enemies-to-lovers thing. They go crazy over it," Lindsay had said and I knew she was right. Hell, after all, it was one of my favorites too. Fangirl me was squealing at the prospect of these two characters getting together but real girl me, the one who had to act out the scenes and show my castmates and the world my body to criticize, was having a bit of a meltdown. 

"So, how ya feeling?" Liam threw his arm around my shoulders as we walked toward the concessions cart. My heart was racing a mile a minute while I clutched the script with a death grip in my hand. 

"I'm...okay," I said, knowing damn well he knew I was lying. I didn't want to talk about this right now, not in the open and not before I had some sugar in me. 

Liam let out an exhale but didn't say a word. Smart man. That is until we got to the food and he started helping me pile my plate high. 

"Okay, so this is how it's going to go," my eyes shot up to meet his, eyebrows high in challenge as much as curiosity. "We're going to pack you up with all your carbs and sugary goodies that you love so much, then go back to my trailer. Ut. Yes. Mine," he held up his hand when I went to interrupt, "Because I have my nice ass couch in there, and we're going to practice the lines, talk about everything that you're feeling and figure out how best to make you feel comfortable with everything going on. And worse comes to worse if we can't figure something out and you're still reeling then I will be right next to you when we go up to Olivia and everyone else and ask them to change things around to make you feel comfortable. Okay?"

My heart soared and I smiled at him before nodding my head. I felt like I could breathe again and I knew it had everything to do with Liam. I was still new to the industry and acting but I was beyond grateful that I lucked out to be his costar because I honestly don't know what I would do if I was in this situation with anyone else. Hell, I knew people who weren't even in the industry and still wouldn't give a shit if I was comfortable or not doing a job as long as I got it done, so the fact that Liam was willing to go to bat for me with this made a huge weight lift off of my shoulders. 

I knew that I had to bust out the big girl panties and do what I had to to get this right for the fans. I loved my job after all. So after filling my plate with all my goodies I followed Liam to his trailer where I plopped right down on his gloriously soft sofa, stuffed my face with treats, and spilled the beans about all of my insecurities.

"First of all," he started as he reached over and grabbed a few grapes and a cookie from my plate, "a part of me really wants to knock some sense into you." When I rolled my eyes he just laughed and continued. "Yes, I'm you're friend so you can call me biased but I'm also a man Ad. You're hot, babe. And just because you don't look like Ava, or whoever else you're trying to compare yourself to, doesn't change that."

My smile was small. I loved him for saying that but it still didn't change the things I felt inside or the way I knew society could be. I've seen people on social media or in magazines rip others apart for the tiniest things. I've had them do it to me before and that was before I'd have to show my naked body on television.

"Second, I don't ever want you to feel insecure around me. And it's not just for my benefit," he laughed, "but because if we're going to be spending the first couple of episodes or hell, maybe even the season, doing sex scenes together then you being comfortable is going to portray on screen. I want you to feel insanely comfortable with me that you don't even think twice about taking off your shirt. That the audience will watch it and be like holy shit she wanted him that bad. I don't want them to see a second of hesitation on you so tell me what can I do to help get you there?"

Taking a breath I threw my head back on his couch with a moan. "Ughhhh, I don't know Liam! If I did, trust me I'd tell you."

From the corner of my eye, I saw him nodding his head before reaching for a drink on the side table. When he was done taking a sip he placed it down before clapping his hands and startling me. "Okay, so then this is what's going to happen," he said as he stood up and stared at me. "We're gonna get naked."