- She was bored already, and it was her own doing. Chandler, of course, concealed this fact by leaning back casually against the couch, crossing her legs primly and getting her phone out. Uh... yeah, nothing. Hey, when you're busy being rich, famous, and bitchy, it's hard making friends. So she texted Robert Mann. Hey, Mr. Boss, when are you getting here? She knew he wouldn't reply; he never did check his texts. She tucked her phone back into the pocket of her cover up and stifled a sigh. How boring. So she stared surveying the area. Beach. Nothing special, nothing she hasn't seen before. Average people, none of them good looking. It was time for a chance of scenery. Chandler shifted to get a better view of William. She didn't really care whether he saw her or not; she had the right to check out her coworkers, didn't she?
Truth be told, he had made her smile. Not beaming, no, but she had smirked at his comment about being Hollywood's favorite bitch, despite her best efforts to suppress it. It wasn't a compliment she took lightly. It took a lot of work to stay away from the pressure to be seen as perfect as a celebrity. How many actresses had already succumbed to that sort of adoration and fan base? Of course Chandler put on her best face for the public. She was accommodating, occasionally friendly, and quick with a laugh, smile, or witty comment. But that was the best face she had: lighthearted and distant. She knew she wasn't a very personable celebrity. She wasn't like some of the others, who had fans crying for them when they went through a divorce, or got fan mail all the time, or had devotedly loyal fans. Chandler's fans loved her because of her talent. Or so she liked to think, anyway. She had no other explanation for the reason why people liked her. She didn't go out of her way to make people feel welcome. She tried to stay away from the 'role model' label. She didn't let fans into her personal life. She did interviews, but kept things very professional and distant.
It had to be talent, of course. Chandler appraised William as she let her thoughts wander, noting for the second time his good looks. He really was a hottie, and one of the few who barely reacted to her 'uncalled for' comment. And his sarcastic reaction to Nathan's clumsiness had brought a chuckle out of her. She would have to get to know him, that one.
She ignored Candelaria for now, knowing introductions would be made later on. She wasn't particularly excited about meeting the girl. So what, she was fashionable. It wasn't hard, with all the money celebrities had and the stylists available. What made Candelaria worth talking to was her talent, and Chandler had to give the girl some credit for that. She could act, that one. But then again, so could she. And so could William, who had apparently gone out with the girl for a good while. She glanced at the two of them, trying to assess the atmosphere between them. She couldn't hold back the grin that came to her lips. It would be fun, getting to see their relationship work out. Maybe she would get to see some real life drama between the two, the kind they would be playing out in XOXO.
A man with dreads walked past her. He smiled at her, which surprised Chandler a little. He was the first person to really smile at her today. The friendly sort, hm? We'll see how long that lasts, she thought. Because put any amount of people together in the same house, and something was bound to happen. It was common knowledge. It was why best friends were recommended to stay away from becoming roommates with each other, so that their friendship would be salvaged. It would definitely be a fun few months. Not that Chandler cared. She was rarely in the middle of a tangled mess. More often than not, she was a target of someone's anger and hatred, but she never got involved personally; she didn't have time to get worked up over another person. Especially when the other person was a worker, or Shrek's wife.
A girl walked past her. Then another girl, this one a recognizable face that Chandler had no trouble putting a name to: Zara Lexington. Apparently, she was quite the Ice Queen. Well, Ice Queen, meet the Snow Queen. Chandler may not be as hardened as Zara was, but she was definitely as cold. She wasn't expecting the similarity of their inner temperatures to create a bond between them, but it did help her feel a little less out of place. Yes, William seemed to be just as snarky as she was, but how could you count on a boy? No, he would be busy trying to grab the attention of each girl around. Even now, she could see him looking over Zara's backside. Cute.
She couldn't hear the conversation going on inside, and she didn't care. She'd rather be outside, by herself, in her bikini and cover up. Oh, shit, it was almost three! She had to change! She ignored the others coming in, and walked after another male - a crew worker, again. God, this was getting old. Chandler kept her head high as she walked past the group, ignoring Elias's question, and headed to her bedroom. She refused to go to a meeting clad in a skimpy bikini. God, that would be terrible.
She changed, into a simple outfit that was prim enough for a meeting, and comfortable enough for her new home. She smoothed down the tank top and tied her hair into a loose bun. The nerves were beginning to work their way into her stomach again; the riveting conversation downstairs had chased them away. She took a deep breath and began studying herself in the mirror. She looked fine. She looked ready. She looked perfect.
As usual.
- It was awkward, to say the least. Drake rubbed the back of his head regretfully, wondering if he should have just kept his mouth shut. But if he hadn't, he would have felt off balance for the rest of his time here. He wasn't the man to stand aside while a lady got insulted; he had been raised better, even with an alcoholic father and a perpetually working mother.
"It's not even three o'clock and I already have an enemy. Thanks, Drake right?" Fiona asked, beginning to fuss with her hair. He noticed her trembling, and felt a pang of sympathy. Poor girl. She had done nothing but play with her hair, and was antagonized by Chandler for it. It wouldn't do much; from what he could tell, Chandler wasn't exactly the person whose opinion set someone's social class. She hated everyone, didn't she?
He shook his head at her. "Yeah, it's Drake. Don't worry about Chandler. And you don't have to thank me, the knight in shining armor thing is just something I do," he said with a wink.
Before he could say more, Candelaria Flores walked in. He shut his mouth immediately and kept his gaze on her steadily. Gosh, she was gorgeous. He began to smile as a memory began to take form.
- "Drake, do you feel like watching a movie?" Rita asked, flopping down on the couch besides her boyfriend, who was flipping through the channels lazily.
"Sure, what's out?" he asked, his eyes moving from the TV screen to smile down at the girl beside him. She was short, with curled brown hair and brown doe eyes, and he was crazy about her. They had only been dating for a month now, but they were already living together. Probably because he had nowhere else to go. Either way, it was nice to have her around.
"The movie with Candelaria Flores is out!"
"Candel-who?" he gaped at her, his features arranging themselves into an aghast expression. "Is that some code name for that guy on Beauty and the Beast?"
"What?" Rita wrinkled her nose at him, her eyes dancing. "No, Candelaria! She's an actress!"
"Oh. Well, alright. Let's go." Drake turned the TV off and stood, stretching his arms and pulling Rita up beside him. He threw one arm over her lazily and kissed her temple. "You look really nice today, babe," he murmured in her air. She giggled and swatted him away, mock-frowning.
"Stop that, or else we'll end up making out and not watching a new movie! By the end of it, you'll be salivating over her. She's gorgeous. I haven't met a guy who hasn't masturbated to her."
"Um, Rita, I don't want to know you talk about masturbating with other guys. We'll see if I feel any sparks between me and Candel. Let's go."
Rita had been right; by the end of the movie, he was convinced that he and Candelaria Flores were going to get married. He had teased Rita endlessly, making her play-jealous with his claims of leaving her for the actress. And now... now, it felt a little weird to be around her in person. Surreal. Surreal, but nice. When he first found out he was going to be around Candelaria, he had smiled and thought back to that moment. He felt no bitterness towards Rita, though she probably felt bitter towards him. No matter. He was here now, with Candelaria Flores.
"Candelaria, it's nice to meet you. I'm Drake," he said, waving from his spot by the refrigerator. He hoped no one wanted a drink, because he had already gotten comfortable, and didn't feel like moving. Gosh, she was just beautiful. This felt so strange. He couldn't stop thinking about Rita, being around this girl. She didn't even know it, but she had been a part of his relationship with her. Her name had been a long-standing inside joke between the two of them. He would tell Rita she looked beautiful... but he thought she would look better if she cut her hair like Candelaria. And every once in awhile, Rita would buy a magazine with Candelaria on the cover and give it to him. One time, she got it for him as his birthday gift. They had even framed that birthday magazine cover, for the fun of it.
Weird. Just weird.
"Welcome to the island, Candlestick," William said from his spot in the doorway. Well, how awkward. Hadn't the two of them dated? He mentally shrugged his shoulders. It wasn't his business. He did recall hearing Rita talk about it, but by that time, the two had already been on the rocks, him feeling distant and Rita, in turn, becoming clingier. It had been a pathetic attempt to bring some of the previous spark and fun into their relationship, he recalled. Yes, she had tried to bring back the teasing, and he had only smiled fondly at her and ruffled her hair, like she was his kid sister. He felt a little soft pang of guilt. Poor Rita. He had apologized, and tried to make it up by her, but the two of them knew they were over.
It wasn't his fault. He couldn't control his feelings, he really couldn't. But this William... he was different. He didn't give a shit about the girls he fucked and ran out on, didn't ever feel the nostalgia he was feeling now, didn't ever think back on a fun date and smile affectionately. He didn't ever try to work things out. He just bailed before he had to face the damage he was bound to create. A deep dislike settled over him. Part of it had to be this recollection of Rita, and the guilt he was feeling for doing what William basically did: fuck and run. It had been more emotional for him, but at the very core was the same issue: commitment. It shamed him to be anything like William.
His gaze drifted to Candelaria. Perhaps it could change. But what was he thinking? She was an actress; he was an aspiring actor, desperate enough to go under the guise of a handyman to get even the smallest connection to Hollywood. He was pathetic.
Jasper walked in then. Grateful for the distraction from the direction his thoughts were heading, Drake nodded right back at the man. He liked Jasper. Not so much in the 'bros for life' way, but he could see it heading towards that direction. He was certainly one of the more likable people here, anyway. He waved at Gabriella when she walked in, but otherwise decided to stay out of the social interaction for the next few introductions. If too much conversing led to something like the Chandler-Fiona fiasco, then he would rather sit in the sidelines, thank you very much.
Zara Lexington was next. She didn't say much, to Drake's relief, and instead started talking to Fiona. Drake let his mind start to wander, predicting what would happen in the next few months. Wait, forget that, it was a daunting task, and he didn't feel up to imagining the temper tantrums that were bound to come soon. Wrapped up in his thoughts, he didn't notice another crew walker walk by them and leave, and though he heard William's comment, didn't think much of it. Who cared what that guy thought, anyway?
"Looks like I'm not the last one here, my flight was hella delayed, thought for sure I would be," he heard. He turned to look at the speaker. Olivia Pershephone. She was playing the Skank, if he could recall correctly. Again, proof that actors had to play someone entirely different from themselves often. She didn't seem to be the slut, or anything close to it. More like the sweetheart of a small town. He smiled, though his smile was beginning to feel a little tired. Too many introductions for one day.
"Drake Wesley," he said simply. He was suddenly tired of his own name, and the repetitive routine this was becoming. He yawned and took another sip from his water bottle. He wanted to leave, but he still felt like the host of this first meeting. Thus, he stayed. But nothing else happened after; only Elias walked in and asked where Robert Mann was.
Drake checked his watch and noted that it was, indeed, close to 3 o'clock. He shrugged his shoulders at Eli, and then straightened, clearing his throat to gather attention. "I've been here for awhile," he said, and without explaining why exactly he had been granted permission to board there early, continued, "and Robert Mann showed me where the meeting will be held. You guys can follow me." He began walking to the conference room. He had personally added in more chairs, and the effect was one inner circle of the actors, and small chairs against the wall of the room for the crew workers. Robert Mann wanted the crew workers there for obvious reasons, but he had apparently told the actors that he didn't want to have two separate meetings for both groups, and would be combining them.
He opened the door to the conference room and motioned for the people behind him to walk in. "Come on in."
"Gladly," Chandler said, her voice dignified and calm. He saw the hint of a mocking smirk on her lips, and sensed that she was making fun of him, with her long stride and confident raise of the eyebrows. Drake physically bit back a sigh.
She really was trying to make him blow up, wasn't she?