The A List

@ BadStreetBoys

It had been so long since Thomas had flirted or shown her any sort of affection that she just assumed he was messing with her somehow. That it was all a setup for some cruel joke. She glanced up at him for a moment as he confessed that nothing had happened in his trailer either, looking away with a little frown. She felt relieved that he wasn't cheating on her, but also guilty, since this whole relationship was a lie, and she didn't want to be keeping him from happiness if he wanted it.

Eleanor tensed a bit as he grabbed her arm, her eyes widening a bit as he called her Elle, it having been well over a year since he'd called her that. It must have been a mistake, a slip up, since he quickly backtracked as he asked her to sit and eat with him, giving in after a moment and taking her seat again. She thanked the crew member who'd brought their lunch, quietly picking at her food while he ate, speaking softly after a while. "You'd be fine without me, you know.. Earlier you said both our careers would be over, but it'd really only be mine. Especially if we told everyone that I was the one who ended things.. You'd have a long and successful career, you could date or fool around with whoever you wanted. I know you liked that last girl you worked with, Christina, I think? I.. I'm only holding you back, Thomas.." she murmured, setting her fork down as she lost her appetite.

@ katahdin
Thomas noticed Eleanor's change in demeanor after he called her Elle, looking down and giving her a sheepish look once he looked back up. He nodded at the crew member and began to eat, looking over at Eleanor who wasn't eating. "Eat something, I don't want you to be hungry before dinner." He said as he sipped his drink. Thomas looked up as he heard Eleanor begin to talk again. "I disagree." He murmured, shaking his head. He knew his career would be okay, especially if they spun it as her fault. But that wasn't what he meant. He didn't think that he would be okay, in the sense of his person. When she mentioned Christina he almost choked on his food as he laughed. "Oh my god, Elle, I could never. She is pretty but her brain is the size of a pea. I need someone I can talk to and have a conversation with that isn't just about my abs." He said chuckling, trying to lighten the mood.

@ BadStreetBoys

Eleanor frowned a bit as he told her to eat, reluctantly taking a few bites of her meal to appease him, although she really didn't feel like eating. Her frown only deepened as he disagreed with everything that she'd said, looking over at him before looking back down at her plate. She looked up at him again as he laughed, tensing a bit when he called her Elle again. She knew he was trying to lighten the mood, but it wasn't helping.

"When was the last time we spoke to each other without yelling, though? Actually spoke to each other, not just talked about work or breakfast or crossword puzzles." She frowned as she looked at him, shaking her head as she wiped tears from her eyes. "We can hardly have a conversation without yelling at each other, Thomas.. I thought that things would be better, I stayed because you asked, a-and I thought that I could get you to care for me like I care for you, but I-I don't know what to do anymore, because it didn't work, and I can't stand being sad all the time.." she murmured, looking away from him to hide her tears.

@ katahdin
Thomas nodded as he listened to Eleanor. “I care for you.” He said quietly. Thomas ran a hand down his face. He stood up and moved across the room towards the mirror, he reached down, grabbing the handle of the drawer beneath it. “I care more for you than you ever knew.” He said. “Clearly because you believed those tabloids, and that nobody costar who accused me of cheating.” He said turning around, tears brimming in his eyes. “You act like this is my fault. When everything fell apart because you just had to find a flaw in me. You just had to paint me as a bad guy. And you believed I was someone who would cheat on my partner.” He said, his voice shaking with pain. Thomas turned away and opened the drawer, he pulled out a picture of the couple from their fourth date, the MET Gala. He tossed the photo over to her. “That picture hasn’t left my trailer since it was taken.” He told her and took a deep breath as he tried not to cry. “Go ahead, paint me as the bad guy again Eleanor.” He said as he moved quickly and left the trailer, heading back to the set.

@ BadStreetBoys

"But you never showed it, even before those tabloids printed that story. You never showed that you cared, and that's why I thought that they were true." Eleanor frowned as he spoke, looking at him with obvious pain and hurt in her eyes. "I tried so hard to show you how much I cared for you, and you'd barely put in the same effort. And then that tabloid article printed, and I was angry because I was scared that if it were true you'd leave me, and that I'd lose the person I cared most about in the world." She sniffled, wiping tears from her eyes, not caring that it was ruining her makeup. "I'm sorry I yelled, I apologized then, and tried to make up for it and fixed what I said, but after that fight you've only ever been antagonistic and hurtful toward me." She frowned as he gave her the photo of them on their fourth date, trembling a bit as she looked at it before setting it down. "I tried not to think of you as a bad person, Thomas, I know that you're not. But we haven't been happy for nearly a year, and I just.. I just want to feel like a normal person again."

@ katahdin
Thomas didn’t want to yell, he didn’t want to fight, he didn’t want to be angry. “I didn’t show it because that’s not who I am!” He yelled, realizing he was shouting and taking a breath to calm down. He lowered his voice. “My entire persona is for the cameras. I’m not a super lovey person. I barely am a relationship person. But don’t dare tell me I don’t care about you.” He said and sighed again. He just couldn’t forget that fight. It had hurt him too much. “I told you not to bring this up at work.” He said before he left. Thomas moves onto set and looked at the crew. “Alright fix my makeup.” He said and sighed, sitting and letting them touch it up before he grabbed the prop alcohol bottle he needed for the scene. Thomas moved onto the set and laid down in t pile of rubbish surrounding him. He had to pretend to be passed out, with the jack Daniels bottle in his hand. He knew it would take Eleanor a few moments after their fight to come out and act, but he didn’t care. He would lay here all day if he could just forget that he had feelings.

@ BadStreetBoys

"If you're not a relationship person then we should end this, because if neither of us are happy then we shouldn't be together, no matter how much we care about each other." Eleanor frowned, looking away as he stormed off. Once he was gone she let herself sit down and sobbed. She hated this, wanted to go home, but she knew that she wouldn't be able to until they were done shooting for the day. She also knew that tonight she'd pack her bags and leave, even if it broke her heart to do so, because she just couldn't take it anymore. After a bit she washed the makeup off of her face and returned to her trailer, apologizing and said she'd ruined it during lunch, although it wasn't hard to reapply and it wasn't long before she was on set, waiting for the director's cue before she began the scene, rushing over to Thomas in the rubbish pile.

"Jason? Jason!" She cried, her character supposed to be upset about seeing him in such a state, but truth be told looking at him made her want to vomit given what they'd fought about earlier.

@ katahdin
Thomas’ character was supposed to be drunk and passed out from yet another rough and tumble fight between he and a bad guy. He tried to not let his body tense up as Eleanor made her way over. He needed to get this done in one take so they could get home soon. As Eleanor’s character touched him, he stirred. “Huh?” His eyes fluttering open, he made a few mumbled noises. His eyes finally came to focus on Eleanor. “How’s you find me here?” He asked, words slurred. His eyes were full of pain, though the pain was very real. No actor could emote emotions that way. Thomas needed to talk again, but he didn’t think that it would go well, he thought it would end in another argument and yelling.

@ BadStreetBoys

"It doesn't matter, I'm here now." Eleanor's character soothed him, gently running her fingers through his hair. She hated how awful she felt, hated the emotions she could see in his eyes, but she just wanted to get this over with so she could go home and get on with her life. Her character then moved to help him sit up, pressing a gentle kiss to his forehead.

@ katahdin
Thomas looked up, his hand reaching up and touching her cheek. His other hand dropped the bottle, it making a donation give clinking sound as it hit the ground and rolled away. He sat up with her help, looking around them and at the mess. “I let him get away.” He said and shook his head angrily. His eyes turned to meet hers. “I’m a failure, how can you love someone like me?” He asked her character, slowly moving to stand up and brush himself off.

@ BadStreetBoys

Eleanor helped him stand, her character frowning as he called himself a failure. "You're not a failure, Jason. You're having a tough time, there's a difference." She assured him, stepping forward to help fix his suit, looking up at him as he asked how she could love him. "I love you because you never give up. You're not a quitter, you do whatever it takes, and you're passionate. I know that you're upset about him getting away, but you're here and alive and that's what matters, because you'll catch him another day. Come on, let's go home." She murmured, pressing a kiss to his cheek before wrapping an arm around his waist to lead him off stage, waiting for him to pull away and deliver his next lines.

@ katahdin
Thomas’ character scoffed, shaking his head in disgust. “My job isn’t over.” He stated, pulling away from her. “I may be alive but plenty other people could die because of my mistake.” He said, looking around himself. “I need to go, I need to find him.” He told her, spotting what he was looking for: his handgun. Thomas reached down and grabbed the gun, checking to see if it had any bullets left. He turned as he placed it in the holster on his waist, looking to Eleanor. “If you love me, you’ll be waiting for me back home.” He said and stepped forward taking her hand. “But I know you hate the life I’ve chosen. If I don’t see you, I’ll assume the worst.” He said, both characters knowing what he was implying. Thomas quickly leaned down and kissed Eleanor before he ran off in another direction off stage.

@ BadStreetBoys

Eleanor's character acted shocked and betrayed as his character moved away, shaking her head as tears leaked down her cheeks. "Jason.." she murmured, returning his kiss before watching him pull away and head off stage. She cleared her throat after the director yelled cut, moving back over to her chair to get a drink of water and allow her assistants to fix her makeup and hair. She still felt ill, like she'd be sick it she wasn't careful.

@ katahdin
Thomas yelled in pain from back stage after running out. Different crew members quickly made their way in the direction. Thomas was yelling at people to get away from him before he made his way back in, slightly limping. “Twisted my ankle back there.” He said gritting his teeth. “I’m calling it a day.” He said as a statement more than a question. “Elle help me out to the car?” He asked, walking outside with her. Once the couple was outside and out of earshot. “You looked like you wanted to leave.” He murmured and slid into the back of the limousine. “I’m all good, don’t worry.” He said chuckling.

@ BadStreetBoys

Eleanor looked up as she heard Thomas yell in pain, hurrying over with everyone else to make sure that he was alright, frowning at his limp. She nodded a bit as he asked to help him to the car, doing her best to help him along. She was surprised though when he said that he hadn't actually hurt himself, frowning as she got into the car with him. "You shouldn't have lied.. But thank you." She murmured softly.

@ katahdin
Thomas rolled his yes playfully and grinned at Elanor. "I'm not lying, I'm just acting. Thats my job now isn't it?" He asked with a laugh, Orlando leaned forward and opened the mini fridge that sat between them and the drive. He opened it and pulled out the mini bottle of champagne, opening it and beginning to drink. "Anywho, now I have alcohol in my system so I can't work anyway." He said and shrugged. "Don't be jealous just because you didn't think of it." He teased again.

@ BadStreetBoys

Eleanor frowned as she watched him laugh it off before opening the mini-fridge to begin to drink. As if everything were fine between them and nothing serious was going on. "I would have rather we just finished the scenes and been done with it, Thomas. Now we're behind again, which just means more long days and no chance to rest." She frowned, crossing her arms over her chest as she looked out the window, hoping the drive would be over soon.

@ katahdin
Thomas shook his head and sighed. "I was trying to do something for you, Eleanor." He said, shaking his head again as the driver pulled up and parked. Thomas Stood and got out of the car, quickly heading inside. He walked to the living room and sat on the couch. "I'm sorry." He said and sighed. "I thought I was doing the right thing."

@ BadStreetBoys

Eleanor thanked the driver before getting out of the car, heading inside after him, shaking her head as he apologized. "Maybe you should have spoken to me first. You just automatically assume that I'll be ok with whatever it is you decide is right, Thomas, but you never ask me about what I want." She frowned, looking away from him before she turned to head upstairs. "After this movie is over our relationship ends, Thomas. Make up whatever story you want about me to justify it, I don't care. I'd rather everyone in the world hate me than have to live hating myself any longer."

@ katahdin
Thomas sighed and rolled his eyes. “Well I’m sorry for making decisions, Eleanor. Am I supposed to ask you about everything?” He countered. “Like if I get you an anniversary gift I need permission?” He said sarcastically. Thomas raised an eyebrow at Eleanor, moving towards her as she spoke. “Elle, no.” He said, moving besides her. “Please, we can make this work.” He said softly. “I don’t want it to end.”