You've Got A Friend [Open]

[River Blue Ashford]

"I like you." He confessed to the puppy quietly as though it could understand him. Sitting on the floor with his legs out stretched as the little German Shepherd mix raced about nipping at his pant legs (the costume department would not be pleased), tongue hanging out the side of the creature's mouth she then managed to sink her teeth into one of his shoelaces and gave it a few pulls. "Oh what do you have. What do you have?" He grunted playfully at the female puppy slapping his hands against the floor to rile her up more. It was strange to see River like this... Happyish. Not trying to bite someone's head off or frowning like the world was terrible. Animals made him happy because they couldn't do anything but like you or hate you just on instinct and not based on what movies or shows you had in your resume. River had a cat at home but a dog had just never been in the cards for him. He had 'never gotten around to it'. A dog took preparation. A puppy even more so. It didn't make him want one any less though which was increasingly evident the longer he kept playing with her.

"Good girl Nala. C'mere! Yes. Good girl." He lavished praise on her running his hands over her head and behind her ears which had her flipping back and showing her stomach to him which had him tickling her sides as she lulled about happily. Nala was on set because one of the extras needed to have a puppy in a pet scene. The scene was shot earlier in the morning and now the dog (and River) had some downtime so he was busy entertaining himself until he was needed or they were wrapped for the day. Little did he know someone was watching.

[AYLA RIVERA]

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Walking the set of Our Chaotic Life was certainly something she never expected she would be doing. The whole thing came out of nowhere - one minute she was practically in a screaming match with one of the stars, and the next the producer had her on the phone discussing a recurring role - to call it a whirlwind would have been a massive understatement. And yet, here she was, on set getting her wardrobe, makeup and hair all sorted in advance to film her scenes the next day.

She was beyond excited, although she was doing quite well at remaining perfectly professional (if she did say so herself) - only dropping the act when she was sure people weren't looking to do a small happy skip of the feet. Television was truly what she enjoyed filming the most, and Ayla was more than ready to get back to business. 

It was also going to be her first credit as 'Ayla' instead of Adriana, something the studio seemed to be thrilled about. She wasn't sure how to feel about that part of it, but all in all her excitement and total dorkiness triumphed over all else.

On her way to the set to take some promotional photos, Ayla managed to weave her way through the busy studio with a hairdresser still playing with strands of her hair and a makeup artist chasing after her to touch up her lipstick. She wasn't late, she just really wanted to get there so that she could meet as many people as possible. She was very keen about this opportunity and wasn't going to waste it. 

She stopped short in her tracks as she rounded a corner and came across River Ashford on the floor with a puppy. The hair and makeup crew stopped with her, took just a short moment to finish what they were doing, and then hurried back away again. At least they could run the other direction - Ayla had to pass the dragon to get where she was going. 

She was trying to work out how to get around him without him seeing her when the puppy suddenly noted her arrival. She shifted her weight on her feet, preparing herself for another emotional beat down. Ayla scratched the dog behind the ear as she circled her and went right back to River.

"Hola," she greeted him. Her eyes shifted from his face to the puppy and back again, a small smirk spreading across her lips. He did seem to have a heart after all, and she caught it with her own eyes. "Cute dog."

[River Blue Ashford]

In hearing the Spanish greeting he figured out who it belonged to quickly. If his brain hadn't been able to make the realization his eyes would have as they quickly glinted up toward Ayla then right back down to the puppy whose backside wagged at him as Nala went to bother Ayla for a brief bit. River would tolerate it, mainly because he didn't have any choice, but he wanted the dog's attention for himself. At least when fawning over a pet he could forget about his life. How sad and angry he was. How alone. "Hola." Of course he had known that Ayla was going to be on set that day. He had secretly vouched for her and not so secretly tipped her off about the role at the hospital, plus anybody with eyes could have seen the names on the call sheet for the day, but still he'd feign obliviousness.

"Yeah. I guess." River pretended to not car one way or another. The actor made a little whistle and Nala came racing back into his lap. Scooping her up he ruffled the animal behind the ears and held her close frowning as he looked up again at Ayla this time his eyes remaining on her. "It's not mine." He felt the need to state blatantly. It wasn't an answer that he personally liked but it was the truth. River was a big time animal person. He got along with them way better and easier than with people (as evident by this conversation). Looking away again he picked up the puppy to look in her eyes as her butt continued to wiggle with every tail wag. "You film your scene yet?" He asked Ayla gruffly, shockingly trying to make casual conversation with her. "@savannah already try and talk your ear off? If she hasn't yet she will when she finds you so be prepared to duck and hide."

[AYLA RIVERA]

“Yeah. I guess.” 

Ayla fought against a sigh. What kind of person was this? He was by far the most baffling, frustrating person she’d ever met - and she’d lived in California most of her life, so that was saying something. As horrible as he was to her she still got something - what exactly, she couldn’t really say at the moment - from speaking to him, so she remained rooted to her spot. 

“It's not mine.” 

She shrugged. She wasn’t really questioning whether the dog was his, nor did she see why it was important to him that she understood that it wasn’t. Add it to the list of baffling, frustrating things. Something about the way he said it made her think that he wished it weren’t true - but she’d be silly to ever pretend to know what was going on with him, so she left the subject alone.

“You film your scene yet?” 

Well, this was definitely interesting. Already he had said three, almost four times as much as she had and that was unusual in any conversation let alone one with River Ashford, president and treasurer of the “I Hate Adriana Rivera” Club. She raised her eyebrows, about to answer when he surprised her again and continued speaking.

“Savannah Dalton already try and talk your ear off? If she hasn't yet she will when she finds you so be prepared to duck and hide.”

Ayla actually laughed at this; a real, genuine chuckle and not one of her sarcastic, frustrated ones. 

Puppy version of River was way easier to get on with than bleeding River. Although, she wasn’t planning on getting her hopes up - the wind would change directions shortly, she was certain of it. 

“Yeah, don’t you just hate when strangers talk too much?” she joked with a smirk, and then shook her head. “She hasn’t found me yet. I’m back again tomorrow though, so there’s still time.”

She watched him with the puppy for a moment, observing how different he seemed to be with the animal. It wasn’t really any of her business, but she thought she might push her luck - you know, since things seemed to be going so well right now and all.

“How’s the hand? Better?”

[River Blue Ashford]

He heard her laugh and did his best to remain serious and not be affected by it. It was like when the live studio audience laughed. You just kept going with the script and your business like they weren't even there. When you filmed movies it was the same thing. Just act like the people weren't there. Maybe River, has he got up there in age, was becoming too good at it. Seemingly unable to really bond or form a connection with anyone who wasn't a camera lens rolling on action or a good book or script.

"I do." He grunted in agreement even though Ayla was probably only joking with him. Jokes were often lost on River especially when he was in his usual 'auto pilot get through the day' type mode. "Ah. Well by then you'll be totally over this whole thing. Two days is practically an eternity." Most folks would have been joking with that statement but the actor was entirely serious. This wasn't what he wanted to be doing with his life. Serving as a clown for large groups of laughing idiots who he had never met in his entire life but who always assumed that they knew everything about him just because he played some fictional character on tv that they liked. His contract couldn't be up soon enough... Particularly since the show had such great ratings (much to his dismay) so a cancellation wasn't in the cards any time soon.

"She'll find you soon enough. Savannah always manages to." The actor explained as he held the dog close continuing to scratch her behind the ears. His back to Ayla and his full focus back on the dog he shrugged to her answer. "It's fine." Well, that had come easier than expected. "Things heal you know. It's called basic biology." There was that coldness. That defensiveness. He couldn't help it. It was engrained in him after years and years of folks taking advantage of him. River couldn't bring himself to trust anyone even a sweet, young girl. "i see that the doctor didn't find a cure for your annoying habit of trying to make friends with everybody.." Once again.. He couldn't help himself. Truth be told, deep down, he didn't even know why he could be so cruel. Self preservation most likely.

[AYLA RIVERA]

"Ah. Well by then you'll be totally over this whole thing. Two days is practically an eternity." 

She shook her head as he spoke, but decided against any further comment. What would be the point of her saying that she loved filming TV? That it felt like coming home? That movies were obviously the direction she wanted to go in, but television was where she began so it was amazing to revisit it? All of this would be lost on him. He didn't care. Somehow, part of her still wanted to say it.

"It's fine." 

An answer?

"Things heal you know. It's called basic biology." 

Ayla rolled her eyes to the ceiling. Any idea of him acting like a decent human was flushed down the drain, and she was lucky she didn't have whiplash from how quickly his mood was changing. 

"I see that the doctor didn't find a cure for your annoying habit of trying to make friends with everybody.."

She blinked then, her eyelashes fluttering as she turned her focus back on him. It was hard not to laugh again, because it was a genuinely funny comment and Ayla had a fairly thick skin, but somehow she pulled it off. Her eyes would have betrayed her if he bothered to look at them; they danced with the intrigue of a wild satisfaction.

"Nope," she replied, popping the 'p' as if to press the point. "Can't be helped, unfortunately. Chronic kindness."

A gaggle of crew suddenly swarmed her as they passed, and she stepped quickly out of their way to avoid whatever large piece of set they were carting around. It ended up pushing her closer in proximity to River, which he would hate, and so therefore she was totally fine with it. 

"Uh - right - so, uh, thanks for this, by the way," she said awkwardly, figuring now was as good of a time as any to get the formalities out of the way. She reached out and scratched the puppy's head before looking up at him. "For putting in a good word for me, I mean. I don't know why you did it, but it means a lot. Whether you like it or not."

[River Blue Ashford]

"That's too bad." Was all he could say in response shrugging his shoulders providing the stark obvious of her previous (usual) bubbly response. God, she was so like the other ladies he worked with. He prayed they would never cross paths even though chances were Ayla's scene was probably with at least one of them. Oh well. Hopefully it would wrap quickly at the very least and then they'd move onto the next thing. "Could have really come in handy and made you more bearable around here." The leading actor teased her though there was a seriousness in his voice which often graced all of his words. One could never really tell when he was joking or not. It wasn't something he did intentionally but it was as if all of the positivity had been beaten out of him by the industry and the world that came with it. Like he couldn't muscle out one smile or one bit of hope. Like all was lost already even though he still had some years left in him.

She gave him her thanks, it seemed like par for the course for the young woman being kind and all, and he did his best to keep his full attention on the puppy to keep from seeming interested or invested in what she had to say. It was easier that way. "I didn't do it." He was quick to shoot her compliment down mainly because he couldn't accept it. "I practically just recited a casting notice at you. Doesn't really take any talent or goodwill at all." He continued to metaphorically yank the rug out from under her. Sometimes it even alarmed him.. Just how distant he could be, how cruel because he didn't know any other way. "So don't worry about it I guess.."

"Blue! You're up!" Shouted a stage manager which had River standing up and passing the puppy off to Ayla without even looking at her. He walked toward the sound stage as if on autopilot and over the next forty five minutes filmed a short scene. Once action was called he was alive. He was the character. Dweeby, sweet, energetic, awkward... Everything that River wasn't (at least not what he presented). There was a reason he had the role. A reason the industry loved him on camera. He was a master. He could even turn sitcom dribble into shakespeare worth hearing. Once cut was called he returned back to where Ayla was and scratched the dog behind the ears then turned his attention on the craft services table.

"What?" He found himself trying to break the quiet between them. He had no idea why.

[AYLA RIVERA]

"I didn't do it." 

Ayla narrowed her eyes at him. There really was no way of ever knowing just which side of him you were going to get from one minute to the next, was there? 

"I practically just recited a casting notice at you. Doesn't really take any talent or goodwill at all. So don't worry about it I guess.."

She tilted her head to the side, her newly perfect waved hair bouncing with the jerked movement. 

There was absolutely no way in hell she was going to let him under her skin again. He seemed to be able to draw something out of her that she was deeply ashamed of, and yet not-so-secretly loved at the same time - it was why she never seemed to get angry enough to walk away from him. 

Releasing a low, calming breath, Ayla was startled back to the here-and-now when the puppy was suddenly shoved in her arms. Nala squirmed at first, but Ayla wrapped her arms around her and held her to her chest, doing her best to speak soothingly as River marched away to the set like a soldier into battle.

She looked around for someone to take the dog so that she could continue on to where she was originally headed, figuring River was more than finished with her, but everyone seemed busy with something important. Sighing, Ayla nestled the puppy more comfortably in her arms and scratched her neck while she watched the man at work. Luckily, she wasn't on a real timeline. 

He really was very good. More than good. As she watched him so easily fall into his character, who seemed to be the total opposite of how River was in real life, Ayla could appreciate his work on a whole new level. Obviously, she already respected him as a fellow actor (and a fan) - but now, seeing it with her own eyes made that respect grow tenfold. 

When he hopped off the set again and headed straight toward her, Ayla was smirking again. She didn't know why she bothered to continue trying to communicate through expressions with him, though, because he never seemed to actually look at her. He greeted the puppy in her arms, and she had to adjust her grip to keep Nala from leaping away in excitement.

"What?" 

"Nada," she replied with a small shrug, although it was obvious by her tone that she had so much more to say. "You're talented... that's all."

Ayla paused for a moment, her mind reeling about whether or not she should say what eventually spilled from her lips.

"Will you ever actually believe any compliment I give you?" she asked curiously.

[River Blue Ashford]

Once he had managed to put a cracker with some cheese half in his mouth he turned to Ayla and took Nala from out of her arms. Surprisingly not in a rude away, he was actually shockingly gentle about the whole thing all things considered, but he had certainly not asked for permission either. He had decided, today actually, that the dog was his and right now he wanted her back to cuddle with. River had always had a fondness for animals and when he wasn't working some of his volunteer work involved helping out at shelters including televised public service announcements. His own cat had come from a shelter. His cat was one of the reasons he was doing so well with the dog. Fee was an active cat and often very doglike in her playfulness so as Nala jerked about in his arms excitedly trying to reach the cracker sticking out of his mouth River was able to avoid her snout and mouth.

"Whatever." He shrugged was all he could think to say in reaction to her compliment. Inwardly he was kicking himself. Why couldn't he ever just be nice? This poor girl did seem like she was trying awfully hard and he gave her no reason to be so sweet but she was persisting. Ugh. No. Don't change now. What would be the point in it? "I think you need to stop worrying about how I feel and worry about yourself." He warned looking down at Nala and pressing his forehead against the fluffy dog's. He had already given into Nala though as she munched away excitedly and slobbering all over the cracker that she had managed to snag right out of his mouth. "Why does my opinion matter so much to you?" He redirected the line of questioning out of self preservation, turning to look at her with a raised brow and serious expression. Nala, for the time being, had calmed and was nuzzling against the crook of his neck and side of his face.

[AYLA RIVERA]

"I think you need to stop worrying about how I feel and worry about yourself." 

Temper, temper, Ayla.

Why couldn't she just go? Why couldn't she just call him a nasty name, turn on her heel and just go? It was the very least of what he deserved. She wasn't going to bother to spend much time thinking about this until he asked his next question.

"Why does my opinion matter so much to you?" 

"I don't know!" she answered almost immediately, her voice hushed in an attempt to hide the anger behind it. The frustration had bubbled up to the surface and past her lips before she could put a cap on it - it felt like a complete and utter failure: She'd broken character; he knew now how he was really affecting her.

She looked up and around them in order to make sure that no one was watching them, her heart thundering in her chest. 

This was not the plan. He was wriggling under her skin again, and up until this point she'd done so fairly well at keeping him out. 

"I don't know," Ayla tried a second time, and she was much more composed this go around. 

"It shouldn't. It doesn't. You just make me so..." she trailed off, words failing her for once in her life. "So... I don't know. It doesn't make sense, does it? And yet, I'm still standing here."

[River Blue Ashford]

She erupted at him and River, as always, managed to keep his cool not even raising a brow at the reaction. He could stir the pot so easily, and just as easily handle the results of his own mixing. Often times it amused him how irritable usually sweet folks could become just because he wouldn't fall prey to their usual niceties that worked on most everyone else. God bless souls like Savannah though. She kept trying much like a kid sister would. Searching for that smile and glimmer of hope that others claimed was long dead. River included. "Well, now you do and maybe you should just worry about yourself or someone else worth worrying about." He shrugged coldly, turning away from her briefly to cradle and pet Nala in his arms who was now resting her head contently on his shoulder big brown eyes looking at Ayla behind her. The puppy actually looked surprisingly content and comfortable in the arms of someone who could usually be so mean and bitter with little to no reason other than that he could.

"Maybe you're just a glutton for punishment." River commented with another care free shrug (or at least he was attempting to make it look like that to avoid forming any bond or attachment). "Maybe you should identify that about yourself and move along. You know, leave me alone?" But then who would he talk to and bother? He hadn't even been speaking much to Savannah his co-star on the very show they were filming because of her new found relationship (or whatever it was) with a certain late night host @drewlewis. Truth be told he missed that interaction. Their little talks over early morning breakfasts that they would make in his kitchen (or hers depending on which neck of the woods they were in). God was he lonely. It was becoming more evident and hurt with every passing day but still he would try to pretend that he was fine inside. That nothing was wrong. Inside he was screaming. Clawing and trying to stay afloat. But for how long.. And what would the end game be?

"Maybe you just like me..." That had been a joke. Wasn't it?

[AYLA RIVERA]

"Well, now you do and maybe you should just worry about yourself or someone else worth worrying about." 

She could see it. Of course she'd already suspected it, but despite his best efforts Ayla got a glimpse through the murky fog that hung around him. He turned quickly away from her, though, and she was simply left with the forgotten ghost of an inkling. 

"Maybe you're just a glutton for punishment." 

And now suddenly he could see her, too? That was hardly fair. He wasn't even bloody trying.

"Maybe you should identify that about yourself and move along. You know, leave me alone?" 

She should. She really should. It would be much better for her blood pressure if she walked away and never spoke to him again - but he was right. She was punishing herself if she was completely honest, and River seemed to be able to draw out a side of her that made her act about as low as she felt. 

He was dark. He was angry. Somehow, when she was around him she felt okay with being the same way. It was... familiar. A little too comfortable, in a twisted sort of way.

"Maybe you just like me..." 

"You'd never give me the chance to like you, River," she replied angrily, without taking even a moment to think about it. He was probably only teasing her, because she was beginning to believe that he tended to simply exist to do and say things just to irk her.

"Maybe you shouldn't have helped bring me here, then, hm?" she said, shaking her head to toss aside a stray lock of hair. She touched her earring, ones she never would have chosen for herself but apparently her character was way more... erm, flashy than she was, and narrowed an eye at him. "You knew there was a chance I'd run in to you. And you must have known once I did I couldn't just leave you alone." 

Ayla dropped her hands to her hips, tilting her head to the side. 

"Maybe you like me," she said, quirking an eyebrow.

[River Blue Ashford]

When she accused him of liking her, even in just the platonic sense of the word if that was her meaning, he was non-plussed. "I barely know your name so don't flatter yourself." Immediately he frowned and his eyes narrowed at her angrily. "I don't like anybody." He murmured turning away and begrudgingly setting the puppy back down on the ground. He wanted to hold her all day but at the same time didn't want to be the poor slob monopolizing her time like some greedy dude. People thought badly enough of him as is. "I don't like anybody." As ridiculous as that statement sounded he was probably the best fit for it. River made being grumpy look easy and repulsing folks to keep their distance from him came from the territory.

Sure he had dated throughout the years and sure he had friends but they were not people he paraded around like other celebrities of his stature. He liked to keep his private life private thank you very much. Keep some things sacred and out of reach from the never ending stream of vultures in the form of paparazzi. The number of his close friends could be counted on one hand too because you could never tell if somebody wanted to pal around with you because of who you were or what your bank account and status could afford them. That got messy and that freaking hurt more than anything. Yes he might pretend to be the resident a**hole but it was all out of self preservation. Out of 'been there done that and never again'. Too many sleepless nights curled up in bed crying under the covers as a young teen boy who so many depended on. Who so many used...