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You’ve been a member of Legz Akimbo for a few months now, after Ollie basically gave you a free pass to join (well, hardly a ‘free pass’ since you still had to audition, but he likes to act as though he’s doing his ‘dear childhood friend’ a favour). The only reason you haven’t quit by now is because quitting during the midst of the rehearsal progress would send Ollie into a rage (not that it’s a particularly rare occurrence).
Well, that wasn’t the only reason…
OK, you weren’t proud of it. But you and Ollie have been around each other for a long time, it wasn’t that unusual for… certain feelings to arise. Besides, there was no way he’d actually like you back… right?
Ultimately, you couldn’t decide whether you wanted to know the answer or not.
**********************************************
“Are you sure?”
You roll your eyes a little at Phil’s criticism, if it was anyone else then you’d tell them where to stick it. Phil has ‘best friend’ privileges. It’s different.
“I can’t help who I’m into, Phil. And trust me, it’s a lot harder for me to believe than you.”
“I’m not usually one to judge people’s types, god knows I’ve been faced with enough of that, but… Ollie?!”
Sighing to yourself, you look at yourself in the mirror. You try not to laugh as you see what you look like. Trying on old costumes, looking for ones that fit the production, was always a laugh. Especially when you got to see Phil wearing a clown costume. Not that you can talk, he wasn’t the one dressed as a giant banana.
“Wow,” he teases “you could turn a man straight!”
“Fuck off!” You laugh.
“Oh alright, guess I’ll fuck off. And I won’t tell you that your little crush may or may not be reciprocated.”
That struck you completely dumb, much to the amusement of Phil.
“Well, I don’t know for sure. But I see the way he looks at you. You never know.”
You don’t say anything, but you can’t help but ponder what he’d said. Did Ollie really feel the same? Was that even possible?
Before you could think about it any further, Ollie and Dave enter bickering. Well, more like Ollie was berating him, and Dave was trying to escape by speed-walking away.
“I’m absolutely not wearing it!”
“You absolutely are!” Ollie insists, thrusting a costume packet into his hands “Everyone else is pulling their weight, you have enough of it. Go on!”
Dave huffs as he went behind some railings.
That’s when you and Ollie made eye-contact.
And there was a look.
Somewhat unreadable, yet it caused something inside you to stir. Maybe Phil was right. Maybe there was something there. Something you couldn’t describe.
You watched him look over at those railings, and his face contorts into a smug look. Like a greedy cat that’s cheated its way into a bowl of fresh cream. His arms are folded.
“How are you feeling, Dave?”
Phil was shooting daggers into Ollie, but you were focused on Dave. Safe to say, he’s probably the grumpiest vampire you’ve ever seen. Not that you can blame him, that costume couldn’t have costed more than a tenner – and that was being generous.
Dave tried to talk, then took out his fangs with a frustrated groan before trying again.
“Why do we even have this? When have we ever needed a vampire costume?”
“Nah,” Phil interjects with a laugh “girls love vampires. Walk down Soho and you’ll pull. Guaranteed.”
“Shut up!” Dave retorts, a smile forming on his lips “I look like a kid in dress-up!”
That makes them both laugh, which makes you do the same. Daves has the sort of laugh that’s infectious. Like a cold, but a cold that you don’t mind catching. An invitation, perhaps, is a better word. Yes. Dave’s laugh is an invitation. “Come and have a laugh with me!”
You saw Ollie’s face turn into a slight scowl, which Phil instantly picks up on.
“What’s eating you, Ollie?”
“He’s probably just tired,” you say, “we’ve been here for hours!”
“Don’t I know it!” Dave pipes up “You coming to get a drink with us?”
The offer is tempting but seeing Ollie so sad tugs at you a little.
“Maybe another day?” You go to Ollie’s side, patting his shoulder “It’s getting a bit late.”
Ollie’s slightly surprised, as are the others, but nobody kicks up a fuss.
After everyone’s changed back, and Dave’s left with Phil, you’re left in the room with Ollie.
“OK,” you turn to him “what’s going on?”
“Don’t know what you’re on about.”
“You were getting huffy.” You joke “I know you, I know when you’re feeling down.”
“I told you I’m fine!” He snaps.
You sigh, unlike the others, you’ve seen this side of Ollie enough times to know how to deal with his moods.
“Look, we can drop it? You can come over if you like, we can watch a movie and laugh at the shit acting.”
This puts a slight smile on his face, the way to Ollie’s heart, as you know, is through his ego. And what better way to appease that by giving him a chance to think, once again, that he’s the best thing since sliced bread.
“Alright fine, crap movies it is!”
You put an arm around him and left, already thinking about what you could watch together. The exhaustion was starting to ware off, the promise of a movie night with snacks being enough to put you in a good mood.
**********************************************
Text Conversation: You and Phil
<So how r things?>
>Alright I guess, he’s falling asleep<
<RIIIIIIIIIIP>
<What were u guys watching?>
>We watched the IT Crowd, then switched to What We Do In The Shadows for a bit<
<How tf do u fall asleep to WWDITS?>
>Idk!<
>Apart from that disrespect, how did it go?<
<It went alright>
<Tbh, I kept thinking about what u said>
>About Ollie’s little crush?<
>I’m not a mind reader, idk if I’m right. I just know what I saw<
<Ik>
<Just didn’t expect it, he’s impossible to decipher>
<I think he’s in a bad mood tbh, might b better next week>
>U gonna kick him out then?<
<No, that’s mean!! He can sleep here>
>How generous of u xD<
<Fuck u lmao>
**********************************************
“Are you sure you don’t need a hand there?”
“No, Phil, this is a man’s job!”
“Last time I checked, I’m also a man.”
“Could’ve fooled me with your dye-job!”
Dave looks over from where you two are sat, watching Phil and Ollie onstage as they look, perplexed, at a box full of props. He leans into you.
“How long have they been at it?”
“About 10 minutes now.”
“Are you as embarrassed as I am?”
“A little, but it’s also kinda funny.”
Ollie’s eyes dart over to you, and he realises you’re staring. He then swats Phil away with his hands, then lifts the box himself.
Well, he tries to.
He really… really tries to.
His face goes red with how hard he’s trying. It gets to the point where it gets a little bit unfortunate.
“Ollie?” You say tentatively “Do you need a hand?”
“No,” he strains “I’m… doing great. Doesn’t even hurt!”
“This isn’t impressing anyone, especially not- “
“Shut up, Phil!”
That’s when Dave taps your shoulder and motions for you to head over to the stage with him. The pair of you head over.
“You get one side,” he tells you “I’ll get the other.”
You both stand either side of Ollie and take hold of the box.”
“1, 2, 3, UP!”
The box is hoisted with little effort, and Ollie scurries to the edge of the stage. You and Dave move the props off into the wings and throw it down. Anyone would think you two had just completed a marathon, the way he high-fives you and pulls you into a tight hug.
“That’s what I’m talking about!” He laughs triumphantly “Heavy-weight champions of Royston Vasey!”
You roll your eyes fondly at his antics, met with the pleasant scent of his cologne as you hug him back.
“When you two are done making out backstage,” snaps a bitter Ollie “we have work to do!”
“We were doing nothing of the sort!” Dave says as he walks over to Phil.
As they run lines, you look over at Ollie.
“Ollie-“
“No, I know, I was exaggerating.”
That shocked you. Was this Ollie Plimsolls… admitting he was wrong?
“But really, Dave shouldn’t be so touchy-feely. It’s completely unprofessional.”
Ah. Nevermind.
“You need to rest,” you say gently, taking his hands in yours “it feels like you’re non-stop these days!”
“I have to be! I’m writing, directing, the lead actor, I’m also produci- “
“Exactly! And that’s all the more reason for you to have a night off!” You wrap an arm around him and pull him into your side “Tell you what, let’s do something nice. Could head over to Luigi’s.”
That causes Ollie’s eyes to widen slightly, pink colouring his cheeks delicately.
“Are you asking me out?”
You don’t reply for a moment. Could this be the start of something? If Phil was right, and Ollie felt the same… maybe this was the start of something. This could be the beginning. The thought makes you smile.
“OK then, it’s a date.”
The way that daylight breaks on Ollie’s face makes you slightly giddy.
**********************************************
You stare down at your plate, twirling spaghetti with your fork. Maybe, if you pretend you’re small enough, you can disappear to a magical land where Ollie Plimsolls isn’t giving some poor waiter an earful for bringing him the wrong type of water.
“I don’t know how you mistake still water for sparkling, those two flavours couldn’t be further from each other!”
Shaking your head, you decide to turn your attention to the view outside the window. At least the moon looked nice tonight, a slight crescent joined by a few little stars.
At least you could people-watch, and what better way to hide from an awkward situation than watching everyone else pass by.
A well-dressed woman walked, arm-in-arm, with a blond man; both of them were engaged in what looked to be an entertainingly witty conversation. Two men walked past with their arms full of books, the stubbly one walking slightly ahead. Like something out of Greek mythology.
Once they passed, there was a couple you recognise relatively well. An odd pair, a slightly nerdy guy and his edgy boyfriend. A strange duo, but one that enjoyed each other’s company.
Yes… enjoying each other’s company.
You look over at Ollie, who is now being escorted out, and sighed. There isn’t any hate in your heart for him, you just wish this was easier. Being his friend, caring about him the way you did, all you want is for it to be simpler. Instead of feeling like you’re treading on eggshells, you want it to feel like the summer breeze that people so often compare love to.
“Excuse me,” the waiter turns to you “I’m afraid you’ve been asked to-“
“Yeah,” you stand up, not wanting to cause a fuss “I know. Thank you for the meal.”
You pay for the pair of you, then make your way back. Once you’re far away enough, you reach for your phone and text Phil. Ollie’s shouting falling on your deaf ears.
<Do u wanna go mental tonight?>
**********************************************
You and Ollie haven’t spoken for weeks since the incident. It’s not unwarranted, you weren’t going to sit around and pretend that you were OK with how that “date” (if you could call it that) went down. No. You don’t deserve to pretend you’re naïve. This was not on you.
Phil, bless him, was handling it well. But that’s just him, equal parts supportive and blunt. “You can be upset with him,” he’d said “but try not to bring it into rehearsals. Keep it out of the room, it’ll make things a lot easier”. It was also nice to hang out with him and his boyfriend for a bit, when Tish wasn’t hanging off his arm.
Speaking of Phil, he’s just got off the phone to his agent, sorting out another acting gig. Dave is off fixing a prop, and you’re flicking through your script. The words are all jumbling though, you aren’t exactly in the mindset for-
“Does anyone,” Ollie’s shrill voice pierced the air as he burst into the room “want to tell me why some people,” he glares pointedly at you, before addressing the rest of the room “have decided to ignore me all day?”
“Vow of silence?” Sneered Phil.
“Well, I think it’s entirely unprofessional.”
That was when Dave jumps to his feet, folding his arms with a glare.
“D’ya wanna know what’s unprofessional?” He said, a disgusted look on his face “Causing a scene in a restaurant because a waiter didn’t give you your sparkling water, then making your date pay for the meal because you were took busy being kicked out like a 5 year old!”
“How dare you- “
“I’m not a baby, Ollie, I’m allowed to have an opinion. And my opinion is that you’re acting like a spoiled brat!”
With that, Dave is gone. And Phil runs after him, leaving you and Ollie.
You’re met with conflicting feelings. Hurt and anger, but the ever-settled knowledge that this is your closest friends. The person you’ve spent a good portion of your life with. The two of you have seen the best, and worse, of each other. Despite everything, that’s still your childhood friend.
“About… Luigi’s…”
You put a hand on your hip and stare at him blankly, not wanting to reveal any of what you’re feeling.
“I didn’t mean to lash out.” Ollie continued “The anger just gets the better of me, and when people don’t know how to follow a simple task… I just see red. And believe me, I didn’t want to behave like that. Especially not in front of you.”
He walks towards you, going to reach for your hands. But he pauses, opting to hold you gently by the shoulders.
“I…”
“Yes?”
“… I really like you. I don’t know, I guess that night gave me a realisation. I realised that I’ve liked you as, well, more than a friend for a long time.” He puts his arm around you “We can figure this out, right?”
You look at him. Something clicks in your head, and you smile.
“That night… I realised something to.”
Without breaking the assured look on your face, you remove yourself from Ollie’s hold and leave the room.
**********************************************
You’re sat on the floor in an empty rehearsal room, wondering how things can get any worse. Probably by the roof caving in which, judging by the quality of the scaffolding, wasn’t entirely off the cards. Thankfully, the silence was comforting, if slightly short-lived by the sound of familiar voices outside. Dave and Phil seemed to be caught in an attempt to keep quiet.
“Go on, say something!”
“Maybe it’s best to- “
“No, no! You’re not chickening out of this, what’s the worst that could happen?”
“I could end up making things worse?”
“Yeah, well it’s better than standing outside like a knob! Go on!”
“OK, OK!”
The sound of Phil walking off is what you hear next, followed by the door opening.
“Dave?”
“It was a one-in-three chance, good job!” he says lightly as he sits down next to you “So, I assume Ollie apologised?”
“I guess…” you sigh, slumping against his shoulder in exasperation “it’s impossible to talk to him sometimes.”
“Just sometimes?”
You share a laugh, and the air eases. It really is a gift that Dave’s been blessed with, the ability to make someone believe that, even in a crapsack town like Royston Vasey, there was a glimmer of happiness that could be dragged out from the rubble. He just had a way of making things feel manageable, making problems feel that little bit less catastrophic.
“You two will sort it out, you always do.”
You shake your head.
“I don’t think we will this time. It’s been one time too many. I’m always picking up his pieces, it’s not fair.”
“Damn right!” Dave wraps an arm around your shoulder, rubbing it gently “I’m sorry for not doing anything sooner. Not sure what good it would’ve done, but I could’ve tried- “
“Not with Ollie.” You let out a hollow chuckle “There’s no cracking that shell. Believe me, I’ve tried.”
The two of you sit in silence, and you feel yourself warming up slightly. At first, you put it down to the physical closeness between the two of you. But then you actually look at the person you’re sat with. Dave Parkes, with his kind eyes and comforting smile. His laugh and effortless wit, the way he somehow always knows what to say and his talent. It doesn’t matter what Ollie Plimsolls mutters under his breath, Dave was one hell of a talent.
And, you have to admit, one hell of a friend.
Maybe… he could be a lot more beyond that.
“I’m glad you were the one to find me here, Dave.”
“Well, anything’s better than Ollie-“
“No.” You shuffle slightly, resting a hand on his knee “I’m glad you found me.”
A soft pink blossomed on his face, and you can’t help but chuckle. He pats your hand and his smile widens.
“I’m glad I found you too. Um, not that I’m happy you’re sad, but… y’know, I’m glad you’re OK.”
Then there’s that moment.
Eye contact that lasted maybe a second or two, but stretched far beyond where you were. If time weren’t so cruel as to carry on, the pair of you would have stay there for far longer.
Dave broke it first, standing up and holding out his hand.
“Come on, Phil’s not gonna want to suffer Ollie’s wrath on his own.”
You take his hand and he helps you up, your fingers lingering ever so slightly. Neither of you mention it as you leave the room.
**********************************************
It was quite sweet that Dave offered to walk you home, despite how near you lived. Seeing him practically swoop in to cut Ollie off before he could offer did give you a sick sense of schadenfreude.
As the darkened sky blanketed the town, you find yourselves flipping effortlessly between conversations. You don’t realise how much you’ve walked until you find yourself outside of your own front door.
You take the keys out of your pocket and open it, stepping inside and waiting in the doorway.
“So,” Dave says “show next week. How are you feeling?”
“It’s gonna be as good as the others.” You smile, already dreading it “I’m just glad Legz Akimbo isn’t just me!”
“Feeling’s mutual!”
Again, you laugh.
Then there’s that moment again.
Dave presses the pads of his fingers together and looks down, before looking back up at you.
“I… should probably get off your porch, right?”
“Could stay a bit more.”
That clearly takes him aback, and he lets out a nervous puff of laughter.
“Really?”
“Sure, I’ve got a lot of Yorkshire tea to get through.”
“Oh, now you’re speaking my language!”
And he smiled.
And that’s all it takes.
You step away from the doorway and take his face in your hands, pressing your lips against his firmly. For a moment, you feel his body go tense, and you wonder if this was a bad idea, but then you feel strong hands on your upper arms and all of that uncertainty melts. As your arms move around his neck, you feel Dave smile against your mouth – and that just makes your stomach flutter even more.
It's you that pulls away first, feeling his lips linger slightly. Your arms don’t move from around his neck. You two just grin at each other giddily, your hearts synchronize at about a million miles an hour.
“So,” Dave says breathily “can I still come in?”
“How could I refuse?”
You take his hand and lead him inside, closing the door on the cold world behind you both.