Chapter Five
AFTER SOME HEFTY growing pains, Jeremy finally understands why so many jaded crew members still love working in the film industry: the paycheck.
Two weeks in and his bank account Friday morning had nearly made him faint.
He honestly couldn’t remember the last time he saw that many zeros in his savings account.
Everyone is expecting today will be easy with daytime dependent shots, the weather nice and all the crew in good spirits.
Jeremy’s feeling a little lighter himself, his workload easy - babysit Haukea all day.
He sits in his saddle atop of Kau with Haukea’s reins in his hand, watching the production film from a distance.
Enjoying a butterfly fluttering by, Jeremy notices Clark and Aubrey walking towards him. Haukea shuffles her hooves, excited at the sight of Clark, and Jeremy cools her down, “Woah, girl.”
“How are you guys doing over here?” Aubrey asks.
“Mighty fine. Yourself?” Jeremy answers.
Clark doesn’t look at Jeremy as he climbs up on Haukea and takes the reins, Aubrey still talking, “Not bad. For once. Anyway, Clark has some time and he wants to hang out with his horse before his next set up. But Haukea will be in the scene with him then - one sixteen bravo. Copy?”
“Copy that,” Jeremy nods. But Aubrey’s already walking away, waving her hand in the air as a goodbye while saying something into her walkie.
“Morning,” Clark greets once they’re alone.
“It’s past noon,” Jeremy points out.
“It’s an industry thing,” Clark informs him, “On set, you say ‘morning’ no matter the time until it’s after lunch.”
Jeremy shakes his head, training his eye on the butterfly making its rounds, “That’s not a thing.”
“It so is. Ask anyone!”
Jeremy’s not convinced, shaking his head, “You ain’t gonna make a fool outta me.”
“Well, you don’t need my help with that.”
Jeremy reaches over as quickly as he can and is able to slap Clark’s arm. The actor yelps out melodramatically, “Ow! That really hurt!”
“Shut up,” Jeremy pretends he’s not amused.
“You’re so mean,” Clark pouts and then in another breath asks, “Can I bum a cig?”
Sighing, Jeremy pulls out his case and tells him, “You really gotta start buying your own.”
“But then I won’t get to ask you for yours,” Clark bats his eyelashes at Jeremy.
The expression makes his heart patter as he hands a cigarette over. Frustratingly, Jeremy’s encounter with Merle had little alleviation on his crush on Clark. He pulls out Jeremy’s zippo but Jeremy doesn’t ask for it back, secretly liking the idea of Clark carrying around something of his.
“So,” Clark exhales smoke, “Excited to put in some more hours on Sunday?”
Clark is referring to the practice run production wants them to do over the weekend.
It’s mandatory in order to prepare for the upcoming beach scene.
They’re supposed to meet at the ranch’s private beach on Sunday with the rest of the horse wranglers to race the thoroughbreds across the shore.
Jeremy is sarcastic as he replies, “Thrilled.”
“At least we have all of tomorrow off,” Clark points out, continuing, “Did you hear? Eneki’s taking some of the cast and crew snorkeling tomorrow.”
“Yeah, he invited me,” Jeremy decides to light his own cigarette with matches from the resort, “I don’t think I’ll go though.”
“Makes sense, I can’t really imagine you swimming with the little fishes.”
“Thanks?” Jeremy’s confused by the comment.
“Just an observation,” Clark sips at the cig more, steadying a restless Haukea before casually adding, “The owner of Kualoa Ranch is giving me and some of the other big wigs a private tour of the ranch tomorrow on horseback. Want to come?”
Heart in his throat, Jeremy is careful to keep his face relaxed as he accepts the invitation, “Sounds cool.”
“Great,” Clark looks away, tacking on, “And afterwards we’ll grab dinner and drinks.”
“Oh, I can’t,” Jeremy clears his throat, “I have plans later.”
“Pfft, okay. Yeah, sure,” Clark blows him off, thinking Jeremy’s joking, and continues on, “I’ll make reservations at-”
“No, really,” Jeremy insists, looking over to Clark, “I’m busy tomorrow night. But I can do the riding tour.”
“Uh, can’t you just reschedule whatever it is? What could be more important than hanging out with me?” Clark huffs, putting out his cigarette.
Looking away, Jeremy sucks in a good amount of tobacco before answering him as casually as he can, “I have a date.”
“No you don’t,” Clark laughs.
“Believe what you want.”
“Okay, say you do,” Clark muses, “What about Barry, hm?”
Jeremy sighs, “I told you, Barry and I are casual. I haven’t even talked to him in over a week.”
There’s no response from Clark so Jeremy looks over. Clark’s just staring at him, brow furrowed. Jeremy instinctually shuffles Kau away a couple paces, asking defensively, “What?”
“Nothing,” Clark looks away, “So. Who’s your date?”
Not feeling completely out of the weeds yet, Jeremy hesitates in answering him but tells the truth anyway, “A surfer I met.”
Clark lets out a big laugh at that, shaking his head.
Losing his temper, Jeremy spits out, “Why are you being such a dick?”
“That’s my line,” Clark bites back, “You know what? Just forget about tomorrow.”
“So just-”
The first assistant director calls for quiet on set, silence falling over the production while filming and forcing Clark and Jeremy’s argument to be put on hold. They both seethe during the prolonged silence, refusing to look at the other.
“That’s a cut,” the first AD calls over the radio on Jeremy’s belt.
He wastes no time jumping right back to where he was, “So just because I’m going on a date, we can’t hang out at all?”
“Exactly,” Clark kicks Haukea into a trot.
“Why?” Jeremy calls after him, “Why are you mad at me?”
“Figure it out!” Clark shouts as the first AD calls for quiet on set again, going for another take. Mood soured, Jeremy watches Clark ride away without so much as a glance backward.
Another beautiful day in paradise, Jeremy somberly watches it from the comfort of his suite.
He’s been bed rotting while obsessing over what could have set Clark off.
Likely he’s just an ego maniac that throws a fit whenever the attention is taken off of him.
But another more insidious idea has taken form in Jeremy’s mind: maybe Clark reciprocates some of Jeremy’s feelings.
As farfetched as the notion seems, Jeremy can’t help but entertain the train of thought.
If Clark did have some sort of attraction for him, then perhaps he had been expecting something to happen at dinner after the tour.
That would make sense for why he was so upset when Jeremy put his date with Merle as the priority.
All that was said and done now though; Clark’s off strutting Haukea through a gorgeous landscape without him. But, if his theory is true, then Jeremy has to really consider what he wants. Of course his crush is strong and lasting, but Jeremy’s careful not to mix that up with his true intentions.
Clark is messy. He’s reactionary, impulsive, and self absorbed.
The king of Willmaker Ranch. And he’s in the midst of a divorce to an equally high profile person.
But above all else, he broke Jeremy’s heart when they were younger.
He can’t leave himself vulnerable to the chance of Clark hurting him again.
Jeremy’s phone buzzes and he steadies his pulse as he slowly reaches for it. A message from Merle, “Hey. We still on tn?”
In such low spirits, Jeremy considers canceling after all. But then again, he deserves to get laid. He can shake himself out of this funk for some good dicking, remembering how hot last weekend had been. He types out, “Yeah. What time were you thinking?”
Merle doesn’t reply for ten minutes, and when he does the text reads, “9?”
Jeremy sends, “K”
Responding nearly immediately, Merle says, “Let’s meet up at our spot”
“On the beach?” Jeremy writes back.
Merle simply reacts to Jeremy’s message with a heart emoji. He figures that’s the end of that text exchange, looking at the clock and calculating how much time he has before the date. An extended shower and prep session won’t hurt him, and he has time to swing by a pharmacy for an enema.
That’s exactly what he does, walking to the nearest CVS and enjoying the tropical stroll along the way.
When he gets back, Jeremy steams up the bathroom and landscapes every inch of his body.
It’s been far too long for Jeremy since he’s gotten a solid lay, eager for Merle’s well endowed member to provide him some much needed relief.
By the time it’s a quarter to nine, Jeremy’s fussing over his hair for a final time.
He’s not really sure what to wear to the beach, not owning swimwear, so he just goes with a pressed pair of jeans and a crisp pearl snap that’s color makes his eyes pop.
Hoping he’s not too dressed up, he decides to trust his gut and heads down to the beach entrance.
He tries his key card on the gate and is pleased to see it works, not having to hop any fences tonight.
The ocean sneaks up on him, the repetitive sound of waves crashing so ever present that he forgets the source is so close.
The blackened shoreline expands beyond him, walking along in the pale moonlight.
Some people are still enjoying the beach quietly, but Jeremy is looking out for Merle.
Then, in the distance, Jeremy thinks he spots the director of the movie, Rezai.
Not knowing if he should be caught at the Four Seasons or not, the director is walking toward him regardless.
As he gets closer, he lifts his sunglasses into his long hair and pushes back his sweater’s hood.
Greeting Jeremy with a smile, Merle says, “Hey, what’s up? You look like you just saw a ghost.”
Jeremy shakes himself out of his stupor, saying, “Sorry. You seriously looked like somebody else for a second.”
“You expecting another hot date?” Merle smirks.
That tugs a grin out of Jeremy, replying, “Just the one.”