Chapter 143 - Yes You Do

"Then I felt the problems Rick might be facing and that way I slowly got into the skin of his character and on Thursday night when I practiced I was able to do much better in that sequence, believe me when I was rehearsing that sequence, it was the toughest for me to ace in. But this really worked for me. I feel you should start thinking of yourself as Holly, you need to behave like her, act like her, try doing that for a week and maybe we can see if there is any improvement by this friday."

"Wow you are talking like a professional actor."

"Hey, I am a professional actor."

"Not yet"

"Heyy"

"But I really like your advice, I think you have a good point there. I'll try to think and behave more like Holly."

"Yes let's practice all the scenes now, I'll imagine Holly and enact Rick's scenes, you observe me and note what I need to do differently and then you do the same and I'll make notes." Jimmy suggested and she agreed to it.

For the next few hours they all practiced their scenes then a pizza boy came to deliver pizzas for them.

Amanda called everyone and there were enough boxes for all the cast and crew. Then she paid the delivery guy.

"Oh god why did you order for all of us, we could just split the money." Leo made a suggestion as he understood how much it must have cost Amanda to order for all of them.

"Chill Leo, we have sponsors for this play and they are the ones paying for costumes, food, props, this theater rent etc, so don't worry and eat as much as you want, there is enough for everyone and did you all think I would let my actors and crew pay for their own food."

Everyone got happy and they all happily indulged in food. 

After dinner they all again went back to their practice, Leo and Zoey were trying to perfect their opening scenes, Megan and Jimmy were rehearsing their scenes at the back of the audience room.

Amanda discussed with her assistant about the finances and glanced at the back where Jimmy and Megan too were rehearsing seriously, she felt very happy that her actors were serious about their roles and were as passionate about this play as she was.

After a few more hours Amanda called it a day.

"Everyone still looks fresh instead of tired." Amanda commented seeing the four actors' fresh faces whereas she herself and her crew were super tired.

"Yeah because it didn't feel like work, when you like something, you'll never get tired of it." Jimmy explained the reason why he was still fresh.

"Seconded." Leo added.

The other two women nodded at them.

"That's wonderful to know and if we guys keep working like this, we all will be well prepared in two weeks."

Everyone smiled at her and after saying goodbye they left.

Ronald was waiting outside the theater as Megan messaged him twenty minutes back that she would be done soon.

As soon as Ronald saw Megan come out he went to her and gave her a long kiss.

Jim, Leo, Amanda and Zoey felt awkward but since they are a couple and it is common for them to see people make out in public they ignored them and went ahead.

Megan broke the kiss and glared at him, "How many times have I told you don't kiss me in public." she softly shouted at him as she didn't want others to hear them but she was very angry with Ronald's behavior.

"Hey I am your boyfriend, do I need your permission to kiss you."

Before Megan could say anything, they heard a guy speak, "Yes you do" 

Megan and Ronald turned around to look at the source of the voice and they were surprised to see Leo.

He looked angry, Jimmy too didn't like Ronald's behavior but he prefers minding his own business but when he saw Leo glaring at Ronald he patted Leo's shoulder asking him to calm down.

Amanda and Zoey already left so they didn't witness this scene.

"Excuse me, please mind your own business." Ronald got annoyed with Leo.

"Don't you dare be rude to my colleague." Megan was not ready to take shit from Ronald and Leo stood up for her so she couldn't let Ronald insult him.

"Megan..." Ronald wanted to shout at her but he remembered the 5000 Pounds, he got worried if she will ask him for money if she gets angry so he decided to calm himself down first.

"I am sorry" He apologized to Megan and Leo.

Megan was surprised by this sudden change and Leo looked indifferent.

"If you are really sorry then don't you dare be rude to Megan again" Leo warned him.

Jimmy was surprised seeing Leo so angry, he never thought this guy could ever get angry, he looked calm, shy and soft spoken and now he suddenly looked aggrieved.

"Yeah I won't be, I was just in a bad mood." Ronald awkwardly explained himself.

Megan was surprised by sudden change in Ronald's behavior, she knew him well and he was not someone to apologize so quickly but she was happy as he was respecting her colleague instead of creating a scene.

"Leo, Jimmy, this is Ronald, my boyfriend. Ronald this is Jimmy and that is Leo, they are my colleagues."

She introduced the three guys to each other.

Leo didn't greet him well but to lessen the awkwardness Jimmy extended his hand and smiled at Ronald.

Ronald too shook his hand.

"So which roles do you two play?" Ronald was not interested at all but he had to make Megan happy so he tried to show some interest.

"Leo is the main lead and Jimmy is the second main lead, he will be the one who will play my on-stage husband." Megan excitedly informed him.

She was very happy that Ronald was taking an interest in her life.

Ronald suddenly started laughing, "Oh he is the guy playing that gay role?" He asked, pointing at Jimmy.

Megan got very angry at Ronald's behavior, "Hey as an actor it is a great opportunity to play different roles, you have no right to make fun of him" she warned Ronald but she felt embarrassed to face Jimmy.

Jim smiled at Ronald and didn't mind his words at all, when he decided to audition for this role he already prepared himself to face the criticism that might come his way, "Chill Megan, it is Mr. Ronald's opinion and you can't expect everyone to act the way you want right, it is absolutely fine." He explained with a smile, he could see Megan was embarrassed so he tried to lighten the mood, he doesn't want them to have awkwardness between them for such silly reasons and especially because of him.

"But he still has no right to insult you like that, if he has an opinion he can keep it to himself, we didn't ask him to share it with us." Leo again glared at Ronald, it was obvious he hates that guy.

"Dude chill" Leo was surprising Jimmy but Jim didn't want to create a scene so he tried to calm him down.

"Okay guys it was a long day, see you tomorrow, good night." Jimmy wished Megan and Ronald and took Leo with him.

After sitting in the car and after driving a few meters Jimmy finally asked Leo, the thing that was on his mind, "Dude what happened earlier? Why did you react like that?"

"Couldn't you see how rude that guy was, Megan deserves better." Leo spouted in anger.

"It was not about Megan,something about Ronald triggered you." Jimmy seriously shared his observation and Leo looked at him in surprise as what Jimmy said was indeed true. 

"Yeah Ronald just remembered me of…"

"Of?"

"Of…" Leo couldn't complete the statement.

"Hey Leo, if you are not comfortable, it is okay, you don't need to talk about it. I understand."

"Thanks Jim"

"Chill bro, tell me how was it working with Zoey?" Jimmy decided to change the topic.

"She is an amazing actress dude but when we are not rehearsing she is not friendly at all, but it is okay, I also prefer being professional."

"How was Megan?" Leo asked Jim

"She is a good actress and we already became friends, I thought she would hate me but luckily that didn't happen."

"Why would she hate you?" Leo was curious to know.

"Okay so it is a funny story, yesterday…" Jimmy then shared his and Megan's first encounter with Leo.

Leo got out of his sullen mood and laughed a lot, "That 20 Pounds was epic." Leo said between his laughs.

"I know right."

"It is nice indeed that Megan doesn't hate you after what you did." Leo now agreed with Jim's earlier statement.

Then they chit-chatted for some time and they reached Leo's home, after dropping him Jim went to his house.