[h1][color=deeppink]Emilia[/color] and [color=purple]Ashley[/color][/h1]

[color=deeppink]“Ashley,”[/color] Emilia said, turning to her long time friend. If someone had told Emilia at the start of filming all those years ago that she would find one of her best friends for life on set, she never would have believed it. Yet here she was, ten years later, sitting at a table with a young woman who had indeed come to mean so much to her.

[color=deeppink]“Have I told you yet how excited I am to be working with you again?”[/color] That of course was a trick question. Both women had texted or tweeted each other about million times to share their excitement with each other (and the world) about working on the Edenridge reboot.

Ashley turned excitedly to Emilia, a grin now settling back on her face. There were only a few people she really stayed in touch with all these years and Emilia was one of them. In fact, it took a few more films and shows before they were separated. [color=purple]“Counting all the texts and tweets-”[/color] She then counted on her fingers as if to show how many she could recall off the bat.[color=purple] “- yes! I am so glad to see you again Emmy!”[/color]

[color=purple]“I’d hug you right now, but I think I’ll leave that for later.”[/color] She said while rubbing the back of her head - a habit which seems to run in the family. Ashley placed her arms on the table and leaned on it and asked, [color=purple]“So, I know we’ve been in touch, but how have you been? And how was your first shoot?”[/color]

[color=deeppink]“Getting everything to come up here was a whirlwind. I’m glad I did it though. I had one on one scenes with Destiny and your brother today. Then a small group scene with Jude and Bella. The scenes are very different from ten years ago… for one thing, you were notably missing, care to explain?”[/color]

Emilia smiled over at her friend. The story of why her scenes for the day were postponed had circulated around set, and Emilia was more than curious to know about which bout of hyperactivity had sidelined Ashley for the day. Emilia had been looking forward to shooting with Ashley. Ten years ago, their characters had limited interactions. Now though, it seemed the writers would be bringing them together as friends.

[color=purple]“I read over my brother’s script - Mike and Kaitlin, best friends… never thought that would happen.”[/color] Ashley said. She remembered how there were little to no interaction between the two, save for that part where Kaitlin actually thought Mike would be a good target and was turned down pretty quickly by the male. The writers sure did twist things up a bit. 

When the topic of her not appearing onset, she let out a nervous chuckle. [color=purple]“Well, you know…”[/color] She then took a deep breath. [color=purple]“Remember that small wall we used to sit around when we were kids? I kind of jumped it and I didn’t stick the landing. I kind of sprained my foot and the writers said that I wouldn’t act because Louis would be too prideful to show anyone that she was injured!”[/color] She ran a hand through her hair as she stopped. [color=purple]“I guess it is true though… it was a real shame. I was looking forward to acting with all of you.”[/color] Since ten years ago, a lot of things happened and everyone just got more mature and better at acting. It was too bad her scenes got postponed until a later date…

Emilia let out a good natured laugh at Ashley’s story. [color=deeppink]“Only you Ash…”[/color] she said while glancing around the table. [color=deeppink]“Heal up fast, cause I think we have a scene together later in the week.”[/color]

Most of the scripts were given out as an as needed basis, minimizing the risk of leaked plot lines. However, the call sheets with scene partners were handed out in advance so that the actors knew when and where they were expected. So far Emilia’s call sheet hadn’t changed, so she hoped that not too much would be affected by Ashley's injury.

At that moment, appetizers were delivered around the table. Emilia hadn’t realized how hungry she was until the smell of italian food  wafted to her nose. Now she couldn’t wait to dig in.

[color=purple]“T’is but a sprain Emmy, I’ll be in tip top shape by tomorrow.”[/color] Ashley assured the other girl. She had acquired far worse injuries way back. Ah, the memories of her first broken leg… Huh, that happened onset if she remembered correctly. Something about a cat stuck in a tree and she decided to go up and bring it down.

And then she couldn’t get down properly so she decided to just jump down. All her injuries were related to her jumping from high places. She was mighty glad that her scenes from back then weren’t postponed mostly because she had no scenes for the time being. Those were good memories. Sweet, sweet memories.

[color=purple]“Mhm, I can’t wait to see what Louis’s reaction would be once she finds out that Kait has a son.”[/color] She mused. When the appetizers were delivered, her smile widened. She wasn’t as hungry as Emilia was, but she was still glad that the appetizers were here. Her eyes darted towards Emilia and then to the others, obviously not having the heart to take the first pick.

Emilia’s eyes widened as she shrugged at the mention of her character’s secret child. The addition of the child to the storyline was one of the most heavily guarded plot points to the show, and even Emilia didn’t know all the details yet. Ten years ago, the show ended before fans found out whether or not Kait had been able to have the child after the trauma she suffered from the shooting. Even know, Emilia’s social media was flooding with fans asking whether or not anything would be revealed about the birth or loss of the child, and how long they would have to wait. Emilia had already met the young actor playing her son, and knew they would have scenes together very early in the season, but did not know much more than that. The producers purposely had Kait starting off in Edenridge alone to build the suspense, as if ten years of waiting by the loyal viewers hadn’t been enough.

[color=deeppink]“I mean… if my friend had a child and kept it a secret all these years, I’d be pretty pissed. I guess they weren’t that close since Kait… you know… sucked at the whole being a friend thing. I’m interested in how they will have Louis react to finding out that Mike knew about it the whole time. Enough talk about work for now though, I’m starving.”[/color]

With those last words hanging between them, Emilia straightened in her seat to reach for a piece of buttery, roasted garlic bread, no longer able to resist the pull of the fresh baked carbs.

[h1][color=deeppink]Kaitlin O'Connor[/color][/h1]

Of course of all the places to run into Logan, it would be a bar. As the seconds of awkward silence ticked by, Kait realized that he must be wondering how nothing had changed for her over the past ten years. Well, she was of legal age to drink the beer sitting in front of her, but other wise things must appear to be same old, same old. Throwing back beers to deal with whatever shit life had thrown her way. Awesome. 

Eventually, Logan did break the silence, and Kait couldn't help the slight blush that formed across the tops of her cheeks. She blamed her porcelain Irish complexion, it showed everything. Couple that with her apparently complete loss of emotional control that seemed to snap into place the moment she passed the sign welcoming her to Edenridge and ta-da, inability to hide any sort of thought or feeling from the world. Awesome again.

Luckily for her, it seemed Logan was just as uncomfortable with the whole situation as she was. She could barely contain a wince when he called her Kaitlin rather than Kait. Even when he was mad at her, he had never really called her Kaitlin that she could remember, because even when they were mad at each other, they were always still friends and her friends call her Kait. The more formal use of her name served as a reminder that whatever they had been ten years ago, they weren't anymore. Could he possibly be mad at her for leaving town ten years ago without saying goodbye? No, this was worse than mad. Mad she could handle. This seemed more like apathy towards her, barely covered by the stock grin he would toss at pretty strangers. 

[color=deeppink]“Thank you,”[/color] she said, bowing her head down momentarily in acknowledgment of the compliment. Twice in one day she had been rendered nearly speechless. Where was Elaine when she needed her? Kait always had things to say when the blond was around.

[color=deeppink]“I am well. You look well also. More grown up.”[/color] Kaitlin almost cringed at the clipped sentences coming out of her mouth. She needed her brain to work. It was just Logan, they had literally talked about everything in the past. Well, almost everything anyway. She finally found the resolve to form coherent sentences in the fact that no one could catch up on ten years worth of life in an impromptu bar conversation.

[color=deeppink]“You know what, I should get going. It's been an exhausting first day back and... nevermind. It was good to see you Logan, I really do wish you the best.”[/color]

Rising from her seat, Kaitlin placed a few bills on the bar top and turned to leave, wondering how the Hell she was going to stay in Edenridge if this was only day one.