As I walked through the crowded restaurant, I could see the group of my co-workers were settled at a table by the back.
Josh noticed me first.
"Hey Laurie!"
I grinned and walked over to the table.
Josh, Charlie, Mandy, the Key Grip Tommy and his girlfriend Linda were seated around the large oak table.
They began scooting over to make room for me to sit down.
"She actually came to hang out with us-- I'm astounded!" Josh said jokingly.
I laughed to myself.
"Where's Aaron?" Mandy asked cheerfully only to stop before going further when she saw the look on my face. My expression told her that now was not the time to talk about Aaron.
She nodded in understanding and turned to Josh, "So who all is coming?"
"Who knows? I always extend the invite and am never sure who is actually going to show up -- I think Hayden and Kaylen may be coming...." Josh said.
Mandy looked at me knowingly and I diverted my eyes to the drink menu.
She needs to let that go, I thought. It's totally ridiculous.
"Nah, Hayden's a homebody," Charlie said. "I haven't seen him out since we got here."
"Nah - there was that one time, when we first got here - he got drunk and fell down the front steps at Lucky's," Josh said chuckling.
Charlie nodded with a smile, remembering Hayden's clumsy behavior.
"So, did you all know each other before this shoot?" I asked Josh and Charlie.
"We'd all met in passing," Josh said. "Hayden and I are fellow Canucks -- and of course, the three of us were all up for Anakin Skywalker."
I nodded - I hadn't been aware of that.
"So, mainly we've been bitter rivals until now," Charlie said, his accent not betraying his tongue-in-cheek tone.
Josh grinned, "Yeah, these are my boys. We have all had a blast here...it will be a shame when the film wraps."
I nodded -- the truth was, I had really come to know a lot of the people on the shoot and it was like an extended family. It would be difficult to say goodbye to everyone when filming wrapped in a few months.
Mandy's attention was diverted to the door. Josh noticed and followed her gaze.
"Well, look who it is!" Josh exclaimed, standing up.
I turned to see Kaylen and Hayden walking toward the table. Kaylen met my eyes and gave me a warm smile and a wave. Hayden was behind her, looking sheepish until he broke out a grin at Josh.
"Hey man," Hayden replied, shaking hands with Josh.
"Now, this definitely deserves a round of drinks -- we have both Laurie and Hayden hanging out with us!" Charlie said, laughing.
I looked down, laughing lightly and looked up to see Hayden watching me.
He gave only the smallest of smiles and returned his attention to Charlie. "Well man, ya know-- when I'm working....its hard to get me out sometimes," Hayden said.
"Yeah - he's a hermit," Kaylen said with a smirk to which Hayden only rolled his eyes.
We began scooting around the large table again to allow room for them to sit down.
I was now sitting between Charlie and Kaylen in the tight space around the table.
Hayden was sitting between Mandy and Kaylen and on Mandy's other side was Josh.
Mandy and Hayden began chatting about one of the scenes that was going to be shot tomorrow.
Kaylen turned to me, "So how are you?"
She and I chatted for a bit about her college, what she planned to do back in Toronto and her boyfriend.
"Do you have a boyfriend?" she asked lightly.
"Well, in a manner of speaking - yes....but, we're kind of arguing at the moment," I replied.
I didn't want to delve too deep into personal issues here at the table.
Kaylen merely nodded in understanding.
The waitress came by and we ordered another round of drinks.
Mandy called across the table to me, "let's take a shot together!"
I made a face that I wasn't too sure about that until Charlie started egging us on.
"Aww, c'mon - just a drink -- since you're out with us!"
I laughed - "a shot is a little different than a drink."
"Nah, one will be fine," Josh replied, taking a sip of his beer.
So, it began.
One shot turned into three and a mixed drink.
We were all laughing and having a good time.
I could've sworn at one point that I saw Kaylen try to subtly elbow Hayden in the side and motion in my direction but I ended up blaming it on the alcohol.
After a while, I needed to excuse myself to the restroom.
I stood up as Charlie let me out of that side of the booth and I made my way to the side of the restaurant.
When I came out of the restroom, Hayden was standing by the door, leaning against the wall.
"Are you okay?" I asked him.
He looked down at me, "Yeah-- are you okay?"
I nodded.
"I didn't know if you were sick in there," Hayden replied.
"Oh no," I said with a smile. "Too much more and I could be though."
Hayden laughed softly. "Yeah, I think I've had enough too."
I was amazed - as short of a semi-conversation as this was, it was still the most he and I had spoken about well, anything.
"Well, its cool that you came to hang out," Hayden said softly, his eyes shifting from the ground to meet mine.
I smiled, "Yeah, I thought I'd come and socialize with everyone." I was silent for a second. "So, I guess you don't hang out with them that often either?"
"Not so much," Hayden said. "I kind of lose my taste for the nightlife while I'm working -- I get really concentrated on my work...it kind of takes over temporarily," Hayden said.
"Yeah, I know exactly what you mean," I replied.
"Well, we don't really talk at work that much....so its cool to talk now....." Hayden said, trailing off.
"Yeah, that's true," was all I could think to say.
"I actually came here tonight, hoping you would be here and we could hang out," Hayden said, looking me in the eye.
That was it -- I was shocked.
"Really? You actually came to hang out with me?" I couldn't help but be surprised at this revelation.
"Well, yeah. I mean, you seem really cool -- you're pretty elusive too," Hayden said.
"I'm elusive? Are you kidding?" I asked incredulously. "If anyone's elusive, I think its you."
Hayden grinned, "Maybe a little...but you, you're different. You're very real and I like that -- you're not trying to kiss everyone's ass all the time. You're very sincere."
I smiled, "Well, I think one can be very effective without the 'ass-kissing'"
Hayden laughed. "That's very true -- I actually like it better that way....I think at first, I just didn't really know what to say to you. You kind of seemed put off by me....and you always seemed more interested in talking to the other guys."
I stood there, even more surprised -- here was Hayden Christensen, the known and respected actor, appearing to be somewhat insecure about what I thought of him....
"No, not at all - I just always got the impression that you never had much to say to me," I said honestly.
Hayden shook his head and smirked, "Well, see what lack of communication does? We were both completely wrong."
I smiled.
Hayden and I walked back to the table, laughing and talking.
For the first time, the ice had definitely been broken.