Shooting progressed as scheduled. The majority of principal photography was to be shot on location in Toronto but a few location shots would be filmed back in Los Angeles before they wrapped production. The film itself was a crime drama that centered around Forensic Investigator Rowan Thompson's (Hayden's character) search for a profile serial killer. Sydney Manley was the female lead (Sienna) that Rowan believed was going to be the killer's next victim. It wasn't a typical teen horror 'slasher' film. The script showed a diverse psychological thriller at work. The role was a great way for Hayden to really break the mold of characters he'd played in the past, this was completely different for him and he loved it.
To Hayden's great surprise, Sienna remained completely professional throughout the process. The erratic behavior that Hayden had remembered was replaced with a calm demeanor. She was very respectful to everyone on set and didn't waste any time the way she had before.
She had even refrained from making any more comments or lewd suggestions to Hayden. The two had been working well together, the environment even bordering on pleasant.
Hayden was relieved - but still tried to keep his distance from her. He made trips every weekend back to Los Angeles and called Cara every night during the week when he was gone - the two would talk about what they had done each day. He felt that they were stronger than ever. She was truly what he'd been missing in his life.
"Yeah, we're holding down the fort at the office," Cara said with a smile.
"I'm sure you are," Hayden replied with a grin of his own. "....I miss you."
"I miss you too," Cara replied. After a minute - "So how is Sienna?" Cara found herself asking.
"Surprisingly enough, she's actually been a decent human being lately," Hayden replied. "No temper tantrums, screaming or crying....very professional..it really hasn't been so bad."
Cara was quiet for a minute, "...that's good."
Hayden knew that he didn't want to talk about Sienna. He didn't want to create any feelings of doubt in Cara's mind.
"I kind of have some good news and some bad news," he said.
"What is it?" Cara asked.
"Well, the bad news is, I can't come home this weekend...my mom is having this big party for Kaylen for her birthday, and my being here in Toronto...they'd kill me if I left town when I could be there for it."
"Oh..." Cara replied.
"...but the good news is, I have a plane ticket with your name on it...that is, if you would want to fly out here and spend the weekend with me?" Hayden asked.
He could sense the disappointment in Cara's voice. "I can't, Hayden. My parents are flying here this weekend, remember?"
"Oh dammit! I forgot, it was this weekend?" Hayden said, sitting down on the bed.
"Yeah, we've talked about it --they've been planning this trip for weeks....I had wanted them to meet you."
"Cara...I'm sorry..." Hayden said.
Family obligations had to prevail for both of them.
"No...I understand," Cara said after a moment.
"I am very sorry Cara...I completely forgot it was this weekend."
"It's okay...there will be other times," Cara said.
"Absolutely," Hayden replied.
Cara seemed understanding enough but Hayden couldn't shake the feeling that he was disappointing her far more than she was letting on.
~~~
The following day shooting began with a bright and early call time of 5:00AM.
Today's schedule included shooting exterior and interior scenes at the Town Hall in Toronto.
Shooting went through the morning hours and soon they were breaking for lunch.
Hayden was having his usual after lunch smoke on the back steps of Town Hall, needing a moment away from the crowds that had congregated, trying to get glimpses of filming.
"Mind if I join you for a cig?" Sienna asked.
Hayden shrugged. He'd gotten to the point in which things at least weren't as strained as they had once been between the two of them. They had been forced to remain in one another's presence and things had finally gotten a little more comfortable.
"You know, I'm actually sad this production is ending soon," Sienna spoke up after a moment. "It's actually been very nice, working and keeping myself busy..."
Hayden nodded, exhaling smoke and looked out to the lawn. "Yeah, its been a good shoot," he finally replied.
"I think I just feel complacent....like I'm lost but I don't even really care," Sienna said, taking a drag from her cigarette.
Hayden sat on the step beside her, silent.
"The truth is, things in my life are just such a mess....I really screwed things up and work is all I really have now," Sienna continued. "I went back with Jude.....and for what? So he could cheat on me yet again....after telling me how much he loved me and how much he'd changed, what a load of bollocks."
Hayden looked at the ground. A couple of months ago, it would have killed him to hear Sienna talking about Jude - now he just felt sorry for her. The girl was very confused and in pain and she just needed someone to listen.
"It's hard for people to change, I suppose," Hayden said.
"That's true...but it is possible...I'd like to think that I've changed...I'm not the crazy out of control girl you used to know," Sienna said, leaning her elbows on her legs.
"Now that's very true," Hayden said with a smile. "You really have seemed to change these past couple of months. Good for you."
Sienna gave a small smile, "...yes, but the truth is, if its in someone's nature to act a certain way...chances are, they will revert back to it from time to time....so I suppose it was always in Jude's nature to be a bloody cheating bastard," Sienna said. She turned to look at him, "...but not you...you've never been a bastard."
Hayden smirked, "oh believe me...I've had my days."
"I can't see you that way," Sienna said. "I can't see you being the type to hurt someone on purpose over and over- I don't think its in you."
"Well, of course I'm never out to intentionally hurt people," Hayden replied. "...but that doesn't mean that I never hurt people....and I certainly disappoint...it seems like I've been doing it quite a bit here lately."
"The girlfriend?" Sienna asked.
Hayden looked at her, nodding but remained silent.
He was not discussing his relationship issues with Sienna of all people.
"I know, you probably don't want to tell me," Sienna said, reading his mind. "....but remember when we used to talk about everything? We could come to each other with any problems that we had....I used to be a good friend."
Hayden nodded. He had been able to share things with her, things that he hadn't felt he could tell anyone. They had had a friendship before it turned into a romantic debaucle.
At that second, Sienna started to cry softly. Hayden didn't know what to do or how to act. He hated when people cried - his first reaction was to give her some time alone.
Sienna reached over and hugged Hayden. The girl was in tears now and Hayden just simply patted her back.
She pulled away at that moment, looked into his eyes and before he could even think about what was happening, she kissed him.
Hayden kissed her for a split second - feeling himself falling back into old habits. It was then that Cara flashed across his mind. He jerked away from Sienna, "Stop! I can't do this....why? Why would you do that?"
"I'm sorry....its just something that I've been wanting to do since I saw you again...I know you feel it too."
Hayden looked at her with cold eyes. "What is this? You were out here pretending to be all distraught about Jude....and what? Since things didn't go as planned with him, you were hoping that we could just pick up right where we left off, is that it?"
Sienna just looked at him, the tears still fresh on her cheeks.
"Well, its not gonna happen," Hayden said, standing up. "It's never going to happen again...I was just sitting here, trying to be a decent person and listen to you....you're so fucking manipulative!"
He stormed up the steps and into the office, leaving Sienna alone.
~~~
The Next Day
Steph and Cara had gone to lunch together near the production officeand were perusing the newsstand.
"I need some reading material for the wait time in my audition," Steph explained.
They were looking through the various magazines.
Steph grabbed one of the celebrity magazines - her guilty pleasure- and flipped the pages while Cara was looking at The Hollywood Reporter. Cara looked over at her, shook her head and laughed. She continued to look at her own magazine.
Steph casually flipped through the pages when one glossy photo caught her eye. She looked at the entire page and her eyes widened. "Oh my god," she said to herself, quickly and quietly putting the magazine back.