Chapter Text
Buck couldn't believe he was being dragged up a flight of stairs by THE Howard Han. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and he needed to stop getting stuck in his head so he didn't make a fool of himself. He focused on taking three deep breaths, finishing just as they got to the top of the stairs, and feeling much calmer.
And it was empty. Empty to Buck anyway, as the only person up there was the one person in the cast he didn't like. Eddie Diaz. He was sitting on the couch on his phone, with sunglasses. Only blind people and douchebags wear sunglasses inside, and Buck knew he wasn't the former.
Buck agrees with the idea that you should never judge a book by its cover. In fact, he himself was a perfect example of how you shouldn't do so. He was well aware that there were stereotypes about people with a build like his, and he also knew they didn't fit him. So yes, he is aware of his hypocrisy. But he's also seen enough about Eddie Diaz to know that he's not the type of guy Buck wants to associate with.
Eddie looked up from his phone, spotting the two men who hadn't moved from the top of the stairs.
“Hey! Evan Buckley, right? I heard you're going to be our guest star in the newest episode. Hope you don't mess it up.”
Buck couldn't stand him. He was so obnoxious. Why did he think Buck would mess up the episode? “Yeah! I'm excited to be here. People usually call me Buck,” he replied, his tone slightly colder than usual. Eddie didn't seem to pick up on it, though. Typical air-headed actor, Buck thought to himself. If anyone was going to mess up, it would be Eddie. He would prove him wrong.
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Eddie had just settled onto the couch, fingers flying across his phone as he confirmed Christopher's after-school pickup with Carla. The lot was quiet, too early for most of the crew. Then, he had a sudden feeling of being watched. His gaze lifted, and there was Evan Buckley, already looking his way, with Chimney beside him, chattering away. He stood up to greet them.
“Hey! Evan Buckley, right? I heard you're going to be our guest star in the newest episode. Hope you don't mess it up,” he said with a chuckle. He thought he saw a look of annoyance on Evan's face, but it was gone as fast as it came, so he couldn't tell.
“Yeah! I'm excited to be here. People usually call me Buck,” Buck said, with a slight edge to his voice. That was odd. He hoped he hadn't made a bad impression already. He still wanted to surprise Chris with an autograph, and he didn't want to have to go home to his son and tell him his favourite singer hated his dad. I'm going to have to fix this, he thought, hoping Buck wasn't the type of person to hold a grudge.
He was.
The entire day, Eddie could feel the tension between them and knew everyone else could too. At one point, Chimney pulled him aside and asked what was going on between them, and Eddie didn't know what to tell him. He knew that sometimes his words didn't come out how he meant them, but this seemed a little dramatic. At least it's only a script read today.
No matter what Eddie did, Buck would still talk to him as if he were no better than the dirt stuck to the bottom of his shoe. They had breaks throughout the day, and any attempt Eddie made to break the ice between them was met with a response that was polite yet very clearly meant to shut him down.
“Hey, Buck! I've listened to your music, and I've got to say I’m impressed!”
“Thank you. It's hard work, but I'm committed.”
“Dude, your workout routine must be insane”
“Yeah, thanks, I try.”
“Man, I can't believe you get to tour the world, that must be so exciting!”
“Yeah, it is, I enjoy it.”
Every attempt shut down immediately. Eddie might just have to accept defeat. He wouldn't get to surprise Chris, and he would forever be hated by the man who he is loath to admit had quickly become a favourite singer of his.
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Eddie was really ruining this for Buck. His initial excitement to be on one of his favourite shows was being tainted by Eddie just not leaving him alone. Buck tried to hint to Eddie that he wanted him to leave him alone, but the other man just kept trying. He’d met the rest of the cast, and they were all wonderful. They had been super kind and inviting, never making him feel like an outsider.
Howard had been introduced to him as Chimney, which he didn’t understand. When he was asked, all he got was an ominous answer that made no sense to him. He also met Albert, who was Chimney’s brother, May, who he discovered was Bobby’s step-daughter, and Tommy. He didn't know much about Tommy if he was honest. Back to Eddie, the man seemed desperate to talk to Buck, and he couldn't figure out why. But he knew that he couldn’t associate with the type of person Eddie Diaz was. It would ruin him.
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Once his day was done, Buck headed straight home to talk to Maddie. She always lent him an open ear when he needed to vent. He would never know how he survived without her while she was with Doug. He practically burst through her door, a frustrated groan escaping him as Maddie jumped. He’d forgotten to let her know he was on his way home. “Shit, sorry. I meant to text you before I left. But you will not believe the day I had, Mads. I cannot stand Eddie Diaz.”
Buck proceeded to vent to Maddie about Eddie for the next 2 hours.
“— Can you believe he said that, Maddie? Who does he think he-”
“Buck! I love you, but we’ve been here for hours, and it’s getting late. I’m going to bed.”
“O-oh yeah, sorry. Goodnight,” he stuttered in embarrassment.
Maddie gave him a bemused smile, “Just talk to him, Buck. Maybe he’s not as bad as you think. I know you know not to trust the media.” And with that, she went to bed, and Buck was left to think.
Maybe he should give him a chance.
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Eddie went home after they finished the script reading, hoping that tomorrow would be a fresh start. Seeing Chris reminded him of his aim to get an autograph for him, and he decided to simply hope for civility between himself and Buck so he could make his son happy.
The next day, Eddie didn't see much of Buck at first, as they were filming and so everyone was busy with hair, makeup, wardrobe, and rehearsing lines at the last minute. He only really saw Buck on set filming, and didn't get a chance to talk to him until right before they left for the day, after which he'd probably never see him again.
“Hey, you did good today, Buck. You can really act. If you weren't already so successful, I'd even suggest a career change,” Eddie said with a grin.
“Oh, uhm, thank you. I appreciate it.”
This is better, Eddie thought to himself. This is an upgrade from whatever was happening yesterday. Eddie was about to ask if he could get an autograph for Christopher when Buck suddenly spoke up.
“I've been invited to the wrap party, by the way. Just.. thought I'd let you know.” Eddie did not expect that; It was unusual for a guest star to be invited to the wrap party. “And I'd also like to apologise for the way I was acting yesterday,” Buck added, gaze flickering away as he spoke.
“Oh, well, don't worry about it. I was also wondering if you could-” he was cut off by a phone ringing. He realised it was his and pulled it from his pocket to see it was Tía Pepa. That was never a good sign while he was at work.
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Buck was proud of himself. He'd successfully apologised to Eddie. Maddie would be proud, too, he thinks. He'd gotten over himself and moved past his grudge.
“Oh, well, don't worry about it. I was also wondering if you could-” Eddie's phone ringing interrupted whatever he was going to ask, and judging by the look on his face when he saw the caller ID, it was not a good call.
As Eddie was talking to the person on the other side of the phone, the furrow between his brows deepened. Buck didn't want to be nosy, but he also couldn't help but wonder what the call was about that had Eddie so worried.
“I gotta go,” Eddie said suddenly as he hung up the phone. And with that, he ran off with no explanation.
Buck hates him.
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