*Author's Note*
The first few chapters of this story will be more of giving a backstory of what happaned after S1E10.
FYI, this story will be updated (usually) every fortnightly. :)
Famous in Love: One and Only
Disclaimer: I own nothing at all, well, except my OC.
Spoilers: Season one's episodes
"Rainer Devon have been off the grid ever since the movie 'Locked' have finished filming a year ago. No one knows where…"
A figure moved towards the coffee table to retrieve the remote to switch off the television that was currently reporting about the missing Rainer Devon. The owner of the hand then put down the remote before walking into the kitchen to check on the eggs on the stove.
"Good morning!" Paige greeted as she walked out of her room while sliding her hands into her black jacket.
The figure in the kitchen laid out two plates beside the stove before turning over to Paige and smiled, "Good morning! Breakfast is almost ready."
Paige closed her eyes to inhale deeply, letting her senses enjoy the delicious smell of bacon and scrambled eggs coming from the kitchen before she exhaled, "Hmm… Scramble eggs. Your scramble eggs are the best scramble eggs I have ever eaten. I can never get over it."
"To think that I have almost burn down your kitchen a few months ago. I have come a long way to work my way around the kitchen. I believe I do deserve a pat on the back," the figure switched off the stove, tiled the pan to divide the scrambled eggs evenly onto the two plates into two servings before walking towards the dining table. "Breakfast is served."
Paige patted the figure's back, sarcastically, before sitting down to enjoy her breakfast.
"What plans do you have for today, Rainer?" Paige asked, trying to make small talk while trying to draw all attention away from the plate of bacon in the middle of the dining table.
The figure was revealed to be the missing Rainer Devon everyone was looking for. Rainer disappeared before everyone's eyes the next day upon the completion of filming 'Locked'. Paige looked all over LA for him but had no luck in finding Rainer.
A few days later, she overheard her classmates mentioning that people would always see a figure at their school's baseball field at night, everyone thought it was a ghost but Paige find it odd so she had decided to check it out herself, just in case. It took Paige a while to locate the figure on the field and to her surprise, it really was Rainer. He had passed out and was laying under the benches, looking like a broken doll. He was still dressed in the same clothes he was in before he disappeared. His hair was dirty and messy, his clothes were crumpled and dirty, and one of his shoes was missing. Paige knew she needed help getting Rainer out of the field so she called Cassie. Cassie showed up with Adam and together the three of them carried Rainer back to Paige's apartment. Adam helped clean Rainer up and after changing him into some fresh new clothing. The three of them settled him down in Jake's old room and let him rest for the night. Rainer have been staying in Paige's apartment ever since.
Rainer gave it a little thought before answering, "I'm thinking of sneaking into your class again this afternoon. I had fun in Mrs. Johnson's class the other day."
"I have no idea you had so much interest in econ," she voiced, with her hand reaching out for another piece of bacon as she continued, "Why don't you make lunch arrangement with Jordan? I mean he just got back from his vacation with Tangey right?"
Rainer reached out to smack lightly on Paige's hand as she picked up her sixth piece of bacon, "You have eaten your share, that's mine."
"I am really hungry," Paige pouted, not letting go the bacon in her hand but Rainer ignored her and cleared away all the bacon, including the one that was on her hand.
"There's bread in the kitchen if you need more," he pointed towards the kitchen. "And I believe Jordan would rather spend his lunch time with Tangey than me. Besides, we are going to meet him for dinner tonight. That's enough Jordan for me for today," he joked, sarcastically. "Not to mention, the probability of the press finding me."
After their last scene on 'Locked', Jordan finally worked up the courage and went to Rainer to tell him about his relationship with Nina. After learning that Jordan have been having an affair with his own mother, he had completely lost control. That was the real reason Rainer disappeared. He need to get rid of all the lies everyone around him have been telling him. Rainer could no longer bare the truth and he finally cracked. He no longer knew who he can trust anymore.
"Rainer, you need to get out there eventually. You can't just hide in your comfort zone forever. You need a life and staying here and going to my school is not enough." Paige expressed, concerned about his friend. They have been having this conversation every once in a while, ever since Rainer had moved in for six months.
Rainer swallowed his eggs quietly for a few second and took a sip of his coffee, all while avoiding looking into Paige's eyes. "I just need more time, Paige. Thanks a lot for letting me crash here for the past year," he supplied, trying to change the conversation.
Paige looked at him for a few seconds before exhaling a sign, "It's fine. Jake is now in Austin and Cassie is living with Adam. I have plenty of room anyway." She bit the inside of her cheeks, trying to hide the sadness in her face.
A year ago, Paige had a talk with Jake after the press junket. Paige knew how much the new job meant to Jake and thinking about what he has been through. She could not be the one pulling his leg and ask him to throw away the great opportunity and stay in LA with her. He will not be happy if he stayed so she did what Jake did a few weeks ago and said that it's best for Jake that they stay friends for now. He had a bright future ahead of him and she do not want to be the one pulling his leg this time. He had a commitment and maybe they could talk about them when he has finished the movie with Richard Linklater. Jake knew how hard it was for Paige to say that, he had the exact feeling a few months ago. He knew Paige was right so he gave Paige a kiss on her lips and tell her that he will be back for her in a few months' time but he did not expect the few months to end up being a year later and he is still not back in LA. But that also means that Rainer could continue crash at Paige's place in his room.
As for Cassie, she moved out a few days after Jake went to Austin but Paige made Cassie promise to return to the apartment whenever she need a hug or her best friend which Cassie gladly accepted. Cassie and Paige have hang in school more than ever. The little distance between them seemed to have made their relationship even stronger and even closer than before.
"Paige, you'll still have Cassie and me here in LA for you." Rainer reached out and cupped her hand and comforted. He knew how important Cassie and Jake are in her life and how hard for her to see all her best friends leave.
Paige flashed a smile at him to prove to him and herself that she is alright.
"Thanks," she supplied. "I'm going to be getting a drink with Cassie and Adam tonight. You are going to be joining us, right?
"But aren't we supposed to be meeting Jordan and Tangey tonight for dinner to celebrate the release of Tangey's new album." Rainer reminded.
"We are. Cassie will have a contract signing dinner and after that we are going out to celebrate. It's at CMU so you don't have to worry about the press," Paige continued to clarify herself. "And I won't take no for an answer," she said, very quickly before Rainer could react.
Rainer chuckled. "Relax. I didn't say that I'm not going, did I?"
After staying in Paige's apartment for six months without leaving a single step, Paige have finally get through to Rainer. Rainer started to leave the house to run some errands like restocking the fridge and picking up the dry cleaning. He eventually started to expand his social life by sneaking into Paige's CMU classes occasionally and tagging along whenever she made plans with Cassie and Adam.
Along the way, Paige helped Rainer see what he had been through with Jordan since they were young and that he should not throw everything away just because Jordan had a relationship with his mother. Jordan was the one is being honest with him, that proves that Jordan values their friendship. Jordan chose to be honest with him, knowing that this might destroy their friend just because Jordan does not want to deceive him anymore. After slowly making amends, Rainer have finally rekindled his friendship with Jordan. He even helped Jordan get Tangey back and after that, help them get Tangey's mother's stamp of approval.
"Great! I can't wait to meet Cassie tonight." Paige commented, her voice filled with excitement.
"She got the endorsement contract?" Rainer asked as the memory of their conversation two weeks ago about Cassie's latest job plan flooded in his mind.
"Yep," she answered.
Rainer's phone began to ring.
"Excuse me," he said before scooping the rest of the food on his plate into his mouth, pushed his chair backwards and grabbed his phone from the coffee table in the living room.
"Hey, dad." Rainer greeted the caller, knowing who it was.
"Only plans for tonight."
"Sure, lunch sounds great. Shall we meet at our usual spot?"
"Got it. Thanks. See you later, dad."
With that, Rainer hung up his phone, slid it into his jeans' back pocket and returned to the dining table to clean the table while Paige did the dishes.
"Alan?" Paige asked after putting the clean plates back in the cabinets.
Rainer finally contacted Alan not long after rekindling his friendship with Jordan. Paige told him that Alan have been concerned with his whereabouts since he was missing. Alan knew that Paige had a special place in Rainer's heart so he had been in touch with Paige. He knew Rainer was at Paige's place the next day after Paige found Rainer but chose to distance himself while helping them with simple errands. Whenever Paige was busy with school work, Alan would offer to stock up their cabinets and fridge. To give Rainer some space, Alan would wait for Paige to finish school and meet her at the parking lot of her apartment where he would use that few minutes to find out how Rainer is doing while passing her the stuff Paige and Rainer needed. The list always ranges from food to male grooming products. Alan even kept Rainer's whereabouts a secret from Nina for him to give Rainer time to heal and space from the public. Upon knowing what his father did for him, Rainer slowly open himself up to his father. They started to meet up more and eventually, he finally accepted his new father and even called him Dad. Alan was so happy to have his son back that he met up with Paige to thank her personally for helping his son get back on his feet and that he will always be in debt of Paige for helping him get his son back. Alan knew he may not be a great father but he is trying his best to be the parent Rainer wants and needs.
"Yeah. He wanted to meet up for lunch later," he answered while bending down to rest his elbows on the kitchen countertop.
"Do you need the car?" Paige asked, leaning her back against the countertop with her hands resting on either side of her.
"I suppose so. You have classes the entire day, right?" Paige nodded her head. "In that case, I'll drop you off at school first and picked up the dry cleaning before meeting dad for lunch later. I'm be home by 2:30. Call me when you're ready to leave and I'll pick you up for our dinner reservation with Jordan and Tangey." Rainer informed, looking at Paige with a raised eyebrow.
"Sounds good," she answered as walked towards her room to pack her books while Rainer returned to his to take a shower and get ready.
"Cassie!" Paige greeted as she saw Cassie walking towards her, she bolted and instantly her arms were around her best friend's neck.
"Hey, Paige," Cassie chuckled softly while wrapping her arms around her best friend's waist.
They would meet up near the school's food court whenever either of them have classes before or after lunch so that they can catch up.
"Are you excited for tonight? I am so happy for you!" Paige expressed as they walked towards their school's food court for lunch before going to their afternoon classes.
"Thanks, Paige. I still can't believe finally after a few local commercials, I finally got this endorsement contract. the My agent just told me that there is an indie production team interested in casting me for a role in the movie. The movie is currently still being written but they are already outsourcing for the main casts," Cassie announced, her voice filled with enthusiasm.
"That's wonderful," Paige commented, truly happy for her best friend. "There is an empty table over there." Paige pointed towards a corner almost instantly as they stepped foot in the food court.
"I'm always amazed at how quick you can find a table in our food court." Cassie commented as she followed Paige to the empty table while her eyes scanned the room that filled with people. It isn't difficult to see things in the room but it is impossible to find anything with this much crowd during lunch hour rush.
"I have a gift." Paige commented with a proud grin.
"In finding tables?" Cassie snorted and raised an eyebrow at her best friend while sliding her bag off her shoulder to rest it on the chair.
Paige rolled her eyes at her best friend and corrected, "No! I have a gift to see things even when its crowded."
"Oh, like you see your 'friendship' with Rainer?" Cassie said, making air quotes with her fingers which caused a glare from her best friend.
"Stop that!" Paige lightly smacked Cassie's fingers away before walking over to the food counter.
Cassie chuckled and shook her head as she followed Paige.
"So, I suppose Rainer is going to join us tonight?" Cassie asked upon resting their food trays on the table.
"Yeah, he is. We will be having dinner with Jordan and Tangey and we'll meet you guys right after that for our celebratory drinks for your new endorsement gig." Paige informed, with her hands reaching into her bag to get her water bottle.
"I still can't believe that you guys have been staying together alone in the apartment for a year and yet you two are still not a couple yet. I mean even the turtle is faster than you in a marathon." Cassie commented before taking a bite of her burger.
"He is in a bad place for the past year. I admit that I have been starting to have strong feelings about him since 'Locked' but I don't think he have any space in his life to start talking about relationship," she said, giving herself, the excuse Rainer have been giving her about acting. "Besides, it's not like he said anything to me since his breakdown at Jordan's premiere." Paige mumbled to herself while she poked her spaghetti with her fork.
Cassie still heard her last sentence so she reached out to grab her best friend's hand "Even a blind person can see that you guys like each other. Don't let what happened to Jake and you happened again with you and Rainer," Cassie encouraged, giving Paige her best encouraging smile.
"Thanks, Cassie," Paige expressed, exhaling a sigh. "I know what you meant and I promise you I won't let that happen." She then gave her best friend her best smile.
"Atta, girl. That's my Paige." Cassie said, with a proud grin.
"Hey, Rainer. Sorry, I'm late. I was held up in a meeting." Alan apologised as he stepped into the private room of Lloyd's. He quickly unbuttoned his black suit jacket, removed it and draped it over the back of his chair before taking a seat in it.
"It's fine. I just got here now long ago." Rainer responded, filling up the empty glass with ice water for his father to catch his breath and cool down.
"Thanks." Alan immediately emptied out the glass of water before picking up the menu. "Why don't we order our food first? It's almost," he stretched out his hand to check his watch, "almost 2? Woah! What do you have in mind for lunch?"
"Anything is fine with me." Rainer informed, not bothering to even look at the menu while he drank his water. He had a full breakfast with Paige and smuggled some snacks when he was fetching the dry cleaning so he wasn't very hungry but hungry enough to have a full course.
"We'll have our usual then," Alan turned to inform Tommy, the manager of Lloyd's, who came into the private room with him earlier just as Alan instructed.
"Certainly. I'll get the kitchen to prepare them immediately. Enjoy your drinks while we get ready the food." Tommy said before leaving the room, closing the door behind him.
Please read and tell me what you think :)
~ xoxo, Bella