Hi all! This is the first thing I have ever written so constructive criticism is most welcome! Hope you enjoy!
To say that Neptune 26 had been a success would be an understatement. Sure, Jacqueline Kirk was considered famous before the film, but she immediately shot up into an entirely new league upon the release. And she loved every second of it. Acting had always been her passion, her security blanket. In front of a camera is where she felt most at home. Other than a certain professor's bed in Bloomington.
Three years had passed since the day she walked away from the one thing that made her the happiest. She considered it one of her strongest moments. It took every fiber of her being and then some to prevent her from running back into the arms of the woman who had quickly taken over her heart. What began as sadness and regret morphed into anger and self loathing. Over time, she channeled those emotions and used it as her motivation to succeed in all she did. She wanted to show the older blonde just what she was missing out on. She had gone from a somewhat naïve girl to the now witty and confident woman that she is.
But even her passion for her art wasn't enough to keep her mind off of her. She found herself thinking about how things would be like if they had worked through their troubles in Bloomington. Or what would happen if they had stayed together and made their relationship public. But mostly she just wondered how Catherine was doing. If she was being honest with herself, she'd admit that she missed her terribly.
Catching her thoughts wandering back to the professor, she quickly shook her head as began making her way back to her trailer. It had been a long day of shooting and a rather emotionally exhausting one at that. She had spent most of the day crying whilst shooting a particular scene. One that she had experienced some years ago. Though it was all an act, she could still feel the sting of Catherine's words when her co-star tells her character that she isn't worth the effort.
The blonde rounds up her belongings and takes off to meet with her fellow actress: Hayley Quinn. A tall and slim brunette with eyes so green, they gave the most expensive emerald a run for its money. An actress known for being outspoken. Famous for playing the bad ass characters, and pulling it of. Jackie would proudly admit that she was once attracted to the brunette. Had she not have been so affected by Catherine, she would have pursued something more than friendship with her. But as it turned out, the two preferred to keep things platonic.
Since coming out, every woman that Jackie was spotted with was deemed her new lover. Jackie found it entertaining for the most part, occasionally causing a stir by neither denying nor confirming the rumors. Hayley was the current woman under speculation of being Miss Kirk's newest interest. She spots Hayley in the corner of an upscale restaurant hidden away from most of the paparazzi.
"Jacks!" cries Hayley.
The two greet each other with a kiss on each cheek before seating themselves.
"Hey you! I honestly thought I'd never get away from the set." Jackie begins as the exhaustion finally sinks in.
"God I'm glad I'm not you. Taking a break from filming is probably one of the best things I've done this year. You should consider it."
"Don't tempt me. I'd gladly take a break but Wade would have my ass served as part of a three course meal if I did" Jackie chuckles at the image.
"Must you say that just as we're about to eat?" A look of disgust graces Hayley's features briefly before she continues, "But really. The only reason I invited you out is because I was worried about how you'd be after shooting. Don't think I haven't forgotten what scene they had you working on tonight."
Jackie smiles. She knew she could always count on Hayley to be there for her without needing to be asked. When they had first met, the blonde knew that Hayley would come to mean a great deal to her. She wasn't wrong.
"It was okay." the blonde shrugs, only to receive a look of disbelief.
"Bullshit."
Jackie can only laugh. She should have known better than to try and lie to her friend. Of all the people she knew in Hollywood, Hayley was one of the few who knew of what Jackie had left before shooting Neptune 26.
"It was shit" she sighs, "Every take just felt like I was in that room with her all over again. It didn't get any easier the more we had to do it. But I guess it worked in my favour. I mean, I wasn't acting anymore by the time we hit the fourth or fifth take. Wade said something about never seeing something so genuine before" she attempts to sound nonchalant.
"Sweetie.." Hayley reaches for the young blonde's hand.
"I'll be fine. I promise. It's been three years. I'm no longer the train wreck I was back then." she replies and she squeezes the brunette's hand, looking at her sincerely.
The moment was interrupted as the waiter announced his presence. Soon after, their orders were taken and they fall into a comfortable silence. Jackie can feel Hayley staring at her with questioning eyes but decides to ignore it for the time being, choosing to stare out of window and watch the people outside going about their business. Before long, she senses the other woman's internal debate and decides to put her out of her misery.
"You'd think that after all this time you wouldn't have to think before telling or asking me something. Out with it" Jackie teases. She earns a poke in the arm.
"It's nothing. I just wonder how someone could be stupid enough to do what that bi-"
"Hayley." the blonde warns.
"..Woman did to you."
"I'd rather not think about it. I've moved on." a pause, "But sometimes I still.. I don't know." she lets out a frustrated sigh.
"You still what?"
"I just.. I want to show her that I know how to be okay without her. I want her to know what she's missed out on. I want to know that she didn't fair any better than I did when I left. I want her.. to just get out of my head." Her voice rising as steadily as her frustration. She feels Hayley's hands on hers again.
"I know it's hard sweetie. I could tell you that you'll be okay and you'll be over it soon but that'd be a lie. You don't move on from something or someone who had that sort of effect on you in a matter of two seconds." Jackie can see the pity in the brunette's eyes.
"You know what I want?" Hayley asks.
"What's that?"
"For you to be happy. Just have a day without her bringing you down." Hayley states with a small smile, her thumb gently caressing the back of Jackie's hand.
"Thanks Hayls" Jackie returns the smile, "And you wonder why everyone thinks we're dating" as she glances at their hands. Hayley throws her head back with laughter before bring their hands to her lips, placing a soft kiss on Jackie's knuckles.
"Let them think that." She replies with a wriggle of her eyebrows.
The two continue to laugh and talk as they enjoy their meal. Conversations ranging from work, to plans for the next day, to silly subjects. Jackie feels the emotional baggage of the day dissipate. This is exactly what she needed.
Halfway through the meal, Jackie excuses herself to use the restroom. Getting up, she doesn't make it far before she hears her counterpart.
"Don't fall in the toilet, honey!" Hayley yells from their table, effectively garnering a few inquisitive glances from those around her.
In the process of turning around to give the brunette a stern look, Jackie fails notice that one of the patrons had begun to rise from their seat. No more than a second and a collision later, she finds herself reaching for the closest thing to break her fall. Managing to grab hold of a chair, she apologizes profusely to the poor being she had almost trampled over.
"Oh my God, I am so sorry! I should have been looking where I was going! I do this all the time! I'm sorry!" She cries as she bends over to pick up the other person's belongings. Soon after gathering various items that had fallen out of the other woman's purse, Jackie straightens up to look at the most recent victim of her clumsiness.
The world stops momentarily.
"Catherine?"
I feel like I should mention this. The title is from a song called A Belle to Remember by Hayley Kiyoko.