If you're receiving this, it means you are infinitely awesome for your patience!
Here you go...
Bella and Alec outtake
Bella Swan
We had been in Chicago for a few days and I'd had been purposefully been avoiding Edward until I could talk to Alec. At least with Alec it seemed that the feeling was mutualUnfortunately, Alec had been avoiding me. I had tried to talk to him earlier and left him a few messages, but no word back.
It was on the fourth day that Alec finally called and asked if we could grab dinner so we could catch up and talk. It was the way he said we needed to talk that made me dread our get-together.
"Bella, it's great to see you." He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me in close. Then just as quickly as he pulled me in, he released me and sat down.
"It always is," I commented. "So what's going on?"
"You know, I had this speech planned and everything and now I see you here, looking beautiful and you're wearing a power suit and…fuck, you're not making this easy." He ran his hands over his face and gave me a sad smile.
I let out a sigh of relief, thankful that he wanted to end things too; ending on a mutual agreement would make things so much easier for us to get along on-set and continue our friendship.
"It's okay, I know what this is about." I reached over and squeezed his hand.
"You do?" He looked surprised.
"I do, and I couldn't agree with you more."
"Oh, thank God. I thought you were going to be furious with me." He let out a heavy sigh and leaned back in his chair.
"I can see why you'd think that, but we're adults and we both went into this knowing you were fresh out of a marriage and I had a gut feeling that you might not be ready. It's okay though, I promise I'm not mad. We're just better off as friends." I smiled to let him know that I truly wasn't upset, and I really did mean what I said.
His actions did not mirror my own. He stiffened at my words and leaned forward.
"Bella," he said slowly, "you thought I was going to end things with you?"
"You weren't?"
"No, I was going to tell you that I was going to fire you and have Tyler work with me again so there wouldn't be a conflict of interest and we could be a real couple."
Fuck. Me.
"Oh."
"Yeah, oh," he mocked me.
"Well now everything seems a bit different. You weren't calling me because you wanted to see me, but just so you could end things?" His voice was getting progressively louder.
"I tried to tell you when we were in Cali-"
"So, what, you asked me to come over so you could end it before we were supposed to spend six weeks working together? What was so important that it honestly couldn't wait until after we were done shooting?"
"Are you kidding me?" I hissed. I felt bad for taking him by surprise, but this was completely uncalled-for.
"Did you really want me to come out here with you and portray a relationship that my heart wasn't truly in because it would be easier for you? That's all my relationship was with Emmett. How dare you!" If I'd had a glass of something, I would have thrown it at him by now. Instead I grabbed my purse and stormed out of the restaurant.
"Bella, wait," Alec called for me.
"What?" I snapped spinning on my heel and folding my arms across my chest.
"I'm sorry, you didn't deserve that."
"Damn right I didn't."
"This thing between us meant something to me; clearly more than it meant to you." I ignored the jab as he continued. "I never meant that you should do something you didn't want to. You wouldn't be you if you did, does that make sense?"
I nodded.
"I'm really sorry," I apologized to his feet. "I do care for you, but right now, I don't think you and me together is a good idea. We both have a lot going on and it's not fair to either of us if we can't put each other first, or even second."
"I see." Then he hit me with the question I'd been dreading. "Is that the only reason?"
"No." I looked up to see his eyes were closed and his lips pressed in a thin line.
After what seemed like an eternity, he finally said, "Masen's a lucky guy."
"Wait, how did you know?" I could feel the blood drain from my face.
He opened his eyes and had a look that clearly showed he thought I was an idiot. "Him showing up at your doorstep for no reason? That stupid script excuse? I'm not blind, Bella."
"I'm sorry. I would really like-"
"Don't tell me you want to still be friends," he cut me off. "We'll always be friends, but I just need some time, okay? It's a bit of a shock and I just...we shouldn't talk for a while."
"Okay."
"Tyler will be here next week. We should be good until then. You know, this wasn't how I thought my night would end. I really wanted to get laid."
"Seriously, Alec?" I saw a mischievous smile start to form.
"No chance I can guilt you into it?"
"Now you're just disgusting," I laughed, and then punched his shoulder, causing him to chuckle.
'"You couldn't hurt a fly, Bella. You're more likely to break your hand."
"I hurt you," my masochistic self pointed out, killing any lightheartedness that had been created.
"Yeah, but please, just give me some time," he said seriously. "I can't promise it'll be anytime soon, but we'll eventually get back to where we were before."
"I'd like that."
We walked in silence to the parking lot, holding hands.
"Take care of yourself in New York. Give them hell in the boardroom."
I waited for him to add that I should call him if I needed anything, but the offer never came.
We said a quick goodbye and climbed into our respective rentals. I watched him for a moment and let the sadness and guilt wash over me when I saw him wipe away a tear before pulling out of the parking lot.
Okay, so for those of you who requested the outtake, don't feel robbed, here is the teaser I gave those who requested it.
Teaser:
I got down to the car was was met with a smirking Jasper and a very smug Alice. Neither were very good looks on them.
"Edward, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you were glowing," Alice said, peering over the tops of her sunglasses.
"Shut up," I grumbled. Then a thought occurred to me. "Why aren't you in New York with Bella? Aren't you her right hand man or something?"
"She didn't tell you?" Her eyes grew wide. "I thought she would have."
"Tell me what?"
"I don't work for her anymore."
"She fired you?"
See...now everyone gets everything, yay!
I am still on hiatus but I promise I am working on the story as well as renovating the chapters for It Goes Both Ways.
As always, I am eternally grateful to Irritable_Grizzzly for her fantastic beta work.
Have a wonderful weekend,
Anne
