A/N: I don't have much to say about this chapter, but here's my current update schedule: there will be another new chapter next Sunday and then one the Sunday after, but after Chapter 5 there won't be another chapter for 2-3 weeks. Chapter 5 is basically my equivalent of a mid-season finale so consider it your mid-season hiatus. There's a reveal this chapter so tell me what you think in the reviews. Enjoy :)
Disclaimer: I am just a fan of Revenge trying to keep this awesome show alive in my stories.
August 1, 2016 8:15 a.m.
Manhattan, New York
"Are you okay? You've been in there for a while…"
A friend of mine once said that there are two sides to every person.
Charlotte watched as more dust and dirt made its slow descent down the drain, while water from the shower-head continued to beat steadily on her back. She didn't know exactly how long she'd been in there – the water had turned cold above her and she'd scrubbed her skin so hard it turned pink. Bruises were blooming across her body from where she'd been whacked by rubble. In her head, she kept replaying it over and over. What had happened. What she'd seen.
The side that we show to the world, and the one we keep hidden inside.
"Do you wanna talk about it?" Drew called out from the other side of the bathroom door - he received no response. "Charlotte, are you listening to me?"
A moment later the shower stopped, the door opened and Charlotte stepped out, her wet body wrapped in a towel and her hair clinging to her face. Drew backed up to give her space, sitting himself down on his bed.
"I saw someone," Charlotte began hesitantly. "Before the bomb went off. Someone who wasn't supposed to be there."
Drew nodded encouragingly. "Okay. Who was it?"
Charlotte bit her lip, so hard she drew blood. "I knew him." She said. "He wasn't supposed to be there. He disappeared just before the bomb went off, as if he knew…as if he knew…"
"As if he knew there was a bomb?" Drew filled in and she nodded. Charlotte sat down on the edge of the bed, her arm just an inch or two away from his, holding her towel close to her body as she stared off into space.
Everyone has kept a secret, told a lie, acted like someone they are not.
"I have to go warn them," She blurted out after a long moment, suddenly rising and fetching her discarded clothes from the bathroom floor. "They might be in danger…"
"Don't wear that," Drew said, cutting her off before she could put her dirty outfit back on. He opened his dresser drawer and pulled out a Columbia T-shirt and a pair of sweatpants. "I know they're not as glamorous, but at least they're clean."
Charlotte offered a weak attempt at a smile as she took them from him. "Thank you,"
Before she could walk back into the bathroom, Drew grabbed her arm. "And I'm going with you."
"Drew," Charlotte began. "You don't have to, you've done enough al-" She was cut off when unexpectedly Drew grabbed her face and pulled her in, pressing a strong and steady kiss to her lips. She lost her grip on the clothes, which fell to the floor at their feet, her hands instead reaching up to grab ahold of Drew by his hair.
Behind closed doors, we do things we may never have done if someone was watching.
They finally pulled apart once they both needed air, Drew looking deep into Charlotte's eyes. "I won't let you go back there alone."
But that begs the question…
She nodded, barely able to form a coherent thought – she was too caught off guard by the mind-blowing kiss she'd just experienced. "Come with me."
Is this person that you are letting into your life who you think they are?
June 13, 2016 2:35 p.m.
Southampton, New York
"Still making copies, intern?"
Charlotte did not look up from the copy machine as she heard the voice of an unwelcome visitor. "Not that it's any of your business, Drew," She said, in the most professional way she could. "But I have to leave early today. It's my sister and brother-in-law's first wedding anniversary. I'm throwing them a party."
"I know," Drew said haughtily, walking over to stand next to her. "I was invited."
Charlotte looked up, scowling at him. "I didn't invite you."
"You didn't," He replied. "But Nolan did. I am, after all, one of his favorite employees."
"God knows why," Charlotte scoffed, picking up her copies and starting to make her way back to her desk.
Drew, however, couldn't take a hint. "Trust me, I don't like spending all this time with you either."
"Why are you following me then?" She snapped.
"We work together," He explained, then he smiled cheekily. "And I want to see if you're really the spoiled brat everyone says you are."
Charlotte glared at him. "And I'm trying to convince myself you're not such a pompous asshole, but it's not working."
Drew smiled and backed away. "Well on that note, I'll see you tonight. Save a seat for me, intern." Charlotte only rolled her eyes in response.
She really, really hated that guy.
Meanwhile, Nolan walked out of his office and immediately did a double take. "Olivia?"
Sure enough, the woman standing in the lobby was in fact Olivia. "Hi," She said, smiling at him. "I was just stopping by to take Hailey to lunch. That is, if you can spare her."
"Of course," Nolan said, walking over to her. "You're her mom, I think that gives you dibs."
"Great," Olivia said. "So, how's everything going so far?"
"She's a total natural," Nolan replied. "Very…bright. I like that about her. She reminds me of you." Olivia blushed and Nolan looked down, embarrassed once he realized what he'd said. "Anyway, will I see you at Amanda and Jack's anniversary party tonight?"
Olivia offered up a sad smile and shook her head. "Sorry, no. I have to work late tonight. My boss called me this morning, this late minute thing came up."
Nolan nodded. "Well, that's too bad."
"Anyways," She said. "Mind if I just go back and get Hailey? Reservations."
"Sure, third door on the right." Olivia smiled thankfully and started to walk away, Nolan watching her retreating form.
She spun back around. "Hey Nolan? It was nice seeing you."
Nolan smiled. "You too." Olivia smiled and waved goodbye to him, before leaving. Once she was gone, he sighed loudly.
This hadn't gone exactly how he'd wanted but it was...a start, at least.
"– and in other pop culture news, America's favorite couple Amanda Clarke and Jack Porter are celebrating their first wedding anniversary today."
Amanda paused her channel surfing when she landed on some entertainment news program. Usually she didn't watch things like this but she couldn't help but be curious – especially after what Nolan had told them about the public's opinion of their relationship.
"I have to say," One of the two co-anchors said. "These two are one of my favorite celebrity couples. You have root for them after everything they've been through." Amanda couldn't help but laugh to herself about the way these two women were discussing her relationship with her husband – it was kind of funny to her. They made them sound larger than life or something – like they weren't even real people with real lives and a real relationship. It was pretty hilarious.
Though suddenly, someone said something that made her stop smiling. "Hopefully soon we'll be announcing some baby news from them?" The other anchor said, causing her co-worker to laugh.
"Oh," She said. "Their children would be so gorgeous! Hopefully a pregnancy is on the horizon?"
"If Amanda and Jack just happen to be watching right now," The other said. "Let this be their hint that we're all ready –" But Amanda didn't let her finish, instead turning the TV off and then throwing the remote to the other end of the couch, her face hot with anger.
"Hey," She heard her husband say. When she turned around she saw Jack standing at the bottom of the stairs, watching her and clearly having heard all of it. "Don't listen to them."
Amanda tried to hide her dismay - not wanting him to see how much the comment had secretly hurt her - but her lower lip betrayed her by beginning to quiver. "It's just…listening to them say things like that…"
"They're idiots, okay?" Jack insisted, moving to sit down next to her. "They're insensitive, and our personal lives are none of their business." Amanda nodded in agreement, taking his hand in hers in response.
She had told Jack about her inability to conceive before they were married – she wanted him to know that if he chose to go through with the wedding, he would never be able to have another child. She didn't want Jack to resent her someday because he gave up his chance to have more children when he married her. Jack, however, had told her that she mattered more to him – if he couldn't have a second child with her, then he didn't want one. And even though she loved being married to Jack and she loved being Carl's stepmother, things like this were just cruel reminders that she couldn't make her husband a father again. Sometimes, she felt like it was just one more thing he'd lost because of her.
Now Jack pushed her hair behind her ear, running a finger across her cheek. "Do you remember our honeymoon? When we took the boat up to that bed and breakfast on Martha's Vineyard, just the two of us?"
Amanda smiled at the memory. "How could I forget? It was a great weekend."
"You looked so beautiful," Jack told her. "And happier than I'd ever seen you. I remember we went on that walk on the beach, and you wore that long white dress, with the lace…"
Amanda laughed, a wistful smile on her face. "And you threw me over your shoulder when the tide came in so it wouldn't get wet. Yeah, I remember."
"You should wear that dress tonight. And think about all the good memories we have." She nodded and he kissed her cheek. "How about we take Carl to the park before we drop him off at the sitter's?"
"Okay."
Jack kissed her one more time before he headed back upstairs to retrieve his son. Amanda watched him go and once he was out of sight, she allowed her composed facade to drop.
Despite all of the good times they'd had since, sometimes she couldn't help but think about everything they had lost.
The party began after sunset, on a pristine strip of beach a little way's away from Amanda and Jack's home. Charlotte had gone to the trouble of finding the spot where the married couple had met twenty plus years earlier. Tables and chairs had been set out for the guests, the party illuminated by strings of mini paper lanterns as the sun set along the pink horizon.
Nolan found his plus one for the evening waiting for him by the makeshift dance floor, sipping punch. "Charlotte's outdone herself on this one," He told Louise, greeting her with friendly cheek kisses.
"It's a lovely party," The Southern belle agreed, taking Nolan's arm when he offered it as they went to find their seats. "So, have you seen anyone that tickles your fancy yet?"
Nolan sighed. "This again, Louise?"
"Well, I figured if I can't set you up I could at least encourage you to pick out a guy or gal yourself," Louise explained. She smiled forlornly and touched his arm. "You know I just want happiness for you, Nolan."
"I am happy," Nolan said and Louise raised an eyebrow at him doubtfully, but said nothing.
The two friends slipped into their seats – at the happy couple's head table, of course. "That reminds me," Louise said. "Will Olivia be making an appearance tonight?"
He shook his head. "No, apparently she had to work late. But Hailey will be here."
"As if on cue," Louise replied, gesturing across the party. Nolan turned to see Charlotte and Hailey making their grand entrance, arm in arm and joking about something. When Charlotte's eyes landed on them she smiled and waved, before leading Hailey over.
"Hi, thank you for coming." She said, greeting both Nolan and Louise warmly. "Louise, you remember Hailey right?"
"Of course," Louise said, plastering on her biggest grin and shaking Hailey's hand. "Sit down, why don't you darlin? I just want to know all about you." She winced slightly as Nolan kicked her under the table.
A few moments later the other guests began to clap as the couple of the hour made their entrance, Amanda and Jack reluctantly accepting their applause before they walked over to join the rest of their friends. "Well, a year later and you two still look like you belong at the top of a wedding cake." Charlotte said, hugging her sister and brother-in-law.
"Thank you for this lovely party, Charlotte." Amanda told her. "You didn't have to do all this for us."
"Don't be silly," Her sister insisted. "I wanted to do something nice for you two. This night will be perf-"
"Well, well, Amanda Clarke and Jack Porter, in the flesh."
Charlotte's face fell as she saw Drew approaching, Spencer at his heels. Great, just great… "So nice to finally meet you two," Drew said, a cocky smile on his face. "I'm Drew Burton, and this is Spencer Presley. Nolan's employees. I don't believe we've had the pleasure of meeting before."
Jack accepted the handshake he offered. "Nolan's told us a lot about you both. Why don't you both sit down?"
"I don't think –" Charlotte started to say, but Drew cut her off.
"We'd love to," He said. "Thanks so much."
Charlotte scowled as they all settled around the table, Drew beginning to eagerly talk about himself. She cursed in her mind and stomped away in a tizzy without another word. She needed a drink – or ten.
As she examined the contents of the food table, Hailey felt a hand touch her shoulder. "Anything good?" Spencer asked, standing by her side.
"I don't know what half these things are," Hailey said with a laugh as she took in the array of typical Hamptons party foods which Charlotte had selected – five different types of caviar, a variety of exotic fishes, and hors-d'oeuvres with names she could not pronounce.
"Well better put something in your stomach before you party the night away," Spencer said, nodding towards the dance floor where Louise had roped a hesitant Nolan as her partner. Meanwhile Charlotte was at the bar and Drew had excused himself, leaving Amanda and Jack alone for an intimate conversation.
"Yeah, no." Hailey said, shutting him down. "I'm a terrible dancer."
"Oh, not me." Spencer replied. "I can do a really good sprinkler." He demonstrated the move for her, causing Hailey to burst into laughter.
"You know what sounds even better than a dance?" Hailey said and Spencer shook his head no. "A cheeseburger. A greasy cheeseburger, with French fries. And maybe even a chocolate milkshake."
"Sounds awesome," Spencer chuckled. "Maybe we can duck out early and go to a drive thru. I'll buy."
Hailey grinned. "Okay," She said, taking his arm. "You're totally my hero."
Louise giggled as she and Nolan returned to the table, their presence diverting Amanda and Jack's attentions from each other to their guests. "That girl over there?" She said, pointing subtly to a woman across the party. Amanda and Jack both looked over her shoulder to see, while Nolan rolled his eyes and took a sip of his Cristal. "She's totally checking Nolan out."
"She is not!" Nolan insisted, but his three friends just looked at him incredulously – the leggy brunette Louise was referring to would turn her head to glance at them every few seconds. "Oh come on, she's probably looking at you guys – you are the couple of the hour. And you're both way more famous than me now that Ams is Ams again anyway."
Louise raised an eyebrow at him. "Didn't you make the Time 100 this year?"
"I was 79," Nolan conceded. "But that's beside the point." His friends chuckled, and Nolan raised his glass. "To Ams and Jack, the greatest couple I know. The two of you are my best friends, and I couldn't imagine giving away my partner in revenge to anyone else. We had a really good run Ams, and you deserve to finally be happy. So cheers to that."
Jack and Louise both grinned and accepted his proposed toast, but by her husband's side Amanda's mind began to wander at Nolan's words. She glanced at Hailey and Spencer, both of them laughing and doing silly dance moves, then caught sight of Drew talking up some people with a drink in his hand, and finally spotted Charlotte by the bar, taking it all in. For the first time, it was hitting her – Nolan had become the sensei now. So what did that make her?
Jack nudged her, snapping her back to the present. "Hey, you alright?"
She forced a smile. "Of course." She said, not wanting him to sense the uncertainty making its way through her mind. "Happy anniversary."
Charlotte looked up from her cocktail as she saw Drew walk over to the bar. "Don't even start with me right now, Drew." She said. "I already listened to you kiss my sister and brother-in-law's asses for the past hour, I'm not nearly drunk enough for this."
Drew leaned up against the bar, invading her personal space, and Charlotte stepped back to get away from him. "That a Sex on the Beach?"
She eyed him hesitantly and took a sip. "Yeah…"
"You know, you're really hot when you're angry."
Charlotte nearly choked on her drink. "Excuse me?"
"You heard what I said," Drew slurred. "I told myself you were gonna be some rich bitch and I wasn't gonna like you. And I've been trying to deny it, but you're hot. Like, really hot."
"And you're really drunk," Charlotte snapped at him. It was obvious that he was wasted, so wasted he didn't know what he was saying.
"So what if I am? Maybe against my better judgement I actually want to get to know you." Drew leaned towards her and – without thinking – a surprised Charlotte flicked her drink at him.
Drew recoiled when it made contact with his face, and all around them everyone went silent when they saw what had just occurred. The colorful liquid dripped down Drew's white shirt, then onto his khaki pants. He looked up, wiping it out of his eyes, his mouth slightly agape.
"Hey!" Spencer called out, walking over briskly with Hailey at his heels. He grabbed Drew by the arm, pulling him back. "That's enough. Come on, let's go. I'm taking you home."
"Do you want me to come with you?" Hailey asked and Spencer cracked a smile at her.
"We'll probably have to take a rain check on that burger,"
"That's fine," She insisted. "But you're gonna need help getting him home, he's totally out of it."
Spencer nodded. "Yeah, sure. Come on, my car is this way." After she waved bye to Charlotte – who was only able to smile meekly in response – she took Drew's other arm and helped Spencer begin to drag him up the beach.
Grabbing a napkin for her now sticky fingers, Charlotte tried to compose herself. Inside though, she was screaming. From across the party Amanda, Jack, Nolan and Louise were all looking at her – Amanda concerned, Jack unsure, Nolan slightly amused, Louise mortified.
Tonight had officially been a complete disaster.
"Okay, he's asleep." Spencer said as he rejoined Hailey in the hall outside Drew's Manhattan apartment, where she'd gone to wait while Spencer instructed a still inebriated Drew to take off his wet clothes. "I'm sorry about how tonight turned out."
"It's not your fault," Hailey said as the two of them stepped into the elevator, Spencer pressing the button for the ground floor. "And I actually had a pretty good time, despite how the night ended."
"I do promise to get you that burger someday," Spencer told her. "And the fries, and the chocolate shake. Even though I'm more of a vanilla guy."
Hailey laughed. "Good. I could umm…really use another friend around here. Charlotte and I have gotten really close but…" She shook her head. "This is her world, not mine."
"Well, we'll be outsiders together." Spencer said and Hailey smiled at him. "Come on – let's go."
Hailey reached the beach house where she and Olivia were currently staying half past eleven. She waved goodbye to Spencer, who returned the action before pulling his Jeep out of the driveway and heading off. As she walked up to the front porch she saw all the lights were off – her mother must've already been asleep.
Hailey stepped inside and tried to be as quiet as possible, so as not to disturb her sleeping mother. She was halfway up the stairs when she heard something – a loud noise. "Hello?" She whispered timidly, only to receive no response. "Mom? Are you up?" Hesitantly, Hailey peeked into the master bedroom. What she saw made her recoil in surprise.
She saw her mother first – catching a glimpse of Olivia's arched back, her mused hair. "Quiet," She whispered in between sultry kisses with the other – also naked – occupant of her bed. "Hailey will be home any minute."
"Oh don't worry," He whispered as he caressed her face. "When I'm done with you, you'll be the one who's being loud." They both laughed and Hailey backed away from the doorway in horror, just as her mother and Brett Chamberlain collapsed back down onto the sheets…
Nolan aroused himself from slumber when he heard the knocking at his door. He slipped on his robe and went to go see what was going on, wondering if perhaps one of his clients needed him for an emergency. He opened the door and rubbed his eyes, seeing not a client standing before him but someone completely different. "Amanda? What's going on?"
"Can I come in?" She asked and Nolan nodded, stepping aside for her to enter. She was still wearing the long, white dress she'd worn to the party – it was clear she hadn't slept at all, and there was sand on her hem like she'd been walking on the beach for a while.
"Do you know what time it is?" Nolan asked, while Amanda stopped in his foyer, turning around to face him. "Are you okay? Is Jack alright?"
"I just wanted to ask you something." Amanda explained and Nolan looked at her, waiting to hear what was so important that it couldn't wait for the next morning. She was silent for a long moment, clearly deep in thought. "I never thought I would miss it, you know?"
"Miss what, Ams?" Nolan questioned, stepping closer to her.
"Revenge," Amanda clarified, and Nolan could see that she was slightly emotional. "I know it was such a dark time for me, and I let it take over my life. But I…I miss having a purpose, you know? Something which I could dedicate myself to."
"Ams…" Nolan began hesitantly, but his friend didn't stop.
"I love Jack," She insisted. "With all of my heart, I do. But when you and I worked together we shared a greater goal and I loved that. I've spent the past year living in my little bubble, playing house with Jack and Carl, but now Jack has the beach club and Carl is about to go to preschool…So what about me? For the first time in so long…I have nothing I can work towards. I don't know what to do with myself."
"Amanda, what are you trying to say?"
She looked down and didn't say anything – Nolan was starting to think she'd changed her mind and realized how silly she was being when she finally spoke. "I want to work with you again." She said. "I know I gave up revenge but – this isn't revenge, exactly. It's justice. There's a difference. And I miss being your partner, Nolan. We could do so much for the greater good." Amanda looked at him, hopeful. "So...do we have a deal?"
Nolan shook his head, caught off guard by this request. "Well…okay. It's good to have you back, Ams." He leaned in to hug her but then Amanda stopped him, pushing him back gently.
"There's one more thing," She said. "You have to promise me you won't tell Jack."
August 1, 2016 8:45 a.m.
Even the best of us keep secrets.
"Charlotte?!"
The younger Clarke looked up, meeting the eyes of her older sister. Charlotte let out a sigh of relief – they were okay, Amanda, Jack, Nolan, Louise. She could see all of them now. Amanda barreled towards her, pulling her in for a tight hug. "Why didn't you answer your phone?" She said, but Charlotte could tell she was too relieved to really be angry.
"We need to talk," Charlotte said, addressing the whole group now. Drew placed a hand on her shoulder, for moral support.
In all of my years on this earth, I have never met a single person who is always honest.
"Does it involve why you're dressed like that?" Nolan asked, eyeing up her unusual attire of Drew's clothes. "Did you leave - or rob a college student?"
Ignoring him, Charlotte glanced at Drew, who nodded in encouragement. "I think," She said. "That someone we know is behind this. Someone who could easily take us or anyone who he wants down."
"What are you talking about?" Jack questioned.
"I saw him…" Charlotte began vaguely. "I saw him before the blast…"
Before you welcome someone into your life, you must think about how much you really know them.
Nolan looked up, his eyes wide as he began to put pieces together in his mind. Did she mean...? Oh no. "I think," He whispered. "The Liberators have found their female David Clarke."
Meanwhile, somewhere outside of Manhattan, a bound and gagged Olivia Anderson fought against her restraints. When she'd woken up in the back of a dark van, speeding off to an unknown destination, she had no idea what had happened. The last thing she had remembered was a blast and then, being here.
A relationship with a person who keeps secrets from you is like being trapped in the darkness.
Finally – after what felt like an eternity – they stopped. Olivia braced herself as the van doors burst open. For all she knew, this is was it – they could kill her, right now. The person before her was dressed in all black – clearly a man based on his size and build, a dark hood shielding his face so she could not see his features. He yanked her up, eliciting a cry from Olivia. "Let's go," He growled in a menacing tone, shoving her onto her feet and pushing her in front of him. Olivia momentarily stopped breathing when she felt a gun pressed against the small of her back. "Move!"
That's why before you get attached to someone, you must consider what you know about them as a person, and decide whether or not they are worthy of your trust.
Obeying his commands, Olivia began to move forward as best as she could with her bound ankles, her kidnapper's grip on her strong. They were in the middle of nowhere, with only one thing in front of them – a warehouse. Once they reached it her abductor threw the door open and shoved her inside.
Otherwise you may end up befriending, employing…
Her wrists and feet still tied and a piece of cloth still shoved in her mouth, Olivia hit the ground hard and pain vibrated throughout her body. She weakly rolled over onto her back and that's when she saw her captor's face for the first time. She screamed, but her gag prevented her from making any real noise. It wasn't like anyone was around to hear her anyway. She was trapped.
…or even welcoming into your bed a complete stranger.
Brett Chamberlain lowered his hood, scanning Olivia up and down as she lay there helpless on the floor. "I'm sorry it had to be this way, Anderson." He said, before shutting the warehouse doors behind him and once again shrouding her in unforgiving darkness...
