So Alex and Rose have a real conversation! Finally.
To my awesome reviewers--as of now, the five of you--I 3 you guys. You motivated me to actually type this one up.
Mwaaaas!
"Quiet, everyone, rolling in three, two, one...action!"
Alex sighed and stifled a yawn as the director called action on take seven. For the seventh time, Brad looked Megan in the eye and said:
"They're my kids, damn it, and I'm going to keep them. I'll do whatever it takes!", while Edward Norton slowly took out a gun and undos the safety catch silently.
For the seventh time, Rose walked into this pivotal scene as Edward slowly tured the gun on her. Rose looked appropriately terrified, but the moment was punctured by Edward accidentaly knocking over a vase.
The entire set stifled a moan except Rose, who was too busy checking her Iphone. She looked oddly happy for a girl who had gotten up at 5 in the morning and spent a grueling day at work.
On the contrary, Clint did not look happy. Clint looked murderous, and everyone on set had seen or felt the brunt of his notorious temper at one point. They watched him warily as he stared at the smashed vase, which was slowly leaking and staining the Persian carpet.
Rose finally looked up from her Iphone, consious of the tense atmosphere. She glanced quickly at the vase and took in the entire set waiting for Clint to explode. She walked over, plucked a roll of paper towels of the kitchen set's counter, and asked Clint how long the crew needed before take eight.
"Finally, someone around here doing something sensible! Well, whaddya know." Clint's face had stopped turning purple. "Why did no one else do that, huh? What are you all getting paid for?"
Before Alex could stop himself, he muttered, "We're getting paid to make a movie, not to risk our lives—which are severely in danger, given your fondness of projectiles."
Luckily Clint wasn't paying attention, but Rose was. Alex caught her eye because, well, like,—wow. Even on a movie set, with gorgeous people running left and right, Alex was noticable. It must have been the combination of his serious brown eyes, which could turn to amusement in a second, and his blond hair, which he washed at night and rolled out of bed with in the morning, without a second thought. His grin was wicked and he flashed it generously, often in response to some internal joke.
Alex had caught her eye because of his looks, but he had definitely captured her interest because of his actions—he returned her five year old brother, which was more then enough to have Rose grateful. But when she had tried to thank him, he had looked like he was being crucified—he said your welcome, muttered an excuse, and escaped. She had looked for him afterwards but security said he had left. Rose was determined to speak to him on the first day of filming, but the schedule was so hectic... and it was almost like he was avoiding her?
Ever since seventh grade, when Rose grew boobs and discovered makeup in her everyday life, no boy had ever turned her down, in any way, shape, or form. She had even gotten a few marriage proposals. But the boys were all the same, all uniformly good looking and paparazzi-friendly. Rose knew she was being unfair when she didn't even bother to get to know them, but seriously...
Alex was different. Rose was arrogant enough to assume that there was a reason why he was avoiding her, that he really did like her, but... But what? Maybe he thought she was divaish? Or maybe he had a girlfriend at home? The possibilities were endless, and Rose was bothered by them—even though she had no right to be.
Clint brought Rose down to earth when he called an hour break so that the crew could clean off the set.
Alex looked at Rose sharply before turning away and walking down a hall in the other direction. Because they were on location at a school, there were many classrooms and crannies he could hide in.
Hide in?
Mrs Henderson approached Rose, all aflutter. "Oh Rose, so you have a break now, I was thinking you could review the fan questions and sign those photos? They are so--"
"Later. I have homework."
Rose felt bad about being short with her chaperone, but Alex's head was almost out of sight, and she was determined to find out why he wasn't interested. A small voice in her head popped up and chanted:
Maybe he just doesn't like you. He thinks you're ugly. He thinks you're slutty. He thinks you're bitchy...
For the first time, Rose felt insecure, and she hated that feeling. She rushed after Alex.
You can't aaaaaact, your daddy haaaates you...
"Shut up!" Rose gasped, doubling over a water fountain.
"'Scuse me?" Alex half turned at the sound of her voice, looking alarmed as he saw her bent over the water fountain, taking in great gulps of air.
Pull yourself together, girl! He'll never like you at this rate. Ever. You're pathetic. That's why your dad is only coming to set for the day, and it's why he's late.
"Sorry, I just—needed a drink—and choked..." Great excuse, Rosie. Pshhh.
Alex half laughed. She was delusional if she thought he'd swallow that, but the effort was cute.
"Alex, I just wanted to say," Rose began hesitantly, having no idea where she was going with this, "thanks again for finding Nate. Like, I was responsible and it was completely my fault that I wasn't paying attention. And you—it was great of you to like, go..." she trailed off, aware that she epitomized dumb American. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh.
Alex cocked his head to the side, waiting for her to get it out, so he could go back to staring at her without her knowing. He took her in: dark hair, curling in heat induced ringlets down her back, blue eyes that sparkled with humor, often at some private, hidden joke... he wanted to know what was funny... straight, braceless teeth... all in all, hot. But also something else. She was cute when she was nervous. Nice break from tradition.
Rose bit her lip, scowling at herself. "So anyway... I was thinking... if you ever, like, need anything...or if I can help you out..." she stopped at the sight of Alex's face. A second ago it had been untroubled, almost happy... but now it looked stormy and almost scary. Rose continued in a small voice, "or we could just be friends..."
Alex gritted his teeth.
Yeah, thanks, you can help me. All I need is to put your daddy in jail. I know your mum's dead, and that this would probably rip open your family, but yeah, sorry...
Instead he said, "thanks so much. If I ever need anything that," he paused, feeling awful as her face crumpled, "you could give me, aside from an STD, I'll let you know."
Alex walked away, knowing that he was the scum of the earth, but he was comforted by the knowledge that he wouldn't be using her, that when he succeeded in his mission, she wouldn't have been instramental in her dad's jail time.
Rose walked away, to shocked to speak. Her Tory Burches echoed dully across the taupe hallway and made a depressing rhythm as her phone beeped.
WE'RE HERE. WE NEED TO TELL YOU SOMETHING.
Even the excitement of having her two little monsters around set didn't dispel her anger and hurt at Alex. She turned the corner into the lounge to wait for her brothers and father to come up.
A blond and and brown haired head came barreling into her, and Rose momentarily forgot her crushing hurt and laughed at her two brothers. Her laughter quickly died away as two pairs of eyes stared at her sadly and two mouths wailed, "Daddy's got a girlfriend and she's awful."
Everyone in the lounge turned to look at the little huddle but the Leighton kids were to preoccupied to care. In all the commotion, Alex had slipped in to the lounge unseen and was watching the look on Rose's face. After what he had just said to her, he had no right to want to make her happy, but again that compulsion to protect her...
Rose was staring into space, her face frozen in shock. Her eyes desperately scanned the room, looking for something—escape? as she heard footsteps and her father's voice outside the door. Rose's eyes locked on Alex and she unfroze. Her eyes narrowed in anger and she watched the door open.
Alex also watched the door, wanting to get another look at his target. Roy Leiton walked in, and draped across his arm was some redhead who couldn't be older then 19. Rose looked questioningly down at Davie, who nodded solemnly.
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Rose was disgusted. Her dad was 38. Ewww.
Roy and Redhead were coming closer. The entire room was silent, zooming in on the drama unfolding. Rose let herself slide back into actress mode—sell the line, Rosie. This is the reason they pay you millions--and Clint is watching.
"Dad, oh my god, Daaaaddy...I've always. Wanted. a sister."
So this chapter kind of depressed me because I love Alex. So I'm currently writing the next chapter-where he is awesome.
Review!
