And here is the next chapter! Meredith is a big part of this one - that girl Beck went on a date with as Jade and he got back together.
I wish all of you a good read!
Meredith has made it. She's actually working in the fashion business under a great label in Paris now and is doing really well. And she's only 28 years old, so she's sure she will go even further up.
But she already feels proud as she's back in the hallways of Hollywood Arts just now and feels excited to tell her teachers and all her classmates with whom she's barely connected anymore because of her amazing career as she has barely time anymore.
She's especially excited as she hasn't gotten back to their five year reunion because of work. Now, it's their ten year reunion.
It's tradition for reunions at Hollywood Arts that everyone meets inside the school with their spouses or significant others and their children. The teachers are also always there to talk to everyone. After two or three hours, the aluminis regularly go into a close restaurant together where someone reserves seats beforehand for as many people as will probably stay, based on experience.
Meredith thinks she also will stay for dinner. At least, she now already loves every second of the reunion, has already caught up with a few old friends.
She wants to get herself a drink which are handed out at various spots in the hallways for a small price, when she suddenly sees him. Beck.
She stops in her tracks. Is that seriously him? She can't believe it but he's even more handsome now than back when they were in school. He has tied up his hair in the back and wears a beard that looks ridiculously attractive though she usually doesn't like those.
Just now, he pushes a few loose strands of hair out of his face – his hair that's still gorgeous –, while he speaks with Sikowitz and a few women. Or just Sikowitz. Meredith isn't sure if the other women, who she recognizes as some of those former classmates that always had a crush on Beck, aren't just trying to be close to Beck without him realizing.
She has sometimes thought about Beck over the last ten years. And yes, maybe she has imagined sometimes that they would meet again by accident or fate and would fall in love. If someone would have asked her over the time how she would describe her perfect man, she possibly always would have thought about Beck because he never was just good-looking but also nice and friendly and helpful, so relaxed and patient.
But she hasn't stalked him even the slightest. She hasn't even followed him on social media or anything. The few times she has thought about him, she has decided she wouldn't want to be that kind of woman. She has watched a movie she has seen a trailer off on her TV, in which he had a quite good role.
But she doesn't know anything more about his life except that he obviously tries to follow his dream of being an actor.
She's sure he can have enough of those women who know more, who think they know him better than anyone as they creepily follow his every step. These former female classmates now standing with him are proof of that. She isn't one of them.
She now steps closer to say hi to him and finally can hear what Sikowitz and he are talking about it.
"You will go back on Sunday?" Sikowitz asks just now.
It's Friday afternoon. The students all had a short day today.
"I will," Beck answers. "But luckily only very late as I have to be back the next night. And it's only two more weeks after that."
"It has to be great to film at so many actual locations," Sikowitz notices and Beck promptly nods: "It is but it's also always great to be home, especially with these different time zones."
Meredith can't help but wonder what exactly Beck is filming at the moment and where. It does sound good that he films something else, so he may have succeeded in being an actor like she succeeded in the fashion industry.
"Hi, Beck," she now happily says as she finally steps up to him. She can't wait to tell him about her career and to see his reaction. He will be impressed, won't he?
"Hey, uhm... Meredith," Beck answers, shoots her a smile before he turns back to Sikowitz. Oh, the games men like to play. As if he had to think about her name! She has more experience with men now than back when she was seventeen and she knows this is just a trick.
"What's after this one?" Sikowitz asks, continuing their talk as if Meredith hasn't interrupted them.
"I may have a small role in another movie lined up but..." Beck starts saying but stops talking and Meredith knows why.
There is a squeal: "Daddy!" And he has barely time to turn around when a little girl with dark hair already jumps in his arms. She may be about four years old and Beck directly hugs her tightly with a smile that's more gorgeous than everything else Meredith has ever seen.
"Sweetie! It's so great to see you."
"I missed you," the little girl says, drawing back a little, still sitting in Beck's arms but now looking into his face.
"I missed you, too," Beck says. "So much."
He gives her a kiss on the cheek and Meredith has to say that it makes Beck even more attractive. Men with children are somehow always sexy for her. And seeing this handsome man with this adorable little girl, so lovingly...
She only realizes what this has to mean when Beck pulls the girl into another close hug but then expectantly looks over her shoulder.
Meredith turns around and there is noone else than Jade who walks up to them in that way she has always walked, as if she owns the place.
Jade shortly looks over their group before she returns Beck's look who smiles as she steps right in front of him. She lies both her hands on his cheeks and pulls him into a much too long kiss.
"Hey, babe," Meredith then hears him whisper and Jade answer: "Hey."
"Sorry, I didn't pick you guys up," Beck says. "I thought you would already be here."
Jade slightly shakes her head. "Don't worry. I ran a little bit late but we're fine. Just happy to see you again."
They share another kiss before Jade looks over the other women and Meredith again with almost her typical glare, and then settles her eyes on their former teacher who has watched their greeting smiling: "Hi, Sikowitz."
And this just can't be true, can it? Jade and Beck can't still be together, can they? Beck must have realized by now that Jade isn't the right girl for him. Beck deserves so much better than her.
But now that she looks at the little girl in Beck's arm... That could very well be both of their daughter. But that just can't be true!
"Hello there, Jade," Sikowitz answers. "And hello, Melissa." The little girl has pulled back a little from Beck again, doesn't hug him anymore, just sits in his arms and looks back at Sikowitz as well. "You've grown quite a lot since I've seen you last."
"We saw each other just last month," the girl claims, narrowing her eyes.
"We did?" Sikowitz says like he's surprised though Meredith is almost sure he isn't. But who really ever knows with Sikowitz.
"Yes," Melissa says and rolls her eyes in a way that somehow reminds Meredith of Jade. It makes her a little sick because this girl does sit in Beck's arms and why hasn't she got a child with him that now sits in his arms – and that wouldn't roll her eyes like that but would be a more happy and nice child. Though Melissa still is adorable. But she probably will turn out just like Jade and Beck also deserves better in a daughter.
Sikowitz smiles though. "Well. You've still grown quite a lot. How are you?"
"Fine," Melissa answers and then tuns back to Beck: "How long will you stay?"
"The whole weekend," Beck says with a voice as if that's really an extremely long time and Melissa does a little cheer. "And then, it's only two more weeks in Europe and I'll be at home again."
Europe. He actually is filming in Europe. That's fate, right? Though he's married and has a child now. Can that really be fate between them?
Jade rubs Melissa's back with a small smile, that doesn't remind Meredith of the Jade she knows, while the girl happily hugs Beck again.
Sikowitz turns to Jade again: "How was your directing?"
"Good," Jade answers. "It was fun. And they told me they probably want me to do it again next season."
"You are wrapping now, aren't you?"
Jade nods. "Yes, we started to film the last episode. We're a little behind the time but whatever. And as we're already picked up for another season, everyone is calm and happy for the break to come."
"You're really good in that show," Sikowitz says. "I still think you should stay with acting. You're great."
Jade doesn't even thank their former teacher for that compliment. Typical.
Instead she shrugs: "I will at least partly. As long as they want me back, I will be. But I also would like direct more. And I absolutely would love to finally write again."
She shares a look with Beck who smiles at her in that loving way he has also so often looked at her back in school.
Sikowitz nods again. "Well, I hope everything will work out like you want it to. But am I gathering it right, then? You will be on break at the same time when Beck also isn't filming? So, you pretty much have a break at the same time?"
Jade and Beck share another look before Beck says, sounding extremely happy: "Yes, for the first time after about one and a half years."
"Will you do another job during your break?" Sikowitz asks Jade again.
She answers: "No. We'll use that time together." Only for a moment, she hesitates, then: "And I'm actually pregnant."
And suddenly, there's a beautiful smile on Jade's face that Meredith has never seen before and that doesn't look as if Jade has planned on it or wanted it.
"You are?" Sikowitz asks excited. "Congratulations! How far along are you?"
Meredith doesn't feel good about these news, especially with the way Beck looks at Jade at that. Though at the same time, this look, the warm smile with those bright eyes, are to die for.
Jade shortly glances at the other women and maybe decides she won't tell anything private, at least she just states: "Far enough. I learned to hide it with my clothes for the show."
"Oh, yeah. How will that work with the show?" Sikowitz asks.
Jade answers: "They already know and talk about the plot for the next season and maybe I won't be in one or two episodes but I hope they can do a lot with the schedule for filming and possibly work around it. I don't want to leave for too much time."
"I will stay home," Beck intervenes with a smile, looking from Jade to Sikowitz. "That's why I took one more small job but won't audition for anything big until we can make it work again with a newborn child."
And how much more perfect can he get? Of course, he will stay home for his children. He's such a good man!
Sikowitz smiles as well: "You both do an excellent job with Melissa. I'm sure you will manage."
Beck and Jade share a look, that's too loving in Meredith's opinion, but that's also the moment, Melissa notices: "Uncle Andre is here."
Obviously, she has been bored by the talk and has looked around.
Everyone follows her gaze now and see Andre as well, talking to a former classmate.
"He is," Beck says and puts her down. "Why don't you go over and say hi?"
"Come with me," she says without hesitation, grabbing his hand. And she does sound too much like Jade there as well.
Beck looks amused as he glances at Jade and Sikowitz. "I guess I will say hi to Andre. Coming with?"
He means Jade who nods, but then also looks expectantly at Sikowitz but he says: "I'll greet some other people. But we'll surely meet again."
He's off and Beck, Jade and Melissa go over to Andre.
Meredith follows them with her eyes before she looks over to the other women who also look after them but seem happy as they do.
"Did you know they were married and had a child?" she asks them.
They finally look at her, all a little confused.
"Yeah," Jennifer says and Tamara nods as well: "They attend most red carpet events together. And Melissa comes up in interviews. But she really looks so much like him and he is so adorable with her!" The other three also nod excitedly.
"Right?" Joan says with lit up eyes.
"I know!" Grace adds.
Yes, he is cute with her and the girl probably does look a lot like him though she also has seen a lot of Jade in her. But as she now slowly gets over the shock of them being married and having a child (and a second on the way), she thinks she also can appreciate how she looks like him and he's just great with her.
But he's married and does have a child. And the others have known and they've still gotten right next to him, still have possibly tried talking to him.
"And you're still..." she slowly says.
Jennifer shrugs. "He wouldn't be the fist guy to divorce his wife for someone better."
That's definitely true. And Meredith knows she's better than Jade.
.
.
She takes her chance as Beck is getting drinks. He has his daughter in his arms again but he also never seem to go anywhere without her here. Well, she apparently hasn't seen him for quite a few days, so she probably wants to stay close to him.
At least, Jade is finally not with him anymore, so Meredith apporaches him.
"Hey, Beck."
"Hi, Meredith," Beck answers when he sees her. "We didn't come around to talk, did we?"
"No, we didn't," she says.
Beck nods to his daughter in his arms. "As you have probably gathered, this is my daughter Melissa. This is Meredith, another former class mate." And they have been on a date but whatever... She probably can't expect him to say that in front of his daughter who watches her curiously.
"Hey, there," Meredith says to her with a warm smile, then she looks back to Beck: "Well, Beck... I heard something about you doing a movie at the moment."
"Yeah, we're nearly done now," he answers.
"Where are you filming?" she asks interested.
"In Italy."
And this has to be fate. They met here and will be both in Europe the next two weeks for work. Of course, it's awful that she hasn't known he would be there for the last few weeks but she still has a chance with this. Far away from Jade's influence.
"I live in Paris now," she says and is sure that that impresses him though he doesn't show. But living in Paris... That is impressive. "Maybe, we could meet up?"
Beck smiles. "Ah, I've only got two weeks left there and my calender is full of work."
But with the way he smiles, she's sure this isn't a rejection of any sort. He probably really just has to work so much.
She looks for another way to meet him when he already continues: "But tell me more about you. Does your father still has that cupcake store?"
"He has," she answers. She feels good that he remembers about her father. Maybe, he has thought about her over the last few years every now and then as well.
Suddenly, Melissa speaks up, with lit up eyes: "Your father owns a cupcake store?"
"He does," she says with a smile. Okay, the little girl does look a little like Beck there. And really adorable.
"That's so cool," Melissa says happily.
Beck looks at her amused: "Much cooler than having an actor as a father, huh?"
"Daddy! It's cupcakes!" she instantly says and he chuckles: "I know, sweet tooth."
Meredith addresses Melissa now as well: "I'm sure I could tell my father to give you a discount." As Beck obviously loves Melissa more than anything, winning her over could possibly be the way into his heart.
Melissa looks delighted but Beck answers: "I don't know if we'll ever get to the store. We have a few we love very much."
She knows this is about Jade. Jade is so controlling. She's sure that she's so controlling that Beck doesn't even dare going into her father's store for their daughter.
But she guesses this isn't something she should talk about right now. Beck is a good man and would probably defend Jade, so... Back to trying to get him alone somewhere to talk to him more.
"Anyway... About your movie..." she says. "Maybe, I could come by and you could give me a tour of the set."
She touches his arm as casually as she can.
Beck looks down at it for a second, slightly moves to the side as he starts: "I..."
But they get interrupted in the same moment: "What's taking you so long?"
It's Jade, who has appeared out of nowhere next to Beck and is talking in her sweetest voice that's so damn fake. She puts her arm around Beck and bats her eyelashes at him.
Why has she had to appear at this very moment?
"We were having a talk here!" Meredith tells her and it's only then that Jade looks at her, glaringly, lets her arm fall down from Beck's shoulder and says in her coldest voice: "Yeah, right. Talk's over. Get away."
"Babe. It was just a talk," Beck says, rubbing her arm soothingly.
"It wasn't and you know it," Jade tells him and turns back to Meredith: "Be hung up on him all you want but flirting with a married man while he has his daughter in his arms? Really?"
Meredith shortly shoots Melissa a look who has her eyes settled on her mother, not afraid but possibly worried, before she defends herself: "I didn't flirt."
"Oh, yes, you did. And I swear..." Jade takes a step closer to her but Beck holds her back with the arm that's not holding Melissa and interrupts her: "Babe."
And this is ridiculous. Jade is ridiculous and always has been. Beck has always deserved better.
She says: "I wouldn't have to flirt with him with that child in his arms if you wouldn't control his life. He doesn't even dare to meet me in Europe because he knows how you will freak out. He doesn't even dare going into my father's store with her because of you!"
"What?" Jade replies in a threatening tone as she's about to take another step closer to her and Meredith almost backs away.
But Beck stops her again. "Babe."
She grits her teeth and he looks at Melissa: "Sweetie? Could you please run over to Auntie Tori?"
"Is everything alright?" the girl asks, shortly looking at her father, then her mother again who doesn't take her eyes away from Meredith, still glaring.
"Everything will be, sweetie," Beck assures her as he puts her down.
She looks at her father again before she obeys and runs off for Tori.
It's only when she's out of earshot that Jade speaks again: "Nothing will be."
"Jade, come on. Please," Beck says, grabbing her arm again.
Jade doesn't look at him but still keeps her eyes on Meredith which she doesn't like at all. "Did you hear what she just said?"
Now, Meredith has to speak up again. "Yeah, and do you realize that he hasn't defended you because he knows it's true?"
Jade definitely looks as if she wants to attack her for that but Beck still holds her back. "Jade."
Then, he turns to Meredith and calmly states: "I don't defend her because I know it's not true. And it's not important what you think. I don't want to meet you. I would have loved to have a little chat because that's kind of what this reunion is about but obviously you want to interpret more into it. So, no, we can never meet up anywhere. And it is quite inappropriate, flirting with me in front of my daughter."
"I..." Meredith starts. She can't believe that Beck is indeed defending Jade and accusing Meredith. This is not her fault. She isn't a bad person. Maybe, it hasn't been right for her to approach Beck while he has been with his daughter but... She hasn't had another chance and he also has done inappropriate things in his life. To her as well. "You are the one who kissed her on our date."
Beck seems surprised about this comeback but calmly says: "And I told you I was sorry for that. I don't know what else to say about it. Particularly as it's been eleven years."
"And it should give you a hint with whom he actually wants to be with," Jade spits out.
Beck rubs her arm again. "Come on, babe."
He is about to turn around and drag her with him but Jade still glares at Meredith. "I swear if you flirt with him one more time, especially while our daughter is with him and has to witness, I will destroy your life. I heard you're doing something with fashion nowadays? Guess what. Thanks to my jobs and to Beck's and all the red carpet events we've been to, I know quite a few people. I can and will ensure that you'll never get any kind of job ever again."
Meredith feels cold because of the threat, and Jade looks further to Meredith's side. She notices that Jennifer, Tamara, Grace and Joan are standing close. Maybe, they have already listened into Meredith's and Beck's talk, maybe they have wanted to get themselves involved before Jade came along. While Meredith hasn't noticed them before, Jade obviously has and wants to make sure they know she also directs that threat at them.
Only then, she turns around and goes, Beck by her side.
Meredith can still hear them though, as they go in the direction of Melissa, Tori and two other former classmates whose talk can also be heard from Meredith's position if you concentrate.
"In front of Melissa!"
"I know," she hears Beck answer and Jade again: "I mean... I'm okay with all your on screen love interests and the stupid flirting in interviews because that's just how it is. But this is awful. They do think they can get with you. While she's in your arms."
"I know. But they never will. I love you."
"I know," Jade answers.
Behind her, Meredith hears Jennifer spits out: "What does she think? She doesn't own Beck!"
But Meredith starts to see that she does while she picks up her daughter, and the girl asks again if everything is okay. Jade just huffs and Melissa says that she also doesn't like Meredith. Beck laughs and gives her a kiss on the cheek. Yes, maybe Jade does own Beck and has owned him all along.
