Disclaimer: (annoyingness) I don't own Alex Rivers, that belongs to the genius Jodi Picoult. Just pretend in my fanfic Cassie and Alex are still together and Alex never beat her (that is if you read Picture Perfect. If you haven't, then forget what I just said.)
Sorry about the long update. 1, I was grounded for a bit and 2... I discovered the Percy Jackson series. Enough said :)
Song: Hello by Evanescence (this song really doesn't have anything to do with this chapter. It has to do with Edwards situation right now. This song can relate to Twilight too P)
Right when I thought his all of his attention was directed towards me, a familiar shape tapped on his holy, finely clothed shoulder.
"Sup man?" he grinned in his annoying, low voice. Devon turned around, giving him a brother-brother hug. I stared at him, taken off guard.
"Jacob?" I choked, forgetting all about the binding contract I just signed, along with Bridget and Victoria being total bitches. I looked into his dark, black eyes, a million questions overflowing mine. I felt my forehead crease, making my eyebrows furrow.
"Hey Bells," he grinned, too at ease to be sarcastic. Maybe he was good today? Then he winked, and I immediately regretted my thought. It didn't bring me the comfort that filtered through my lungs when Edward did just now. Instead, I felt like kicking him where the sun don't shine. Preferably wearing one of Alice's five inch pointed-toed stilettos.
"What are you doing here?" I demanded. My teeth grinded, blocking out background noise for a fraction of a second. He just shrugged. Then Devon spoke for him.
"I thought Jacob here told you, he said you were friends..." he said to me, eyebrows high in surprise. Instead I narrowed my eyes at Jake some more, making him look away from my intense glare. I stomped my foot for extra dramatic effect.
"Did you seriously just stomp your foot? I thought girls only did that on TV." he smirked at me. I growled.
"Can it, Jake, and tell me what's going on." I barked.
"I thought you would know... well then. Bella, Mr. Black is playing Aladdin." he said cheerfully. He smiled at me so hugely, he seemed to be saying, Well, isn't that just perfect? He was dead wrong.
I held on to the edges of the seat for support. My mouth was moving, but it formed no words. I heard the air drag through my lips, my chest heaving. I wanted to drop dead right there.
"No no no no no no no..." I let out a humorless, dead chuckle. I sounded dead. I must of looked it too.
"Isn't it great Bells? We don't even have to pretend." Jacob let out a loud, raucous laugh, throwing his head back wildly. I hated when he acted cheesy sarcastic like that. I wanted to throw a shoe at his head, or throw up. I hated when he called me Bells, Bella, Isabella, or anything that resembled my name. It sounded truly annoying when it came out of his mouth. I wanted to scream.
"Is he on contract too?" I whispered painfully, as I waited for the final blow. I already knew the answer.
"Of course. He makes the Aladdin," Devon said, all business-like again. I wanted to cry. I felt the tears pulling up now. I just nodded at him, to depressed to speak. I got up from the otherwise comfortable red velvet seat. I had do admit, I would have enjoyed it if it wasn't for the fact that I was clutching to it for dear life.
Get me out of here, I thought. I'd even crawl. Or roll.
With one last smile at me, Devon placed the yellow manila envelope on my lap wordlessly, sensing my distress. He walked away, already hooked on his blue tooth, pager, and texting on his Blackberry at the same time.
"Weirdo," coughed Victoria. I heard a hiss from behind, defending me. I turned to see who was brave enough to help the Hollywood nobody. It was Alexa.
"I think I have to go meet with some people..." I murmured, and stood up to wobble away. I heard a few snickers before I was out of earshot. I had only gotten a safe distance away from the rest of them when an arm caught me.
"What's going on Bella?" Alexa inquired. Her green eyes demanded my attention. I gulped.
"I'll tell you later," I whispered so softly, I didn't think she heard. I couldn't even hear myself through the rapid beating of my heart. She seemed to have caught the message, though.
"By the way, you left your script," she reminded me. I smiled.
"Thanks. I don't know what would of happened if you didn't remember," I grinned appreciatively. My hands met the rough material of the large yellow envelope as she handed it to me. She nodded, and walked back to her seat.
I looked around me, mind blank. I had used that talking excuse just to get away from Jacob. But now I had no idea where to go. How idiotic I must be looking, with no one to talk to, not even a person at my side. I sat on the nearest chair, around the fourth row up, well away from the intimidating posse of actors.
A hand tapped me on the shoulder. I looked behind me to meet a pair of silver interested eyes. The man had brown hair, mixed with gold streaks you could only catch in the light. His chin and hard jaw line was covered in stubble. I recognized the face immediately, and started breathing at a rapid rate. I wanted to die.
"Hello, I'm Alex Rivers." the man said politely. "I work on soundtrack."
"Ohhimynamesisabellaswan," I said so fast the words blended together, "but you can call me Bella." He chuckled at me, but he looked like he was waiting for something. I extended my hand robotically, and he shook it. Alex Rivers shook my hand. ALEX RIVERS SHOOK MY HAND FOR A WHOLE 2.4 SECONDS. I felt a scream bubbling at the tip of my tongue.
Devon Bowman was absolutely nothing compared to Alex Rivers. It was like comparing a mortal to a God. Being in his presence felt like watching Elvis Presley rise from the dead. Unbelievable, surreal, however you wanted to put it. Sure Devon was a director, but he wasn't beyond being the TOP A-List actor in America, and most likely the world. Devon wasn't the head of his own filming company. He wasn't the top producer in the music industry. Or have every magazine known to man with his face on the cover for at least three issues... yearly. Devon didn't exactly have the whole female population squealing at the slightest mention of his name either. I never understood how Alex ever married a smart, studious anthropologist. Shouldn't he be arm in arm with Hollywood's leading lady?
"S-Soundtrack?" I stuttered.
"Yes. That's what I wanted to get at actually," he grinned, displaying two perfect rows of snow white teeth. My jaw fell open, and I slightly swayed to the side. I stuttered in a struggle to make words before I finally forced myself to shut the hell up and listen.
"We need to get the actual soundtrack out of the way before we film. It's a musical, after all. We wouldn't have you lip-sync to nothing. I think it would be more... convenient to already know the songs by heart so we get that out of the way and leave time for filming. Are you fine with that?"
"Okay!" I squeaked.
He said something else, but I couldn't decipher it. I just stared at the twin nickels people called his eyes.
"Is that alright?" He said cautiously.
"Sure!" I blurted out instantly, though I had absolutely no idea what he was talking about whatsoever.
"So I'll give the score sheet to one of the Briarwood students. I'll get you acquainted to the young man who's assisting me tomorrow, since I won't be there."
"Wha..?"
He looked away from my eyes, ignoring my confusion. He waved someone over from behind my head. He smiled as someone facing my back inched closer. I didn't bother to turn around, to waste the time I had to look at Alex. That is, until I saw who the person was when they rounded around me to meet my face.
"Edward?" I gasped.
"Hello, stranger." He grinned. I felt the smile I fought to keep away slowly creep along the edges of my lips.
"Bella, you know Mr. Cullen?" Alex said slowly, accentuating each word. Now it was his turn to act confused.
"My best friends cousin," I explained. I didn't move my eyes away from Edward's gaze. His impish grin pulled up a bit at the right end, transforming into the crooked smile I loved. I instantly felt giddy and hyper; I couldn't help but giggle a little. With one little meaningless nod at me, he turned his attention towards Alex.
"Well then," he continued, "It seems like you won't have to endure one of those wretched introductions after all. Let's get straight to the point.
Edward, Miss Swan and I were just talking about the soundtrack. Would you mind accompanying me tomorrow morning to help?"
"Sure thing, Rivers." He nodded robotically. I noticed his breath was a bit unsteady, eyes a little unsure. To Edward, it seemed like he wasn't nervous about meeting the celebrity Alex Rivers, but he was worried that he wasn't capable to carry out the job bestowed upon him. Like he was afraid to fail him. Why did that make me... was the right word sad?
"Here.." Alex rummaged in his pocket, searching for something. He pulled out a small white rectangular paper with a design logo on the front and information below. It took me a second to realize it was a business card.
"Here you go, Bella. You might need this if you want to get in. Though I will notify the guard of your arrival, I cannot make any guarantees that he'll let you in." He warned. He handed it to me, and I stuffed it in the back of my jeans. I was surprised with such worn off wash, the pocket didn't break in the effort. Not that I was complaining.
"I expect to see both of you bright and early tomorrow morning, eight o' clock sharp. If your not..." he threatened darkly. I flinched at the turn his cheery tone had taken. I vowed to myself I'd be there at 7:30.
"Not a problem, Rivers. I'm taking Bella anyways." Edward assured.
"You are?" I looked at him with a teasing smile.
"When am I ever going to start opening the door for you?" He replied, smiling too. His gaze held mine until Alex cleared his throat.
"So that's settled. Bella would you mind coming over here please?" Alex urged. I looked back at Edward, wanting to drag him along too. But he seemed a little uncomfortable.
"I'll just... uhm... go." he said. His eyebrows furrowed, leaving room for his forehead to crease. He sulked away to meet some other overexcited crew member while I stared at his godly retreating figure.
"So this is our little star!" a reedy, annoying voice practically screamed behind me. I grinded my teeth together at the noise, and braced myself to meet yet another person. Anymore and I would start to forget which face belonged to which name. I turned around slowly.
She had her auburn hair picked up into a bun, and a crown of French bangs let free to scatter. Her face was powdered with a bit too much makeup, her matte red lips curved into a smile. She had wrinkles near her eyes, and skin folded around the edges of her mouth. She wore one of those frameless, squared glasses. Which led to the black roots. She was up for a hair appointment. There was no doubt that Sarah Palin was her style icon.
"Oh look, Alex! She's so cute! That picture didn't do her justice. But that's great for the image, I'm thinking of going a little good girl. She doesn't look like the type that would pull off a Spears. Then yet, you never know. Britany looked like a good girl, and look what happened." the Palin twin tsked. I didn't snicker because 1, I didn't want to see her reaction and 2, I didn't want her to continue this everlasting "image" conversation. Instead of laughing at her, I kept my lips pressed into a firm line and waited for her to finish blabbering. It worked.
"So sorry! I haven't had the chance to introduce myself officially. You must be so confused, poor child. I'm Elizabeth Dowling, your new manager and secretary!" She squealed so eccentrically that I couldn't help but thinking she won the lottery.
"Manager?" I half growled. I was liking her less and less by the second. Not because I had anything against Sarah Palin, but because she talked to me like I was the most adorable little puppy in the universe. I could have sworn she was fighting back the urge to pinch my cheeks.
"Elisa will be handling your affairs from now on, so you won't have so much on your hands." Alex said. He struck me with his silver eyes again. I couldn't help myself this time. He was so much more handsome in person. No wonder girls chased him. I was interrupted in mid-stare with a laugh that resembled screaming.
"Yes yes. I've worked with quite a few people. Stella Gomez, Emily Cyprus, Haley Swank, and the Rosen twins. Big stars right there." she huffed proudly. Jeez... they were big stars. Did she work for them before they made the big time?
"Ah, I see. I'm sure it'll be a great pleasure working with you," I smiled. She laughed.
"I can say the same."
Again, sorry for the short chapter. I have this thing going on where I make dialogue cliffies. It's irritating me. So are these chapters with little Edward in them. Gah. But this is the last one, I promise. Next is Edward, Bella, and Alex in the recording studio. I hope I'm not boring you now.
Review! :D
