Author's Note: I wanted to squeeze the whole thing into one chapter, but it got a mind of it's own and decided it needed to be split down the middle. Also, there is a picture of Bella's outfit on the Tinsel Town section of my profile.
Nice reviews are better than chocolate, unless maybe you're licking that chocolate off someone.
Fifteen
"Do you think it's too late to back out?" I asked Alice; I was fidgeting on my seat pretending to work at the book store which had actually been closed for an hour so they could film us. Edward was due over any minute and the butterflies in my stomach were threatening to overthrow me.
"Yes, Bella," Alice sighed. "You'll be perfectly fine; you're going to be charming."
"That's what Edward called me when I spilled coffee on him. What's the equivalent of spilling coffee on a national audience?"
"Bella," she turned in her chair to face me. "Breathe. Don't think of the people watching, no one is going to see it right away anyway. It's you and Edward and a couple of other people, that's it."
"Does it look like I'm sweating? I feel like I'm sweating."
"Bella-"
"Stop saying my name like that, it's making me nervous."
"That's making you nervous?"
"Yes." I heard the quiet chirp of my cell phone indicating I had a text message. I opened it up. We're here. "They're here. Oh my God, they're here. What do I do? I forgot to ask him if I should l meet him in here or outside, oh crap I'm screwing this up already." I stood up once, and then sat down again. "What do you think?"
I could tell Alice was trying to be serious for me. "I think you should stay right where you are, let him come and get you."
"Ok, ok good…How do I look?" I had let Alice help me get ready today, in the sense that she did my make-up, my hair, and told me which clothes and shoes to put on and which purse to carry. Surprisingly, she kept everything within my comfort zone. I had on some mascara and the tiniest amount of blush (she said she didn't want me to look like a corpse on television); I kind of liked it, my eyes seemed brighter and I looked like I had higher cheekbones. She consented to let me wear jeans, a pair that she'd bought just for the occasion. They were a very dark blue and slim fitting. I also wore a sheer black, silk top with a tie at the waist and black high heeled boots that she made me practice walking in until I had it down pat. My hair was down and blown out so it curled in soft waves around my face and down my back. I had to give Alice credit; she really knew what she was doing.
"You look gorgeous, Bella. You'll-" Alice was interrupted by the door opening. We both stayed seated, but turned toward the door. Edward walked in, followed by a very big man in jeans and a long sleeved shirt with no camera.
I was holding my breath until Alice elbowed me in the side.
Edward smiled at me, "Bella."
I stood up and smiled back, too afraid to say anything. Edward had on his favorite dark jeans a navy blue polo shirt tight enough to give me ideas.
"Bella, Alice, this is Emmett; he's producing the show. Emmett, this is Bella and Alice." He gestured toward each of us.
"Hi," Alice said brightly.
Emmett smiled, it softened up his face but I couldn't decide if that made him more or less intimidating. "Good to meet you both, are you nervous?"
I tried for a laugh, but it came out more like a sputter. "A little, it's nice to meet you, Emmett."
"So let's get this show on the road. Here's how it's gonna work; Edward's going to walk out and then back in like he's picking you up. Just pretend it's the two of you unless I ask you a question. Don't forget the camera is rolling because anything you say or do is fair game, got it?"
I nodded.
"We'll go to the book store and eat; I won't film that part, I'm too freaking hungry. We'll have one guy film the signing while I talk to you alone," the way he said it sent a new wave of butterflies through my stomach, "we'll do a couple more interviews at the hotel and then I'll take off. Sound good?"
I nodded again.
He grinned crookedly; it didn't look as sexy as when Edward did it. "You're allowed to talk."
I could feel myself blushing already.
Emmett looked at me for another moment before taking a step forward, "here, put this around your waist under your shirt," it looked like a wide elastic belt; Edward helped me put it on. "The mic will go there," he handed Edward what looked slightly like a small walkie talkie that he attached to the belt thing. He let his fingers linger on my skin. "Ok, now Edward, leave and come in again like it's the first time, be normal."
Edward nodded and winked at me quickly before walking out. Once he was gone, Emmett moved to stand next to me, "sit down until he comes in." He clapped a large hand on my shoulder, "you're doing fine, just loosen up a little." He backed away so that he'd be out of the shot when the camera guy came in. I took a deep breath.
The bell above the door rung as Edward walked back inside. "Hey," he nodded toward Alice quickly before training all of his attention on me. He looked totally relaxed. I, on the other hand, felt silly for staging his entrance in addition to being nervous enough that I really thought I might be ill. There was only one camera guy and another guy carrying around what Edward told me was called a boom. They seemed to only look threatening to me.
"Hey, Edward," Alice looked at ease too. Was I the only nervous person here? Maybe Alice could trade places with me for the day.
"Hi," I squeaked.
"Ready to go?" He asked, leaning on the counter. I wanted to move forward a little so I could kiss him, but I was afraid I'd miss his mouth or something.
"Yeah," I stood up and grabbed my coat and purse, then stepped around Alice who grabbed my wrist quickly.
"Have fun," she looked at me meaningfully.
I gave her a half hearted smile. "See ya later," I managed. Edward helped me put on my coat led me outside with a hand at the small of my back; his touch was comforting, but not enough to make me forget what was going on. Parked at the curb was a sleek black town car; Edward opened the back door for me to get in before going around to the other side. Emmett got into the front seat and motioned to a camera positioned on us sitting on the rear view mirror.
Instinctively, I looked at it, but Emmett shook his head quickly. "It's better if you don't do that."
I opened my mouth in a silent "oh" and then looked at Edward. Act normal, what would I normally ask him now? "How was work?"
"Good, short. I did some wire work," he grinned at me. Working with the wires was his favorite part of filming; I think it made him feel like he was actually doing all the stunts himself. "It was just a quick scene; I had to be in a tree. What have you been up to?"
"Um," I looked around the car; I felt like I couldn't speak normally with Emmett, the driver, and the camera around, not to mention the other camera and sound guys following us in a second vehicle.
"It's ok," he murmured, moving his mouth closer to my ear. "They'll end up editing most of this stuff out anyway."
"True story," Emmett said from the front.
"Uh, well, Alice went to work on me; can you tell?"
Edward took an appraising glance at me before doing my favorite lopsided grin. "You look gorgeous."
"You know, you're not the first person that's said that to me today."
He looked amused and more than a little curious, "who else?"
I waited a beat before answering; I was trying to look coy. "Alice."
Edward chuckled at me, "well she's right." He wrapped an arm over my shoulders and pulled me closer so that I could rest my head on his shoulder. After a few minutes, Emmett turned around in his seat.
"Ok, we're here. The second camera guy is in there already, Edward; he'll film the signing." He paused as we pulled into the back of the store, "oh, also, it's a madhouse."
"Already?" Edward asked.
"Yeah, is this your first signing?"
"Yeah."
Emmett just laughed to himself.
I looked at Edward, but he just shrugged. The car dropped us off near a back entrance to the store before driving away; a few people seemed to be waiting for us just outside the store. Edward said they were his agent, manager, and someone he didn't recognize. "Edward!" His manager said excitedly. She looked to be in her mid forties and wore too much eye make-up. "Is this Bella? Oh, I've heard so much about you; you sound fabulous. Ok, there's stuff set up inside here, go ahead and eat; they don't need you for another hour or so. Oh, this is Greg; he's the manager of the store." She said everything in a rush; I wasn't sure I caught all of it.
Edward and I shook hands with the manager and were led inside. The store was blocked off so the front two-thirds couldn't see the back third, where we appeared to be. The store manager led us over to one end of a buffet style table; Emmett moved to the front of the line with the camera guy in tow. He filmed Edward putting food on his plate while Edward talked idly into the camera about what he was getting and the low hum of the crowd over the makeshift dark green walls that had been put up. They looked none too sturdy and only went up about ten feet, but seemed to be working nonetheless.
Once we'd served ourselves, Emmett stopped filming so he could eat as well. When he said he was hungry, he wasn't kidding. On his first go around he stacked two plates with a mountain of food each. He sat with his crew, giving me and Edward some time alone. "Hi," I said quietly between bites.
"Hey, how are you?" He pushed his chair so my legs were close enough to be between his.
"It's not as bad as I thought it would be; Emmett seems nice."
Edward grinned, "he's a little blunt. Just remember, you don't have to answer everything he asks you."
"Does he get really personal?"
"It wasn't bad on the set; he mostly asked about working on the movie. Oh," he lowered his voice. "He did tell me that he's dating Rosalie."
"Oh?" I glanced over to where I had seen her when we first walked in; she was eating with two people that looked to be part of an entourage.
"Yeah, they met when he was doing all of this with her about a week ago. He also let me in on a few details I would have rather he kept to himself."
I made a face; I could only imagine what he might have said.
We finished eating and Edward's manager came over to tell us it was almost time for him to go out there. She handed him a brand new toothbrush and toothpaste and sent him to the bathroom. "We can't have our leading man smelling like dinner." She said to me while he was gone. I smiled; she was kind of growing on me. I hadn't noticed at first, but the film crew was back at work. Emmett stood to the side watching me and Edward's manager. "You know, I have to tell you, Edward thinks the world of you. I've never seen him like this before."
I could feel a light blush on my cheeks and I looked down for a moment. "Thanks," was all I could think of to say. Edward came back and without hesitation kissed me; I almost forgot there were cameras around.
He kept his face close to mine, "minty fresh," he murmured. The store manager cleared his throat and we broke eye contact to look at him.
"It's time."
Edward took a deep breath and looked at me, "wish me luck."
"Good luck," I kissed him quickly before he was led away by the store manager and someone else I didn't know. He stood behind Rosalie at a curtained off opening in the partitions and waited to be called out. He said something to her and she smiled. The second cameraman was there; Edward made a nervous face at him.
"Do you want to watch for a second?" Emmett asked, coming up from behind me.
"Can I?"
"Sure," he motioned for me to follow him; he walked over to stand behind the camera. Edward was a few feet away; he grinned at me. We both turned toward the opening as they announced Rosalie; she beamed and walked out. A man I didn't know touched his hand to Edward's shoulder, telling him to wait. I listened to them announce him and then all I could hear were the screams of a lot of teenage girls. He glanced at me again before moving through the curtain. I didn't think it could get any louder; I was very mistaken. You know the phrase "blow the roof off the place"? Well, that pretty much said it. I could hear through the noise, calls of "I love you Edward!" among other things I would have rather not heard.
"I think," Emmett stretched the word out, "they like him. Ok," he took a deep breath, "show time baby." He put an arm over my shoulders and led me away.
Author's Note: So, this is completely unrelated to this story, but I've been thinking...
Would any of you be interested in reading other things I've written? I want to make a Myspace/blog/page/website of some kind devoted to my writing (which will include other Twilight related stories, but mostly other stories I've written/are currently writing that are my own fiction). If no one is interested, I'll leave it at that. Let me know what you think.
And thank you as always for reading; I really appreciate it. You guys make my day!
