A/N: Hey guys! So, here's a filler chapter. I didn't want to jump right into the next case. I wanted to just kinda have fun with an in-between story. I hope you enjoy it! ~AR
Chapter Three: A Day in Hollywood
Evelyn looked at herself in the mirror. She was used to wearing suits and dresses, so this wasn't a big deal to her. However, Evelyn wasn't sure she was herself anymore. Evelyn wore a simple blue dress that had rounded shoulders, a shapely bust line, a belt at the middle, a defining waistline, a bit of a padded skirt that billowed to her calves. She wasn't sure why this felt so…foreign. She kept her hair down, but it was slightly curled at the ends. Evelyn slipped on the matching blue shoes that went with it and grabbed her handbag. She just felt overly feminine today. It was the weirdest feeling in the world. She was just going out to Hollywood. She wanted to look at it.
As she was headed out the door (making sure to lock it behind her), she glanced over her shoulder and saw Stefan.
"Hey Evelyn!" he said. What was Stefan doing here? That was weird. Evelyn was sure he didn't know where she lived unless he had gotten his hands on the records. Which would be a bit weird.
"Hey Stefan," Evelyn said sounding a bit confused.
"I swear I didn't know you lived in the area, there was something I was doing here and saw you coming out your door. Bit fancy for a salary like ours," he said.
"My dad decided I needed this house. He got it for me," Evelyn said.
"That makes sense. So, where you off to Miss. O'Hara?" he asked her.
"I wanted to go to Hollywood…To check it out. I've never been," she said.
"Want company?" Stefan asked her.
"You want to accompany me on my trip to Hollywood?" Evelyn asked with surprise in her voice.
"Of course, don't want people asking you for signatures. You look like Minnie Lawrence you know that?" he said to her.
"That was my mom. She was a star before she died when I was five. I'm 28 now…So that was 23 years ago," she said softly.
"So sorry, Minnie was one of my favorite silent film stars. She was very beautiful. How did she die?" he asked her.
"Suicide. My dad had just committed his 3 extramarital affairs, and my mom couldn't take it anymore. She hugged me tight and said Evie…I love you so much and I am so sorry. But momma must go," Evelyn said.
"They found her the next morning dead didn't they in the woods?" he said to her. Evelyn nodded. It was a painful memory.
"Can I also call you Evie?" he asked her.
"Sure, I don't mind. My father never used Evie when he talked to me. It was always Evelyn," she replied. That was two men in her life calling her Evie now. Evie was going to be her new nickname among these two apparently. She didn't understand why, but she would just go with it. Stefan was a nice man, and he wasn't scared away. Was he possibly…The one? No, that was stupid.
"It must be hard for you, seeing her face everywhere. She's still idolized in Hollywood to this day," he said to her.
"It used to be, but I'm okay now. I just…Miss her," she said.
"Let's change the topic, why Hollywood? Why haven't you gone there?" he asked her.
"My mom," she replied.
"Ahhh, that makes sense!" he said to her. Escorting her to his car, they got in and he drove her to Hollywood. Getting out, people looked at her as if seeing a ghost. Yes, she knew she looked like Minnie Lawrence. No, Minnie Lawrence wasn't back from the dead. However, the stares only lasted for a second.
"So, are you and Cole a thing?" Stefan asked her.
"What? No! Cole is married and he's just my partner, I have no interest in him, Stefan!" Evelyn said horrified. Was that true? She wasn't sure it wasn't the 100% truth.
"Good, I wanted to see your reply. Because, I also wanted to take you to lunch while we were here. Like a date," Stefan said shyly. Okay, smooth. That was smooth Stefan.
"I'll take you up on the offer," she said gently.
"Where do you wanna go, Evie?" he asked her.
"Well, I know a place we can get in thanks to my dad, and put it on his tab," she said with a playful smirk.
"Where would that be?" he asked.
"The Lenoir," Evelyn said.
"Like the Lenoir with one year waiting lists?" Stefan asked her.
"Yep! My dad and the owner are best friends. So, I get in anytime and it goes to my dad," she said. Evelyn and Stefan walked to the Lenoir.
"Miss. O'Hara! So good to see you!" the door greeter said. He was an African American male by the name of James.
"James! It's been awhile hasn't it? Can you get me a seat for two?" she asked.
"Of course! Mr. Walker will want to see you," he said. The three of them went inside and the people waiting to be seated stared at her. She had just bypassed all of them. The owner, Charles Walker came out to greet her.
"Lynnie! It's been awhile. You look so great!" he said to her.
"Thanks Mister Walker! My uhm date and I want to eat here," she said gesturing to Stefan who blushed a bit of red.
"Oh date? Well, let me meet the young man! How's the detective gig goin' for ya?" he asked her.
"Really well, I love my job, Charles! This is Detective Stefan Bekwosky," she said introducing them.
"Nice to meet you son! I could tell you embarrassing stories of this girl for hours. But I won't, only if ya marry her!" Charles said. It was HER turn to blush now. Charles personally escorted them to the best seat in the house.
"Sir, you know Cohen is gonna want that seat," she quietly heard. That gangster better not be here. She didn't want Stefan to freak out. Nobody could nail Cohen and she didn't want a fight.
"He can deal with it," Charles said to the person.
"Wait did he say Cohen?" Stefan asked her.
"Don't," she warned. He sat back in the chair. Soon, Charles came out with champagne. That was the expensive stuff, and she knew it. She soon saw Cohen walk in. Great, it was her least lucky day.
"I got this negro telling me I can't have this table all for some girl and a chump? What is this Charles?" Cohen said to him.
"Mr. Cohen, I'm Evelyn O'Hara," she said politely.
"Wait, Senator O'Hara's daughter? Well! I'll be. How is the old man?" he asked.
"Wouldn't know," she said to him.
"Well, I see you brought company. Who might this be? Your husband?" he asked.
"No, this is my date. Detective Stefan Bekowsky," Evelyn said.
"A detective boyfriend eh? Bet your daddy is proud of that one," Cohen said.
"Hey pal," Stefan said.
"Stefan, don't. Let me handle this," Evelyn said rising.
"Mr. Cohen, he would be. Because I'm a detective as well, and as much as I'd love to keep chatting with you, I would like to get back on my date," she said sweetly. Cohen laughed a little bit and then looked the two over.
"Anyways, we'll take a table Charles," Cohen said. Charles walked them over to the table after setting the bottle down.
"Cohen comes here?" Stefan asked her.
"He now does. He didn't used to," she said.
"We can't nail the bastard, and now he's going to send people after us for taking his table," he said.
"No, he won't he owes my dad. He won't touch a hair on my head or yours," Evelyn said to him. Stefan looked confused but decided to wisely drop it. She didn't want to have to explain that connection. Soon, Charles was back and poured them champagne.
"Steak and lobsters on the house. Lynnie likes her steak medium rare. What about you son?" Charles asked.
"The same please," he said to him. Charles nodded and then walked off.
"So, Stefan, you're not gonna run off on me because my daddy is Senator O'Hara, are you? That's why I'm not married," she said.
"Not at all, I don't understand why anyone would run off on a girl like you. Beautiful, smart, and driven," he said. Evelyn softly smiled.
"Is this what you say to all the girls?" she asked.
"No, trust me. I've never been this nervous with a girl really," he said.
"Not so cocky now Stefan hm?" she asked teasing him.
"Not around you trust me," he said. Did he really like her? She wasn't sure what was going on. Maybe he was just being nice to her.
"You aren't just being nice to me, are you?" she asked him.
"No ma'am, I really do like you Evie," he said to her. She smiled at him. It was…Different. He wasn't going to run away from her! This was progress and he really did like her! But she couldn't get Cole out of her mind either. Was this about to be a love triangle? No, don't be stupid…Evie…He's married! He isn't into you. Just focus on Stefan. Keep Cole out of your mind!
"Evie, are you okay?" Stefan asked her.
"Yes, I'm fine, sorry! I was just processing what you said. I-I didn't expect this and not that I'm rejecting you it's just something hit me out of the blue you know?" Evelyn said honestly.
"I understand. I just wanted to be honest with you, Evie," he said understandingly. Okay, she wasn't really rejecting him. She wanted to make that clear.
"Just to be clear you aren't rejecting me, right?" Stefan asked her.
"Yes, that's right. I was just surprised is all," Evie said with a smile on her face. Soon, their lunch arrived. They ate and talked some more. She learned he didn't participate in the war but helped with the Zoot Suit Riots. She also learned more about Stefan. He learned more about her, too. Like how her dad would never be there on her birthdays. However, the two were joined by a third. Cole? What was he doing here?
"You two look cozy," Cole said pulling up a chair.
"Uhm hi Cole, what brings you here?" Evelyn said.
"A traffic case I was working, saw Stefan's car here and saw you two here," he said.
"I wanted to see Hollywood and Stefan offered to show me around as a thank you I took him to Lenoir, my dad and the owner are best friends. So I get to eat here for free," she said.
"You missed Cohen being in here," Stefan chimed in.
"Huh interesting," Cole said.
"So, who is this? A friend of yours?" Charles asked.
"Yes, this is my partner, Cole Phelps. Cole this is the owner of Lenoir, Charles," she said. She didn't want Charles to spill the beans.
"Would you like some steak and lobster too boy?" he asked.
"I'll take it medium," Cole said. Once Charles was gone, she was able to breathe a little bit.
"Did you say that you knew me and get in that way?" she asked Cole curiously.
"Yeah, not going to lie. Well, we can make this a group thing and show you Hollywood then, Evie!" Cole said with a smile on his face. Stefan looked between the two of them and went back to eating. She hoped that she could get Stefan alone to talk, but with Cole around that seemed impossible.
"Anyways…," Cole said, and he launched into a conversation about the case. This was getting frustrating. Evelyn couldn't breathe right now. Why did Cole care? He could have just gone on his merry way. He just should have. Evelyn stood up and quickly went outside.
Soon, she was alone outside. She needed the air. She heard the door open behind her and she turned around. It was Cole. Great, this looked bad.
"Are you okay?" he asked her.
"I needed the air," Evelyn said to him. It wasn't a lie. She did really need it. She was suffocating right now. Thanks to those two. She wasn't sure what was going on, and it was fishy. Cole should have just walked by.
"Do you need to go home?" he asked concerned.
"No Cole, I don't. Please go back inside," she said.
"Alright," he said. He turned on his heel and left. Why did he give a damn? What was he doing? He was sabotaging her date with Stefan! She was going to have to try and explain this later! There wasn't anything between her and Cole, but this looked bad. Soon, she had a hand on her shoulder. She quickly turned around.
"Stefan, I swear I didn't know he was going to turn up," she said once she saw it was Stefan.
"I know, and I believe you that nothing is going on between you two," he said gently to her.
"I just…I'm confused as to why he even cares," she said softly.
"I don't know, Evie. I really don't," he said softly back to her.
"I'm fine by the way, I just needed some air, I still want to see Hollywood," she said to him.
"Alright, I'll see you back inside," he said. Soon, he was gone, and she was alone again. She was glad for the silence. She just needed it. She needed to think. It felt like she couldn't. She hated this. What mixed signals was Cole trying to send? She didn't understand and she was sure that she wouldn't understand. Letting out a soft sigh, Evelyn stood outside for five more minutes before heading back in. Cole and Stefan were talking to each other when they noticed Evie had come back in. Charles came around when she came back in, "Lynnie, darlin' I boxed up your leftovers. I'll have them delivered plus extra."
Extra meant more food. That was a good thing. Evelyn hated when she had to cook. She did get the okay to eat out often because of her dad. He did give her money often to spend. She was thrifty with it and had a lot of money saved up in case she needed to move away. Charles was always kind to her, and she appreciated it.
"Well boys, I'm ready to see Hollywood," Evie said to them. Evelyn walked out of the restaurant side in the middle of Cole and Stefan. They took her to all the sights that she could want to see. However, she stopped dead at the poster of her mom in one of her movies.
"You a fan of Minnie Lawrence?" Cole asked puzzled.
"That's my mom…," Evie said trailing off lost in her thought. Evie wanted her mom badly right now. She wanted to hug her and ask for advice.
"I'm sorry," Cole said softly. The three just stood there for a moment before moving on. She was glad to have just seen the poster even if it was a display to the glory days. After walking around, it was time to go home. Cole offered her a ride, but she declined due to the fact she had rode with Stefan. Once Cole was gone, Stefan and she were alone.
"Did you enjoy the day Evie?" he asked.
"It was nice yeah," she said. Stefan led offered his arm and she took it. Arriving at the car, he opened the door for her, and she got in. She was just glad to have spent the day with Stefan. Even though there was an interruption.
"I had a nice day Stefan, can we do this again…Hopefully Cole won't interrupt next time," she said teasing him.
"I'd love to do this again Evie," he said to her. With that, the two were back off to Evie's house. Stefan pulled up in front of her house and she got out. Stefan watched her up until she got in and she drove away. Next thing she knew there was a knock, she opened to door to see a man with her food. She took it from him with a thanks and then closed the door. Putting it in her fridge, she sat on the couch and turned on the TV. She wasn't sure what was going to happen next, but she was sure it was going to be another day in the LA police department.
A/N: Hey guys! Here's the filler chapter. I hoped you enjoyed it. Yes, I'm setting up a love triangle between these three. I'm excited for it in all honesty. I just really liked Stefan, and I can't let him sit idly in the background. Anyways, L4D story has some chapters coming out today and tomorrow depending on how much writing I get done. I hope that you enjoyed these two chapters of A Quiet Place! ~AR