Outtake— When Edward and Jasper met Bella and Alice ...
Disclaimer:
Sadly, I own nothing related to Twilight or The Commitments. I do, however, own the hopes and dreams of two little girls who may just grow up to get everything they ever wanted but never really thought they could have.
A special thanks to pre-readers byrd009, Luee Fishes, B and my fantastic beta blueeyedcherry.
Enjoy this outtake that was written as a donation for Stories for Animals.
EPOV
To say that I'd had the day from Hell was an understatement. We were set to start production on my newest film, Innocence. Not only was I the male lead in the movie, it was the first screenplay I'd written. I'd also joined as one of the executive producers of the film.
We had been in the middle of a read through when the female lead, Kate Turner, dashed quickly from the room without any warning. When she returned, my professional world was turned upside down.
"I thought I could do this. I really did," Kate began her confession to us. I saw her reach down and stroke her stomach, and I knew.
"You're pregnant," I stated blankly. It wasn't a question. I unfortunately already had the answer, and it wasn't the one that I wanted either.
"Yes," Kate smiled as she patted her stomach. "I'm four months along."
"Four months!" Director Aro Churchill shouted. "How did you think you could keep this role, let alone hide the fact you're pregnant, when filming is scheduled to last for three months?" The bitterness in his tone caused Kate to begin to cry.
"I didn't plan this, but I'm happy about the baby," Kate sniffled. "Garrett and I had thought this would never happen, and now that it has, we are beyond thrilled."
"Didn't you think letting us know about this was a little important?" Aro spewed sarcastically.
"Aro, that's enough," I chided, but I knew it was a hopeless situation. He was the type of director that had the production mapped out minute by minute. Kate's bun in the oven had more than messed up his perfect plans.
"Edward, how are we supposed to do a movie with her when she'll pop when filming finishes? There are a lot of action scenes that we need you to participate in, Kate."
"I'm so sorry, Aro," Kate said as she wiped tears from her cheeks. "I've only known for a few weeks. You're right about the filming. There is no way that I can do this movie. I'm very sorry for any problems this will cause you." Kate didn't sound very genuine as she was talking to Aro. I couldn't blame her. He was being an asshole.
She walked over to me and laid her hand on my arm. "I know how much this movie means to you, Edward. I truly hate the bind this is going to put you in."
"I know you do, Kate." I hugged her, and she hugged me back. She looked at Aro and back at me.
"I guess I should head home to my husband," Kate said with a slight smile on her face. "Good luck with the movie. I wish you the best. I have a really good feeling that things will work out even better than if I was able to stay."
The room was filled with silence as she walked out the door. When the door closed behind her, I rubbed my hands through my already tousled hair and dropped into my chair.
"Damn her!" Aro screamed. He picked up his coffee mug and threw it at the wall, shattering the mug into pieces and sending streams of coffee flying wildly through the air. "Next week! We were supposed to start filming next week! I can't film this damn movie without Faith. What do you suggest we do, Mr. Executive Producer?" he snarled through gritted teeth.
"I guess we both start making some phone calls. There has to be someone out there who is the perfect fit for Faith." Suddenly, I remembered Kate's parting words that she actually had a feeling things would work out. I just hoped and prayed she was right.
JPOV
Another sold out tour. Living on a bus and in hotel rooms. Groupies throwing their articles of clothing and themselves at me. Endless pranks by Emmett. A multitude of overshares from Emmett. Watching my twin sister, Rosalie, and Emmett do lude acts best left behind closed doors. I shivered in disgust at my last thought. For ten years, this had been my life. You'd think that I would be used to all of this by now, but I wasn't sure I ever would be.
I loved every aspect of performing in front of a live audience. It was an incredible feeling to hear and see their reactions to the songs that Double Vision had been playing for years. Every night was different, yet it was also the same.
Emmett and Rosalie had already left for the club while I stayed behind. I'd told them that I wanted to make sure all of my instruments were in top shape for tomorrow. I was pretty sure that Rose had seen right through me. What I really wanted was just some time to be me. Time to myself was my one major luxury while on tour. I shocked myself when I felt resentment that my alone time was being stripped away from me for months.
I sat down on the side of the stage and played some runs on my harmonica, trying to clear my head and come to terms with how I was feeling. I had never felt this way before. I was almost restless. I needed a change, but I wasn't sure exactly what I was looking for. All I knew was that I was desperate to find whatever it was.
I looked at my watch and was startled when I saw that I had been here alone for over an hour. It was time for me to meet Emmett and Rose at the Brookshire Inn.
~~~~~NYM~~~~~ NYM~~~~~NYM~~~~~ NYM~~~~~NYM~~~~~
The club was more crowded than I had anticipated. Emmett and Rose had reserved the VIP room for tonight so we didn't have to worry about wild fans invading our last night together before the tour started.
Working my way through the throng of people, I saw the most beautiful woman I had ever seen dancing her ass off. She filled out her pink jeans and black top to perfection. Even in her heels, she still couldn't have been too tall. She danced alone and moved like she didn't have a care in the world. Her exuberance was immediately contagious. I wanted to be like her, not caring about anything at all, just being me, Jasper. I had to meet her.
Before I could reach her on the dance floor, I heard someone screech my name.
"Oh. My. God!" The woman yelled. "You're Jasper Whitlock! Can I get your autograph?" She asked through her nasally voice as she began to rummage around in her purse for pen and paper.
"Sure, I'd be delighted," I said with a big smile on my face. That smile did a great job of masking the annoyance that I felt at having been interrupted. "Who should I make it out to?" I reached for the paper and pen from her hands.
"To Jessica. My biggest, most incredible fan ever," she said as she reached to try to touch my arm. I maneuvered out of her way before she could. I signed the paper and handed her the autograph.
I looked up and saw her staring back with her attempt of sultry eyes. "I would love it if you could join me for a drink," she batted her fake eyelashes at me.
"Sorry, I'm late meeting some friends. Thanks for the offer though."
I quickly escaped around the corner. My eyes roamed the dance floor looking for the woman who had so easily entranced me just moments before. My heart sank when I realized she wasn't out there.
I sighed. Oh well, it figured. I shrugged and turned the corner to go to the VIP room entrance. I walked right into someone and looked down to apologize. My voice caught in my throat when I realized it was her. I had been wrong earlier. She wasn't merely beautiful– she was perfect. I reached my hands out to steady her.
"I am so sorry," she told me. "I was totally spaced out and didn't see you there." Her voice was the sweetest thing I had ever heard. I could literally listen to her talk for hours.
"No damage done," I told her. Damn. No damage done at all. She was lifting my spirits higher each second I spent in her company.
"Holy shit!" she exclaimed. She had finally realized who I was. For the first time in a VERY long time, I didn't care. I would sell my soul for just one night of being myself with this woman.
"Are you sure you're okay?" I laughed. She looked like a deer caught in the headlights. She hadn't stopped staring at me. As she looked me up and down, I saw her lick her lips. Fuck me. She looked at me like I was something to eat, and I was more than ready to be whatever meal she wanted I could feel the blood surging through my veins in excitement at the thought of our naked bodies giving us both the most amazing pleasure imaginable.
"I'm just as fine as you are," she said as her eyes roamed the length of my body again. "You're Jasper Whitlock. I'm Alice, Alice Brandon." She calmly reached out her hand to me, and it was my turn to devour her with my eyes. I wanted this woman like I'd wanted no other. I wasn't sure I could ever want another as much.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Alice," I said honestly. When our hands touched, my world suddenly felt right. This was where I was meant to be. I couldn't let Alice get away from me now. "I've got a table in the VIP room. Would you like to join me for a drink?"
"That sounds great. I would love to," Alice said with a genuine smile that warmed my entire body. I couldn't help but smile hugely at her response. She'd said yes. I wrapped my arm around her and led her to the VIP room with her small, sexy body nestled into my side. For the first time ever, I felt like I was home. I liked it a lot.
EPOV
A few days had passed since Kate backed out of the role. Aro and I both made countless phone calls. We even had a few actresses come in and read for the part, but nothing. No one felt right yet. We had more auditions set up for the next few days. We had to find Faith.
After the shitty day I had, I decided to head to the Brookshire Inn to have a few drinks. I needed to escape from my life for a bit, but most importantly, I needed to relax.
The moment I entered the room, my body felt alive and hypersensitized. It was like an invisible string was pulling me towards something. Then I saw her. My breathing hitched and my heart stuttered in my chest. She couldn't be real. There was no way that someone so exquisite could be. Her long brown hair cascaded over her bare shoulders. Her face was too perfect to be human. Each flash of the strobe lights created the illusion that she was otherworldly.
I had to get closer to see if I had totally lost my mind or if this perfection was truly possible. I moved to the empty chair beside her. "Could I have a shot of whiskey?" I asked the bartender. "Hello, looks like you are thoroughly enjoying that tea of yours," I said to the gorgeous woman at my side.
"Oh, I definitely am," she said with a smile. Suddenly her expression changed. It looked like she recognized me, but I wasn't so sure as I watched her shake her head. I noticed that she had finished her drink.
"Would you like another?" I asked her.
"Um, sure. Why not. You only live once right?" She said jokingly.
"Unless you are Shirley MacLaine that is what I've heard," I told her as I ordered her a drink.
"Thank you for this," she said as she raised her drink with one hand and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.
I noticed the tips of her hair brushing her naked shoulders. I could picture my lips following the path her hair had taken. I wanted to bend her over the barstool and explore every inch of her flesh. I shook my head to clear my thoughts.
"You're more than welcome," I smiled. "We haven't been properly introduced." I held my hand out to her. "I'm Edward."
"I'm Bella," she said as her small hand met mine. The moment our flesh touched, I felt a shock through my entire body. When she removed her hand from mine, my body still reverberated from the fierce reaction her mere touch inspired in me. "So, what is Edward Cullen doing in a place like this?" she asked as she took another sip of her drink.
"I wasn't sure if you recognized me or not," I admitted. My body couldn't stand not being in contact with hers for another second. I reached out and stroked the back of her hand with my index finger. It wasn't my imagination. When our flesh met, it created a wildfire that raged in my veins. I could see her pulse racing at the base of her throat and knew she was as turned on as I was. "I'm here for the next few months, if we can ever get started, that is." I moved my finger to her pulse point on her wrist and felt her erratic heartbeat all the way to my groin.
"Why..." She paused as her voice cracked. Fuck. I wanted to move my hand over her, in her. It was getting a little hotter in here every second. "Um, why haven't you started filming yet?" She asked.
"The original actress playing the romantic interest of my character just dropped out of the film a few days ago because she found out she was pregnant. She's been trying for a while, and the doctors wanted her to have as little stress as possible, so she is laying low until the baby is born," I rambled quickly. It wasn't the whole truth. I knew that Aro had been disparaging Kate at every turn, and I just couldn't let her image be tarnished like that. "Now it is just a waiting game until we find the right girl for the role. You know about me, Bella. Tell me more about you."
"Well, I moved to New York from Washington State to attend Columbia University, where I got my masters in Journalism. My best friend from home moved with me, and she works in the fashion industry. I'm a freelance writer." Writing. That was one thing that we both had in common.
"What do you write?" I wanted to know absolutely everything about Bella. I had to know her.
"I write whatever pays the bills," she admitted with a nervous laugh. "Every once in awhile for fun, my friend Alice and I act in small plays. I'm by no means an actress, but it is definitely fun to pretend to be someone else for a while."
"It definitely is," I agreed. That was one of the things that I loved most about being an actor. You became the other person. Bella seemed to understand how important that was. There was something about her that was almost familiar, but I couldn't put my finger on what it was.
"Yes, it is nice to be someone else and forget your troubles for a while," she said as her face moved closer to mine. I had only known her for a few minutes, but I knew one thing for certain– I could see myself falling for this woman and falling hard. I couldn't wait. She was perfect, perfect for me in every way. I wanted to lose myself in her forever.
A/N: If you want a chance to read exactly how Jasper turned Emmett into the Jolly Green Giant, donate to help the victims of Hurricane Sandy at fandomfightshurricanesandy . blogspot . com Donations will be accepted until January 15.
Chapter 15 is with my beta, and I will post it as soon as I get it back. Sorry for the delay. I've had bronchitis/laryngitis for the last three weeks. It's been hard to type and cough at the same time.
All of twidictedbyrd's stories can be read at FF, The Writer's Coffee Shop and on Archive of Our Own under the same author name.
FYI: Jasper's band, Double Vision, is envisioned like the band The Commitments. If you haven't listened to their music, you are missing out :D.
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Thanks for reading. Please review and let me know what you think.
Are you ready for Madame President Cougarella? Check out my newest story, Power Play: Bella has every detail of her life planned out. Edward Cullen is not in those plans. Edward just got his dream job. Now he has plans to land something a little more difficult, his much older boss, President of the United States Bella Swan-Newton. White House Intern Edward will show her that age is only just a number.