AN: Wow, it's been forever. My apologies! But I like this chapter. It's shocking and sad! Heehee, this chapter is dedicated to "Say Goodbye" by Skillet. Great song, really. Anyway, enjoy! Rinny out!
Chapter 18
No matter the perfection of these moments, I seem to find the flaws. I seem to discover and dwell on the faint seconds where Chad's smile fades and he looks at me with such worry and concern. Can I never live in these happy moments? After looking up from his script, I see his true expression buried beneath his mask and I can see that he's hiding something. I honestly hope I'm simply going insane.
"They'll come for you, Ben. You can never out run the CIA. I would know," I speak with sincerity, holding the paper, one marked with highlighter and small notes written in red. I look up from the written words and see Chad's focused cerulean eyes glancing back at me. Even with his attention on me, I feel like he's in another world completely. Perhaps he's just really concentrating on this movie. I sigh lightly.
"I can never out run them Maybe I should give up. It's not like I would win in the end anyway." Chad looks back at me, but I avoid his eyes and look back to his script. He's a shoe-in for this role, I think to myself with a small smirk. There is no way any other actor could steal the job, not even Zac Efron.
"Alright Ben. You can give up like the rest of the agents at the mission. You can return to your hell once more. But you'll be remembered as the one who has a chance and chose to give up. Can you handle that?" The scene ends with that line and Chad grins a gorgeous grin.
"Nice reading, Ally," he says walking towards me and grabbing my hand with his. I smile, blushing a shade of scarlet and looking down to the script to hide the butterflies in my stomach. They would never fly away.
"Not bad yourself," I response as I flip the script back to the front page. The papers are wrinkled and heavy with ink, but "The Chase" is clearly printed in black letters on the front. I hear a small gasp and I look up to see a worried look haunting Chad's expression. I tilt my head a bit and he reaches for the paper. I quickly pull it back with a playful smile.
"What, does Chaddy want his papers back?" I ask, wondering what he could possibly be hiding. Maybe it reveals that his character has a romantic scene with some beautiful actress. He attempts to grab them from me once again, but I move out of his reach, stepping back slowly with the smirk still implanted on my face.
"Come on, Ally. Give them up," he says, inching towards me. I shake my head, still playing even though his expression is as serious as I've ever seen him. Maybe this script would tell me what he was hiding. Maybe the words written could whisper to me and expose his dirty little secret. I look down at the script, scanning the main page for anything interesting.
"Hmm, so you don't want me to find out that this is directed by Amira Scout? No, I don't think that's it," I say, still looking for any information I didn't already know. Chad keeps coming closer and closer, the anxiety unmistakably visible.
"Or is it that your co-star is Abbie Canyon? Wow, she's really good. Lucky you." My eyes do not leave the page. "No, but that's not it either." My grin fades. And this small detail definitely does not go unnoticed to Chad.
"Please Ally, just listen, I-," he begins, but does not dare continue. My fingers begin to loosen on the script and it falls to his polished dressing room floor. My eyes don't meet his and he runs towards me, closing the distant between us and picks up the paper. My shaking fingers comb through my hair. My mind cannot sort things out and the fact that Chad's eyes are burning into mine is not helping much. Nothing is clear, but I laugh in the uneasy silence.
"You are kidding me." It's not a question; it's not a statement, its just words. Words I wish were true. These words, the beautiful words, are lies. Chad tosses his blonde locks from his eyes only to see my shocked expression clearly. His lips part as if to speak, but the words lodge in his throat before he swallows them and remains quiet. It's as if he waits for the reaction he knows is coming.
"Please Chad. Please just tell me this is a joke. A rather cruel one at that, but just let me know you aren't…" I stutter, not being able to finish my words. The word could never escape my lips. Not again. I couldn't let this happen again, not after everything.
"Ally, I should have told you sooner, I know, but-" This time it is I who does not let him finish.
"You know Chad, I would think you would learn. But no, of course not." He sighs, the faint exhale of breath interrupting me.
"I couldn't tell you. We were so happy; I could never just end that. I wanted you to be happy and-" I laugh a gruesome, harsh chuckle. It makes him silent and he bows his head as if ashamed.
"You're trying to tell me you lied to me and pretended everything was just fine because it would make me happy?" I pause. "I really shouldn't be mad at you though, Cooper." Chad knows I would never speak his new name unless I'm truly upset. That knowledge did not help his guilt.
"I mean, you keep your promises at least." This makes him look to me in wonder. If I truly look to his eyes, I could see the hurt and pain filling his pupils. Perhaps even tears are hidden there.
"You didn't change, Chad. Obviously you didn't. Maybe you have fan girls around every street corner and maybe you have a stage name, but you are still the same boy who broke my heart all those years ago. You're still the one who said goodbye. You're still the one who lost the girl." I walk out of the room with Chad astonished behind me. He sinks into the couch with the script still in his palms. Interrupting the saddening silence, his cell phone rings and with a sniffle, he picks it up.
"CDC. What it do?" his voice drones, his grief apparent. His manager does not seem to notice.
"Chad, baby! I heard you're iffy on the whole movie deal! Look man, I know you're not sure about going to Brazil to shoot this, but it's only for a year! Well, or two. I hear there might even be a sequel! Anyway, please tell me you're in!" his excited manager says over the line. Without a thought, Chad answers, his voice still lacking of emotion.
"I'll be there. I'm heading out tonight."