A/N: I know it's been a long, long time since I've gotten an update out for any of my stories, so I figured I'd start with this one. This chapter doesn't play directly off of the previous, but if you want to go back and re-read the previous chapters, I'll wait…
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(twiddles thumbs, whistling a tune while rocking on his heels)
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Done? Perfect! On with the show, as they say.
Disclaimer: Don't own Chuck
Chapter 37
"I… I can't do this anymore. We hardly see each other these days and even when we're together, there's this … distance between us. If you… if being with you has taught me anything, it's that I deserve … more."
"Don't say that! We… we can make this work. I can slow down at the office, not travel so much. We can….we can go to the beach and rent a house. Spend time together, just the two of us. Like we used to. It'll be great. You'll see."
"And then what? What happens when we come back? Things will go right back to the way they are now, living two separate lives. It was never the quiet moments, the times when we were hidden away from the world, that was our problem. When we're back to the real world, we just can't seem to make any time for each other. I think that's a sign that it's just not meant to be, as much as I wish it were."
"So that's it then? All that we've been through together, all we've shared, you just want to give it up just like that?"
"You act like this is easy for me! God, this is the hardest thing I've ever had to do. This is everything I thought I always wanted; this house, you, our lives together. But now that I'm in the middle of it, now that you've allowed me to see what's possible beyond this life, it's just not enough. I thought all of this would make me happy, but it doesn't. I just feel … hollow inside, but I put on a smile, trying to convince everyone that I'm happy, including myself. The problem is, it's just not working anymore. I'm not happy, and I can tell you aren't either. So let's stop clinging to dreams of what we hoped for and just accept that this isn't working for either of us anymore."
"But I love you. Doesn't that count for anything?"
"You don't love me. You might love the idea of me, or you might feel like you should love me, but you don't. Not really. And don't blame yourself. I feel the same way. By all rights I should love you. You're an incredible man but, despite how much I want to love you, I just… I don't. Not like that anyway. Please don't make this harder than it already is. Just... let me go. Please?" she pleaded with tears in her eyes.
A low whistle sounded beside them, pulling their attention away from each other. "Damn. Sarah… that was perfect. That's what that was. Amazing. Chris, what d'you think?" the man asked, gesturing to Chris, who was sitting across from Sarah, reading lines with her.
"I've got chills!"
"Chills! Exactly!" the man exclaimed, pointing at Chris. "Sarah, I know we said this was just a read through, but that clinched it for me. Please say 'Yes'. You're absolutely perfect for this role and people are going to go out of their fucking minds. You're going to blow. Their. Fucking. Minds, Sarah."
Sarah couldn't help but chuckle, trying to mask a blush at his exuberance. Leo Wissemann, an Oscar-winning director, was known for being demanding, as well as a bit eccentric, and he almost always got his way. When he made studios buckets of money, he could afford to be. He also never minced his words, so people always knew where they stood with him. So, if he said he wanted you for his movie, you could take that to the bank. Literally, because he was willing to pay for what he wanted.
Twisting her lips to the side, Sarah closed the script and placed it on the table. "I'll have my agent get in touch. If I agree to this, there will be a few provisions."
"Ho, ho, ho. Provisions. Gah," he smirked, shaking his head and wagging his finger at her in amusement. "I like you. I like you a lot, Sarah Walker. We're gonna get along just fine…. Provisions. Ha!," he bellowed, standing up and clapping, looking supremely pleased.
After saying her goodbyes to everyone, Leo escorted her out of the office, gushing the entire time about how much he was looking forward to working with her. Sarah had been in the business long enough to know that what people said to your face and what was said behind closed doors were often two entirely different things. Still, Leo seemed genuinely excited, and if she was honest, she felt excited by it too. She'd read over the script and it really spoke to her. It was definitely different from the types of films she'd done before, which both excited and scared her in equal parts. The thing that worried her the most was some rather vague mention of intimate scenes.
So far in her career, she'd never shown more skin than what one might see at the beach. Sarah was all too aware that sex sells, and had been propositioned for roles in the past that would have had her revealing much more than she was comfortable with. She'd modeled provocative clothing and swimwear, so she wasn't ashamed to show her body for the camera, but there were lines she wouldn't cross. Sarah wanted to advance her career through her skills as an actress. If all they wanted was to get her clothes off her, she'd happily find other work before she resorted to that.
Even if there wasn't any nudity involved, Sarah wasn't quite sure how she would handle it if there were love scenes in this film. Sex scenes with her co-stars on-screen in the past weren't anything new, but for some reason, now the thought of it filled her with anxiety. So much so that she felt her breathing speed up and her heart begin to race. It was no longer about how she would see herself or what the public would think, she was more concerned about how Chuck, the man she loved, would feel about it. If the shoe were on the other foot and Chuck had to do a scene like that with another woman, even just kissing her, Sarah knew her jealousy would consume her. She didn't like sharing.
Filming romantic scenes was anything but romantic. Even knowing that, the green-eyed monster raged within her at just the thought of another woman touching and kissing her man. How could she put him through something like that, knowing full well what it would do to her if the roles were reversed? That was why she'd stated she had provisions. Hopefully she had enough clout that she could convince them to play down the intimate scenes. She really didn't want to have to turn down this opportunity.
Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Chuck was sitting on the sofa, his arms folded across his chest, chewing on his right thumbnail. His knee was bouncing furiously as he watched the television mounted on the wall. Startled out of his current state by a firm hand grasping his knee, he turned to see Zondra sitting beside him with a smirk on her face.
"Some of the crew were starting to head to the doorways for safety," she teased, earning a snort from Chuck. She glanced at the television, seeing Sarah and Will on screen, finishing up their "date", laughing and joking. She looked back at Chuck, seeing that he was really having a hard time looking at the television now. "Umm… spoiler alert, you already know how this ends."
Chuck let out another snort, shaking his head. "I-I know. It's just…"
"What? She didn't tell you about what happened on their date?" Chuck shrugged, holding up his hand with his thumb and finger close together. He blew out a long sigh as he rubbed his hands on his pants legs. "What is this?" she asked, gesturing up and down his body. "What are you getting so worked up about? You didn't see her running off and playing Wild Kingdom with that guy did you?" Chuck slowly shook his head.
"I know it's stupid. I just…part of me is nervous about being on stage, in front of that crowd. On top of that… I look at them together," he added, gesturing to the television, "and all those old feelings rush back. I see how great they look together and I get this gnawing ache in the pit of my stomach. Then my head starts to go to its dark places, second guessing myself, wondering if she made the right choice."
"OW!" Chuck exclaimed, recoiling from the massive punch to his shoulder.
"Stop it!" Zondra growled, pointing a dagger-like finger at him. "In a little while, that woman is going to profess her love for you to the entire free world. Not to Will, or any of those other clowns. You! And it's the worst kept secret on television." Chuck's brow furrowed in confusion, pulling his chin to his chest.
"What do you mean the worst kept secret? I didn't tell anyone… OK, a few people, but they wouldn't blab about it. And Sarah's a professional, she wouldn't say anything." Zondra snorted, rolling her eyes at his comment. The scene on the television switched to showcase Chuck and Sarah's date, filming him knocking on her door.
"OK. Right here," she stated pointing at the television. With the camera filming over his shoulder, the door to the guest house opened and there stood Sarah. Instantly her smile stretched from ear to ear, with a sparkle in her blue eyes that lit up the room.
"That!" Zondra exclaimed, gesturing at the television. "That right there. Do you see that? That look of pure joy on her face when she sees you? That woman is in love with you. Even before that, in the days leading up to that date, you could still see that same look on her face when she was with you. I see it, I'm sure you can see it… hell all of America can see it. It's the reason that hashtag Charah has such a huge following. It's the reason that the ratings for this show have far outpaced any other show on television right now and left any previous season in the dust. Everyone sees how in love you two are and they want so much to see the two of you come together. It's disgusting, frankly," she teased with a chuckle. He chuckled as well, though there was a shimmering in his eyes that belied the emotions bubbling up within him.
"Over these past few weeks I've wanted nothing more than to be able to shout from the rooftops how much I love her… and that she loves me. But now that we're here, and all the world is going to know, it scares me more than a little." Zondra nodded, pursing her lips as she considered him, not interrupting as he stared at the floor and spoke. "I just… I know what people are going to say. Sure, there are a bunch of folks on social media and stuff that are very supportive, but I know that there are going to be so many people out there, influential people, that'll have a field day with this. Sarah's going to get grilled and hounded about choosing someone like me, second guessing her decision or… I dunno, assume that it's all some sort of publicity stunt. I say that I don't care what others think, but the truth is… I do. Not for myself, but for Sarah. She's trying so hard to move her career forward, and I know this show was supposed to help with that, but I'm worried by choosing me, of all people, that it might not have the desired effect."
Chuck blew out another long sigh before a silence fell over them, only the commercial on the television in the background could be heard. "Are you done?" Zondra asked. Chuck turned his head to look at her, noticing her giving him a rather impatient, flat glare. He just nodded mutely. "Sarah is one of my best friends, so I can appreciate your concern for her well-being. Other than that, I'm calling bullshit." Chuck's eyes grew wide in surprise, pulling away from her slightly. "Look, I get you have some self-esteem issues. I saw it from the beginning. It was more than just not being conceited. Someone, or something, had beaten you down, making you believe so little of yourself. In turn, you put everyone's wants and needs above your own. It's endearing most of the time, but sometimes you can be a complete pain in the ass," she groused with a snort.
"I've seen the guys she's dated in the past. Those relationships were superficial at best. That's why she was never that broken up about it when they ended. During that interview, when you sat across the table from Roan and me, I knew at that moment, in my gut, you were the one. Hell, Roan, knew it too. You were what she needed.
"Sarah Walker is a force to be reckoned with and I've never seen her more determined about anything than she is about you. So, don't you think for one second that some tabloid rag or drivel on social media is going to dissuade her from getting what she wants. She wants you, Chuck Bartowski. Sure, she wants a fulfilling career too, and she'll have it; I have no doubt in my mind. Those two things aren't mutually exclusive. She gains confidence in knowing that you'll be there to support her, helping her to become the best she can be, and she wants to be the same for you. She can have a rewarding career because she's with you, not despite it."
Looking up at the television, Chuck's ears and neck red with embarrassment and eyes glassy with unshed tears, he could see himself and Sarah walking down the sidewalk toward Emma's Diner, arm in arm. The couple on screen looked truly happy. He never realized before what it looked like as an outside observer, but the way she gripped his arm and leaned into him when they walked, you'd think they'd been a couple for years, rather than on their first date. He had to admit to himself that they looked good together; happy.
Sniffing, Chuck sat up straight, blinking away his tears. "You're right. Me wallowing in self-doubt isn't doing any of us any good. I have so much to be grateful for. A good career, great friends," he added, looking over at Zondra with a knowing smile, "and the love of an absolutely incredible woman. I don't know if I deserve those things, but I'm sure as hell going to spend my days trying to prove that I do."
"Good," Zondra stated, surprisingly sounding a bit choked up. Standing up, she shook herself and let out a huff. "Now, get your sappy ass on set. We need to get ready for the live show."
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
"Welcome to Off Screen Romance, After the Show, where we'll get a chance to talk candidly with our celebrity, Sarah Walker." The studio audience applauded loudly in response, forcing Alex Forrest to pause. Even though there were signs instructing the audience when and how to behave, their reaction came ahead of the signal, showing just how genuinely invested the audience really was. Taking it all in stride, Alex just smiled and nodded in agreement with their enthusiasm.
"That's right. We'll get Sarah's insights into that amazing finale we just watched and hopefully she'll share with us what she's been up to since. Then, we'll talk with the two runners up -Jason and Will- to get their responses. Last but not least," she stated, pausing for effect with a wry smile on her face, "we'll hear from Chuck and what's been going on since the finale." The audience erupted in applause again, cheers and whistles dotted throughout.
"Without further ado, ladies and gentleman, Miss Sarah Walker!" Alex stood, gesturing to stage left, where a beaming Sarah Walker stepped through the curtain, waving at Alex and then the audience as she made her way across the stage. The audience was on their feet during her procession, applauding and cheering the whole time. When she reached Alex, the two women hugged, whispering a few words into the other's ear before separating and taking their seats.
As the applause died down, Sarah blew out a breath, chuckling lightly. 'Wow! What a warm reception. Thanks to all of you," Sarah said waving to the studio audience, "and to all of you at home. I hear you too. Thank you!" she declared, waving into the camera and blowing a kiss, earning her a chuckle from the show's host.
"Sarah, it's so good to see you again. I know that it only seems like moments ago that we saw you on the airing of the finale, but in reality, it's been quite some time since last we spoke," Alex shared, turning in her chair to face Sarah.
"That's right, it has. A month and a half? Something like that? Wow, the time flies."
"It does indeed. So tell us, without giving too much away, how have you been?"
"Great, Alex. Truly, great. In no small part, thanks to this show, my phone's been ringing off the hook. Photo shoots, TV appearances, not to mention a lot of scripts coming my way."
"So, it's been all work and no play for Sarah, huh?" Alex asked with a knowing smirk.
"Well… not all work," Sarah replied with a sheepish grin. The audience let out an 'Ooo" in response, causing Sarah's cheeks to redden slightly.
"We'll get into that a little bit later," Alex chimed in, waving at the audience to settle down. "So, Sarah, tell us about your experiences on the show. Was it at all what you expected?"
Sarah's eyes grew wide as she puffed up her cheeks, blowing out a long breath. "Wow. I can honestly say it was nothing like I expected going into it. There's obviously a lot that goes on behind the scenes, a lot of preparation that happens before the show even starts filming." She turned to the audience and cameras, pointing at them.
"And I know what you're thinking. You suspected that the dialogue between the contestants and the celebrity was all staged or scripted. That's not the case at all. While the locations were set up ahead of time so they could place cameras and microphones and block off the area to the public in some cases, everyone's actions and dialogue were completely their own; mine included. Sure, at the end of an episode where I had to let people go, I planned what I was going to say to some degree, but it wasn't scripted, per say."
Alex nodded her agreement. "That's a good point, Sarah. I think there's a growing belief that reality shows are all scripted. I can't speak for any of the others out there, but I can attest, none of this was scripted. I'm sure, based on some of the goings on during the show, viewers could tell." Everyone chuckled at that, Alex and Sarah included.
"So what about the contestants? Were they what you expected or were there some surprises?"
"Well… answering that could get me into some trouble," Sarah teased, letting out a chuckle. "In all seriousness, I think I was surprised, in both good and bad ways. Since the idea of the show was for me to meet regular guys, working regular jobs, I was surprised to learn that many of them still had fame in their sights. They were hoping to ride my coattails into acting or to gain fame. I was a little disappointed by that. On the flipside, I can honestly say that I met some great people, which was a little unexpected. That includes people working behind the scenes on the show. I've gained some great new friends out of the experience. Present company included," Sarah added, reaching across and squeezing Alex's wrist.
"Aww. I couldn't agree more," Alex beamed, squeezing Sarah's hand in return. "I think we all know who the contestants were with ulterior motives. They made themselves known pretty early on and got sent home because of it." Sarah nodded in agreement, her eyes going wide recalling some of their behaviors. "I think it's also safe to say we know who some of those happy surprises were." Sarah's brilliant smile stretched from ear to ear, but she didn't offer any confirmation and Alex didn't press any further.
"In the final episodes, you whittled the field down to just three contestants. Up until that point, were the decisions on who to send home difficult?"
"Ummm. No. Not really. Fortunately for me, the contestants often made the choices rather easy. When it came down to the final three, that's when things started to become difficult."
"So, towards the end were you struggling with your feelings? Was there any uncertainty as to who you would choose in the end?" Alex asked, scooting a little closer to the edge of her seat.
Sarah twisted her lips to the side, trying to hide her smile. "How about we come back to that question?" Sarah hedged, still trying to mask her smile. That earned a laugh from Alex, who agreed to let it go for now.
"Fair enough. Speaking of the final contestants, how about we hear from one of them to get their side of the story. Let's give a big welcome to Jason McKellar!" Alex stood, clapping along with the audience as Jason stepped between the curtains. He gave a polite wave to the audience and shook Alex's offered hand as he approached. Sarah also stood, giving Jason a small hug and exchanged some pleasantries before returning to her seat.
"So, Jason. You're looking well."
"Thank you. It's nice to be here and great to get a chance to see Sarah again," he offered, turning to Sarah with a kind smile. He seemed genuine and there was no sense of bitterness in his tone.
"I hope we're not rubbing salt into old wounds here, but can we talk a little bit about your time on the show?" Alex asked, getting down to business.
"Yeah. Sure. Absolutely."
"The night of the Wish Gala. Take us back there. How was that night for you?" Alex inquired, resting her chin on her fist with her elbow perched on the arm of her chair. Jason's eyes grew a little wider as he sat up straighter and blew out a breath.
"Wow. Going right for the jugular," he chuckled, earning laughs from the others on stage as well as the audience. He waved off her attempt to apologize and continued. "It was a tremendous experience. The pampering from the stylists, the limo and the walk on the red carpet, it was all so exciting. Then inside, it was a little overwhelming, to be honest. I have no idea how she does it," he stated, gesturing toward Sarah. "Sarah was constantly mobbed by people and the whole time she had a smile on her face. It was kind of intimidating. I also met a lot of new people there; a lot of influential people from the community. I certainly wasn't there to network or anything like that," he backpedaled, holding up his hands, "it just worked out that way.
"I'm not one for dancing and red carpet events, but I had a good time. I could sense that things between Sarah and I weren't really clicking. At least not like it was between her and the other guys. I think we had some common interests, but not enough to build a relationship on. I don't know if I saw that at the time, but in hindsight, I can see it now."
"That's very insightful. So there're no hard feelings?"
"Was I disappointed? Sure. I mean, even superficially, losing out on an opportunity to date 'Sarah Walker'? Come on," he joked, causing chuckles from the audience. "In all seriousness, I was a little dejected at first, but the more I played it over in my mind, the better I understood. In fact, I'm happy to say that I've actually met someone since I left the show and I'm really excited about it."
"That's great! Congratulations," both women shared, giving him pats on the shoulders. "So, it was for the best then, it sounds like. Good for you," Alex added, giving him an approving nod.
"Thanks. My business has been booming as well, so it's been a win-win, and I guess I have Sarah and the show to thank for it. So, thanks," he said with a warm smile.
Sarah gave him a squeeze on his shoulder. "I'm really happy for you."
"I think we all are. Congratulations, Jason." Alex turned her body to address the camera straight on. "We just finished watching the show's finale, where Sarah's first date was with Will, filled with some awkward and equally fun moments. Let's give a warm welcome to Will Dunn! Come on out, Will!" The same curtains as before parted and Will stepped out, waving to the cheering audience. Much as with Jason, he gave Alex a quick hug, then turned to Sarah who gave him a noticeably longer hug, followed by a quick kiss on the cheek. Will and Jason shook hands before Jason moved down the couch to give Will some room.
Letting out a whistle, he shook his head in disbelief. "That's some reception. Thanks for having me. Great to be here."
"So, Will. We were just asking Jason about his experiences at the Wish Gala. I'd like to pose the same question to you. How was that night for you?"
Letting out a chuckle, Will shook his head. "Intense. I mean, the preparation stuff, getting all fixed up and dressed to the nines, that was fun. I don't think it really set in until Sarah came to meet us for our reveals. As you guys saw," he stated, gesturing to the audience, "Sarah looked absolutely incredible in that dress. It all sort of became real at that point. Things only escalated from there. Walking the red carpet with all the cameras and lights, then hobnobbing with people at the Gala, it was pretty overwhelming, not to mention spending the evening with Sarah," he added, turning to gesture to Sarah, who was smiling back at him. "Who wouldn't want to be me at that moment, am I right?" he asked the audience, holding his arms out to them in expectation. That earned him a huge cheer, causing everyone on stage to chuckle, while causing Sarah to blush a bit.
"Who indeed," Alex agreed. "Now, the next day, how confident were you that you'd make it through to the next round? Did things go well enough at the Gala that you felt good about it?"
"Well… to be honest, I figured I had a fifty-fifty shot between Jason and I. I mean, Chuck was a shoe in. Even before the Gala I was pretty sure of that, but seeing those two? Chuck was such a natural with those kids and then the way those two danced?" Will let out a low whistle as he shook his hand, as if on fire. Laughter and applause followed, Alex doing likewise.
"Sarah, that tango was pretty spicy, but that slow dance … you two seemed really, really close." Alex raised an eyebrow, giving Sarah a wry smile as she put the star on the spot. The comment, along with the "ooos" from the audience colored Sarah's cheeks with embarrassment.
"What can I say? He's a good dancer," Sarah responded coyly, giving a small shrug. Chuckles erupted at her artful dodge, but she didn't elaborate further. Alex took pity on her friend and steered the conversation back on track.
"OK, Will. So, tell us about the date. You got to go first. Do you think that made a difference? Clearly there were some other things at play - that we'll talk about in a minute - but at the time, did you think that going first would give you an advantage?" Alex asked.
"Hmm. I don't know. I think either position has its pluses and minuses. Since we didn't get to see the other contestant's date, I don't think that it mattered as much. It wasn't like we could learn from the other's failures to do better. We just had to give it our all and hope for the best. I decided to go big by trying to show off with the fancy restaurant, which turned out to be a terrible experience. Then there was the after hours access to the museum, like I was some sort of mover and shaker with lots of contacts or something," he snorted, shaking his head. "I was trying to be impressive and it fell kind of flat."
"Hey! It wasn't so bad," Sarah challenged, giving Will a small shove on his shoulder. Will gave her a comically flat look and she burst into laughter. "Ok. Ok. The restaurant, maybe, but it definitely gave us something to talk about. Then the museum and hanging out at that coffee shop until early morning, that was fun."
"It was fun," he agreed, giving a nod. "And rather unexpected."
"Quite unexpected," Alex interjected with a knowing smile. "It seemed that during that date, and later at the finale, there were some revelations. Would you care to elaborate on that?"
"Ummm… well…..," Will chuckled, looking a little embarrassed. "When you spend a lot of time with someone, you get to know them pretty well. I never intended for it to happen, but with all the time we spent around each other behind the scenes-"
"You're referring to Megan?"
"Yes. Megan," he replied, his smile growing. "I tried to push those thoughts and feelings aside but… it was no use."
"At the finale, Sarah was instrumental in helping you two realize your feelings for one another. I think we'd all like to know how that turned out. Wouldn't we?" she asked, turning to the audience to get their opinion. The cheers and whistles that followed made the answer clear. "Then let's hear from her in person. Give it up for Megan Page!"
The audience erupted in cheers as Megan stepped through the curtain, covering her mouth with one hand as she waved at the audience with the other. She was clearly overwhelmed at the response, her eyes a little glassy. As she approached the others on stage, she was greeted by a surprised Will, who stood up to meet her, pulling her into a tight hug. The two exchanged a few words, along with a quick kiss, before they pulled apart. Megan then shared a hug with Alex and a crushing embrace from Sarah, who nearly lifted her off the ground. Setting Megan down, Sarah grabbed Megan's hands and leaned in to whisper something, causing both women to laugh, before Megan finally took a seat beside Will on the couch.
"Well. Megan. You seem to have quite the following," Alex said, gesturing to the audience.
"This is so crazy. Thank you all so much," Megan gushed, waving at the audience.
"I think it's safe to say that after that greeting you two shared a few seconds ago, that things between you are… good?" Alex inquired, looking between Megan and Will. The couple shared a look and took the other's hand before they turned back to Alex.
"Things are really great," Megan admitted, her grin stretching from ear to ear. "We've gotten to spend a lot of time together, and it seems the more we learn about each other, the better it gets. Truly, I couldn't be happier."
Alex leaned forward to look past Megan to confer with Will. "What do you say, Will?"
"Oh, absolutely. One hundred percent," he exclaimed. "I've never been happier," he said, giving Megan's hand an extra squeeze.
"Awwwww," Sarah interjected, gripping Will's shoulder. "I'm so happy and excited for you two. It couldn't have happened to two nicer people." The audience agreed by applauding and whistling their response.
"That's so great to hear, you two," Alex added, reaching out and squeezing Megan's arm. "Like Sarah said, this show is all about finding romance and it sure looks like you two did. Congratulations. Now, we got to hear a bit about it from Will's perspective. Tell us, what was it like for you, Megan?"
"Ugh," she groaned, shaking her head. "It was torture. I'm not sure when it happened exactly. Over the course of taping the show, I got to know Will from brief conversations here and there, as well as watching him during the various outings. I'd also become good friends with Sarah, so I knew I couldn't act on those feelings. I mean, how terrible of a friend would I be if I was actively trying to pursue someone she was interested in? Then, of course, there was the show. Will was supposed to be interested in Sarah after all. Having to stuff those feelings down, not letting anyone see them, was so hard."
"And you didn't do a very good job," Sarah retorted, giggling at her friend. "Neither did Will, if I'm being honest. At the Gala, it became quite clear that there was chemistry between you two." Megan began to protest, but Sarah waved her off. "I knew it wasn't intentional. I doubt either of you really noticed it, but I could see the way you looked at each other and acted around one another. Just little things."
Megan gave a sheepish shrug. "Subconsciously, I may have let my feelings show a little more once I realized how you felt about Chuck, but there was no way I was going to jeopardize our friendship or the show."
"I think it's safe to say that you didn't jeopardize your friendship with Sarah, or the show for that matter. If anything, I think in the end it made the show all that much better. Wouldn't you guys agree?" Alex asked the audience, gesturing with her hands to encourage their resounding response.
Once the audience's cheers died down, Alex continued, "So, Sarah. I take it that the revelation about Will and Megan's feelings for one another didn't hit you too hard."
Sarah let out a cackle, falling back in her chair. Placing a hand on her stomach to brace herself as she laughed, she let out a high-pitched sigh. "No offense Will, but can I tell you how relieved I was to learn that you had feelings for Megan? Oh, God. I was a mess. I knew that I had to try to stay somewhat impartial for the purposes of the show, but as the days went on, it became more and more difficult."
"When was it that you knew that Chuck was the one? Was there a point where it just… clicked?" Alex asked.
"Hmm. That's tough. I'll admit there was a spark from the beginning. He was clearly different from anyone I'd ever met, which immediately set him apart from the other contestants, at least a little. From then on, each day I discovered something new. I think it was the visit to the hospital, when he sang with Kayley, that pushed me over the edge. Not that he did it -which was incredible by the way- but that he did it when he thought nobody was watching. He wasn't doing it for fame or recognition. He simply wanted to put a smile on the girl's face. He got it. That was the whole reason for being there and he got it and seemed to draw as much joy from it as I do. If there was a moment when I realized just how far gone I was, it was at the Gala. So many things happened that night, but when I saw him dancing with Kayley, it was over. He had destroyed the last of my defenses," Sarah chuckled, throwing her hands in the air in mock defeat.
"Speaking of being terrible at hiding your feelings," Megan interjected, pointing at Sarah with an amused grin. Sarah rocked back in her chair laughing as a blush crept over her features. She raised her hands in surrender, having no real argument.
"Before we go any further," Alex interrupted, waving her hands as the audience's laughter simmered down, "there's one person we've yet to hear from." A few cheers and whistles came from the audience, but Alex continued. "Let's give it up for the other half of 'hashtag Charah', Chuck … Bartowski!"
With a flourish Alex stood, gesturing to the curtain as it parted and music began to play. From it stepped a beaming Chuck, his nose and the corners of his eyes crinkling with that signature smile of his. Waving at the audience with both hands, he made his way across the stage. He greeted Alex with a hug and a quick kiss on the cheek, exchanging some whispered words and chuckles. Moving to Megan, they too exchanged hugs and platonic kisses on the cheek before he moved to Will, giving the other man a bro hug and exchanging a few words. Jason stepped up, shaking Chuck's hand, also exchanging quick pleasantries before they all sat down at the far end of the sofa, leaving Sarah standing before him.
The intro music and audience fell silent as the couple smiled at one another. Chuck leaned in, placing his hands gently on her cheeks and pressed his lips to hers. Gripping his wrists, she returned the kiss, ignoring the cheers and whistles from the studio audience, as well as the guests on stage. Pulling apart, the smiles on their faces were infectious. Taking each other's hands, they sat together on the couch, letting out sighs of contentment.
"Sooo…," Alex began, a wry smile stretched across her face.
"So," Chuck replied, nodding, unable to wipe the smile off his face if he tried.
"Before we dive into talking about your time on the show, what has Chuck been up to since the finale?"
"Ohhh…. You know. A little of this… little of that," he said with a sheepish grin on his face. That earned him some laughs, including from Alex.
"Sarah did a good job of avoiding the same question earlier. I know it's hard to stay out of the public eye, but were you two able to spend any time together since the taping of the finale?" Alex questioned, looking between the couple.
Chuck and Sarah shared a glance but just shrugged. Chuck opened his mouth to answer but Sarah beat him to the punch. "Yes. Yes we did," she stated, Sarah's grin leaving no misunderstandings. Chuck's cheeks and ears burned red with embarrassment from all the whistles and cheers from the audience, while Sarah seemed quite pleased with herself.
Alex's eyes grew wide with surprise at Sarah's openness but was nevertheless amused. "Well, alrighty then." Taking a moment to collect herself and allow the audience to quiet, Alex continued, "Since we haven't seen any photos of you two surfacing on social media or the tabloids, where have you two been hiding out?"
Chuck straightened in his chair a bit, clearing his throat. "We can't give away all our secrets, but I will say that it was very peaceful and we were able to just… God, there's no way of saying this without it sounding … we got to know each other a lot better." The audience, and the others on stage, jumped to the natural conclusion and hooted and hollered at the comment. Flustered, Chuck tried to explain his meaning. "Talking! Come on guys. You know, communicating? We did a lot of communicating."
"Yeah we did," Sarah interjected, her tone full of innuendo, not helping Chuck's plight one little bit. Chuck turned to her with a look of astonishment as the audience erupted in cheers. Sarah just gave him a one-shoulder shrug with a smirk on her face.
"OK. OK, everyone. We've had our fun," Alex jumped in, trying to bring back some semblance of order. "In all seriousness, during the show you two didn't have a lot of time to just be by yourselves. Before I get ahead of myself and talk about your recent exploits, let's go back to …'The Date'," Alex said, using air quotes for emphasis. "Chuck, tell us about your planning for the date. What was going through your mind?"
Chuck blew out a breath through puffed cheeks as he thought over the question. "Simply put … I was nervous. Terrified even," he confessed, his eyes going wide briefly as he recalled the events. "I mean… she was going on a date with this guy," Chuck continued, leaning forward and gesturing down the row toward Will. "As if having to compete with that wasn't enough, I was going to have to come up with the ultimate date for none other than 'The' Sarah Walker. The pressure was unbelievable." Sarah let out a 'tsk' beside him, her face showing her clear frustration with his comment. Recognizing it, Chuck held up a hand to forestall her so he could continue.
"Then I remembered something my sister said to me at the beginning of all of this. She said -and I'm paraphrasing - 'If you truly want someone to like you for who you are, then you have to be yourself.' Essentially, if I had to … prove my worth or pretend to be someone I'm not, to become the person they wanted me to be, then the relationship would be doomed to fail."
"That's pretty sage advice," Alex interjected, giving him a reassuring nod. The sentiment was shared by the others on stage, nodding and murmuring their agreement.
"And how could Sarah make an informed decision if I didn't show her who 'Chuck Bartowski' is, warts and all? That's when 'An Evening with Chuck' was born. I was going to show her what my dream date would be. If that wasn't for her, then so be it.
"But, if I'm honest… God, I wanted her to enjoy it so bad." Everyone burst into laughter at his overly dramatic confession. Sarah leaned her head on his shoulder as she chuckled, squeezing his arm in support.
"I have to say, it was in sharp contrast to the date she had with Will. A five-star restaurant versus a burger at a local diner? A private museum tour versus the Santa Monica Pier? The two dates couldn't have been more different," Alex declared, holding her hands out to the sides as if waiting for a response.
Chuck nodded, his lips pulled into a tight line. "You're right. And I wouldn't have changed a moment of it. It really was the best night of my life," he admitted, turning to give Sarah a dreamy look, earning him "awws" from the audience. It also warranted a heart-warmed pout from Sarah before she leaned forward and kissed him gently.
"I think we know the answer to this, but Sarah, did his plan work?" Alex asked, leaning her head toward Sarah expectantly.
"Well, I'd already fallen for him. I just couldn't find the courage or the timing to tell him. Before the date even started, I knew. That being said… there isn't a thing that could have made that night more perfect. Well, I could have done without the cameras following us around, but, that aside, it was absolutely perfect. Although-" Sarah trailed off, giving Chuck a sheepish look. "Should I tell them?" she asked him, looking at him through her lashes. Chuck seemed confused, giving her a raised eyebrow.
"I think I should tell them."
"I don't know what it is, but I'm betting that all of America watching would like to hear it," Alex added, gesturing toward the cameras.
"There was a point on the date when … when it almost ended."
"Oh no," Chuck groaned, hanging his head.
'What?" came the unified cry of everyone on stage and the audience.
"You see… when we went for our little walk on the beach, there was a moment where Chuck … he said he was going to drop out of the show." The gasp nearly sucked all the air from the studio.
"Wh-why?" Alex inquired, looking as dumbfounded as everyone else was feeling. Chuck was slumped in his chair, staring at his lap in embarrassment.
"He believed that I'd been put into an impossible position with the show expecting me to choose someone. He also seemed to believe that I had strong feelings for Will. Chuck thought Will was a good choice and all Chuck wanted was for me to be happy, so he was going to bow out, so that I didn't have to make that choice," Sarah stated, giving Chuck a warm glance.
"What… what did you do?" Alex asked Sarah, her tone almost desperate.
"She punched me."
"I punched him."
There was delayed laughter as the comments sunk in. The members on stage were nearly doubled over in laughter, as was the studio audience.
"I'm… I'm sorry? You.. you what?" Alex questioned as she tried to regain her composure.
"I punched him in the arm. Oh, and then I yelled at him." Another bout of laughter filled the studio. Sarah just waited for it to die down before she continued. "I'd been trying to find a way to tell him all evening how I felt about him and here he was -the stupid, wonderful nerd- getting it all so perfectly wrong. He was willing to sacrifice his own happiness for mine, and in doing so, would be ruining my happiness as well. I was so heart-warmed and angry all at once, I… I punched him in the shoulder. And then I kissed the hell out of him."
The hoots and hollers from the audience eventually died down and Chuck lifted his gaze to meet Sarah's, the two sharing a warm smile. Clearing her throat, Alex Forrest tried to get back on topic. "A lot seemed to happen when the cameras were off, but I think it's safe to say that it all worked out. I mean, the dancing afterwards rivaled what we saw at the Gala. You were dancing very, very close. So a good date then?" Alex asked the couple, understanding how much of an understatement that was.
"Oh yeah."
"The best!"
"Let's jump to the finale. We've already heard from Megan and Will. I have to ask, Chuck, as emotional as Sarah's confession to you was, you didn't seem as surprised as I might have expected. Were you that confident?"
"Oh God. If you'd have asked me a day or two before, absolutely not. However, on our date -during our time on the beach - we confessed our true feelings for one another. I was plenty surprised then, believe me. Sometimes I still struggle with understanding what she sees in me." Anticipating Sarah's protest, Chuck grabbed her hand and turned to face her. "I may not understand it, but I am so grateful for it," he declared, his emotions evident in the waiver of his voice. "I'm going to work every day to make sure you never regret it." Chuck's words brought a tight, teary smile to Sarah's face. They seemed to have a similar effect on many of those on stage and in the audience as they wiped at their eyes.
"Wow. Ok," Alex started, still wiping under her eyes. "I think it's clear to see that you two are still very much in love. So, what now? What's next for you two?"
Chuck and Sarah shared a look, having a silent conversation with only their eyes. After a moment they turned to face Alex, a grin on their faces.
"Well, it's going to be a whole new world for me once this show is over," Chuck confessed. "We're going to have to live our lives in the public eye now, and that does worry me… more than a little."
"Yeah. I mean, as you all know, I've had to deal with some of my past relationships in the public eye," Sarah admitted with an eye roll and a slight sigh of exasperation "but this time it's different. Chuck isn't… well, he wasn't a public figure," Sarah corrected, chuckling as she gave Chuck a wink. "That could draw a lot of new and maybe unwanted attention." Chuck nods along as he listens to Sarah. "It's also very different because… well, my relationship with Chuck is very special to me." Looking into Chuck's eyes, she gave him a broad smile, giving his hand an extra squeeze. "I want to keep much of our relationship private, something that's just for us. I love how supportive you all are," she added, gesturing toward the cameras and audience, "but starting a new relationship, getting to really know one another, that's hard enough under the best of circumstances. Having to do that under constant scrutiny from fans and the press, it's hard."
"That's a very good point that I think many people don't really appreciate," Alex interjected. "Imagine you're at dinner or the movies, even at the grocery store, and people are taking your pictures, hoping you'll slip up and they can write a juicy story about it. It's hard enough to navigate that on a day-to-day basis, let alone when you're trying to grow a relationship. So, how do you plan to deal with that, you two?"
Chuck and Sarah shared another glance, and Chuck gave a nod as if deferring to Sarah. In response, Sarah turned to Alex," I think our next step is to find a place of our own. It'll give us that chance for some privacy. Also, it won't be 'his place' or 'my place', but ours. It'll give us a fresh start, together."
"Wow. Moving in together? That's a huge step, but seeing you two together, I have no doubt it's the right decision. I'm so happy for you guys," Alex exclaimed, genuinely excited. A chorus of congratulations came from the others on stage, along with applause from the audience.
"Thank you. We're pretty excited about it. At least I am," Chuck joked, earning a faux pout and a shoulder bump from Sarah.
"Well, it sounds like this season of Off-Screen Romance was a resounding success. We've made not one, but two matches and I couldn't be happier for you all. From those of us here at Off-Screen Romance, and everyone at home, I want to wish you all much love and happiness. See you all on the next season of Off-Screen Romance!" Alex and all of those on stage waved to the cameras and the audience. Chatting among themselves as the cameras panned out, the crew finally called "Cut", signifying the end of the taping, and the show.
They were all ushered backstage which afforded them a little privacy where the friends could continue to catch up. Alex, Megan, Sarah and Zondra were all gathered together, chatting, when they were joined by Sydney who bounded up to greet them once her work was done. As the women talked and laughed, Chuck and Will stood to the side trying to converse over all the noise.
"So are you ready for the media hailstorm that's about to descend on you now that this is all out in the open," Will asked, sounding a little concerned for Chuck.
"Worried? Me? Pffft... I'm terrified!" Both men laughed at Chuck's admission, though Chuck tried to hide the very real fears that lay under the surface.
"Do you really think it'll be that bad?" Will asked, seeming to sense Chuck wasn't entirely joking.
Chuck gave a shrug. "I dunno. I mean, Sarah, she's a natural at all of this. She said herself that she's had to deal with being in relationships in the spotlight before. I just hope I don't do something stupid and embarrass her or jeopardize her career. There's a sizable group of people out there that are hoping I fall on my face or that Sarah will wise up and find someone better."
"You don't really believe that do you?" Will asked, taken aback. "I mean that Sarah would ever have second thoughts?"
Neither of them noticed that Sarah had pulled away from her group and had caught part of Chuck and Will's conversation. Sarah listened in concern at the direction their conversation was taking. She hoped she was hearing it out of context, but the fact that Chuck wasn't dismissing the notion immediately worried her.
Before Chuck could respond, his phone buzzed in his pocket, causing him to jump slightly. Holding up a finger to Will, asking for a moment, he pulled out his phone to check it. Chuck winced, breathing in a hiss. When he looked up, he caught Sarah's gaze just over Will's shoulder and could see her brow furrowed in concern. Assuming the expression was in response to his reaction to the text, he held up the phone, waggling it side to side. Sarah drew closer, looking from his face to the phone, trying to see what was displayed on it. Sensing he was intruding, Will stepped aside and made his way toward the group of women to join their conversation.
"That was Ellie," Chuck began. "She just watched the show… annnd there's probably some things I should have mentioned to her first," he stated, wincing again. "I think it'd be a good idea to stop by her place, maybe smooth things over a bit."
"Oh. Yeah. Sure. We're uh… we're almost done here, I think. I'll check with Zondra to see how much longer she needs us." With that, Sarah returned to her group, pulling on Zondra's arm to get her attention. As they spoke into each other's ears, to be heard over the noise, Chuck took a moment to look around. He was glad that the show was over and that they could move on with their lives, but the problem was, it wasn't over. In fact, it was just the beginning. Was he prepared for what came next? Were either of them?
Almost as if she could read his mind, Sarah turned her gaze to see Chuck, flashing him a warm smile. Instinctively he returned the smile, and it did a lot to help him forget the uncertainty he was struggling with. There were a lot of things they'd have to overcome, but he knew one thing, if she were in his life, it would all be worth it.
A/N2: So not a lot of forward momentum, per say, but a milestone we had to address. Now that the show is over, life can begin. But, will they ever really put the show behind them?
Thanks for all those of you that have checked in over the months, offering words of encouragement. It does mean a lot that you've taken the time to reach out. It's also humbling that you're still interested in this story (assuming you've made it this far). It's not over yet. There are definitely more chapters to come.
Please feel free to leave a review or send a PM and let me know what you think. I appreciate your feedback.
Be safe and stay well.
JW