A/N: I'm super happy for the many hits and kudos this gets each time I update. I begin to have a more clear idea of where I'll take this story. I hope you like where I'm going with this.
Huge thanks to my beta for helping me with this… and can't wait to share the rest of the story with you all.
Enjoy.
Chapter 3Emma gazed out of the large bay windows overlooking the hills rolling down towards the bustling city of L.A. The fall colors scattered over the greenery. The sky was clear with only the tiniest puffy clouds that bode for fair weather, despite being late October. Furious tapping on a keyboard behind her pulled her out of her musings.
Ruby was leaning over a laptop, currently deleting some text. Seconds later she typed out something with an intense glare in her eyes.
The scene had become quite familiar for Emma in the past week she'd been in L.A. Finalizing the script had pulled her across the country to the big city. In the past few months, Emma had Facetimed with Ruby several times a week, as the feisty script-writer wanted as much input from her as possible. It had taken Emma a few weeks to get used to working alongside someone else while pulling her own story apart and piecing it together into an actual movie script. The scenario was still surreal for Emma, but her inner author was also dancing a little happy dance each time they had a breakthrough with the script.
Belle kept Emma's social feed updated, but she opted to keep her cards close to herself with regard to making any public announcement about the project. She wanted the script to be finished and the final legal papers signed before she shouted to the world that her book was made into a movie.
"What do you think of this?" Ruby called out, waving for Emma to join her by the screen.
Emma walked over and read over the new edits. It was an unfamiliar experience reading a story in script layout, but after some time Emma had gotten used to working with the style.
"I like it," Emma said, pushing away from the laptop. "Makes it more real and gritty."
"I thought you'd like it." Ruby grinned wolfishly. "I know we sent the script to some possible actors already, but they will get an updated version once we have them inside the project."
"I don't want names," Emma warned. "I'm offering to sit on the panel when you've found the potential candidates. It's too much to handle for me." She pushed her hand through her hair. She didn't want names she could associate with any known actor. It would mess up her mind too much knowing who she might meet at the auditions.
"You'll get used to mingling with the big shots in this city."
"Hmm." Emma wasn't so sure, even if her time in L.A. had still merely comprised her being cooped up in this mansion with Ruby she still felt completely out of place.
"You don't know how big the talk is about this book, do you?" Ruby tilted her head curiously.
"I just want to write, and this…" Emma waved her hand towards the view behind her, "... is so far out of my league. But I can't deny it's also a dream come true." She smiled at the other woman who'd slowly become a new friend and confidant in this crazy rollercoaster ride.
"If that fantasy story you're editing is as brilliant as this, I'll begin vetting for it to the big bosses as soon as you have it published."
"Yeah, let's see." Emma's mind listed all the crazy loose ends she still had to pick up before the story would work.
"Now we'll meet up with the Mills sisters tomorrow and show them the changes." Ruby scrolled over the screen and found a calendar. "And the casting is already taking place so hopefully we'll have it narrowed down to two or three candidates for each lead role by the end of the week."
Emma nodded and collected her things, getting ready to head back to her room. They'd worked for a long time on this so she just wanted some sleep in order to digest the new experience of working in L.A.
"Let's go out for drinks after our meeting with the bosses," Ruby suggested with a hopeful note to her voice.
Emma paused just as she was about to leave the room, glancing over her shoulder she sighed, "I guess we could do that."
"Look I know you still need to get your bearings in this hustle and bustle of the big city, but I've got your back girl," Ruby said, smiling reassuringly.
"Thanks, you've been a good friend through all of this," Emma mused. Rarely did she let anyone new into her life, Ruby had been the exception. Their love for writing quickly made the foundation for a friendship.
Ruby waved her off proclaiming she knew just the spot for them to celebrate. Emma waved back to bid her goodnight and headed for her room. She was nervous about the next step in this process. While she didn't have a full vote on who would be picked for the leading roles, Regina Mills had assured her they wanted her input once they had narrowed it down to two or three for each role. The next week would be a whirlwind of audition calls and discussions with the director, and the rest of the main production crew.
"Oy, mate," Will called out before weaving his way through the small gathered group of actors and actresses assembled in the large room.
Killian shifted in his seat and welcomed his agent with a smile. "Did you spike the coffee? Bloody hell please say that you did," Killian groaned, as he grabbed the steaming to-go cup.
"I'm sure that the Mills lady will kill me if she knew I put rum in your coffee, mate." Will slumped down on the seat beside him, blowing on the hot beverage in his own cup.
"Hmm." Killian glanced over the group and spotted a few of the fellow actors he'd auditioned within the past few days. So far he knew he was still in the running, along with three other men for the leading role, and today it would be a chemistry test with the three actresses vying for the female leading role. He wasn't sure which of the ladies gathered here would be set up with him, but so far the selection was quite promising. He preferred the redhead, who he'd only spotted in the crowd but never spoken with, today he would audition alongside her for the first time. Today also included two more auditions with the two other possible leading female actresses, Kathryn, and Lily.
"Did you know the author is here today?" Will asked offhandedly, glancing at Killian.
"What?"
"Oh, aye, I spoke with a few girls back at the coffee machine." Will waggled his eyebrows making Killian roll his eyes, the man was a notorious flirt.
"Hmm, so will the author be sitting in on the audition panel?"
"I think so," Will mused, looking up at the ceiling. "Imagine having your story being made into a movie. That Swan lady is living the writer's dream for sure."
"I didn't know you liked books." Killian chuckled as he sipped his coffee.
"Oy, I read stuff." Will nudged Killian's shoulder with a huff. "Emma Swan is some up-and-coming writer it seems."
"Emma?" Killian swallowed the name, a familiar face flashing before his eyes, blond hair glowing in the setting sun, by the water listening to him play on his guitar back in Storybrooke.
"Aye, you never heard of her?"
"No, not an Emma Swan. But…" he took a deep breath, before continuing…"I knew an Emma once, a long time ago, before…" He waved his hand aimlessly in the air letting his words drop into the empty void still a permanent fixture in his soul. Will knew part of his past, well the chap was who'd saved his sorry arse, his drunken sorry arse. Trying to survive by singing in seedy bars in the dark back streets of London had pulled him into another bout of depression. Alone, with no family, only living on the remains left behind by his brother, life seemed pointless.
"Killian Jones and Ariel Fisher," someone called out. "You're up next, please come to the audition room and stand by."
"Wish me luck." He walked down the hallway and saw the woman following behind him and he grinned over his shoulder, "Ariel?"
"Yup." The smile beaming over her slightly freckled face showed a youthfulness that might fit perfectly for the role of the Mob boss's daughter in this story. Ariel struck out her hand. "And you're Killian Jones."
Killian grabbed her hand and shook it, "Aye."
"Big fan actually, if you don't mind me saying?" She pulled her hand back and rubbed it over her thigh, suddenly looking a little nervous.
"Everyone seems to know everyone around here." Killian shrugged, and tilted his head. "Have you been in any movies before?"
"Only a few smaller ones, this is the biggest one yet." She chuckled nervously. "So yeah I'm freaking out a little."
"This is my first rodeo," Killian mused. "Well I've been to the first few auditions, so I guess since I'm still here I guess they liked what they saw."
"I like what I see." Ariel blurted out, seconds later her face heated, she covered her cheeks with her hands. "Oh god, did I say that out loud." Her eyes looked horrified by her blunder.
"Don't worry, no offense taken." He gave her sly smile, "I can see how well you'd fit for the lead female role, young and beautiful."
Ariel pursed her lips and gave him a weak smile, "I just hope I don't muck it all up in there." Her eyes landed on the double doors where they stood waiting.
"I'm sure you'll do fine." Killian reassured and leaned back against the wall waiting for their call.
When the doors opened a slightly unbalanced-looking man headed for the waiting room while mumbling about a hat he was missing. A timid-looking woman who wrung her hands in front of her followed him, her eyes flickered to the retreating of her co-audition partner.
"Miss." Killian nodded in greeting, "Hope it went well?"
"Don't know." The woman mumbled and reached for Ariel. "Good luck."
"Thanks, Kathryn." Ariel pulled the woman in for a hug. "We'll catch up afterward okay?"
Killian smiled when the two women parted. "Is she a friend of yours?" he asked.
"Yeah, we met while doing a smaller movie together a few years back," Ariel explained as she headed inside.
They set a long table up along the windows, and Killian gave a polite nod to everyone sitting at it. But when he reached the end his breath caught in his throat. "Emma?"
The blonde woman was looking at him with a panicked look on her face, her lips doing some silent talking as if she was whispering something to herself.
"Do you know Emma Swan?" Ariel's voice cut in from beside him, startling Killian out of his stupor.
"Swan?" He quickly glanced between Emma and Ariel. "She's the author?" His focus returned to the stunned-looking Emma, and asked "You're the author?"
With a wild look in her eyes, Emma pushed the chair back and made a babbling excuse to whoever was near her, then she dashed for the door behind her.
"Emma?" Killian watched her flee the room and failed to notice that Regina Mills had stepped up to him.
"Killian Jones, good to see you again." Regina reached out a hand for him to shake but he ignored it and took a step towards the door where Emma had fled through.
"Will you excuse me, Mrs. Mills? I just need to go check up on your author there. It seems she's fleeing the scene." He never spared the woman another glance before he strode towards the door, hoping to find Emma.
The hallway beyond the door was twisting upside down, making Emma stumble over her feet. Her breath was coming in loud pants in her ears, and the blood rushed through her body. She'd never expected to be face-to-face with him again. Oh, why had she not asked for a list of names, so she could have prepared herself seeing him? This would never work! She could never be in the same room as him. Her heart wouldn't withstand any more sorrows and disappointments.
"Emma?" Killian called out along the corridor.
The haunting lilt of his voice trailed down the hallway, making her knees buckle. She leaned against the wall, hoping he'd just leave her alone.
"Emma?" Killian called again.
Closing her eyes, she shook her head. "Please don't."
"What?" His voice was far too close right now.
"I can't, just forget it okay." She opened her eyes and looked at him.
He still kept a few steps away from her, putting a safe distance between them with a worried look on his face."Why did you run?" There was a broken note in his voice.
"I don't know, I panicked I guess." She bit her lip trying to regain her composure. "I haven't seen you for twelve years, Killian. Twelve years!" The sob at the end surprised her. Why did this man make her fall apart like this?
"I'm sorry, love…"
"Don't, just don't use that word, okay, I'm not… that." Her voice was sharp even to her own ears, but she wasn't about to have her heart hurt again.
"I'm sorry I never…" He stopped.
When she focused on him, she could see the remorse written all over his face.
"I made some stupid decisions back then," Killian told her.
"Hmm." Emma curled up her hands as she wrapped her arms around her body, not sure she was ready to forgive him. "You hurt me."
"Bloody hell." He rubbed his face and combed his fingers through his hair, making it stand up. "I'm sorry. It was a mess back in England, things slipped through our hands the more we dug into that bastard's papers."
"Your father?" Emma tilted her head curiously, recalling that Mr. Gold mentioned something about a dead father.
"Aye. It's a long and complicated tale." He shook his head.
"You don't need to tell me," Emma mumbled.
"Some day perhaps?" Killian wondered.
"Yeah, perhaps." She still guarded her heart and soul but right now she needed to deal with the fact that she could be seeing more of Killian if he got the role.
"You wrote a book?" His lips split into a wondering smile.
"Four actually," Emma said, shrugging.
"Wow, that's amazing." He rubbed behind his ear in that endearing nervous gesture she'd seen him do even back when they were teenagers.
"Hmm, I still feel as if I'm dreaming, being here in L.A. where someone wants to make my book into a movie!" She chuckled nervously, her mind suddenly realizing that the Mills sisters obviously had been looking for someone who could actually sing for the lead role. "I didn't know you acted as well?"
"I don't but Regina Mills was quite adamant in getting me to audition for this, so…" he shrugged and swept his arm towards the audition room, "here I am."
"Yeah…"
"Emma?" Ruby's voice sounded from the end of the hallway.
Emma turned away from Killian and saw her friend walk towards them with worry written all over her face. "Yeah?"
"Are you okay?" Ruby glanced between Killian and Emma, then pointed her finger between them. "Do you guys know each other?"
"It's a long story, but we kinda grew up in the same small town in Main." Emma shrugged. "It was a long time ago."
"Alright." Ruby looked at Killian. "They are waiting for you in there."
"Aye, I'm very sorry I just ran out like that." Killian looked worried.
"Our queen looked a bit miffed when you just bailed on her like that." Ruby chuckled. "But I suggested perhaps you wanted to play some knight in shining armor. Our Emma looked a bit frazzled when she ran out."
"Queen?" Emma asked while Killian mumbled something about him not being a knight in any way or form.
"Regina Mills. She and her sister rule this movie-making empire you know." Ruby laughed. "Don't worry I call her that all the time and she doesn't mind."
"I should go in there," Killian said before he walked back toward Emma. "Will you join us, Emma?"
Emma felt her old anxiety clamp around her heart making her shake her head. "I'm sorry I just can't right now, it's a bit too much."
Killian took a few moments to just gaze upon her. His piercing blue eyes bored into Emma's soul. God those eyes had haunted her dreams for years. Finally, he relented and nodded in understanding as he turned around, but Emma could see the tension build between his shoulders.
"You okay?" Ruby asked and walked over to Emma. "Kinda sense there's some history between the two of you?" She lifted an eyebrow as a smirk flashed over her lips.
"It was never anything, just a teenage girl thinking too much into a song her friend wrote." Emma mumbled and looked down. Her face heated as she recalled how her heart had raced that first time Killian shared the song "My forever girl" with her.
"Okay, if you say so." Ruby patted Emma's shoulder. "I still think there's more to it than that, but whenever you're ready to share, I'm here."
"Can you tell Regina I'm feeling a little sick so I'm going back home?"
"Yeah, we were almost done anyway. There was just Killian with Ariel and the two other female leads left to go." Ruby said and walked back to the audition room. Before she entered she called over her shoulder, "I'll bring home the audition tapes and we can watch them tonight. I'm sure Regina still wants your opinion on who will get the lead parts."
Emma didn't have time to reply as she had to swallow a large lump forming in her throat. She wasn't sure she could stomach seeing Killian acting with someone. Moments later the doors closed behind Ruby leaving Emma alone with her confused mind and heart.