It's still the 5th, tho barely.
Thanks to Team Harpy.
Chapter 14
Bella
"Okay, this episode is Blues For Sister Someone. Bella, you're up."
"A wise man once said you can have anything in life if you sacrifice everything else for it. What he meant was nothing comes without a price. So, before you go into battle, you better decide how much you're willing to lose. Too often, going after what feels good means letting go of what you know is right, and letting someone in means abandoning the walls you've spent a lifetime building. Of course, the toughest sacrifices are the ones we don't see coming, when we don't have time to come up with a strategy to pick a side or to measure the potential loss. When that happens, when the battle chooses us and not the other way around, that's when the sacrifice can turn out to be more than we can bear."
This episode is interesting with more scenes than I would like with Edward. We've been in a really weird place since I walked out on him last week. We've avoided each other at all costs. Which is why this scene we have together will be quite awkward. It's about Liam having bad sex with Irina. I'm genuinely trying not to laugh as we read our lines. Oh, the quite certain parallels between reality and non-reality are delicious sometimes.
Hmmm, a new character. Dr. Embry Call. He speaks up when we have a scene together, and I instantly recognize the actor. I smile at Paul, which he warmly returns. Oh! He's that kind of new character. One who moves along the storyline, making our triangle a square.
As we flirt back and forth, I notice out of my peripheral vision Edward stiffening. And somehow at the end of the episode, Maggie is at Emby's apartment wearing only his shirt. Ha!
"The key to being a successful intern is what we give up. Sleep, friends, a normal life. We sacrifice it all for that one amazing moment, that moment when you can legally call yourself a trauma surgeon. There are days that make the sacrifices seem worthwhile. Then there are the days where everything feels like a sacrifice. And then there are the sacrifices you can't even figure out why you're making them."
Of course, the smile is wiped off my face when Liam goes home and has hot sex with Irina. Edward … Liam … is becoming quite the little whore this season. We are, of course, completely forgetting that Maggie will probably be finishing three for three herself.
"Great read through, guys!" Alec praises, pulling me out of my thoughts. We all gather our things, and I'm trying to juggle my coffee, script, and phone when a warm voice sounds off in my ear.
"Fancy seeing you here."
I put my things back down and hug Paul. "It's so good to see you," I squeal. We worked together on a Lifetime movie a lifetime ago. Heh.
"What are you doing directly after this?" he asks.
I was going to hole up in my trailer like I've been doing. "What did you have in mind?"
"Coffee with a side of catching up?"
"Sounds good." I regather my things, then lead him to Craft Services.
We're barely settled and he's already diving in. "So how does it feel being one of the most popular television lead actresses of all time?"
I roll my eyes. "I'm hardly that, but it's nice that I'm finally where I hoped to one day be."
"I thought movies were your goal?"
I shrug. "Goals change. But actually, I'm up for a movie role this summer. Director is flying here in a couple of weeks so I can audition. It's hush-hush, but I'm hopeful."
"That's great! What's the movie about?"
"You know I can't say anything right now."
"Can't blame a man for trying." He winks.
"No, I guess I can't," I murmur.
Edward
"If you crane your neck any farther, you're gonna get a crick in it," Emmett says in a bored tone as he flips through a car magazine.
I ignore him. "Who is that guy?"
"There are a lot of guys here. Be more specific." He cocks an eyebrow.
"The one sitting with Bella," I grit out.
He leans back to crane his neck, then rights his chair. "Paul Lahote. Mostly cable movies and bit parts in television shows. I overheard that they worked together once several years ago. Probably a movie of the week."
"Is he married?"
"You mean like you are?" he asks pointedly. At my glare, he elaborates. "No, not that I know of, but I barely know the guy. My question to you is—why do you care?"
"She's my friend. I don't want her to get hurt," I explain.
"Seems you've already taken care of that yourself."
"You don't know what you're talking about."
Emmett puts his magazine down and looks at me. "I like you, Edward. Since you've taken over helping with the medical parts of the script, my character is less jock and more intelligent. I like our scenes together, and you're a nice guy, but what that girl over there does is none of your business. You have a whole ass wife, and Bella's single, so if she wants to have coffee with an old co-star of hers, she has that right. You have no rights when it comes to her, so maybe approach this with a little less intensity and save that for Jessica."
"I have a meeting." I abruptly stand up.
"That's what I thought. Good talk." He picks his magazine back up and seems to give no second thought to me at all.
With another glance at Bella's table, I head for my office and try to get some work done. Thankfully, Jessica isn't on set today, so I can wallow about this situation I've found myself in. Jessica is oblivious to any of my feelings, and Bella is avoiding me like I have the plague. I'm not delusional enough not to realize this is all my fault but am clueless enough not to know what the fuck to do about it.
One thing I can do is check out this Paul character. I pull Google up and type his name into the search bar. The first result is the press release from an hour ago, announcing he's joining Olympic Med as "Dr. Embry Call, a possible love interest of Maggie's". I click on his IMDB page that lists his filmography. Emmett was right. He did have a Wikipedia, but then again, so do I now. I scroll down to his personal life where there is mention of previous girlfriends but nothing as recent as 2020.
A couple hours down a rabbit hole later and I now know more than I ever wanted to about this guy and also all of Bella's previous relationships after me. Talk about depressing. I shake the dust bunnies out of my head and stretch. The clock tells me I have to be in hair and makeup in twenty, so I go freshen up in my office bathroom before heading to the trailer.
Bella is sitting there when I arrive. No sign of Paul, though Alice and James are getting spackled. I sit in the chair nearest Bella, not at all surprised when she tenses up, though her facial expression doesn't change.
"I miss you," I whisper.
She smiles a little. "I miss you, too," she admits. "But what happened last week can never happen again. Do you understand?"
"Yes, I am so sorry about that."
She nods. "Okay, then. Friends?" She extends her hand to me.
I take it with a smile. "Friends."
I know this won't make everything better, but I'll take what I can get. Anything to have her in my life in some capacity, even if it's not the way I want.
She's having lunch with Paul again. This is the third time this week. I pretend not to pay attention as I sit at a table with Emmett, James, and Jasper. Emmett especially is turning out to be a good friend. He's been over a couple of times to the apartment, and Jessica is too starstruck to complain about anything as she plays the role of happy wife. However, the gossip mill being what it is means I have to endure teasing from the peanut gallery. Word has it that Bella and I are star-crossed lovers in a spat, which is why we aren't talking much and why Jessica has been around so much. And why Bella is hanging out with Paul so much. I mean, it's not completely false except for the lover part. We haven't been like that since we were eighteen. I'm so lost in thought that I don't realize they're making fun of me again in a round robin of juvenile comments.
"I wish Bella would call."
"I wish Bella wouldn't call."
"Maybe I should call Bella."
"Maybe I should call Bella and hang up!"
All three dissolve into fits of immature laughter while I roll my eyes and throw some of Emmett's fries at each of them.
"We're just friends," I object.
They throw the fries back at me.
"Whatever you say, Sparky," Jasper drawls in his Southern accent that I'm 99 percent sure is fake.
"Next time I have to use paddles, I'm making sure they're on, and I'm aiming for any one of your testicles."
They all shift uncomfortably and suddenly have somewhere they need to go. I laugh as they scurry away, then rise to dispose of my own tray of half-eaten salad. I pass by Bella and Paul and decide to make conversation, so I sidle up to their table.
"Hi there."
They both look up and smile. I extend my hand to him.
"I don't believe we've been formally introduced. Dr. Edward Cullen."
"Paul Lahote. It's nice to meet you." He shakes my hand firmly.
"Mind if I join you?" I ask. They both nod, and I immediately steal one of Bella's fries.
"Salad again today?" she asks, bemused.
I shrug. "Yeah."
"Just eat what you want, Edward."
I answer by stealing another fry.
"Look, I'll loan you Ben. You can work out on set and no one would be the wiser."
"Not everyone has your metabolism," I point out.
"True, but my motto has always been to eat what I want until the blood tests tell me I can't."
"Sounds very professional," I say around a mouthful of food.
"I'm not a doctor …" she prompts.
"You just play one on TV. Yes, I know."
We laugh, and our eyes lock. Hers are warm, and I'm so very glad we can still interact. Our little moment is broken by an uncomfortable-sounding throat being cleared. We startle and look at Paul, who is smiling at both of us.
"Sorry to interrupt …"
"Sorry. We get like this sometimes. They call it the Belward Bubble," Bella explains. "We went to high school together and were separated for over a decade, and now we've just been catching up the past few months."
"It's always nice to reconnect with people from our past."
"It is." She looks at her watch. "Oh! I gotta go. I have a phone interview in ten minutes. I'll see you two later on set." She grabs her drink and is gone.
I notice we both smile as we watch her leave but those smiles disappear when we look at each other.
"Tell me about yourself, Paul."
"I'm not that interesting. Let's talk about you. How's your wife?"
So, apparently, the gloves are off.
"She's fine. She'll probably be around here this afternoon. You can meet her then," I respond, keeping my tone nice and even.
"So how well did you know Bella in high school?" He's prying.
"We hung around the same social group, which is funny since we are so different. We lost touch after high school until fall of last year. She came into my ER, and now, here we are. Funny how things work out."
"Hilarious," he deadpans. "I need to go over the script for this afternoon, so I'll see you later."
I nod as he leaves. I don't know much about Paul, other than what I read, but his vibes are all off.
Though, he might say the same about me.
I'm lost in thought when I feel a pair of hands go over my eyes.
"Guess who?"
"Hi, Jess."
She comes into view, pouting. "You could've put some effort into it."
"My apologies."
She looks over the table and frowns. "I swear to God, Edward. Pizza and fries again?"
I open my mouth to tell her they're not mine but think better of it. I'd rather be berated for eating unhealthy than for sitting with Bella. "They're just so tempting. I'll eat better tomorrow. I promise."
"It's all about balance," she reminds me.
"I was thinking about asking Ben Cheney to help me work out while I'm here."
"That would be terrific!"
"I thought you'd be pleased. So, you have more work to do?" I asked, changing the subject.
"Yes. I'm helping at the nurse's stations now! I'll be credited and everything! This could be my 'in' in LA. They'll need to replicate them this summer for the fall season." She hugs me in excitement.
"That's great." And I mean it. She's worked her whole life for this chance.
"Is tonight a closed set as well?"
I think about the scene tonight and decide it should be okay if she's there.
"No; as long as you're quiet, you can pop in."
She smiles at me sweetly, then stands on her tiptoes to kiss me. "Okay, let me get started on my project so I can slip away."
She heads off to whatever she's doing, and I go to my office for an hour of work before I get prepped for my scene.
"Cut! What is with you guys tonight? Stop horsing around, and let's get this done," Anton exclaims, throwing up his hands.
Bella and I, being the culprits, share a glance, then burst out into laughter. Though, I sober up when I see Jessica leaning up against a wall, arms crossed with a cross look on her face. Bella follows my gaze and with an "oops", she barks out a laugh and puts more distance between us.
"Are you two done?" Anton prods.
"Yes," Bella answers for us both, and we do the take again, then once more, nailing it. Anton leaves in an exasperated huff.
"Guess we're not his favorite people tonight," I whisper to her.
"Speaking of not being a favorite person, I'm gone. Your wife is approaching, and that's your problem, buddy. Bye." And with her final laugh of the evening, she leaves, brushing past Jessica and her glare.
"How much of the scene did you get to see?" I ask.
"Enough," is her curt answer.
I can tell the rest of the evening is going to be really pleasant. Fucking perfect.
A friend to all is a friend to none
Chase two girls, lose the one
When you are young, they assume you know nothin' - Cardigan, Taylor Swift
I'm out of banked chapters. I have one with my first set of prereaders. I'll do my best to keep up with my posting schedule but my personal life is being a bitch right now. I'll keep you updated in my group. It's BitterHarpy (BitterLady) Fanfiction on FB or you can add me personally Steph B. Harpy on FB.