Beth
I listened to Claire ramble on, but the only thing I could focus on was that Claire said that she liked me.
Me! Beth James, what in the hell was happening? I realized that Claire was still talking, her face scrunched up and stressed. I held her hands, "Claire," I tried to find the words to tell her how I feel but I was still so giddy about her confession.
All of sudden, she took her hands away and it sounded like she was taking back everything she said. So I did the only thing I could think of and I kissed her.
Her lips were so soft and I couldn't help myself as my hands went up to hold her face. Her mouth moved against mine and I felt her hands rest on the loops of my jeans as she pulled me against her, trapping her between the wall and my body.
Someone behind me cleared their throat and I immediately jumped back from Claire to see Dave giving us a smirk, "you might want to continue this at home," he pointed to the window where most of the bar patrons were staring at us with open mouths.
I cleared my throat, "thanks, Dave. Sorry about that."
He chuckled, "have a good night, you two." I took Claire's hand and led her outside where I hailed a taxi cab.
We sat in the backseat in silence during the car ride and I tried catching Claire's eyes but she kept her eyes locked on the scenery outside the car window. I lifted my hand and thought about reaching over and holding hers, but something about her body language seemed closed off, that I thought against it.
I paid the driver and ran after Claire who was speed walking to the elevator.
She stood in front of the doors waiting for it to open with her hands clasped in front of her. Things had changed a complete 180 since we kissed at the bar, it felt weird between us, like how it was in the beginning when we were literally strangers living together. "Claire," I spoke as I stood next to her.
She didn't answer, didn't even look in my direction but I saw her eyebrows scrunched together in concentration as the doors opened. I stepped on after she did and I couldn't help but think that she was regretting everything she said.
I looked around the elevator awkwardly, "sooooo..."
Claire launched herself at me as soon as the elevator doors closed and all of those thoughts I had on the way home went away.
She pressed me up against the wall and kissed my lips hungrily. She pulled away slightly looking at my lips, "do you have any idea how hard it was to keep my hands off you in the taxi?" Her eyes moved to mine and I saw how dark her eyes became with lust but she also looked at me with adoration.
I looked down embarrassed with a smile, "I thought you were having second thoughts."
Her face contorted first into confusion and then caution, "I'm not, why, are you?"
I leaned in and kissed her passionately, hoping it would answer her question.
She still had her eyes closed and a faint smile on her face when I moved away. The doors finally opened at the top floor and Claire took my hand and led me to the couch.
It was weird, I've been living here for 3 months, going up and down the elevator and walking through the living room, but this was the first time I've ever felt nervous.
Claire must've seen the anxious look on my face because she caressed my face in her hands and kissed me. My body relaxed and she gave me a smirk before pushing me onto the couch.
I looked up at her biting my lip as she climbed into my lap, "do you do that on purpose?" she asked kissing my neck.
"Do what?" I asked breathlessly, my hands rested on her hips.
"Bite your lip, I find it so sexy," she lowered her face to mine. We made out for a while and honestly I was content with never moving from this couch. My hands started to roam Claire's backside until it finally stopped at her ass.
Claire took this opportunity to grind slowly into me. I closed my eyes tight, knowing I was going to regret my next action. I pushed her away lightly, already disappointed in my decision.
Claire opened her eyes and leaned back a little bit, "Did you not want to?" Her face confused and worried that she crossed a line.
"No, it's not that," I sat up and rubbed my hands up and down her arms to comfort her, "I really want to, trust me," she got up off my lap and took a seat beside me. "Let me take you on a date first," I said taking her hands in mine.
She gave me a confused smile, "a date?"
"Yeah," I laughed, "like a real date. Can I take you out tomorrow night?"
Claire giggled and shrugged her shoulders, "Yeah, sure, it's a date."
My face brightened as I leaned in to kiss her, "yeah, it is." I stood up from the couch, "now if you'll excuse me, I have to go plan our date."
"Where are you going?" Claire asked when she saw me walking to the extra room.
I stood in the doorway, "I don't think it's a good idea for me to sleep in your bed tonight." I mean, did she really expect me to sleep in the same bed with her and keep it PG?
"Why not?" she asked already walking towards me with a not-so-innocent smile on her face. She went to reach for me but I slapped her hand away playfully, "you know why not."
She laughed, "fine. Could I at least have a good night kiss?" she asked hopefully.
I smirked as I tucked her hair behind her ear, "I mean if you insist," I leaned in and kissed her lightly at first then upped the heat level just a little bit. Biting her lip lightly when I pulled away.
I stepped away, stifling a laugh as Claire narrowed her eyes at me, "tease."
She walked across the hallway, "just something for you to think about tonight," I called out with a laugh as she closed her bedroom door with an eye-roll.
* * * * *
I walked past people talking on headsets almost sprinting to their destination. I stood on the tips of my toes trying to find Emily but also hoping I didn't bump into Claire as well.
"Elizabeth, right?"
I turned around and found Jonathon smiling at me, "Beth," I took his hand and shook it.
"Are you looking for Claire? I could get a runner to find her," he said,
I shook my head, "no, I was actually looking for her manager, Emily."
A walkie talkie on his hip suddenly paged for him, "I think I saw her talking on the phone in Claire's dressing room. I'm sorry to cut this short, Beth I gotta take this. It was great seeing you, " he said before he walked away.
On my way to Claire's dressing room, I stopped by the set as I watched Claire practicing a scene with a costar and couldn't help but fawn over her. God, she was beautiful.
I tore my eyes away from her and forced myself to continue to her dressing room and knocked on the door. Emily opened it with a confused expression on her face, "Beth?"
She opened the door wider for me, "Is everything ok? what's wrong? Claire didn't tell me you were stopping by today."
I took a seat on the couch, "that's because I didn't tell Claire I was coming." I went into my pocket and took out the cheque I was given 3 months ago, "I know Claire won't take this if I try to give it back and I can't stand being in the same room as Nathan Carter." I slid the cheque to her.
"I don't understand, this is your payment. This cheque is the only benefit you have in this contract, why wouldn't you cash this in?" she slid it back to me.
"Because if I took the money, it would invalidate what I feel for Claire," I slid the paper back to her, "and what I feel for her is very real." Emily seemed hesitant at first but I continued, "I'm also not going to accept the other half of the payment when the contract is up. I feel like there's something there between us and getting paid for it, just doesn't seem sincere on my part."
Emily looked down at the cheque in her hand, "fine," she conceded, her eyes empathetic.
I nodded and let out a breath of relief, "thanks, Emily." I made my way to the door and was about to turn the handle but stopped, "can you do me a favor? please don't tell Claire about this, she'll make me take the money and I'm so whipped for her that I'd do anything she says," I said with a small laugh.
Emily gave me a curt nod as I left the room.
I walked back to the parking lot feeling a weight lifted off my shoulders. I wanted to start fresh with Claire and I felt this was needed in order to do so.
Claire
I walked with Emily across the set, "so, what did you get up to last night after I left?" she asked.
My face started heating up when I thought back to that night, "nothing really..."
"Really? because People magazine and TMZ say otherwise," she showed her phone screen to me and blurry pictures of Beth and me first in an argument then us making out in front of the bar.
I cleared my throat, "like I said, nothing really." I walked quickly to my dressing room and closed the door hoping she'd let it go but when I heard the door open, I knew that wasn't the case.
"Claire, I'm saying this as your best friend," she stood with her arms across her chest, "but what the hell are you doing?"
I looked back at her shocked, "excuse me?"
"This whole thing is a mess and frankly, I'm not sure if I can fix this." She put her hand up to her forehead and let out a breath. "The press is having a field day with whatever happened between you and Beth last night. But that's not even the worst part in all of this. Trashy rumors and journalists I can handle, but this blurred line between you and Beth, do you know what you're doing?"
Anger shot through me as I glared at her, "I get that you're my manager, but I will not have you talking to me like I'm a little kid." I clenched my hands into fists, "is it so wrong that I want to feel wanted? God knows you've seen and heard about my relationship problems with Nathan."
Tears threatened to spill from my eyes, "and I finally found someone who genuinely cares about what I think, even if it's something so trivial. Someone who doesn't just hear me but listens to what I say." I swallowed the lump that formed in my throat, "she's someone who wants me and sees me not as a celebrity, but for who I am as a person. The person I was before all of this," I gestured to the dressing room. I wiped a tear that fell down my cheek, "does that make me such a bad person?"
"You know that's not what I meant," her face softened, "Claire, she's a great girl but I just want to remind you that all of this isn't real. This is a contractual relationship."
I always knew the boundaries of the relationship but hearing Emily say it out loud stung, "don't you think I know that?" I bit back.
"So what, you're going to have your fun with Beth for another month, and then when time's up, you're going to go back to Nathan," she looked past me at the bouquet of flowers Nathan sent me.
No, scratch that, I knew it was his personal assistant who really sent it after being told to send apology flowers. After years of being with him, I've become very familiar with her handwriting always saying the same thing. I never brought it up to him, for fear that I was right.
I ignored what she said, "I didn't realize you cared so much about Nathan."
She shook her head, "I couldn't care less about him, but I do care about you hurting Beth." She held onto my hand, "she's a beautiful person, inside and out and I'm saying this to protect both of you. I know you didn't mean to fall for her, but there's a really big chance that you will hurt her."
I was conflicted, on one hand I loved Nathan, I did. But it always felt like I was an afterthought to him. With Beth, everything was so easy. I wasn't sure where this new thing with Beth was headed, but I wanted to explore it and if there was one thing I was sure, it was that I would always protect her. "You're wrong, I care about Beth I would never hurt her."
Beth
My knee bounced as I waited for Claire to come home. We were supposed to go on a date tonight and to say I was nervous was an understatement. I spent all night trying to plan the perfect date for us but because I'm the most indecisive person ever, I just ended up frustrating myself. Thank God, I had some help because if it were up to me, we would've ended up at Chuck E Cheese tonight.
The elevator doors opened and Claire stepped into the penthouse, "Hey baby, welcome home," I stood up from the couch eagerly.
"You're a sight for sore eyes, aren't you?" She gave me a tired smile and put her head on my shoulder as I enveloped her body with a hug.
"Long day at the office?" I asked as I brushed her hair out of her face.
"Something like that," she said quietly, she snuggled into me even more, turning her face into my neck, "you smell good."
I let out a breath to laugh, "we can stay in tonight if you want."
She lifted her head up and gave me the cutest face ever, "no! it's the one thing I've been looking forward to all day. Just give me a couple of minutes to get changed." She gave me a quick kiss before she trotted off to her room.
Claire
I put on the little black dress and looked in the mirror satisfied with my reflection. This was my first date in I don't know how long, but that's not what made me nervous. Being around Beth made me feel like I was back in high school, struggling to find the words to say to my crush. She made me feel nervous, excited, but she mostly made me feel alive. It had been a while since I felt like this. That I was living just not for work.
I reapplied red lipstick, checking my makeup one last time in the mirror before I left.
My phone vibrated in my hand and I glared at the name that came up on my screen. Despite my better judgment, I picked up the call.
"Hi, honey..."
I didn't answer and Nathan took my silence to continue.
"It's been a while...I was wondering if you got the flowers I sent you today."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing, "I did. I just thought you might've sent it to me by mistake instead of Anne Chapman," I replied coldly.
I could picture Nathan pacing around his office, frustration on his face. It was what he always did when I brought up anything about him being in rumored relationships. "Claire, you know this is just to solidify my image for when the elections come up."
"You don't have to explain anything to me, Nathan, we're on a break remember? What goes on in your life is none of my business and vice versa."
"you're right, Claire. I just want you to know, that you're it for me. There's no one I want more than you."
My heart hurt hearing him say these words, I knew he loved me but how many times had he said those words to me, yet seldom did he show it.
"Bye, Nathan." I hung up the phone a little shaken.
The conversation with Em replayed in my head about who I would choose at the end of the month. But after that phone call with Nathan, the answer was so clear and I didn't want to waste another minute thinking about Nathan Carter because I had a gorgeous woman, waiting outside for me.
Beth
The maitre'd led Claire and I to the table, opting to pull out Claire's seat but I stopped him and did it myself.
"Your server will be with you in just a moment," he smiled.
I took a seat across the table and flipped through the menu. "Interesting choice to eat tonight," Claire said with a smile.
I gave her an uneasy smile, "is it too much?" I looked around the restaurant at the patrons in elegant gowns and suits. I wasn't sure where to take Claire so I got some suggestions from Eric, Logan, and Peyton.
While I appreciated Eric and Logan's recommendations, most of their suggestions made me question how they actually got dates. Especially Logan, seeing as she snagged Peyton King. That's a mystery I've yet to solve.
Thank goodness I went to Peyton because she had a list of her favorite restaurants. I wanted to take Claire somewhere on the level she was used to dining when she went out with her friends.
"No, not at all, this is one of my favorite restaurants," she smiled, "You look so beautiful tonight, by the way."
I opened up my menu hoping to cover how red my face was but judging from the way Claire giggled, it didn't help. My eyes did a quick scan of the menu and I tried not to freak out when I saw the prices but what I didn't know before I chose this place was that the menu was all in Italian.
My hands started to get sweaty as I clutched the menu, I could feel the anxiety start to fill me, I didn't want to look like an idiot in front of Claire and the server when I was ordering. Or worse if I ordered something that would cost me an arm and a leg only to hate it. I squinted as if that would magically help me read Italian all of a sudden.
"Beth? Are you ok?"
With my eyes still kind of squinted, I looked up from the menu to see Claire trying to hide a smile, "huh?"
Claire shook her head with a laugh, "it just looks like you're interrogating the hell out of the menu."
I closed the menu and looked around uncomfortably, "this date is not going as planned," I mumbled.
Claire put down her menu and frowned, "what do you mean?"
"I took some tips from Peyton because I wanted to take you on the perfect dinner and she said to come here but I didn't do any research on the restaurant before I made the reservation," I smiled sheepishly.
She raised an eyebrow, "so you wouldn't have chosen this place if were up to you?"
I pursed my lips, "it wouldn't have been my first choice, no."
"Ok," she took the linen napkin off her lap and threw it on the table and I thought she was going to run out on our date. But she held her hand out to me, "let's go on a date you would take me on."
I took her hand and led her out of the restaurant, giving the maitre'd a little wave as we left the restaurant.
[A/N]: has anyone else binged the entire Twilight series on Netflix? Just me? lol
Next chapter will be up soon I promise lol this was going to be a super long chapter but I decided to break it up lol