This Chapter Will Have: No Warnings Safe to Read
A/N: So sorry if this seems kinda weird. I barely wrote at all during my unplanned hiatus so I’m like kinda starting again from scratch. Somewhat proofread!
You feel like you’re in an alternate universe when you see Elliot fumbling with the napkins and preferring to eye his food more than you.
Breakfast has barely started and you’re already desperate to end it and head off to work. You already know what’s causing him to act this way.
His behavior from last night. Hovering over you. Getting frustrated at your lack of communication. As if he hasn’t changed from the person he was six years ago. Six years of marriage has given you the ability to read him like an open book in certain cases. You know exactly what he’s feeling.
Regret and struggling with how to say sorry.
After yet another inspection of his bacon as if critiquing even the smallest grease, you get ready to say something, anything, but he beats you to it.
“I’m sorry,” Elliot mutters as he eats his bacon. “You didn’t deserve that. Me getting in your face like that.”
You’re not sure why but this apology feels different. This is not the first time that you and Elliot had argued, not the first time that one of you had mustered up the courage to say sorry. It becomes a rule between the two of you; always apologize after a fight.
Maybe it’s because of the situation that led to this apology. Never had you two had ever encountered this scenario. Where one of you had gotten into the other’s face. You don’t realize that you’re thinking too much about this until you see Elliot watching you, tapping his fingers against the table, anxious for your response.
“I…I’m sorry too. I should have told you that I was going to be home late.”
Elliot shakes his head as he speaks up. “It’s not your fault. I should’ve taken in mind the director that you’re working with. He’s too pushy.” You don’t realize that you two have finished breakfast until you see him move off the table carrying your plates to the sink. “You didn’t deserve that. Next time I do that… you can slap me or better yet send me back to my grandfather.” You see the slight shudder at the mention of his grandfather and you know what that shudder means.
If he’s truly offering to go to his grandfather’s place, the same place where he always lies to his grandfather as to why he can’t visit, then was he really regretting his actions?
“I can wash the dishes.” You chime in as you head to the sink. “I’ll wash them before I leave to work. You leave before I do.”
“Alright.” Elliot takes a step back as you step up. “I’m going to get ready and head off. I’ll see you tonight. Or the next day. If those idiots don’t halt production again.”
That leaves you alone, with the dirty dishes as you’re quick to clean up. You think about your schedule for today while cleaning. An interview with the Celeb Tea Party with Willis. Apparently having a show with a rising star and an actress making a comeback was enough to have the show eager for an interview.
You’re not nervous for the interview, having been there numerous times. It’s Willis that you’re nervous for. You know how the hosts are, desperate for an inch to take it a mile. Every new star always gets startled by the hosts, you were lucky enough that Elliot had warned you about them before the first time.
Wiping down the table and looking at the time, you have to admit it. Elliot was right. Sometimes you do have your head in the clouds as this latest action leads you with only twenty minutes to get decently dressed. With a slight exhale and inhale, you head to your room to get dressed and think of ways that you can help Willis from leaving the interview unscathed.
It’s hilarious sometimes to see you and Elliot leave the house at the same time. Seeing how you both reach for the door to lock it, only to stop when spotting the other doing the same, just to stare at each other waiting for the other to make a move.
There’s not much time for the stare down as you both hear honking and turn to see Elliot’s manager waving at you both.
“You’re late, Mathias.” Elliot grumbles as he grabs his bag, but not without him locking the door. “How can you tell me to be ready at a certain time and you still come late?” He opens the car door and tosses his bag inside before scooting into the car, slamming it with a gentle thud.
Mathias laughs nervously before giving you a quick “good morning,” as he gets back into his car and drives off.
That leaves you alone at the door for a couple minutes before you spot Sam’s car pull up. You’re quick to head over and hop in as Sam drives off. The conversation between the two of you is light and chattery as you feel that Sam is one of the only people that you can truly let down your mask with.
The longer you’ve been in the entertainment industry, the harder it becomes to truly have friends both celebrity and non-celebrity. With the celebrities, it’s as if many of them keep a mask on when dealing with the public only letting it down when they’re in private. You can’t count the times you’ve been let down by celebrities you thought were your friends.
While you’ve enjoyed your friendships with the people who didn’t have a camera on their face every single second, it became difficult maintaining a friendship with many of them. Hectic schedules, the burden of having paparazzi everywhere you go, and even learning some of their true intentions has kept you away from keeping a friendship with them.
That’s why you enjoy being around Sam.
Sam, who endures every part of your hectic schedule but rather than complain, they take it all with grace.
Sam, who knows what you go through in both your private and public life. The same person who always tells you that you deserve better than Elliot and counts down the days till your contract ends with the Nightingale family.
Sam, who always comes to your aid regardless of the time or day.
And Sam who became one of the only people, you didn’t have to act perfect for, the one you could let down your mask for.
Before you knew it, Sam became your best friend and based on how Sam always treated as your own person, not someone who’s famous because of who she married or because of their acting gigs. You could only hope that you were Sam’s best friend too.
The billboard leading into the studio is a thing made of nightmares. Bright almost fake teeth plastered onto both of the hosts face as they smile wide at each other, each raising a teacup a subtle play at their show name.
Seeing their fake smiles all while you know their true intentions. Making every guest on their show as uncomfortable as possible. Taking an inch and finding a way to drag it to a mile. Getting giddy when they see their guests fidgeting awkwardly in their seats, feeling threatened when they have guests that seem too confident in handling their nature.
You’re worried for Willis. First impressions gave you the idea that Willis would be able to endure them, but if the hosts managed to get Elliot, someone you considered pretty unbothered by others, to fidget in his seat then maybe Willis would succumb as well. But then again… you’ve heard of how far fangirls that tend to trail behind male celebrities act when their star is getting treated badly, perhaps for that the hosts will play nice today.
You want to show Sam the new billboard but Sam beats you to it as they look at the billboard in disgust before heading into the studio. That leaves you with no one else to show it to, but if you had to see this billboard then it makes sense to make Elliot see this atrocity as well. Taking a quick snapshot, you send it to Elliot as you see on your phone that he’s quick to see it and respond to it.
Whoever told them that this pose would look nice needs to be fired
Feeling the slight twitch of a smile form on your face, you’re quick to respond to his messages.
It looks weirder in person
They’re not helping the rumors that their teeth are fake
I’ll have to show Mathias this
Gotta go we’re about to start shooting now
There’s no opportunity for you to try and convince Elliot to stay a bit a longer as you feel a cool touch on your cheek. You glance over to see Willis, smiling at you as he eyes the billboard.
“Now that’s creepy.” He takes a step back, looking at the billboard with a critical eye. “Do they look this freaky in person?”
You let out a small chuckle as you shake your head. “No. They’re pushy but they look like actual people. Not like someone’s art project.”
“That’s good. Here.” Willis extends his hand out as you take the bottle from him. “Bought you this. Wasn’t sure what you liked but hopefully you don’t mind.”
“No it’s fine… thank you.”
He gives you a small grin as he looks back to the parking lot. “My manager should be coming soon. Careful, he’s a bit of a grouch.”
As on cue, you see a man, presumably Willis’s manager, walking over with an annoyed look on his face.
“Willis. I told you to stop wandering off. You know the paparazzi and your fangirls are always waiting for you to be alone. If you want to get abducted then let me know.”
“Relax Roman. I can fight. Besides, I wanted to be with my friend,” Willis gestures over to you. “You two haven’t really met have you?”
Roman scowls slightly at Willis before he turns to you, extending his hand to you. “The name is Roman. The grouchy manager.” A quick introduction and a hand shake leads you three walking into the studio.
Willis feels his collar being pulled slightly as Roman eyes him critically before whispering to him. “Where’s your drink? Did you leave it in the car?”
“Oh. Well no. I gave it to her.”
“Gave it to her? You don’t like that brand. Why would you buy it if you were going to give it to her?”
“I didn’t buy it just to give it to her. My sister likes that brand, so I thought I’d try it.” Willis jerks his collar away from Roman’s grip. “If me and her are going to work together for a year. I want us to get along.”
Willis notices how far you’re getting away from him as he speed walks. “Besides Roman,” he turns his head back slightly to him. “It’s good to change things up every once and while. Helps you learn about taking things for granted or something like that. I’ll just ask if they have water.” Willis is quick to catch up to you, leaving Roman in the dust.
You and Willis walk together with him carrying the conversation as he talks about his family, more specifically his younger sister. You’re both too invested in the conversation that you miss the perplexed look of Roman.
Willis had never treated his co-stars this well, especially when he barely knew them. What was going on inside Willis’s head?
It’s all going well. Willis was doing better than you expected. He was in the midst of telling a story from his younger days when the topic of babies came up. At the topic, the hosts instantly turn to you, a burning gaze in the eyes. You know that look.
They have an itch that won’t be satisfied until you scratch it for them.
“So… while we’re on the topic of babies. When can we expect baby Nightingale?” One of the hosts asks, leaning close to you as they look at your body language.
Too much fidgeting would give them the idea that you’re hiding something.
Laughing nervously would make them think that they could get the latest scoop and make their show the talk of the town.
Answering without expression might make them believe that something has occurred between you and Elliot.
So you respond the best way you can with a polite smile and a small chuckle.
“Well we’re focused on our careers. We want to fulfill some career goals before we think about children.”
You know it’s not the answer they want when you notice how disappointed they look but regardless they nod along as the other host speaks up.
“Well that’s reasonable. But once you two decide to have children, you two will be the next big celebrity family.”
Yeah. You think to yourself. Your divorce from Elliot needs to be quick and as hidden away from public eye as much as possible.
The moment everything gets leaked to the public. Everything will start to unravel.
You’re not sure why but the hosts question is still on your mind even as Sam is driving you home. Ignoring the soft beats on the car’s radio, you ponder over that question.
When can we expect baby Nightingale?
You and Elliot had discussed children before but never came to a definite answer. Before all of this, you were more open to the possibility of children so as long as you and Elliot were on the same page.
You don’t want to consider the possibility of having a child that has a part of Elliot in them. Not because you’ll grow to hate the child, but because you’re scared of how Elliot would be as a father.
Elliot wouldn’t let his grandfather get near your child. Not let them go through the same influences that made Elliot who he is today. You know that for certain.
What type of treatment would he show to your child? Would he be a loving dad like his own dad was? Or is his grandfather’s influence too strong for Elliot to leave behind? Would your child have to endure everything that you have to go through with Elliot?
You like to think that you know Elliot well. But not even you know the answers to these questions.
A/N 2: Changed the divider, credit is given on the Masterlist. If I missed someone on the Taglist/ if you don’t/do want to be on the Taglist lmk! I haven’t forgot about the 100 follower fic or Money For Players! I just got too giddy and wanted to post this first.
Taglist: @alebrasil0101 @little-ponkan @rainejiang @yandereaficionado @enchantingarcadecreation @mythicaloutlier @isuckatmakingnamess @angelwhizpers @23s0fia @spiderfly-tree-rat @honeybunny75 @inkycapps
