Post by emilynmonroe on Jan 4, 2009 11:06:25 GMT -5
Author's note: I'm sorry it took me this long for my next fic. This has nothing to do with the other one I wrote. But I hope you enjoy this one. And also, this fic was written just before the Robert Haircut. Hehe. Merry Belated Christmas, everyone! and happy new year!
Disclaimer: If i owned Twilight and the Characters, I'd buy everyone an ice cream sundae. But I don't. Tough luck.
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A Robert and Kristen Christmas Fic.
“Hurry, hurry, hurry! The limo is already outside.” Jackson yelled from the ground floor. “HOLD ON. If I knew you weren’t going to shut it I wouldn’t have invited you over!” I yelled from upstairs, fixing my tie one last time. Too tardy. I’d never wear a tie to a party. But this is the formal Christmas reunion for the Twilight cast. Or better known as a Chrilight Party, the phrase Nikki uses and insist we use. “We’ll be caught in the jam, Rob, and we shouldn’t be late. It’s about time we show the girls and Taylor that we can be on time, even in the LA jam” Jackson ranted on below.
“Bro, who died?” Kellan asked, looking at my black tie and suit. He raised an eyebrow, “You’re way too overdressed.” He stated and jumped past me to grab the beer which was on my dressing table. I frowned, oh no. “You really think so?” I asked, ready to yank the tie off. “Like Charlie Chaplin walking down town for a soda…” Kellan shrugged, downing the beer, which was once mine.
I raked my fingers through my hair. Who am I kidding? I can’t believe I’m asking Kellan for fashion advice… “JACKSON!!” I yelled. “Did you fall in the toilet bowl or something? God, what is it?” He asked. “Can you just get up here for a minute?” I asked, tossing aside the black tie, and reaching for the navy one.
Why do I even bother?
Kristen.
I heard Jackson thumping his way up the stairs impatiently, while Kellan was tinkling away with his mobile, I bet that he’s texting Nikki right now; though he’ll never admit it.
“Who’re you texting?” Jackson asked. “Person.” He mumbled, as he hunched his back over a little more, shielding the phone from everyone’s sight. Jackson and I exchanged glances and snickered.
Coming back to the main reason Jackson was up here, I glanced at him “Jackson. This or this?” I handed him a couple of ties. “Blue” Kellan yelled glacing away from the phone for a moment. “Leave the tie.” Jackson said. I stood over the mirror, sighing, shaking my head in defeat, I stayed with the black tie and ushered them downstairs of the penthouse I rented for convenience.
The chauffer pushed us into the limo, literally. We drove silently all the way to Taylor’s to pick him up since he was busy to join the all boys’ convention at my pad earlier in the evening. It was also probably also because he was underage, and we had booze all over the pad, it wasn’t that we were sticks in the mud and we wouldn’t let him drink, in fact, we’d ask him to take a can or two. However, if a camera man were to zoom in onto him drinking, he would get into big trouble.
And I mean, Huge.
As Taylor entered the Limo in casual jeans and a smart shirt and a sports jacket, I wondered how these Americans are just so able to dress for the occasion. Needless to say, the girls too dress exceptionally well. Kristen, for example, she doesn’t really dress the way people in Hollywood would dress like, read: Pink shorts with matching rose tinted glasses and a pooch with the same coloured fur. She isn’t like that at all, but even then her style is so distinguished, she effortlessly looks sexy in everything she wears… Even if her sense of style is rather casual and really just comfortable, when she has to go for premiers and publicity stints, she cleans up. She cleans up Very well.
What am I saying?
“Robster! Something on your mind?” Taylor waved his hand across my face. I shook my head. “No, not really. I… I just think its so great to have everyone back in the same room after months of not seeing or hearing from each other. Though, I don’t really quite like Christmas or presents for that matter…” I said. “You don’t?” Kellan asked in shock, the typical guy he is. “All Kellan has been saying since last week was what he thinks Nikki is getting him and what he’s getting Nikki.” Jackson smirked and exaggerated.
“Not true! What about you, lover boy? Weren’t you the one crooning over that other girl at the coffee place the other day? ‘whip cream on my coffee? I’d rather have you on my coffee!’” Kellan mimicked in a high pitched voice. “SO not what I said!” Jackson fumed.
Before Taylor or Kellan could give a witty comeback the Limo driver winded the partition down “We’ve arrived, Mr. Pattinson, Mr. Lutz, Mr. Rathbone and… Mr. Lautner.” The driver mumbled part of Taylor’s name. Why oh why? I glanced at Taylor “He hates me.” He whispered. “Why?” I asked. “I’m ALWAYS late.” He chuckled.
“Any of them out there?” Kellan asked the driver. He obviously meant the paparazzis, and not the girls. We have a strong disregard to the paparazzis and feel that they should use their time and talent to be a professional photographer in a studio, without distrupting anyone’s life. “About twenty,” the driver called back. I groaned. It's like we can’t even have a dinner without them anymore.
We left the Limo, and entered the Restaurant unscathed, but probably half blinded by the flashes. The restaurant was a swanky French named Restaurant in the heart of Los Angeles where most local big names hang out, apparently. The décor was definitely high end, gold finishes on every knob, dimmed lightings, jazz music in the background… I might have been here before… Then again, all the swanky restaurants look the same. The fancy décor at that time, however, wasn’t tarnished by tacky looking Christmas decorations.
We dropped our surnames at the waiting table, hoping to get ushered as soon as possible, without the customers staring at us like we’re mutated monkeys. The lady who stood at the waiting table looked like she was in her 30s’ with a smart suit and perfectly done hair. She carefully look up our names.
“This is some place!” Taylor exclaimed while waiting for “Theresa” as stated on her tag to assign our seats. “Wait till you’ve tried the foie gras. Raw liver at it’s best.” Jackson said. “Ah, I see you’re a regular here, Mr. Rathbone?” Theresa said, obviously eavesdropping on our conversation. “Yeah, I used to come here almost every night when I was in LA, between the movies “The Valley of Light” and “River’s End”” He said suavely but he seemed annoyed by the way he taps the table rapidly. I nudged him, way to lay low. The lady stares at him... then her eyes grew wide and she examines and scrutinizes all of us. “Look, I really don’t want to seem like a jerk, but we really need to find our tables before anyone makes a big fuss, okay?” I said, hurriedly. Worried that my worst fears came true, which is that she recognizes us.
“You’re Jackson Rathbone aren’t you? And you three, Lutz, Pattinson and Lautner. Kellan Lutz, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Launter! And then the other two at the table… Of Course! Twilight stars!” She exclaimed in a manner one would when he or she were to strike a lottery. I stared at the ceiling for some hope of a divine intervention. “Ma’am, we’d love to answer your queries if you would be kind enough to find us our table.” Kellan said politely. She scooted over to find us our long table, which was supposed to fit the entire main cast of Twilight, Catherine, Melissa and Stephenie. “Uh, Merry Christmas!” She said as she left us at our table. Obviously in some manner, starstuck.
The table was hidden away from the front area, it was tucked right at the back, with dim lightings and a rather quiet ambience apart from the jazzy number being played. I was taken in surprise to see some people already seated there. Two to be exact.
“OH my god! Its been months! Merry Christmas!” Nikki Reed jumped up and hugged us all. She headed for Kellan first as he gave her a huge bear hug and a wink. As obvious as a rabbit sleeping amongst a group of tigers. “Hey guys. Merry Christmas! I must say, its been rather long since we’ve seen from the cast.” Melissa Rosenberg, the screenwriter said. We all returned the Christmas wishes. “How did you guys come here so quickly?” Taylor asked. “I was living in the same hotel as Melissa. Elizabeth, Ashley and Catherine bunked at Kristen’s pad.” Nikki said. “How come you both didn’t crash Kristen’s?” Jackson asked. “Squabbles, I bet.” Kellan said, raising his eyebrows. “No, it was simply because our managers made advanced bookings at the hotel before we got offered from Kristen.” Melissa said, simply.
Soon, we all took our seats at the extremely long oval table, which was probably six or seven regular tables mashed together. The waiter wafts by our area a couple of times before he understood that we didn’t ask for a table big enough to fit a dozen people for a company of six. “Any idea when the rest will be coming?” I asked. “No idea.” Nikki said, playing with her palm pilot, while Melissa played on some Christmas decorations that stood on the long table. “Speaking of guests, did anyone receive an RSVP from Peter? We asked him to go to Rob’s pad before the party so that we could goof off and ask each other rhetorical questions about fashion before we got here. He didn’t reply.” Jackson sighed. “I think he did mention to Catherine the other day that he would be out of town. I’m not too sure. It’ll be hell though, if he isn’t here.” Melissa said, plucking the holly off the branch, unintentionally. I shrugged. We’d miss Peter’s company, that’s for sure.
“… and this is your way to your seat, Elizabeth Reaser, Kristen Stewart, Ashley Greene and Catherine Hardwicke. Did I mention I’m a huge fan of your work. Oh oh, and Merry Christmas!” Theresa’s voice could be heard from behind me.
I got up and spun around to greet the new arrivals. I saw Elizabeth first, tall, elegant as always in a deep blue dress. “Its so nice to see you!” I said, hugging Elizabeth. “Same, here, Rob! Looks like this boy has been working out, huh. A bit too late for the movie, though… And wouldn’t you think all the Christmas cakes would make him a little flabby?” She laughed and proceeded to Kellan as I gave a warm smile to her. Ashley too gave me a warm welcome, as did Catherine, who added “Robert better lose those muscles for the next movie. The new director might not like severe changes in the character’s physique!”
“Especially when he’s supposed to play a perfect vampire which isn’t supposed to change in any way… “ I heard a very familiar voice ring out behind Catherine.
Kristen. She was just as beautiful as I remembered her to be months back, better, if possible. She made that emerald green silk dress look like its made of a hand woven fabric that was created by god. She smiled at me, I smiled back “Hey, Stu. Its nice seeing you again.” Seeing you? What? “Same here. I’m glad you made it.” She said casually as I hugged her. “A tie, Robert? This must be some occasion.” She whispered in my ear as she hugged me. I grinned. Good ol’ Stu. I felt an impulse to hold on, but I knew I couldn’t and shouldn’t even if she wasn’t seeing anyone now, instead she gave me a kiss on the cheek and I returned the favour, she flicked my tie before she found a seat. Nothing more.
I started feeling self conscious about the tie and kept wondering if it was right to just leave it. My hand found its way to my hair, unintentionally and swept it back.
I slid back into my seat, and she sat down across me, directly. Not very good if I wanted to concentrate on eating today. I should have ate before I left if I knew this was going to be the sitting arrangement. I wonder if its too late to “switch” places without being suspicious and hurtful to Kristen. Yes, I think it is. Which is bad because then she would… “What are you thinking?” She disrupted my thoughts. I look around and I realized that everyone that was present at the table were having their own mini discussion amongst themselves and it would be rude to leave Kristen alone.
“Nothing, really.” You, maybe? I cleared my thoughts and throat. “So, what’s up with good ol’ Stu? Still getting mobbed in front of your house?” I asked Kristen. She rolled her eyes and uttered a tinkling laugh, “It gets worse everyday. I might take you around someday. Maybe the tallies of paparazis would double up with you present.” She said. She’s always in the impression that I’m the media magnet, like I’m getting more coverage than her. She doesn’t realize that she has just as many fans as I do. I was quite convinced when I found out no one had petitions against her when Summit mentioned that she was going to be casted as Bella…
I brought that statement up. “Pfft, Rob you keep bringing this up, time and time again. That was MONTHS before even preproduction. No one knew your skills.” No one knew me, that’s for sure. “Have you seen the latest reviews on IMDB?” She said, out of curiosity. I shook my head “I swore off internet reviews after the whole petition thing.” “Well, if you had visited that site you probably would be the happiest man alive. I mean, all the reviews stated that I was monotonous and you’re just a brilliant actor.” She said quietly, obviously upset to a certain degree. I reached across the table to hold her hand, a friendly impulse. “What did I tell you about reading stuff on internet? Do what you feel is comfortable. I personally think your performance topped mine a million times over, but then again, you’d never believe me. Its their job to criticize. Kristen, this is just part of fame. You’re going to gain compliments, and criticism. This is the price we pay, and frankly, no one suffered it more than I did, I think.” I said “Honestly. I was in such a bad place in pre production, worrying about what others would think of me. But I tried to let go of it. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t bother me. It still does till today. Just push it aside, alright. You have your acting style. I have mine. They-“ I pointed to the rest of the people on the table, “have theirs.” I finished. She nodded. I know my advice didn’t help her to any extend but I hope she feels that she’s not alone.
“Lets order, guys. I’m starving.” Taylor said. “I second that!” Nikki laughed and waved over a waiter. “And here you are, Mr. Facinelli.” Theresa spoke aloud, ushering Peter in, right after the waiter came to our table.
“Oh, how great! Peter made it!” Ashley said. We got up and greeted the man in question. “I’m really sorry I’m late. My daughter has some function to attend and she refused to let me come here unless I sent her to the function personally. SO sorry.” He said. “Oh, forget it. We love your children. They’re so very cute. They’ll be excused for holding you up.” Catherine said, laughing. We got up and greeted him, all of us relieved that the last of the invited cast came.
In the next few minutes or so, we started ordering and receiving our food. We talked about our next projects and we also went in depth with Ashley’s up and coming project, Sumer, promising her we’d get the DVD once it’s out. Everyone loves a little blood and gore!
“OKAY! Secret Santa time!” Ashley grinned and said, happily while we were starting our desert. secret WHAT? “Woah woah WHAT?” I said, mortified. “Secret Santa, Rob.” Elizabeth repeated. “No, what? We’re doing secret santa? Isn’t that… exchanging gifts and stuff?” I said. No way! Did everyone know about this? Or was it just me? I looked around. Everyone looked like they were prepared.
“Nikki sent out the memo saying we should bring gifts to play secret Santa.” Kristen said, looking directly in my eyes. She must think I’m a real goon or something. “Nikki? Did you?” I asked, still shocked. “It must have gotten lost in cyber space or something. I’m pretty sure I sent it through an email to you…” She said. “Well, can I back out or something?” I pleaded. “I’m sorry, honey. We’re an even number. If you back down, it’ll be uneven” Elizabeth said, giving me an apologetic look. “You knew?” I asked Peter. “I was held up by my daughter and also because I had to pick up a last minute gift…” He said, pressing his lips together in a tight line, hoping not to get scolded by the cast for such a thoughtless gift. Well, at least it was better than no gift at all!
I sat back down, looking like a black sheep. I crossed my fingers that I get someone who I can negotiate with, like Kellan or Nikki, heck, even Melissa. “Here’s how my version of secret santa works, okay? Listen up.” Nikki said. We listen closely.
“I’ve written 5 names in a piece of paper and put them into this box, names of those sitting on the left side of the table, which are Me, Catherine, Kristen, Jackson and Peter are in the box. What’s going to happen is that those on the right, will draw a name, and the name would be the person you’d have to exchange gifts with. No confusion, no worries. Get it?” She said. I nodded, feeling very guilty of not bringing a gift.
Kellan took a piece from the box, followed by me, Elizabeth, Ashley, and Taylor. “Reveal!” Nikki demanded. I took a peek at my paper’s first alphabet. “K”. A shiver ran down my back. Maybe Nikki spelt Catherine’s name with a K. I prayed and prayed as I unfolded it fully. “Kristen Stewart”. My eyes widen in horror. I look franticly at Kellan. “Kellan dude, you need to help me. You need to help me.” I whispered in a hurried tone. “Who did you get?” He asked. “Kristen. I don’t care who you get just let me switch with you, please… I’ll buy you a month’s supply of beer.” I negotiated. “No can do, Rob, I have my “dosh” to buy beer, man. Besides, I drew Nikki’s name. I don’t think I want to switch.” Kellan teased my English term of money. My jaw dropped, shell shocked. What? Is this all pre planned?
“Elizabeth, you need to help me.” I whispered. Too late. She revealed hers. “Who did you get?” Kristen asked, face contorted in curiosity and plain confusion. “Um, oh. Hey! I drew your name!” I said, in the happiest tone I could carry. “Cool.” She opened her purse and slid her gift past the table, in anticipation for hers. It was a small box, wrapped in a gold wrapper, topped with a ribbon. I bit my lower lip, while I heard everyone ooh-ing and ahh-ing at their gifts. I took out my wallet. What can I do? I found a 50 dollar bill and slid it to her. “What? No I can’t accept cash from you!” She whispered, slightly annoyed, I could tell. “Well, I’m sorry Kristen. I didn’t know about this or I would have showered you with fancy gold wrapped gifts. You accepted cash from your Aunt Gertrude on your 10th Christmas, why can’t you accept cash from me, now?” I whispered right back. She shook her head and got up. “Excuse us, please.” She said, expecting me to get up. Her face was expressionless.
I wished she showed more. At least I would know how to feel.
The entire table gazed at us. I followed her outside to the balcony area of the restaurant, a special place where diners who preferred Al Fresno could dine at. It was empty as it was freezing outside. I’m guessing she brought me out here to avoid all the attention from the cast.
“Robert, I do things like that when I was ten, I accepted gifts from all my relatives. I am 18, I am an actress, I earn my money, I simply can’t take this. Its just not…” She tried to find a word to describe the situation, flipping her hair back, anxiously looking for the word. “Right?” I asked her. “In a way, yes. I mean, no, I can’t. I can’t.” She sighed. “I can’t take money from you. It’s just not right, in the sense of etiquette, okay?” She said. I looked at her as she handed me the 50 dollar bill. What am I going to do? I reached into my pocket. “This isn’t very gentlemanly, but how’s this?” I handed her an old I. O. U card from a pub I went last week. The skimpily clad ladies handed them to me. I knew I’d be using it soon. She glanced at, laughed really loudly and blushed. “You do know how Americans treat I.O.Us, right?” Blatantly, for owing someone. I nodded. “Yeah.” I told her my perception of I.O.U cards. She burst our in fits of laughter.
“Look, Robert. Obviously you haven’t been skooled here. People here use I.O.Us in regard of…” She waved her hands around, in an obvious gesture, trying to get me to say the word she wouldn’t. “You know, Bonk. Bang” She finally said, after I didn’t catch on her sentence. “WHAT? That’s absurd!” I said, glancing at Kristen, who was still laughing at how naïve I am.
No wonder only the girls gave me the I.O.U cards in the pub. I wonder how they felt when I wasn’t there for their payback…
“First of all, what is it with you guys and the British slangs? It’s not really funny. And two, I’m taking that back” I took the I.O.U card from Kristen’s fingers, which was already hanging in front of me, beckoning me to take it. She pouts, playfully. “Get out of here!” I punched her arm lightly. “Seriously, what am I going to give you. I’m really sorry about this. I would have never came empty handed if I were to know about this… Secret Santa thing” I spat the word Secret Santa. “I hate the way you’re presentless. Okay, here’s my plan. You take your gift back, and pretend it’s from me. Once we’re done here, hop in my limo and I’ll take you gift shopping, how’s that?” I asked, running out of ideas.
She shook her head. “Really, it’s not your fault. Besides, I already bought myself the gift I gave you, I really don’t want two. Plus, everyone knows I gave you the gold wrapped gift. They’d know. Just, forget this okay? Knowing you as a best friend is already the best gift anyone can give me.” She said, shyly. “Oh, bull crap.” I chuckled and slung my arm around here. It was getting really chilly. I sighed, and looked away, for some sort of idea, still having my arm on her. She just stood in that position, waiting for me to do or say something.
I looked on an arcapella band. Suddenly, an idea hit me. I fished my pockets for my wallet once again. “Oh, no. You’re so not asking the band to play me some mushy song. You are NOT.” Kristen said as she noticed my eyes glancing at the band and my hand handling my wallet. “No, you goon…” I said, rolling my eyes. I fished something from the coin compartment and pushed it into her palm. She opened her palm and stared at it.
“I’ve had this guitar pick since I was 12, in my old backyard band. I’ve never left home without it since it brought me some luck, I guess you can say. And, it’s also the best pick I’ve had since I played the guitar… it never broke.” I laughed. “and with all these hype on you being Bella, I really hope this brings you some luck with handling the media. Merry Christmas, love.” I said. She scrunched her nose. “What? You hate it?” I asked. Oh boy, she’s hard. “No… No, now you’re making my gift feel really bad.” She said.
I laughed. “So you like it?” I asked. “No, I can’t say I do.” She frowned and shook her head. I kept a straight face. d**n. “are you kidding me? I Love It!” She said, chuckling. Woah she’s a good actress. “I’m going to start really picking up a guitar now.” She said. “Oh, you haven’t opened your present yet.” She’s right. I took it out and flipped the lid open. I smiled. Oh, the symbolism. It was a little keyring with a pair of pale white hands cupping a red apple.
At the back was a little engraved note. “Merry Christmas ____! Love, Kristen” She grabbed the keyring from me and fished her purse. I watched her curiously. She pulled out a little sharp tip sharpie. She scribbled something on the dash, presumably my name, and handed it back. She took my wallet from my hand and hung it there.
Merry Christmas Robert ! Love, Kristen.
“Thanks, K.” I said, giving her a hug. She wrapped her arms around me and gazed in my eyes. “God, she’s beautiful.” “What?!” She asked, shaking her head, and smiling like a cat. Oops. I did not say that out loud. I smiled. “Hey, I mean it.” I lean down and kissed her gently, on the lips, and looked at her. It was just Robert and Kristen. Not Bella, not Edward. No Twilight, no producers. Just us, on an empty balcony or a restaurant.
“Thank you, and, I really like the tie, just so you know.” Kristen smiled, a pink flush building around her cheeks. “Come on. Lets get back inside before someone calls the cops thinking we got kidnapped by some paparatzzi or something.” I said, pulling her into the restaurant by her waist.
Indoors, we were a foot apart. The queries about our absence was present on the other guests’ faces. “What was all that about?” Elizabeth asked, as I sat down beside Kellan once again. “I had to tell Kristen about something… about her gift. It was…sort of… defected… because…” I trapped myself in my own web of lies. “Because it was engraved without a name and he thought it was an error or something.” Kristen spoke up. I nodded. Something changed the ambience of the table, I wasn’t sure what, but everyone seemed a little happier than they were before we left.
“Alright, guys. I’m going to make a move. My daughter’s waiting.” Peter said, getting up. “Me too. I have some preproduction thing to do tomorrow morning. I’m calling a cab. I’ll meet you at your place, Kristen.” Ashley said politely. “You know what, I’ll just leave with you.” Kristen got up from her seat, so did Catherine. “We’re going back too, I guess. Come on, we’ll drop you at your pad, Taylor.” Jackson said.
We bade goodbye to each other, knowing it’ll be all too soon when we see each other again for the preproduction of New Moon, and consecutively, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn. After we split the tab and called our limos, we made out way outside. The girls’ limo came first. Just as Kristen was about to enter the limo, she turned back. “Oh, I kinda forgot. Merry Christmas, Rob.” She said. I smiled, and saluted her, casually.
“Robert, you bad, bad boy.” Kellan said as we entered our own limo. “What? I didn’t wish you Merry Christmas? Oh, I’m sorry. Merry Christmas, Kelly.” I said. “You kinda forgot that the doors that lead to the balcony is sort of made of GLASS.” He said, bursting out with laughter along with the other two guys. I let my jaw hang for a moment. “Hell no!” I said. Everyone nodded and another round of laughter went by. “Wait, did everyone…”
“Everyone saw, Rob.” Jackson assured. “Kristen and Robert… Some Christmas present, huh, Rob.” Taylor teased.
Well at least they didn’t find out about my faux pas with the I.O.U card.
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hope you liked it! Sorry for all the spelling errors/ grammatical errors, I really didn't have anyone to run it by,
Disclaimer: If i owned Twilight and the Characters, I'd buy everyone an ice cream sundae. But I don't. Tough luck.
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A Robert and Kristen Christmas Fic.
“Hurry, hurry, hurry! The limo is already outside.” Jackson yelled from the ground floor. “HOLD ON. If I knew you weren’t going to shut it I wouldn’t have invited you over!” I yelled from upstairs, fixing my tie one last time. Too tardy. I’d never wear a tie to a party. But this is the formal Christmas reunion for the Twilight cast. Or better known as a Chrilight Party, the phrase Nikki uses and insist we use. “We’ll be caught in the jam, Rob, and we shouldn’t be late. It’s about time we show the girls and Taylor that we can be on time, even in the LA jam” Jackson ranted on below.
“Bro, who died?” Kellan asked, looking at my black tie and suit. He raised an eyebrow, “You’re way too overdressed.” He stated and jumped past me to grab the beer which was on my dressing table. I frowned, oh no. “You really think so?” I asked, ready to yank the tie off. “Like Charlie Chaplin walking down town for a soda…” Kellan shrugged, downing the beer, which was once mine.
I raked my fingers through my hair. Who am I kidding? I can’t believe I’m asking Kellan for fashion advice… “JACKSON!!” I yelled. “Did you fall in the toilet bowl or something? God, what is it?” He asked. “Can you just get up here for a minute?” I asked, tossing aside the black tie, and reaching for the navy one.
Why do I even bother?
Kristen.
I heard Jackson thumping his way up the stairs impatiently, while Kellan was tinkling away with his mobile, I bet that he’s texting Nikki right now; though he’ll never admit it.
“Who’re you texting?” Jackson asked. “Person.” He mumbled, as he hunched his back over a little more, shielding the phone from everyone’s sight. Jackson and I exchanged glances and snickered.
Coming back to the main reason Jackson was up here, I glanced at him “Jackson. This or this?” I handed him a couple of ties. “Blue” Kellan yelled glacing away from the phone for a moment. “Leave the tie.” Jackson said. I stood over the mirror, sighing, shaking my head in defeat, I stayed with the black tie and ushered them downstairs of the penthouse I rented for convenience.
The chauffer pushed us into the limo, literally. We drove silently all the way to Taylor’s to pick him up since he was busy to join the all boys’ convention at my pad earlier in the evening. It was also probably also because he was underage, and we had booze all over the pad, it wasn’t that we were sticks in the mud and we wouldn’t let him drink, in fact, we’d ask him to take a can or two. However, if a camera man were to zoom in onto him drinking, he would get into big trouble.
And I mean, Huge.
As Taylor entered the Limo in casual jeans and a smart shirt and a sports jacket, I wondered how these Americans are just so able to dress for the occasion. Needless to say, the girls too dress exceptionally well. Kristen, for example, she doesn’t really dress the way people in Hollywood would dress like, read: Pink shorts with matching rose tinted glasses and a pooch with the same coloured fur. She isn’t like that at all, but even then her style is so distinguished, she effortlessly looks sexy in everything she wears… Even if her sense of style is rather casual and really just comfortable, when she has to go for premiers and publicity stints, she cleans up. She cleans up Very well.
What am I saying?
“Robster! Something on your mind?” Taylor waved his hand across my face. I shook my head. “No, not really. I… I just think its so great to have everyone back in the same room after months of not seeing or hearing from each other. Though, I don’t really quite like Christmas or presents for that matter…” I said. “You don’t?” Kellan asked in shock, the typical guy he is. “All Kellan has been saying since last week was what he thinks Nikki is getting him and what he’s getting Nikki.” Jackson smirked and exaggerated.
“Not true! What about you, lover boy? Weren’t you the one crooning over that other girl at the coffee place the other day? ‘whip cream on my coffee? I’d rather have you on my coffee!’” Kellan mimicked in a high pitched voice. “SO not what I said!” Jackson fumed.
Before Taylor or Kellan could give a witty comeback the Limo driver winded the partition down “We’ve arrived, Mr. Pattinson, Mr. Lutz, Mr. Rathbone and… Mr. Lautner.” The driver mumbled part of Taylor’s name. Why oh why? I glanced at Taylor “He hates me.” He whispered. “Why?” I asked. “I’m ALWAYS late.” He chuckled.
“Any of them out there?” Kellan asked the driver. He obviously meant the paparazzis, and not the girls. We have a strong disregard to the paparazzis and feel that they should use their time and talent to be a professional photographer in a studio, without distrupting anyone’s life. “About twenty,” the driver called back. I groaned. It's like we can’t even have a dinner without them anymore.
We left the Limo, and entered the Restaurant unscathed, but probably half blinded by the flashes. The restaurant was a swanky French named Restaurant in the heart of Los Angeles where most local big names hang out, apparently. The décor was definitely high end, gold finishes on every knob, dimmed lightings, jazz music in the background… I might have been here before… Then again, all the swanky restaurants look the same. The fancy décor at that time, however, wasn’t tarnished by tacky looking Christmas decorations.
We dropped our surnames at the waiting table, hoping to get ushered as soon as possible, without the customers staring at us like we’re mutated monkeys. The lady who stood at the waiting table looked like she was in her 30s’ with a smart suit and perfectly done hair. She carefully look up our names.
“This is some place!” Taylor exclaimed while waiting for “Theresa” as stated on her tag to assign our seats. “Wait till you’ve tried the foie gras. Raw liver at it’s best.” Jackson said. “Ah, I see you’re a regular here, Mr. Rathbone?” Theresa said, obviously eavesdropping on our conversation. “Yeah, I used to come here almost every night when I was in LA, between the movies “The Valley of Light” and “River’s End”” He said suavely but he seemed annoyed by the way he taps the table rapidly. I nudged him, way to lay low. The lady stares at him... then her eyes grew wide and she examines and scrutinizes all of us. “Look, I really don’t want to seem like a jerk, but we really need to find our tables before anyone makes a big fuss, okay?” I said, hurriedly. Worried that my worst fears came true, which is that she recognizes us.
“You’re Jackson Rathbone aren’t you? And you three, Lutz, Pattinson and Lautner. Kellan Lutz, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Launter! And then the other two at the table… Of Course! Twilight stars!” She exclaimed in a manner one would when he or she were to strike a lottery. I stared at the ceiling for some hope of a divine intervention. “Ma’am, we’d love to answer your queries if you would be kind enough to find us our table.” Kellan said politely. She scooted over to find us our long table, which was supposed to fit the entire main cast of Twilight, Catherine, Melissa and Stephenie. “Uh, Merry Christmas!” She said as she left us at our table. Obviously in some manner, starstuck.
The table was hidden away from the front area, it was tucked right at the back, with dim lightings and a rather quiet ambience apart from the jazzy number being played. I was taken in surprise to see some people already seated there. Two to be exact.
“OH my god! Its been months! Merry Christmas!” Nikki Reed jumped up and hugged us all. She headed for Kellan first as he gave her a huge bear hug and a wink. As obvious as a rabbit sleeping amongst a group of tigers. “Hey guys. Merry Christmas! I must say, its been rather long since we’ve seen from the cast.” Melissa Rosenberg, the screenwriter said. We all returned the Christmas wishes. “How did you guys come here so quickly?” Taylor asked. “I was living in the same hotel as Melissa. Elizabeth, Ashley and Catherine bunked at Kristen’s pad.” Nikki said. “How come you both didn’t crash Kristen’s?” Jackson asked. “Squabbles, I bet.” Kellan said, raising his eyebrows. “No, it was simply because our managers made advanced bookings at the hotel before we got offered from Kristen.” Melissa said, simply.
Soon, we all took our seats at the extremely long oval table, which was probably six or seven regular tables mashed together. The waiter wafts by our area a couple of times before he understood that we didn’t ask for a table big enough to fit a dozen people for a company of six. “Any idea when the rest will be coming?” I asked. “No idea.” Nikki said, playing with her palm pilot, while Melissa played on some Christmas decorations that stood on the long table. “Speaking of guests, did anyone receive an RSVP from Peter? We asked him to go to Rob’s pad before the party so that we could goof off and ask each other rhetorical questions about fashion before we got here. He didn’t reply.” Jackson sighed. “I think he did mention to Catherine the other day that he would be out of town. I’m not too sure. It’ll be hell though, if he isn’t here.” Melissa said, plucking the holly off the branch, unintentionally. I shrugged. We’d miss Peter’s company, that’s for sure.
“… and this is your way to your seat, Elizabeth Reaser, Kristen Stewart, Ashley Greene and Catherine Hardwicke. Did I mention I’m a huge fan of your work. Oh oh, and Merry Christmas!” Theresa’s voice could be heard from behind me.
I got up and spun around to greet the new arrivals. I saw Elizabeth first, tall, elegant as always in a deep blue dress. “Its so nice to see you!” I said, hugging Elizabeth. “Same, here, Rob! Looks like this boy has been working out, huh. A bit too late for the movie, though… And wouldn’t you think all the Christmas cakes would make him a little flabby?” She laughed and proceeded to Kellan as I gave a warm smile to her. Ashley too gave me a warm welcome, as did Catherine, who added “Robert better lose those muscles for the next movie. The new director might not like severe changes in the character’s physique!”
“Especially when he’s supposed to play a perfect vampire which isn’t supposed to change in any way… “ I heard a very familiar voice ring out behind Catherine.
Kristen. She was just as beautiful as I remembered her to be months back, better, if possible. She made that emerald green silk dress look like its made of a hand woven fabric that was created by god. She smiled at me, I smiled back “Hey, Stu. Its nice seeing you again.” Seeing you? What? “Same here. I’m glad you made it.” She said casually as I hugged her. “A tie, Robert? This must be some occasion.” She whispered in my ear as she hugged me. I grinned. Good ol’ Stu. I felt an impulse to hold on, but I knew I couldn’t and shouldn’t even if she wasn’t seeing anyone now, instead she gave me a kiss on the cheek and I returned the favour, she flicked my tie before she found a seat. Nothing more.
I started feeling self conscious about the tie and kept wondering if it was right to just leave it. My hand found its way to my hair, unintentionally and swept it back.
I slid back into my seat, and she sat down across me, directly. Not very good if I wanted to concentrate on eating today. I should have ate before I left if I knew this was going to be the sitting arrangement. I wonder if its too late to “switch” places without being suspicious and hurtful to Kristen. Yes, I think it is. Which is bad because then she would… “What are you thinking?” She disrupted my thoughts. I look around and I realized that everyone that was present at the table were having their own mini discussion amongst themselves and it would be rude to leave Kristen alone.
“Nothing, really.” You, maybe? I cleared my thoughts and throat. “So, what’s up with good ol’ Stu? Still getting mobbed in front of your house?” I asked Kristen. She rolled her eyes and uttered a tinkling laugh, “It gets worse everyday. I might take you around someday. Maybe the tallies of paparazis would double up with you present.” She said. She’s always in the impression that I’m the media magnet, like I’m getting more coverage than her. She doesn’t realize that she has just as many fans as I do. I was quite convinced when I found out no one had petitions against her when Summit mentioned that she was going to be casted as Bella…
I brought that statement up. “Pfft, Rob you keep bringing this up, time and time again. That was MONTHS before even preproduction. No one knew your skills.” No one knew me, that’s for sure. “Have you seen the latest reviews on IMDB?” She said, out of curiosity. I shook my head “I swore off internet reviews after the whole petition thing.” “Well, if you had visited that site you probably would be the happiest man alive. I mean, all the reviews stated that I was monotonous and you’re just a brilliant actor.” She said quietly, obviously upset to a certain degree. I reached across the table to hold her hand, a friendly impulse. “What did I tell you about reading stuff on internet? Do what you feel is comfortable. I personally think your performance topped mine a million times over, but then again, you’d never believe me. Its their job to criticize. Kristen, this is just part of fame. You’re going to gain compliments, and criticism. This is the price we pay, and frankly, no one suffered it more than I did, I think.” I said “Honestly. I was in such a bad place in pre production, worrying about what others would think of me. But I tried to let go of it. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t bother me. It still does till today. Just push it aside, alright. You have your acting style. I have mine. They-“ I pointed to the rest of the people on the table, “have theirs.” I finished. She nodded. I know my advice didn’t help her to any extend but I hope she feels that she’s not alone.
“Lets order, guys. I’m starving.” Taylor said. “I second that!” Nikki laughed and waved over a waiter. “And here you are, Mr. Facinelli.” Theresa spoke aloud, ushering Peter in, right after the waiter came to our table.
“Oh, how great! Peter made it!” Ashley said. We got up and greeted the man in question. “I’m really sorry I’m late. My daughter has some function to attend and she refused to let me come here unless I sent her to the function personally. SO sorry.” He said. “Oh, forget it. We love your children. They’re so very cute. They’ll be excused for holding you up.” Catherine said, laughing. We got up and greeted him, all of us relieved that the last of the invited cast came.
In the next few minutes or so, we started ordering and receiving our food. We talked about our next projects and we also went in depth with Ashley’s up and coming project, Sumer, promising her we’d get the DVD once it’s out. Everyone loves a little blood and gore!
“OKAY! Secret Santa time!” Ashley grinned and said, happily while we were starting our desert. secret WHAT? “Woah woah WHAT?” I said, mortified. “Secret Santa, Rob.” Elizabeth repeated. “No, what? We’re doing secret santa? Isn’t that… exchanging gifts and stuff?” I said. No way! Did everyone know about this? Or was it just me? I looked around. Everyone looked like they were prepared.
“Nikki sent out the memo saying we should bring gifts to play secret Santa.” Kristen said, looking directly in my eyes. She must think I’m a real goon or something. “Nikki? Did you?” I asked, still shocked. “It must have gotten lost in cyber space or something. I’m pretty sure I sent it through an email to you…” She said. “Well, can I back out or something?” I pleaded. “I’m sorry, honey. We’re an even number. If you back down, it’ll be uneven” Elizabeth said, giving me an apologetic look. “You knew?” I asked Peter. “I was held up by my daughter and also because I had to pick up a last minute gift…” He said, pressing his lips together in a tight line, hoping not to get scolded by the cast for such a thoughtless gift. Well, at least it was better than no gift at all!
I sat back down, looking like a black sheep. I crossed my fingers that I get someone who I can negotiate with, like Kellan or Nikki, heck, even Melissa. “Here’s how my version of secret santa works, okay? Listen up.” Nikki said. We listen closely.
“I’ve written 5 names in a piece of paper and put them into this box, names of those sitting on the left side of the table, which are Me, Catherine, Kristen, Jackson and Peter are in the box. What’s going to happen is that those on the right, will draw a name, and the name would be the person you’d have to exchange gifts with. No confusion, no worries. Get it?” She said. I nodded, feeling very guilty of not bringing a gift.
Kellan took a piece from the box, followed by me, Elizabeth, Ashley, and Taylor. “Reveal!” Nikki demanded. I took a peek at my paper’s first alphabet. “K”. A shiver ran down my back. Maybe Nikki spelt Catherine’s name with a K. I prayed and prayed as I unfolded it fully. “Kristen Stewart”. My eyes widen in horror. I look franticly at Kellan. “Kellan dude, you need to help me. You need to help me.” I whispered in a hurried tone. “Who did you get?” He asked. “Kristen. I don’t care who you get just let me switch with you, please… I’ll buy you a month’s supply of beer.” I negotiated. “No can do, Rob, I have my “dosh” to buy beer, man. Besides, I drew Nikki’s name. I don’t think I want to switch.” Kellan teased my English term of money. My jaw dropped, shell shocked. What? Is this all pre planned?
“Elizabeth, you need to help me.” I whispered. Too late. She revealed hers. “Who did you get?” Kristen asked, face contorted in curiosity and plain confusion. “Um, oh. Hey! I drew your name!” I said, in the happiest tone I could carry. “Cool.” She opened her purse and slid her gift past the table, in anticipation for hers. It was a small box, wrapped in a gold wrapper, topped with a ribbon. I bit my lower lip, while I heard everyone ooh-ing and ahh-ing at their gifts. I took out my wallet. What can I do? I found a 50 dollar bill and slid it to her. “What? No I can’t accept cash from you!” She whispered, slightly annoyed, I could tell. “Well, I’m sorry Kristen. I didn’t know about this or I would have showered you with fancy gold wrapped gifts. You accepted cash from your Aunt Gertrude on your 10th Christmas, why can’t you accept cash from me, now?” I whispered right back. She shook her head and got up. “Excuse us, please.” She said, expecting me to get up. Her face was expressionless.
I wished she showed more. At least I would know how to feel.
The entire table gazed at us. I followed her outside to the balcony area of the restaurant, a special place where diners who preferred Al Fresno could dine at. It was empty as it was freezing outside. I’m guessing she brought me out here to avoid all the attention from the cast.
“Robert, I do things like that when I was ten, I accepted gifts from all my relatives. I am 18, I am an actress, I earn my money, I simply can’t take this. Its just not…” She tried to find a word to describe the situation, flipping her hair back, anxiously looking for the word. “Right?” I asked her. “In a way, yes. I mean, no, I can’t. I can’t.” She sighed. “I can’t take money from you. It’s just not right, in the sense of etiquette, okay?” She said. I looked at her as she handed me the 50 dollar bill. What am I going to do? I reached into my pocket. “This isn’t very gentlemanly, but how’s this?” I handed her an old I. O. U card from a pub I went last week. The skimpily clad ladies handed them to me. I knew I’d be using it soon. She glanced at, laughed really loudly and blushed. “You do know how Americans treat I.O.Us, right?” Blatantly, for owing someone. I nodded. “Yeah.” I told her my perception of I.O.U cards. She burst our in fits of laughter.
“Look, Robert. Obviously you haven’t been skooled here. People here use I.O.Us in regard of…” She waved her hands around, in an obvious gesture, trying to get me to say the word she wouldn’t. “You know, Bonk. Bang” She finally said, after I didn’t catch on her sentence. “WHAT? That’s absurd!” I said, glancing at Kristen, who was still laughing at how naïve I am.
No wonder only the girls gave me the I.O.U cards in the pub. I wonder how they felt when I wasn’t there for their payback…
“First of all, what is it with you guys and the British slangs? It’s not really funny. And two, I’m taking that back” I took the I.O.U card from Kristen’s fingers, which was already hanging in front of me, beckoning me to take it. She pouts, playfully. “Get out of here!” I punched her arm lightly. “Seriously, what am I going to give you. I’m really sorry about this. I would have never came empty handed if I were to know about this… Secret Santa thing” I spat the word Secret Santa. “I hate the way you’re presentless. Okay, here’s my plan. You take your gift back, and pretend it’s from me. Once we’re done here, hop in my limo and I’ll take you gift shopping, how’s that?” I asked, running out of ideas.
She shook her head. “Really, it’s not your fault. Besides, I already bought myself the gift I gave you, I really don’t want two. Plus, everyone knows I gave you the gold wrapped gift. They’d know. Just, forget this okay? Knowing you as a best friend is already the best gift anyone can give me.” She said, shyly. “Oh, bull crap.” I chuckled and slung my arm around here. It was getting really chilly. I sighed, and looked away, for some sort of idea, still having my arm on her. She just stood in that position, waiting for me to do or say something.
I looked on an arcapella band. Suddenly, an idea hit me. I fished my pockets for my wallet once again. “Oh, no. You’re so not asking the band to play me some mushy song. You are NOT.” Kristen said as she noticed my eyes glancing at the band and my hand handling my wallet. “No, you goon…” I said, rolling my eyes. I fished something from the coin compartment and pushed it into her palm. She opened her palm and stared at it.
“I’ve had this guitar pick since I was 12, in my old backyard band. I’ve never left home without it since it brought me some luck, I guess you can say. And, it’s also the best pick I’ve had since I played the guitar… it never broke.” I laughed. “and with all these hype on you being Bella, I really hope this brings you some luck with handling the media. Merry Christmas, love.” I said. She scrunched her nose. “What? You hate it?” I asked. Oh boy, she’s hard. “No… No, now you’re making my gift feel really bad.” She said.
I laughed. “So you like it?” I asked. “No, I can’t say I do.” She frowned and shook her head. I kept a straight face. d**n. “are you kidding me? I Love It!” She said, chuckling. Woah she’s a good actress. “I’m going to start really picking up a guitar now.” She said. “Oh, you haven’t opened your present yet.” She’s right. I took it out and flipped the lid open. I smiled. Oh, the symbolism. It was a little keyring with a pair of pale white hands cupping a red apple.
At the back was a little engraved note. “Merry Christmas ____! Love, Kristen” She grabbed the keyring from me and fished her purse. I watched her curiously. She pulled out a little sharp tip sharpie. She scribbled something on the dash, presumably my name, and handed it back. She took my wallet from my hand and hung it there.
Merry Christmas Robert ! Love, Kristen.
“Thanks, K.” I said, giving her a hug. She wrapped her arms around me and gazed in my eyes. “God, she’s beautiful.” “What?!” She asked, shaking her head, and smiling like a cat. Oops. I did not say that out loud. I smiled. “Hey, I mean it.” I lean down and kissed her gently, on the lips, and looked at her. It was just Robert and Kristen. Not Bella, not Edward. No Twilight, no producers. Just us, on an empty balcony or a restaurant.
“Thank you, and, I really like the tie, just so you know.” Kristen smiled, a pink flush building around her cheeks. “Come on. Lets get back inside before someone calls the cops thinking we got kidnapped by some paparatzzi or something.” I said, pulling her into the restaurant by her waist.
Indoors, we were a foot apart. The queries about our absence was present on the other guests’ faces. “What was all that about?” Elizabeth asked, as I sat down beside Kellan once again. “I had to tell Kristen about something… about her gift. It was…sort of… defected… because…” I trapped myself in my own web of lies. “Because it was engraved without a name and he thought it was an error or something.” Kristen spoke up. I nodded. Something changed the ambience of the table, I wasn’t sure what, but everyone seemed a little happier than they were before we left.
“Alright, guys. I’m going to make a move. My daughter’s waiting.” Peter said, getting up. “Me too. I have some preproduction thing to do tomorrow morning. I’m calling a cab. I’ll meet you at your place, Kristen.” Ashley said politely. “You know what, I’ll just leave with you.” Kristen got up from her seat, so did Catherine. “We’re going back too, I guess. Come on, we’ll drop you at your pad, Taylor.” Jackson said.
We bade goodbye to each other, knowing it’ll be all too soon when we see each other again for the preproduction of New Moon, and consecutively, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn. After we split the tab and called our limos, we made out way outside. The girls’ limo came first. Just as Kristen was about to enter the limo, she turned back. “Oh, I kinda forgot. Merry Christmas, Rob.” She said. I smiled, and saluted her, casually.
“Robert, you bad, bad boy.” Kellan said as we entered our own limo. “What? I didn’t wish you Merry Christmas? Oh, I’m sorry. Merry Christmas, Kelly.” I said. “You kinda forgot that the doors that lead to the balcony is sort of made of GLASS.” He said, bursting out with laughter along with the other two guys. I let my jaw hang for a moment. “Hell no!” I said. Everyone nodded and another round of laughter went by. “Wait, did everyone…”
“Everyone saw, Rob.” Jackson assured. “Kristen and Robert… Some Christmas present, huh, Rob.” Taylor teased.
Well at least they didn’t find out about my faux pas with the I.O.U card.
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hope you liked it! Sorry for all the spelling errors/ grammatical errors, I really didn't have anyone to run it by,