The Choices We Made Pt.1
Title: The Choices We Made Pt.1
User: mscc6422
Pairing: R/K
Rating: PG-13
POV: Third Person
Prompt: Table 7 - #1 "The air was swiftly knocked from her lungs as she saw the person who had knocked on their door." - from one shot prompt challenge of fityouinmyheart
Notes: I always wanted to trace back to the before R/K era, maybe cause I wrote RPF way too late lol... Anyway, this was inspire from Comic Con where Kristen still have the Joan Jett Hair and somehow the camera caught her leaning forward and talking with a closed-position Rob (arm crossed, leaned back and all that). I always speculate that something happened there, and this is a speculation... :P
Anyway, my beta just sign off, lol... so if anyone wanna be my beta please let me know. But so far, just hope I don't screw this up...
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot. Am not related with them, I just play with the possibility of what might happen
The air was swiftly knocked from her lung as she saw the person who had knocked on her parents' front door. She let out a small gasp from her lips as her eyes met the eyes that had been disturbing her in the past months. “What, what are you doing here?” She stuttered. Her voice sounded like a whisper, and somewhat a bit husky. Her fingers started to pinch her bottom lips, a habit she always did whenever she was nervous.
“I need to talk to you.” He said quietly yet firmly. “Can I come in?”
Kristen’s eyes were widened as she heard his request. He asked to come in. He wanted to talk to her. Two simple statement and yet her brain had some problem to process the simple sentences. He wanted to come. How? Why? How could she explain to her family about his sudden appearance in their home? Why would he come anyway? What could be possibly so urgent that he couldn’t postpone until next week? Until they started with the whole routine again, after the small break of they were given.
“Kristen? Who is it, honey?” Her mother’s voice snapped her from her train of thought. Yet it was still difficult for her to find her voice, or her sense in that matter. She heard the footsteps of her mother came closer. Her lack of answer somehow brought her mother to the front door.
“Uh, mom, it’s, uh, it’s….” She stammered once again. An action that he often elicited from her. Oh yeah, he always gave that to her, no matter the amount of time they had spent together on the set.
“Oh, hey Rob.” Her mother said casually, as if she didn’t find anything unusual with his visit to their house. As if, he did this everyday. “Kristen, why don’t you ask him to come in?” Her mother asked in a disapproving tone and opened the door wider to give him access.
“Oh yeah, come in.” She said in a monotonous tone. His eyebrows were creased, yet he simply nodded at stepped into the house.
“Thank you Mrs. Stewart. I didn’t mean to interrupt; I just need to talk with Kristen about something.” He said politely, as he always did. “Just five minutes then I wouldn’t bother you again.” There was a pang in her heart as she realized that he would only stay for five minutes. It wasn’t that she expected for something more or for him to stay longer, yet five minutes just sounded so short.
“It’s Jules, Rob. No need all Mrs. Stewart things here.” Her mother started with a warm smile. Before any of them could say anything else, loud laughter followed by some loud crash was heard from the living room. Kristen was flinched a little as it happened, yet her mother was simply rolled her eyes as her head turned to the direction of the noise. As if she could see passed the wall and knew what happened. “You know what, Kristen, why don’t you ask Rob to go upstairs to your room so you two can talk, okay. I’ll do some damaged control down here and ensure all is acting civilized by dinner time.” Her mother turned on her heals and started to walk toward the living room. “Oh, and Rob, you’re staying for dinner.” She said again without turning.
“Oh, um,” This time, it was Rob’s turned to stammer and that was enough to stop Jules Mann-Stewart on her steps and turned and gave Rob a don’t-mess-with-me look.
“I don’t accept any refusal Rob.” She said again.
“Alright then, Mrs. Stewart, uh Jules, I’m staying.” He said, with a smile this time. “Thank you very much.”
Kristen’s face was red as she realized three things that just happened. First on how easy her mother was with Rob’s sudden and uninvited, not to mention unexpected, visit to their house. Second, of the fact that Rob would visit her bedroom, something that she never did before, asking a boy that wasn’t her boyfriend or her relatives to come into her bedroom. Third was the fact that she would have dinner tonight with her family, and Rob. The last thought was enough to turn her face red in instant. Last man she brought to dinner was Michael, over a year ago.
“We can just talk here, you know. And I could just leave afterward.” He said quietly. Kristen looked up at him. He had a slight of sad look on his eyes, something that she rarely saw in him. She knew it might sound a bit naive, yet Rob was a cheerful person in general. Well, not that he would smile all the time or would burst into silly songs and dance around like some character in a musical play; but he usually had positive vibes around him and also the silly smile, both which didn’t appear today.
Crash. Boom. Bang.
Kristen silently sighed as she heard loud crashes from her living room, which soon after followed by some yelling and her father’s voice. She hung her head low and looked up to see Rob as she heard him chuckled. Well, with four brothers, serenity was just a luxury in her home.
“Let’s go to my room.” She said and walked toward the stair. She glanced at him and saw him hesitated for a while before following her footsteps. None of them was saying anything; only the sound of their shoes stepping on wooden stairs followed their movement. None of them said anything, as the walked down the hall toward her room.
Her room wasn’t exactly her room anymore. She had left her house for few months now. Her things were divided between her own place and her parents' house, which she still visits regularly especially during weekends. Her rented house was a small luxury and independence she got from her parents, her own space, even though it was less than thirty minutes drive from her parent’s house. At least there, she could get more legroom and less interruption from her brothers. Less interruption, cause even though she had her own space, her brothers, especially Cam, often invited themselves there.
Still in silent, Kristen opened her bedroom door, silently be thankful that she did made her bed and tidied things up this morning. She then sat on the edge of her bed while Rob followed her. She heard a clicked as the door closed and a silent thumped as he leaned his body on the closed door. Her eyes were still avoiding looking at Rob, who stood behind the closed door. She had idea of why he was there. Not that she knew exactly what he would say, cause she would be less nervous if only she knew. She had no idea where would this conversation go and part of her just too afraid and wished he wouldn't say anything. Maybe if she refused to look at him, he wouldn’t say anything.
“Can we talk now?” Rob’s words broke the silence in the room. She couldn’t stop herself not to look at him and as a result, it was impossible for her to refuse his request. His green eyes just irresistible, even now, as they gave her an enigmatic look.
“Okay,” She said silently. She started to bit her bottom lips, as her eyes fixed on Rob. For a moment, there was another silence. She felt Rob’s eyes were lingering on her lips, before he cleared his throat and started to step forward. He stopped as he reached the edge of her bed and seated himself on the other end of the bed.
“I, I wanted to know whether the rumor is true.” Rob said again. “That you’re done with Michael.” Kristen let out a small gasped as she heard his question. She had suspected it as much when he hesitated in saying goodbyes two days ago at San Diego. He would want to confirm the whispered behind her back, Nikki's words to him, of Michael, and her strange behavior in Italy and months afterward. Nikki meant well, heck, even Taylor knew that whatever that happened with Michael and her would somehow connected with Rob. She had made her intention, and currently single status, clear to everyone on the wrap up party of New Moon. The statement was made without any words to confirm, with no announcement and only with action. People around her knew her well enough to know that she wouldn't just dumped her boyfriend and dance around in a party unless the boyfriend was no longer exist.
Explanation of her new status would lead to the whole reason why it happened in the first place. That was one story she couldn’t tell, not to everyone. She knew that once she clarify everything then people would ask, or even they wouldn’t they would wonder and that was as bad. She couldn’t handle the stares, not back then when she had to work, when she had to stay thousands miles away from people, she trusts. That was why she intended to postpone ‘the talk’ as much as possible. Yet then it was too long while ago and she didn’t know what to tell or where to start. She didn’t know whether he would be happy or angry. She had been avoiding him for sometimes, tried to steer away from the conversation as much as possible. Yet as she saw him days ago, she just couldn’t help herself anymore to stay away from him, when all she wanted was just to be with him.
“You know about Michael and me more than anyone else, Rob. You were there.” She said quietly. That was true. He was there as she fought with Michael during filming in Italy. He was there during all the fights, the uncomfortable conversation and whole drama thing in the past few months. He was there. Even though he always found reason to stay away, to get out from the room, or close his eyes as he saw tears slipped from her eyes. He was there. He knew it. He knew the end of the story between Michael and her, and it was impossible for him to not knowing anyway. Michael made it clear that he disliked Rob, the accusation on Michael’s eyes were enough to give him the clue, and Nikki, sweet old Nikki also ensure that Rob knows.
“I’m not asking about that, Kris.” Rob said. “I was there, I knew stuff. Yet it didn’t mean anything for me Kris. My question is, are you over him? Are you really over him?”
The question was like cold water in the hot summer. It was surprising, relieving in a weird way, yet still surprising. This also snapped something inside her. She felt anger, anger, and humiliation. Just few days ago, as they met in Comic Con, he felt so distance. That was the reason why she didn’t expect anything else from him. She had to do a lot of effort just to make him talk, and even then, his answers were always brief, impersonal. That was when she gave upon him. It wasn’t fair, really. She’d been rejecting him ever since they first met. She had made it clear for thousands of time that she had no interest with him. Yet he’d been persistent in months, he’d been so caring and understanding and sincere. Yet as she changed her heart, as she started to give him, give them a chance, she felt that he had a change in heart as well. Now as she leaned toward him, he leaned back from her. Somehow, it hurt. It hurt knowing that someone that you care about was stop caring about you; even though you knew, you deserve such reaction. After months of refusal, she supposed to know that eventually Rob would leave. He, his silliness, his openness, and his unbeatable charm, were supposed to be enough to make her realized that eventually he would slipped away from her. She just didn’t expect it to be so soon. She just didn’t expect that he would slip away without giving her a chance.
“Why would that matter? Why would that matter to you?” She said with unexpected rage. Her fists were clenched and she clutched on her bed sheet to repress her sudden anger.
“God, Kristen. Just for once, would you just answer my question straightly?” His jaw was tightened, his eyes looked at her deeply, and for a moment she forgotten how to breath.
“Why? Why should I?” She said, still in the same tone. “You practically ignoring me the last time we met. You were distance, impersonal, you talk to me as if I was just another stranger that interrupting your day out. You even act nicer to Ashley than to me, and Nikki, you practically tried to hide behind her back from me. Now you’re telling me to answer you. That’s my answer, Rob. It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter what happened between Michael and I, cause you had made yourself clear in Comic Con.”
Kristen bit her lips as soon as she let the last word out. Her rage now turned to mortification. She couldn’t believe what she had said to Rob. In not so many word, she had declared what she’d been keeping in her heart, what she had been hiding all these times. Her feelings toward him. Her change of heart.
“Oh God!” She gasped in realization and hid her face in her hands. “Oh my God! Fuck, fuck fuck!” She cursed repeatedly, too mortified to care about anything else in that matters. She felt her face was heated, knew for sure she was started to blush. “Shit! Goddamnit! Fuck!”
“Are you finished?” Rob asked, and even without seeing his face, she knew that he was amused. This was made her feel even more humiliated, and other lines of curse came out from her mouth. “Kristen, Kristen, look at me.” Rob said as he tried to pry her hands away from her face.
“No, no.” She shook her face and tried to stay away from his prying hands. “Goddamnit!” She cursed again.
“Kristen, Love, please.” Rob whispered so close from her face. It wasn’t his closeness; also not his prying hand that made her looked up and faced Rob.
“What….”
“I, I, I’m sorry.” Now it was his time to curse as his face turned to red. The vision of Rob with a slight blush and cursing like a sailor was a cute thing to see and she couldn’t stop herself from smiling. It was then when Rob looked at her sheepishly. Her smile somehow encouraged him more.
“So, would you, um, answer my question?” He asked doubtfully. All the tension in the room, the firmness in his words and the rage and humiliation in her seemed to vanish.
“I, I, I think it didn’t matter.” She said shyly, and focused her gaze on her lap. “Me not punching you while you’re calling me in a girlish way was an answer, right?”
“It matters to me because I know you need some space.” He said as he lifted her chin up, so she faced him. “I know what he means for you…”
“Meant.” She corrected and he smiled.
“Okay, what he meant for you.” He continued, “Yet I wanted to know. I need to know, Kris. You owe me at least that. I don’t need for explanation, I just need to know if you….”
“Yes.” She blurted.
“What?” He looked at her confusedly.
“Yes, I mean, I….” She cleared her throat, “I mean I have over him for sometimes now. It’s been months actually, but I… I never dare to, to….” His lips that touched hers gently, yet forcefully cut her words. She gasped and he deepened his kiss that sent warmth to her body. It was just kiss, innocent kiss with no tongue involve, yet it made her tingle all over. It made her want something more than this child-like kiss.
As she felt he was drawn away from her, she encircled her arms around her neck to keep him firmly in his place. Her lips licked his bottom lips before her teeth nibbled his lips gently. He growled and encircled his arm around her body, pulling her close so their bodies were touching. She was practically sitting on his laps with her knees on the outer side of his body. Their tongues were dueling, and even with the layers of clothes between them, she simply could feel the rip muscle of his lean body. She grasped the back of his head as she pulled herself closer to him. This seemed to bring Rob over the edge. He groaned and started to kiss her jaw, down to her neck and bit her shoulder gently, causing her to moan loudly, which surprised both of them.
“Oh God. Fuck!” She cursed loudly and this caused him to laugh softly to her shoulder.
“Oh, you have no idea how much I want to, Kristen. But with your family downstairs and the door unlock, I don’t think I want to take the chance just now.” He whispered and caused her to shiver. She sat herself on his lap and looked at him in the eyes.
“Really?” She asked quietly, which caused him to groan and leaned to kiss her again, gently this time, and he pulled over before she had a chance to deepen the kiss.
“Really.” He said with a sigh. “If only I knew, I would wait until you went back to your place.”
“Yeah.” She sighed too and she leaned her head on his shoulder. “You should, you know.”
“You still didn’t answer my question, though.” He suddenly said and broke a moment of silence between them.
“What quest…? You!” She smacked his chest softly as she looked up to him. He raised his eyebrows, even though he was smiling, she could see line of doubt in his eyes. She rolled her eyes as she saw it. Rob was definitely needed to have bigger ego, well not that this wasn’t look cute, and not that she liked man with big ego. Yet a little more confidence in his charm would be just fine.
“No Rob, I’m not over Michael yet. I’m still madly in love with him. I only have habit to make out with every man I met in my front door.” She said as she rolled her eyes. “In fact I was just finished making out with the mailman when you show up. Is that answering your question?”
“Kristen,” He groaned, “Don’t be ridiculous.”
“You don’t be so ridiculous.” She groaned. “You think I’m just throwing myself to random people and just making out with everyone?” He sighed in defeat.
“Okay, okay, you made you point.” He said as he leaned and touched his forehead to hers. “I just have doubt cause, you know.” He shrugged slightly and she nodded. She had been blind for too long and he was getting too many rejection for too long.
“I’m sorry.” She whispered. He gave her his famous half-sided smile, which never failed to melt her.
“Nah, no big deal.” He said and kissed her nose. “So, you were really tried to flirt with me during Comic Con, huh?”
“Shut up, Rob.” She smacked his chest and he laughed loudly, only shut his mouth as she enclosed her lips on his.