A Chance Meeting | Chris Evans

Chapter 115

Chris tried to drag the conversation with the director out for as long as he could, asking unnecessary questions to put off the moment that he'd have to go over there and see Becs, but eventually it had to end.
He glanced over to where Becs was deep in conversation with Hemsworth and Bettany.
Fuck, even looking at her made his chest ache.
How can she seem happy, when I feel so shit?
I mean, why is she even here? Just to deliver the 'it's not you, it's me' speech? Couldn't she have done that over the phone?
He rubbed his hand over his face distractedly.
'You okay, Dorito?' Rob asked gently.
Chris didn't answer the question, not knowing what to say. 'I guess we should go over and say hi.' He said after a pause.
'You know, if you need a bit more time, I could-' Rob replied, looking concerned.
'No, I think I just need to get it over with.' He sighed, and then walked over to Becs on leaden legs.
'Hey.' He gritted out.
Becs turned and gave him a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
'Hi.' She said.
They looked at each other for a long moment, not speaking and the pause quickly became awkward.
'So, finally on set?' Rob said, attempting to break the tension.
'Yeah.' Becs said, turning her gaze to Rob. 'Yeah, finally here.'
Another couple of seconds ticked by, everyone obviously waiting for him to speak.
'Well, I'm Robert, by the way, and this is Ruffalo.' Robert continued, introducing themselves to Viv.
'Oh God, I'm sorry.' Becs apologised, then introduced them.
'You watched the scene?' Ruffalo asked Viv.
'Yes, it was...err...really good.' Viv answered, clearly flustered.
Chris zoned out of the conversation and Rob caught his eye and gave him a 'what the hell are you doing?' look.
'Say something' Rob mouthed.
What?
What can I possibly say to make this better?
'So, you gonna give them the grand tour, Chris?' Scarlett asked, encouragingly.
'Yeah, sure.' He said, but even he could hear how flat his voice sounded.
Scarlett frowned slightly at his response.
'It's okay if you don't have time.' Becs said quietly.
'No, it's fine.'

As they walked back into the soundstage, Becca tried to ignore the sick feeling in her stomach and the fact that she wanted to bawl her eyes out.
Something was wrong. It was undeniable now.
Chris had shown them makeup, costume and lots of other bits, but he'd been completely shut down. It'd been like walking round with a stranger.
She'd tried to clear the air with a couple of jokey comments, but he'd just ignored them.
She'd even asked if he was okay, but all she got back was 'I'm fine'.
Someone called his name as they approached the set.
'Jim needs to speak to me - I'll be back in a minute.' Chris said, and walked off without waiting for a reply.
'Right. Bye.' Becca said to herself.
Viv turned to her with a pitying look on her face.
'It's not just me reading too much into this, is it Viv? You see it too? How weird he's being?' Becca whispered.
Viv nodded. 'It's not just you.' She agreed, softly. 'Sorry.'
'It's like he doesn't want me here at all. Maybe we should just leave.'
'Why don't you try talking to him first?' Viv suggested. 'Maybe something's happened.'
'I was trying to talk to him the whole way round!' Becca pointed out. 'He keeps brushing me off.'
Viv gave her a sympathetic smile. 'Maybe you're gonna have to make him talk to you.'
'How?'
'Stand your ground. Don't let him brush you off.' Viv said. 'I'll make myself scarce - he might talk more if it's just the two of you.  Oh, he's coming back.' She added.
Becca gave him a tentative smile, which he didn't return. 'All done?' She asked.
'Yeah. Let's get back.' He gestured to the other actors who were standing nearby.
'Umm...before we do, is there a bathroom near here that I can use?' Viv asked him.
'Yeah, the restrooms are over there near the exit.' He said, pointing.
'Thanks.' Viv glanced quickly at Becca before walking away.
There was a second or two of uncomfortable silence before Chris said 'Right' and started to walk off.
No! You're not gonna walk away. You're gonna talk to me.
'Chris, wait.' She said, briefly grabbing his hand.
He stopped, but she heard him sigh before he turned back to her, and his expression when he raised his eyes to hers was guarded and closed off.
'Please tell me what's wrong.'
His jaw clenched. 'There's nothing to tell. Everything's fine.'
Yeah. Right.
'I'm not stupid, Chris - I can see that you're-'
He raised his voice slightly. 'I said that I'm f-'
'God, if you say 'fine' one more time I'm gonna scream!' Becca said.
They glared at each other for a second.
'Why are you even here?' Chris said, shaking his head.
Becca felt like he'd slapped her. 'Because you wanted me to come.'
'Yeah, well.' He gritted out.
I was right! He's changed his mind. He doesn't want me here.
'Maybe I should leave, then.'
'Maybe you should.'
The ringing silence after those words was interrupted by Robert and Scarlett hustling over. Becca tried not to frown at the interruption.
Not now guys! Go away!
'Hey! How was the tour?' Scarlett said, overly loudly and with forced jollity.
Did they notice we were arguing?
Chris cleared his throat. 'It was fi-...great.' He corrected himself.
'What'd you see?' She asked Becca.
'Err...makeup, costume, the canteen...I can't remember what else.' Becca said, distractedly.
'Special effects.' Viv added, joining them.
'Oh yeah.'
'Did ya see his trailer?' Robert asked. 'It's pretty flash, although not as nice as mine.'
'Err...no.' Becca replied.
'No? You didn't show them your trailer?' Scarlett asked. 'Why not?'
Chris just shrugged.
The thought of going to his trailer seemed like a good idea right now - she could see out of the corner of her eye that more people were joining them, and not just people she knew. Hemsworth and Bettany had come over, but so had Renner and Maria Hill. And Mackie and Samuel L Jackson weren't far away.
I don't want to have this conversation in front of all these people.
'Maybe you could show me now.' She said in a slightly squeaky voice.
Chris gave her an inscrutable look. 'Maybe later.'
'I'd just...err...there's something that I'd like to talk to you about.'
Like now. Like, away from all these people.
Come on Chris, take the hint.
'Talk away.' He said, crossing his arms.
Is he being deliberately obtuse?
'I kind of meant alone...just the two of us.' Becca clarified, embarrassed at all the eyes on her.
'Anything you want to say to me, you can say in front of my friends.' He said, glowering.
What the hell's up with him? Why's he being such a dick?
'I'd really rather speak to you alone.' She pressed.
'No.' He said firmly.
No? No?
'Dorito!' Robert rebuked.
'Why don't we all just-' Robert started to say, but Becca ignored him.
'Why are you acting like this?' She said to Chris.
'Like what?'
'Like an asshole.'
'Oh, I'm being an asshole?'
'Yeah! You are!'
'Well, maybe I've just had enough of you and your shit.' Chris countered.
'Chris!' Scarlett sounded horrified.
'My shit? That's rich!' Becca said. 'I don't know what's up with you lately, but Justin's right - you can be a real dick!'
'Well, if the perfect and wonderful Justin thinks it, then it must be true.' Chris snarked, loudly.
As Chris was getting louder, she was aware of more and more pairs of eyes turning in their direction.
Oh God, they're all looking at us.
'Oh, I'm sorry. Am I embarrassing you?' Chris said sarcastically, seeing her looking around. 'I'd hate to do that again.'
'What do you mean 'again'?' Becca frowned. 'I'm not-'
'I heard you!' Chris shouted. 'I heard you in reception saying how embarrassed you were to be seen in public with me!'
Oh God, he heard that? I didn't mean for him to hear that.
'I just meant-'
'That's why you won't ever introduce me to anyone, isn't it?' He continued loudly. 'Like that time you told me I couldn't come out with your friends because it was a 'Girls Night' - that was a lie, wasn't it?'
Becca's eyes widened, guiltily.
Shit! He knew about that?
What do I say?
I can't admit that I lied because I didn't want him there!
'I...err-'
'Have you told your family about me?' He demanded.
'Well...no...but-'
'Have you told anyone about me? Even a single person?'
Becca looked down.
'Yeah, that's what I thought.' Chris said. 'Because you're embarrassed for people to know about me.'
'Aren't you?' He added, harshly.
I can't help it - I hate the thought of all the attention I'd get if people knew.
'Look, I'm sorry, I just-'
'You know what?' He said, looking at her with disgust on his face. 'Just forget it! Maybe I don't want you around either!'
'No, it's not...what?' Becca wondered if she'd just heard that right.
'You heard me! I don't want you here! Or anywhere near me!'
Becca looked at him in shock.
'Why would I want to be with someone like you?' He continued angrily. 'When there are thousands of women out there who wouldn't be embarrassed to be seen with me!'
Thousands of women? What a bastard!
'Well, maybe you should go and find one of those thousands then!'
'What? You don't think I will? Oh, I will. You think I couldn't replace you in a heartbeat? You're nothing special.' He scoffed.
Nothing special?
Becca felt her heart break a little.
'And I'm sure none of them would be as hard work as you've been!' He continued.
She felt her eyes starting to well up, and suddenly she wanted to hurt him as much as he'd hurt her.
'Yeah, well you do that! And maybe I'll get someone who's more normal and I don't have to reassure every five minutes, or constantly tiptoe around so they don't freak out!' Becca shouted back.
There was a ringing silence, and everyone was looking at her. She couldn't handle it anymore, so she turned and ran.