The Stranger / Chris Evans x OC

Chapter 166: Award Season

AMELIA

The only thing I can feel when we enter the venue is the rapid beating of my heart. My senses are overloaded by the people yelling out names, and the flashing lights coming from the cameras.

I try to calm myself down by taking deep breaths, my hand clasping onto Taylor's once we walk inside. I cling to him, moving further until we're right by the step and repeat. As soon as he's at the edge of the carpet, some of the photographers spot him, yelling out his name.

He turns to me with an apologetic smile, "Give me a sec and I'll be right back, okay? Just breathe. It'll be fine."

I nod tentatively, taking another deep breath and then offering him a smile in return. He gives my hand a reassuring squeeze before letting it go and stepping onto the carpet to have his picture taken.

I watch from the sidelines, my nerves calming a little when his face breaks into a grin. This is huge for him and I couldn't be more proud. Thinking about how far he's come makes my heartbeat slow and my breathing steady, the cheerful expression on my best friends face keeping me grounded.

I watch him closely, tuning out the loud yelling going on around me, but then I make the mistake of glancing further down the red carpet.

My breath hitches when my eyes land on him. 

I slowly take him in, my gaze lingering on his side profile while he poses for the cameras. His hands are in his pockets, and he's wearing a pair of dark sunglasses. I know his eyes are sensitive so I know that's why he's wearing them, to make the flashes more bearable. Just like at the premiere he brought me to. 

My eyes trail over his figure, taking in the light blue suit he's wearing. His hair is slicked back, and his beard is trimmed neatly.

My heart is still beating steadily, but it's also like it's ringing in my ears, like the only thing I can hear is the loud thumping, my blood pumping around my veins.

I stand frozen for a moment, watching him, taking the opportunity to allow myself to miss him while I know he hasn't seen me yet.

But as soon as his head starts to turn in my general direction, I dart my eyes away, my focus returning to Taylor.

Taylor poses for a few more pictures before he walks back to me and takes my hand, guiding me down the carpet.

A few photographers yell out my name, and I smile at them in response, but there's no way in hell I'm stopping to pose for a picture. This is not my element, and I would never feel comfortable doing that, especially considering most of them probably only know my name because of Chris.

We take a few more steps, and I hear my name yelled out louder this time, making me turn to look towards the source of it. I'm blinded by flashes, forcing on a smile while my fingers dig into Taylor's hand, letting him lead me down the carpet.

But I should have realized that being blinded by flashes wouldn't be the worst part of them recognizing me and yelling out my name.

I'm quickly made aware of what the worst part would be when I almost stumble into Taylor's back because he's come to a sudden stop, my hand reaching up to brace myself on the back of his shoulder so I don't crash into him.

"T, what are you-"

My words are cut off when I look over his shoulder and my eyes are met with a familiar pair of cerulean ones.

Chris is standing a few feet away, looking directly at me, his sunglasses now long gone. His expression is guarded, his brows a little furrowed, jaw clearly tense. His eyes hold mine captive while I stand trapped behind Taylor, practically hiding like a coward until I can dart my eyes away again.

"Come on," Taylor mumbles before he guides me in a large circle around where Chris and his team are standing, "Let's get a drink."

I nod and follow him but I don't look up, choosing to keep my eyes on my feet as I navigate the sea of people.

But I can feel his eyes on me.

I know he's looking at me by the way my heart thumps in my chest and how my blood is pumping around my veins. 

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Once we arrive at the bar, it takes less than a second for Taylor to wave at the bartender, ordering us a glass of wine each. I can still hear my heart pounding in my ears, and I have a hard time focusing on him until he turns to me, "Are you okay?"

My wide eyes raise to meet his, my voice unsteady, "I-I don't know. Am I?"

His brows furrow for a moment before he smiles softly, rubbing my arm comfortingly, "That was not planned, I swear. How do you feel about seeing him?"

I let out a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves a little. When he hands me my drink, I immediately take a sip, "I honestly feel... Overwhelmed. This whole thing is a lot, and adding relationship drama on top of it is not helping one bit." 

Taylor nods, taking a sip of his own drink, "Yeah, I get that. But maybe it's for the best, you saw him and now you guys can-"

His sentence cuts off, his eyes locking on something behind me, and then he mutters under his breath, "Son of a bitch." 

I frown at his cursing, my head turning just in time to see Chris enter the venue. And he's not alone. 

It feels like my mind short-circuits. I knew he was going to bring her, I felt it in my fucking gut back at the hotel. 

It's like getting slapped in the face all over again; she's walking next to him, in a beautiful long gown, and behind them there's a man I don't recognize, and Megan. 

I quickly turn back around to face Taylor again, mumbling, "Well, guess that's all I needed to know, then." 

I down my drink in one gulp in an effort to numb my reaction, but once my eyes are back on Taylor's face I can tell he's absolutely seething right now.

"Why the fuck would he do that?" He hisses, his eyes narrowing as he watches them make their way over to their assigned seats, "Why would he bring her? What a fucking asshole, I'm gonna-"

"No, you're not," I interject, quickly cutting him off, "You're staying right here, with me, because you promised. It's fine, Taylor. Don't react or confront him, it would just make everything worse." 

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The evening progresses and I do my best to ignore the presence of Chris and the nature of our relationship. Do we even have a relationship now? I assume him bringing her means that we definitely do not, anymore. 

I saw them doing interviews, the man I don't recognize was with them while Megan watched them carefully, but I have no idea what they were saying. 

It doesn't really matter, anyway. The only thing that matters is that he brought her here, in front of everyone. 

Now I'm in my seat, watching the award show with Taylor by my side. He has to present soon, and I can tell he's starting to get nervous, but I'm doing my best to reassure him that he's going to do great because he always does great. 

Once there are only a few categories until it's his turn, I decide now is the best time to excuse myself to go to the bathroom so I won't miss it. 

I quietly get up from my seat when there's a break and make my way to the women's restroom, unaware of who is watching me as I leave my seat.

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