Page 51 of Fan Favorite
Edie was standing on her front lawn now with Peter and an all-grown-up Lauren Wasserman while a sound guy adjusted her mic.
They would get engaged and do a press tour and he would love her for the incredible friend that she was.
Bennett sliced his mallet through the air and the band started up again.
So what if he was wearing this stupid uniform or being manipulated into getting engaged to Edie Pepper?
He was going to sack it up and do whatever it took to come out of this alive.
Bennett Charles was going to war, and this stupid band uniform was just camouflage.
He banged his drum, each strike announcing to the world that BENNETT CHARLES LOVES EDIE AND DEFINITELY NOT BAILEY.
Finally, Edie approached. Two color guards rushed up and removed the massive drum from his chest and carted it off like ants with a crumb.
He removed his shako and ran a sexy hand through his curls before propping the cap against his hip.
She stood before him looking sort of disheveled in sweats and hair that definitely needed to be brushed.
Now he understood that the internet would love her coming out here with no makeup, just being herself on TV. Relatable! the captions would scream.
“Hey, Charlie.”
He smiled. At the end of the day, wasn’t Edie the safest choice? He didn’t even know if Bailey loved him. And if he couldn’t count on Edie Pepper to love him, really, he couldn’t count on anything at all.
“Edie,” he began, tossing his cap aside and taking her hands in his own. “From the moment I met you, I knew our lives would be woven together forever. In the words of our favorite band, the Backstreet Boys, ‘You are my fire. My one desire.’”
“Right,” Edie said, clearly uncomfortable. She glanced over her shoulder at Lauren, who was faux gagging on the sidewalk. God, Lauren could be such a bitch.
“You remember, right?” He signaled to the band. They lifted their instruments to the sky and the street was blasted with music once again.
“Of course, I remember!” she yelled over the sound. She waved her arms to get the band to stop. “But that was a long time ago. Things are different now—”
Bennett fell to his knees. Clutched her hands.
“I don’t know why you left,” he said, staring deeply into her eyes. They’d told him she was mad about Zo. That he’d disrespected her by sleeping with Zo. “But you’ve got to come back. I’ll do anything to make it right. Anything. I’m nothing without you.”
“Well, that’s definitely not true.” She tried to step away, but his grip was strong.
“I’m sorry,” he pleaded, covering her hands with kisses. “I made a mistake. Zo was a mistake. I know you’re mad, but we can’t lose thirty years of connection over a mistake. I was confused. I took it too far. But, Edie, I—”
But before he could finish, she dropped to her knees in front of him.
She put her hands over the microphones attached to their collars.
“You’ve got to let this go.” She pressed her lips together and looked at him significantly, something he was supposed to understand.
“I don’t want to embarrass you, but it’s over, Charlie. I’m not coming back.”
His eyes searched her face for a clue. He could feel Carole and the cameras boring into him. “But why?” he squeaked finally.
“For one, you don’t love me—”
“Don’t say that, you can’t say that—”
“—I’m not what you want, Charlie. I’ve never been what you want! You didn’t even want me here—”
Bennett jerked back, eyes wild. “Did Peter say that?” Bennett scanned the set, looking for that piece of shit traitor Peter Kennedy. “Because, Edie, you know Peter can’t be trusted. He’s been manipulating both of us, this whole time.”
Edie peered at him. “What are you talking about, Charlie?”
“I saw you come out with him. Just now. Whatever he told you, it’s not true, okay?”
Her brow furrowed, and for the first time he wondered what she knew versus what he knew versus what Production and America knew. He’d come on this show for an adventure. And now every bad decision, every fucking humiliation, would haunt him forever.
Redemption— respect —depended on Edie Pepper.
“Tell me the truth,” she said.
“You have to believe me.” He reached behind her and unplugged her mic pack before doing the same to his own.
This was his moment to get his future back on track.
“Yes, I was surprised when you showed up,” he whispered.
“Maybe I was a little, I don’t know, scared .
Because I was this different person, and you were you .
But, Edie, any deal Peter and I made, or Carole and I made, or whatever, it’s all just symbolic, okay?
It doesn’t mean anything. It never did.” He gave her a look, like let’s talk about this off camera , but she shook her head and dug her fingernails into his forearm, insistent.
He sighed and ran a hand through his hair again, finally landing on absolutely the wrong thing to say.
“Edie,” he said, staring right into her eyes.
“I would’ve always chosen you. Even if they didn’t make me. ”
TAKE 5 PRODUCTIONS
THE KEY
OTF INTERVIEW: BENNETT CHARLES / CHICAGO LOCK-IN DATE
TAPE #902
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00:00:00 BENNETT CHARLES CLUTCHES HIS BASS DRUM.
THE PLUME IN HIS CAP QUAKES WITH EVERY SOB.