Undercover Werewolf

The Talk

"I know you're here, Bay." Palmer spoke up without looking around. "We still should talk."

Bailey huffed, sitting down as he thought about how he could get out of it. He really didn't feel like talking to Palmer. What was he going to say anyways, that he was sorry he kissed him? That it shouldn't have happened?

You know very well that he's not going to say that, Bailey. A voice spoke up in the back of his mind. This one sounded like Sylvia, he noted, trying to ignore it.

He likes you and he knows you're a supernatural. What more could you want? Now the voice sounded like Sofia. He's not like Lukas either. You should trust him.

Bailey growled, shifting back to human before the voice could make any more sense. "Can I get my boxers at least?" He called out to Palmer, who tossed them his way.

He pulled them on, walking out to the porch to sit down on one of the lower steps.

"So?"

"So what?"

"Did you find anything interesting on my property? Any unknown smells?"

"Just yours and some animals." Bailey replied. "Though you've got skunks somewhere in the woods. You should watch out for them."

"I'll keep that in mind." Palmer hesitated before continuing. "Bailey, about the kiss..."

"Can we not talk about that?"

"We should talk about it."

"Why?"

"Because we work together and I don't want it causing a fight between us!"

Bailey hesitated when he heard that, turning a little to look at him. "What makes you think it'll cause a fight between us?"

"Oh, I don't know. The way you've been avoiding me kind of clued me in. What is it, are you mad about the kiss? Is that why you ran off?"

"What? No, I'm not mad!"

"Could've fooled me, Bailey. You turned... cold after it happened. I was going to give you a tour of the house, remember? And you decided you'd rather go to bed instead!"

"I had a lot to think about!"

"What is there to think about? It was a kiss."

"Yeah, and I still need to think about it!"

Palmer groaned, tossing the rest of Bailey's clothes at him. "Fine. Come find me when you're done thinking about it." He got up and walked back inside the house.

Bailey watched him go inside, wanting to follow him. He knew he shouldn't though; he was still unsure of what to think. Palmer had made it clear he wanted to date him, but what did he want? Did he want to date Palmer? He wasn't sure.

He was pushed out of his thoughts by the sound of tires on rock. Instantly he was on alert, pushing himself up on the stairs in an attempt to get higher and see who was coming. "Hey, Palmer?" He called, keeping his gaze locked on the driveway. "Are you expecting anyone?"

"No, why?" Palmer appeared by the door, all traces of irritation and impatience gone.

"Because I just heard someone." Bailey quickly pulled his pants and shirt back on just in time to see a silver car pull into Palmer's driveway.

"Oh, geez... It's Rosy." Palmer pushed the door open, walking onto the porch. "Wonder what she wants."

"She couldn't have called or texted?"

"No service up here by the cliffs. Didn't want a bunch of people calling me here." He replied, pulling his phone out of his pants to show Bailey. "I forgot to tell you last night, but you should let your family know they won't be able to get a hold of you on your cell."

"On my cell?"

"I have a landline for emergencies."

"I see." They watched as Rosa climbed out of her car, holding a bunch of papers. "And she couldn't call you on the landline?"

"I guess not. Bet that's my contract."

"Contract? Oh, right. Sygrid."

"Yeah, Sygrid." Palmer replied. "Hey, Rosy."

"Palmer. Bailey." Rosa walked up the steps. "I trust everything has been quiet so far?"

"Yes, it has." Bailey replied, not looking at Palmer.

Unsurprisingly she wasn't fooled. "What did you do, Palmer?"

"What makes you think I did anything?"

"He didn't do anything, Ms. Cervantes."

"Rosa."

"Right. Rosa." Bailey replied, glancing at her. "He didn't do anything."

"Right." She pursed her lips, looking at them both.

"Just tell me what happened, Rosy." Palmer sighed.

"What makes you think anything happened?"

"We're cousins and we grew up with each other. I know how you act when something's wrong."

"And I know how you act when something's wrong."

"Does it have something to do with me?"

"Of course not. I'd tell you if it had something to do with you."

"Ok then. Aiden?"

Rosa sighed, pushing her hair behind her ears. "Yes, but I'm not talking about it. I'm here to tell you that your schedule is cleared for today. The only thing you have to do is review your contract." She shoved the contract at him. "With Bailey."

"With-? With Bailey?"

"Yes, with Bailey. He's your bodyguard, Palmer. He's going to be accompanying you to your shoots if you take the offer."

Palmer took the papers, glancing over at Bailey, who refused to look back at him. "Alright, I - We'll look it over."

"Palmer, you didn't." Rosa looked between them both, suspicion in her eyes. "Tell me you didn't."

"Didn't what?"

"You made a move on him!"

"I'll just be taking my leave now." Bailey announced, walking around to the side of the house which was when Rosa took the chance to slap Palmer on the back of the head.

"Ow! Rosa!" Palmer rubbed the spot with his hand.

"You bonehead! I get that you've had a crush on him since you'd been in school but you couldn't wait longer than two days to hit on him?"

Palmer opened his mouth to defend himself but she continued.

"You did this with Daniel as well, Palmer!"

"I did not! I wasn't interested in Daniel!"

"Yet you still flirted with him!"

"I don't - I don't flirt!"

"Well, what would you call it then?"

"Being friendly!"

Rosa sighed, looking at him. "What you call being friendly, other people call 'being flirty'. You seriously need to think about how you act, Palmer."

"I-"

"No, don't say anything. Just think about it. And apologize to Bailey." She told him, walking down the stairs.

"For what?"

"For being impatient. You've always wanted to rush things, Palmer. Don't rush whatever you have with Bailey. Just let it happen." She called, getting in her car to leave.

Palmer sighed, sitting down on the steps again as Rosa left.

"Is it safe to come back yet? I forgot to put my shoes back on." Bailey asked from beside the house.

"How much of that did you hear, Bay?"

"Oh, um..." He hesitated, walking over to the steps to sit down. "All of it."

"Great. Come to yell at me as well?"

"No."

"You should. Go ahead, I deserve it."

"No, you don't, Palmer."

"...What do you think of me, Bailey?"

"What?"

"What do you think of me?"

"Well... I think you're impatient, rather smug and you like to get your own way."

Palmer winced. "Gee, don't hold back or anything."

"You asked." Bailey replied with a shrug. "But... I also think you're a nice guy."

"Really?"

"When you're being Palmer and not big movie star Palmer Russell. So, who's Daniel? You never mentioned him."

"I never dated him, or hooked up with him."

"So, who is he?"

"An actor I used to work with in movies. I was never attracted to him but... Well, I never put much thought into it, just thought that he was reading into things too much. But Rosa..."

"Rosa told you that you were flirting with him."

"I guess. I never saw it that way, just thought I was being friendly with him. Why are you being so nice? Not even ten minutes ago, you were practically fighting to get away from me."

Bailey looked up at him, one corner of his lips tilting up. "Well, Rosa was right."

"About what?"

"You are a bonehead. But that doesn't mean you don't deserve another chance."

"Oh." Palmer was silent for a moment. "So, what does that mean?"

Bailey hummed, looking up at him again. "Well, it means that you get another chance. Just be clear about your intentions with me this time. No more of this 'let's be friends so I can kiss you' crap."

"I can work with that." Palmer scooted down until he was on the same step as Bailey. "Hi, I'm Palmer, and I would like to take you on a date."

Bailey looked over at him, staying silent for a moment before he smiled. "I'm Bailey and I'd like that. But first, you and I have a contract to review."

"You're only needed for five episodes? I thought you said this dude Kerris-"

"Karnas."

"Karnas. I thought you said he was a big part of the series."

"He is. My guess, they'll have Karnas do something and lay low for a while. I think I'll be showing up in the last five episodes of the season and my role will be expanded in season two."

"What's the point of that?"

"To keep viewers intrigued so they'll start watching season two when it premiers."

"But why? Why have you show up in the last few episodes?"

"You really don't watch much tv, do you." Palmer sounded amused.

"Obviously. I prefer reading or working out." Bailey huffed, leaning forward to read the contract. "Wait, they want to pay you $5000 for each episode?"

"Yeah. It doesn't seem like much but it adds up. Besides, it's not like I really need it. What do you think of me donating it?"

"What, the contract?"

"No, my salary."

"Donating it where?"

"Well, to a charity. You... well, you inspired me."

"I did?"

"Yeah. You made sure your parents got your salary because they needed it more than you. I don't really need the money I'll get from Sygrid. I've got enough savings to last me a while."

"Wow." Bailey leaned against the table, looking over at Palmer. "What exactly did she do to you?"

"Who?" Palmer asked, feeling confused.

"Rosa. Did she put a spell on you or something? I didn't think I'd hear that from you."

"I'm not some self-centered brat, you know. I regularly donate money to charities."

"Yeah, but not your whole salary."

"Well, yeah... I just thought that it could be better used by others."

Bailey hummed lowly, puffing his cheeks out. "I don't think you'll ever stop surprising me, Mr. Russell."

"What does that mean? And since when do you call me Mr. Russell? It sounds weird so stop it."

"Why does it sound weird?"

"Because Mr. Russell is my dad. And I want you to date me, Palmer, not my dad."

"Alright, alright, you've got a point."

"And you didn't answer my other question."

"What one?"

"What did you mean by I'll never stop surprising you?"

"Oh." Bailey shifted in his seat nervously. "Well, I just mean when I think I've got you all figured out, you go and do something that shakes everything up."

"And that's a bad thing?"

"Well, no, but it means I still haven't figured you out. You've gone from quiet jock to flirtatious, rich actor to smug pretty boy and then you go and say stuff like you want to donate your salary!"

"Well, that just means you can't fit me into a nice, neat little box. I'm guessing Lukas has a box all his own?" Palmer asked him, leaning on the arm of his chair.

"Well, of course. He's in the stalker box all by himself. Don't become a stalker, Palmer, I don't think it would be a good look for you."

"The only way I'd be a stalker is- Actually, no. I could be offered all the money in the world and I wouldn't play a stalker." Palmer replied. "I know all too well how it feels to be stalked, after all. Even if it is all fake, there's no way I'd want to play that kind of role. I do have my standards."

"Of course you do. So, are you going to sign your contract?"

"What? Oh, yeah, I think I will. I really want to play this part." Palmer replied, picking up a pen. "I don't want to be typecast."

"Typecast?" Bailey asked, watching him sign.

"Well, yeah. Typecast as a pretty boy love interest all throughout my career. If I can pull this role off, then I could be cast in more versatile roles."

"Do you plan on being an actor all your life?"

"Well, no. At some point I will retire and settle down." Palmer replied, straightening up when he was done. "Hopefully I'll find the right person to settle down with when that comes."

"Yes, hopefully you will." Bailey replied, not voicing any of his thoughts.