While Michele was at school, Gennie worked on the blueprints for the plastic body. The network acquired a brand new Trans-Am. Gennie measured every part of the car, so the plastic body would fit neatly over the original one. About a month later, she met Erik at the studio where the network filmed most of their shows and he introduced her to ‘the suits’, a group of about a dozen impeccably dressed men ranging in age from forty to about seventy. He also introduced her to the four writers of Tech 2014, who were busy brainstorming ideas in a cramped conference room, and one of the stars, Damien Davidson, who happened to be making a guest appearance on another show. Damien used to be the star of a cop show in the sixties. Gennie had never watched his show personally, but had seen him while flipping through channels. He hadn’t changed much in ten years; he still was very pale with straight closely cropped black hair. He was shorter and thinner than he appeared on TV. He gave her a slight smile and studied her with piercing black eyes.
There was a young man with him that she did not recognize. He looked a lot like Damien except he had an olive complexion and his dark hair was longer.
“Gennie, this is Damien’s son Peter. He’s going to be helping us on the set.”
Peter smiled brightly and extended his hand. He shook Gennie’s hand vigorously when she offered it, which surprised her, since his father seemed so reserved.
“Are you going to be Jacqui?” he asked, smiling mischievously.
“Oh no,” Erik said. “She’s one of the props people. She’s designing the cars and motorcycles on the new show.”
“I think she should be one of the stars,” Peter said, looking her up and down. “She’s pretty hot!”
Gennie felt herself blush.
“Pete, for godsakes…” Damien said, sounding exasperated.
“Sorry, but I can’t help it. She’s extremely sexy.”
Damien punched him in the shoulder.
“Hey! What was that all about!”
“You need to start acting like a normal human being.”
“Okay! I’ll stop!”
“Peter knows a lot about cars and motorcycles, so I’ll think he’ll be very helpful to you,” Erik said, looking uncomfortable.
“Yeah, I have like sixteen motorcycles and four cars at home in our garage,” Peter said.
“Don’t brag!” Damien hissed.
“I wasn’t bragging. I just said I have sixteen motorcycles.”
They all talked for a few more minutes. When Peter said good-bye to her he grabbed her hand and squeezed it.
“Damien’s son is awfully forward, isn’t he?” Gennie said to Erik after they left the TV studio.
“Don’t mind him, he’s just girl crazy. Anyway, do you want me to buy you lunch? I don’t know about you, but I’m getting hungry.”
“Oh, you don’t have to do that.”
“What if I insist?”
“Well…all right.”
“Do you mind if the casting director comes along?”
“Oh no, not at all.”
They went to the casting studio. Ironically, the role that was being auditioned for that day was for Jacqui. There was a line of about two hundred girls going out the door of the casting studio. Some of them looked much too young for the role.
The casting director, Gregory Anconi, looked very relieved to take a break.
“You’ve got a lot of blondes,” Erik said to Gregory.
“Well, this is Hollywood, you know,” Gregory replied sarcastically.
“I don’t see what the big deal about hair color is,” Gennie said. “They can always dye it.”
“Most of these girls were born brunette,” Gregory said to her. “But I’m not looking for the kind of girl who dyes her hair. I think the Jacqui character is a very natural type, do you know what I mean?”
Gennie nodded.
“There’s nobody natural in this town, Greg,” Erik said.
About twenty more girls entered the studio complex as they left it. They all looked the same to Gennie. They were thin, blonde and beautiful.
Greg put his head in his hands as they drove away. “God, what a disaster. We’re behind schedule as it is. I don’t think I’ll ever get someone to play Jacqui.”
“She’ll come along when you least expect it probably,” Gennie replied.
“Yeah, like while I’m out to lunch with both of you. So, where are we headed to, Erik?”
“How about the Casual Gourmet?”
“Hmmm…I’ve never been there. How is it?”
“It’s pretty damn fantastic, in my opinion.”
“Well, I can’t wait to try it.”
Even though it was very busy, they managed to get the first available table.
“Some of this food sounds delicious,” Gregory said, glancing at the menu.
Gennie was deciding what she was going to have when someone tapped her on the shoulder. When she looked up, she saw it was Peter.
“Hey, what are you guys up to?” he asked.
“What do you think?” Erik replied, sounding slightly annoyed.
“Are you on a date?” Peter asked Erik.
“Yeah, with me,” Greg said chuckling. “Actually, nobody’s dating anybody here. It’s just a business lunch.”
“Oh, okay.”
“Are you with your dad?” Gennie asked.
“No, my dad doesn’t take me anywhere like this. Actually, I’m sitting with Fallon Murray. I met her backstage at the studio and she invited me here along with a bunch of her friends. She’s pretty cute and she looks like a good lay so I said yes.”
“Oh okay,” Erik said. It was obvious he wanted Peter to leave.
“You can come over to our table if you get bored,” Peter said to Gennie.
“I assure you she won’t,” Erik said, the irritation showing in his voice.
Peter shrugged his shoulders and then sauntered off to a table near the back of the restaurant.
Gennie took a liking to Peter. He seemed like he was charming and charismatic. She wondered why he wasn’t into acting like his father. He probably could be one. Maybe he was too naïve. He seemed like the type who would get into trouble if he got involved with the wrong crowd. For some reason, Gennie couldn’t keep her eyes off him. They were both within eyeshot of each other and they often locked gazes while at the restaurant. Sometimes he smiled and waved at her. Perhaps she was staring at him because he had star quality.
Gregory did most of the talking at the table, while Erik stayed silent. The few times she looked at him, he seemed either pensive or annoyed.
“Are you okay?” she asked him when they left the restaurant.
“Yeah, sure,” he said, though it was obvious he wasn’t.
“Were you thinking about Stacy?” Greg asked.
“Yeah, I guess so,” Erik replied. “This place was one of our favorites. I thought with both of you there it would be okay, but it wasn’t.”
“Oh I’m so sorry,” Gennie said. “I probably should have talked to you more. I was a bit distracted.”
“Yes, Peter the Wonder Boy can do that to people.”
Gregory laughed heartily, though Gennie didn’t think Erik was making a joke.
“He’s jealous of you!” Gregory replied.
“Oh my god, he’s just a kid!” Gennie said. “Besides, it looks like he’s already attached to that Fallon girl. I’m sure he’ll get over his little crush on me soon.”
Erik looked relieved to hear that. They drove back to the studio where they left Gregory outside the entrance.
“It was nice meeting you, Gennie,” he said to her.
“You too. I hope you find your Jacqui soon.”
Then Erik got on the Ventura Freeway and drove Gennie home.
“Is it okay if I give you a hug?” he asked shyly after he walked her to her door.
“Yeah, sure,” she said. It felt nice to be held again.
“Well, I have to get back to work now. I have a meeting wit
h the set designer in a half hour. Give me a call when those parts are ready. Peter can help you do the heavy lifting and attach them to the car.”
“I’ll see you later,” Gennie replied. When Gennie walked into her house, she wondered if Erik was attracted to her. Maybe Gregory was right. He was jealous.
Chapter 61: April 8
What They Left Behind Page 60
