by Jen Calonita
“Absolutely.” Alexis squeezes my hand tight. “You have the career that I want, I mean, I aspire to have. That’s why I want to stay on FA for as long as possible. To learn from you.”
Really?
“And I would never, never, ever say a bad word about you ever,” Alexis adds with a big smile.
Not meaning what she said is one thing. Saying she never said it is a bold-faced lie. Why can’t she just admit she talked about me? I open my mouth before I can stop myself. “But you did say things, Alexis,” I try gently. “Maybe you didn’t mean them, but I heard you with my own ears.” Her right eye flinches slightly. “Talking to Renee. Sky did too. And then Liz heard you that day at the Argyle Spa.”
Alexis’s face turns to stone. “You heard wrong. Your friend too. And that leech Sky, she’ll say anything to get ahead.” She rolls her eyes. “I thought you said you wanted us to get along. Why are you pushing this? Why won’t you believe me?” She sounds agitated now and it’s sending up red flags.
“Alexis,” I try again, needing to be certain. “It’s okay. Everyone gets bent out of shape sometimes, but I need to know the truth. With all those phony tabloid articles about my set behavior and Sky’s, I don’t know who to trust anymore.”
“Are you saying I planted those articles?” Alexis’s voice is shrill and, for the first time, I notice she looks angry. She lets out a little grunt and runs her hands slowly across her face. When she’s finished, she looks at me and I can see her expression has totally changed to one of eerie calm. “You know what? Forget it. I’m done pretending,” she says. “You’ve caught me.”
“What?” I can’t breathe. What does she mean?
“I don’t like you, Kaitlin,” Alexis says flatly. She glances around, making sure no one is within earshot other than me. “Sky was too smart to fall for my act. But I tried to be nice to you because everyone loves you and I thought being friends with you would get me what I want, but I can see now you’re not biting.” She shakes her head. “To tell you the truth, it’s a relief that you know. Now I don’t have to pretend with you. I’m not the type of girl who likes having girlfriends anyway.” She smiles weakly. “There’s too much competition and jealousy.”
I’m too shocked to speak. My mouth is hanging to the shiny, tiled floor.
“You’re jealous of me, Kaitlin,” Alexis says quietly. “I’ve seen it from day one. You can admit it.”
“I am not,” I lie.
“You don’t like that I’m moving in on your precious turf.” Alexis points her ruby red manicured finger at my face. “Well, tough. It’s time for some new names to get some action on FA and I’m going to be one of them.”
“What does that have to do with me?” I ask stonily.
She laughs bitterly. “Everything. Don’t you think I’ve seen how much Tom and everyone adore you? And even that troublemaker, Sky? At first I thought it was a good idea to get in tight with you and your posse, since you have so much influence on Melli and Tom, but I could tell you were suspicious of anyone who wanted to get close to you.” She shakes her head. “So I moved on to being sweet to everyone else on FA so that I’d be so adored on and off set that they couldn’t let me go. But when all my baking and other good deeds still went unnoticed, and there was no talk of extending my storyline, I finally pleaded my case to Tom.” She rolls her eyes. “You know what he told me? He didn’t have room for another major teen player because they already had you two. Well, that answer didn’t fly with me.”
Her tone is icy and I feel chills run down my spine.
“So the answer became obvious — if there isn’t room for three of us, then maybe I had to get rid of you two so that I could have a fighting chance. I knew Sky was onto me, which is why I had to find out one of her skeletons. Revealing her true age did the trick.” She smiles smugly. “But you, I figured I’d keep you close until I could find a better way to take you down. Now I can see you already know what I’m up to, so why hide it anymore? You can’t stop me. You’ve got enough problems handling all that new bad press about your set behavior.” Her eyes squint menacingly. “Want to know the best part? If I continue buttering up the writing staff and being nice to everyone else, they’ll never suspect me of trying to ruin your reputation.” She laughs to herself.
I KNEW IT. It wasn’t an alien invasion after all. I was right about Alexis! She’s totally out to destroy Sky and me. She’s nuts. “You’re not going to get away with this,” I seethe, my voice eerily calm. It’s taking all my strength not to reach out and smack her across the face. “Tom will never get rid of Sky and me because of some bogus tabloid articles.” I’m so angry I’m shaking, but the truth is, I’m not sure how much more the studio or Tom is willing to swallow. Suddenly I feel very afraid. Alexis could get away with this and here’s the reason why.
HOLLYWOOD SECRET NUMBER NINE: How do the tabloids get away with printing such outlandish lies? They’re brilliant at manipulating words. According to Liz’s dad, my lawyer, in order to sue a tabloid magazine for slander or printing false information and win, a celebrity has to prove that the magazine was being malicious. So if someone says “Kaitlin Burke is pregnant” and I’m obviously not, but burning mad they said it, I have to prove that the magazine was deliberately trying to hurt me by printing that remark. That is tough to do. Usually when a magazine comes under fire for a particularly dirty item, all they have to say is that they believed the item was true at the time they printed it and they have their get out of jail free card. Pretty sneaky, huh?
“The public may like you, but you’re not the sole reason our show is doing so well this year,” I tell Alexis. “If you weren’t such a complete amateur, you’d know ratings have to do with a number of things.” Like the fact that we’re not opposite CSI anymore, Melli’s got a hot storyline, and we’ve got a crackerjack team of mostly new writers.
“You idiot. Don’t you see, I don’t even have to crow about the ratings anymore.” Alexis is smug. “Those tabloid articles are going to keep coming, and believe me, they’re going to get worse. And you can’t prove I have anything to do with them.” She laughs. “Your increased hostility toward me will be enough to send you and Sky packing.”
I’m going to hit her. I’m going to hit her and it’s going to be all over. And that’s exactly what she wants. “You wish,” I hiss.
Her eyes turn to slits again. “It will happen. And if you even think of telling someone what I just told you, I’ll bury you. Who do you really think they’d believe? The beloved, sweet new girl who’s upping the ratings or the has-been who’s giving them nothing but trouble?” She smiles smugly, turns on her heels, and heads into the studio while I stand there breathing fire.
I lunge for her hair, wanting to yank it out of her head, but someone grabs my arm.
“Let her go.” I turn around. Sky is standing right behind me and she looks as ticked off as I am. She unzips her sweat-shirt and reveals a pink sports bra and tight black pants. In her navel is a Cartier diamond double-C piercing.
“Did you hear what she just said to me?” I still can’t believe what just happened.
“No, but I can imagine. I’ve been watching you two for a few minutes and I’ve never seen you angrier — even at me,” Sky points out. “I told you I had that praying mantis pegged.”
“Well, I believe you now.” I’m still shaking and it’s hard for me to speak. “She’s out to get us both, you know.”
“I’ve known for a while.” Sky sounds sad. “She already made a dent in me with the age thing. Not that I’m worried,” she adds quickly. “My agent says my real age getting out won’t affect me too much.” She doesn’t look like she believes him.
“Hang in there,” I tell her awkwardly. “I’m sure the whole thing will blow over. My scandals always do.”
Sky gives me a small smile and I see her brown eyes are puffy. “Yeah, but that’s because yours are always made up by the same unnamed source,” Sky says, not acknowledging that the source was usually her —
until recently, that is. “Mine are real. At least this one is.”
“It’s no one’s business how old you are, Sky,” I argue. “Al-though I can’t figure out how you passed for a four-year-old when you were five and we started the show.” Sky just shakes her head. “But for the record,” I add, “I think what Alexis did to you was cruel.”
“Thanks,” Sky says, casting her eyes downward. I think that’s the first time I’ve ever heard her utter that word to me.
“So what are we going to do about the — what did you call her? Praying mantis?” I try not to smirk.
“It fits, doesn’t it?” Sky looks pleased with herself. “We’ll think of something. But first, let’s blow off steam. What do you say we skip that spin class and hit the rock wall instead?”
“You’re on,” I say. The enemy you know is always better than the one you don’t, right?
FRIDAY, 10/18
NOTE TO SELF:
Call Nadine & Laney ASAP!
Ten: What Happens in Vegas,Doesn’t Always Stay in Vegas
A few hours later, after Sky and I have sweated, climbed, and tortured our bodies enough to curb our anger toward Alexis, I’ve gone back to take a long soak in my room’s over-size tub. That’s where I replay the conversation I just had with Sky. It was probably the most we’ve said to each other in years. Alexis wants us to look like we’re too difficult to keep around, which is why we both agreed that starting with her while we’re on a cast trip would be suicide. We need to keep cool until we figure out a surefire way to get rid of Alexis, once and for all. Not that we’ve come up with one yet.
With my head clear, I head downstairs to meet Matty. We’re having a cast dinner at Tao, which is in our hotel. The Venetian is like its own mini city!
“You’re going to love this place,” I tell Matty, linking arms with his and trying to sound upbeat. We’re both dressed up for the occasion. Matty is in a black pin-striped suit and a white shirt with no tie, and I’m in a killer blue Marc Jacobs dress the designer sent me from his upcoming collection. “They have the most amazing sushi.”
“You’re not going to brag about going to the one in New York, are you?” Matt groans.
I hit his arm. “No, cranky, I’m not.”
“Sorry,” he says. “It’s just that Alexis wouldn’t speak to me after her fight with you.”
I stop walking and turn to look at him. “How do you know we had a fight?”
“She ran into spin crying about how you said you were going to get her fired because you can’t stand her,” Matty explains. “I overheard her telling Ava.”
Wow. Alexis is a more cunning opponent than I realized. “Matty, do you think I would say that?” He shakes his head. “So why do you think she’d say something like that? The truth is, she wants me gone. She wants to take my place.” He looks away. I feel awful upsetting him, but he has to know the real deal. There is no way I’m letting Alexis anywhere near my brother.
As we enter through the circular hallway filled with tubs of floating flower petals, I see that Sky, Brayden, Hallie, Trevor, Ava, and Luke are already waiting. Alexis is notice-ably missing and Ava is glaring at me. Hmm . . . I’ve got to win her over again without stepping on Alexis’s toes.
“Tom is running a few minutes late,” Trevor tells us. “He took two more treatments at the spa and they ran long.”
“And Alexis?” Matty asks.
“She’s, uh, running late too,” the Zac Efron–clone of a host tells us. “She called and she said she’d be late.”
“But we have reason to celebrate in the meantime,” Trevor says and throws an arm around Hallie, who blushes.
“Tell me,” I beg, looking forward to hearing something positive for a change on this trip.
“My agent just called,” Hallie says shyly. “I signed on to that new JJ project for ABC.”
“YES!” I yell giddily. Hallie has been nervous about her meeting with JJ for weeks and I’ve kept telling her it would be fine. Within seconds, I’m hugging her and the two of us are screaming in delight.
HOLLYWOOD SECRET NUMBER TEN: Want a sure sign that the grim reaper is coming to visit one of your favorite TV characters? Keep your eye on the front pages of Variety. If you read that your favorite star has signed on to do a pilot or do a recurring guest spot on another show, they probably know what we don’t — their character is going to be snuffed out. In Hallie’s case, her character is about to be taken hostage during a robbery. Tome keeps giving quotes about how “This pivotal episode will change the lives of everyone on FA forever,” hinting that someone won’t make it out alive (a big ratings draw these days). It’s safe to say the probable demise — or long stint in rehabilitation — is Hallie, considering her new role on another network.
“Great. Now that the celebrating is over with, can we at least sit down while we wait?” Sky gripes. She’s wearing a sheer white dress with a pink ruffled slip underneath. Her long brown hair is pulled back in a loose twist. She looks pretty if you ignore the pout on her face. She’s obviously having a tough time concealing how mad she still is about Alexis. I give her a stern glance and she looks away.
The host clears his throat. “I believe your table isn’t ready yet. We thought you’d all prefer the mezzanine level so they’re, uh, still setting up.”
“Why are you so nervous?” Sky demands.
“Geez, Sky,” Ava huffs. “Wouldn’t you be if you were surrounded by celebrities?”
“I hope you’re not referring to yourself,” Sky sniffs.
Trevor holds Ava back. “Play nice, you two, this is a goodwill trip, remember?”
I take a look around. Well, from where I’m standing. The host won’t let me move out of the waiting area. “It upsets our guests already seated,” he explains to me. I don’t argue. Even if there are only about twenty people or so eating at such an early hour. Even from where I’m waiting, I can see the restaurant/nightclub/lounge is huge. According to the description of the Chinese, Japanese, and Thai cuisine eatery I read in my room, it’s actually 42,000 square feet. Large enough to have a 20-foot-tall carved Buddha floating over an infinity pool filled with Japanese carp. There are waterfalls, plenty of greenery, wood carvings, stones, and velvet-draped walls. I’m so busy taking in the scenery that I barely notice it at first. Up on the mezzanine level, where we’re supposedly going to be eating, are a ton of photographers and they’re taking pictures of . . .
“ALEXIS IS UP THERE ALREADY!” Sky screeches, apparently seeing exactly what I hoped I hadn’t seen. “AND SHE’S GOT THE PRESS ALL TO HERSELF!” She grabs the trembling hottie host by his collar. “YOU KNEW, DIDN’T YOU?” she bellows.
He lowers his blue eyes and nods. “She gave me a hundred bucks and her room number,” he boasts. “She moved the interview up an hour.”
“She wouldn’t!” Ava says, getting visibly upset. “She said she was looking forward to doing the interview together. Tom said it was important for us to do it together. Why would she do that?”
“Because she’s a manipulator,” Sky tells her and the rest of us. “Well, it ends now.” She stomps off to the elevators with the rest of our angry mob in tow.
I run after them and try to make my way to Sky. “Remember what we talked about,” I warn her. “Don’t do anything stupid. She’s probably charming the pants off them right now.”
“She’ll wet her pants when she sees me,” Sky growls.
“You’ll look like the bad guy,” I tell her.
Sky hits the elevator button. “It’s too late. I already am one.”
When the elevator doors open upstairs, the scene is worse than I could have imagined. It’s not just Insider and Nation. There must be at least a dozen reporters, cameramen, photographers, and lighting guys. In the middle is Alexis.
She sees us and grins. “There they are!” she says, clapping her hands. “My wonderful costars. I told the press you wouldn’t stand them up. They were worried since you were an hour late.” She frowns. “Didn’t anyone tell
you the press time changed to six?”
“That’s funny. You told me it was still at seven.” Ava folds her arms dramatically and her face is bright red. “You called me an hour ago to remind me!”
“Me too,” seconds Hallie.
HA! We’ve got her.
“Hal, Ava, I got confused with all the changes.” Alexis pouts. “I’m SO sorry. Well, it’s all good now. You’re here. Let’s get started.”
Thankfully Ava and Hallie don’t look convinced. I know I’m not. But I’m not sure I want to get in a screaming match when there are so many tape recorders present.
“Did Alexis tell you guys that she paid off the host downstairs to keep us away while you interviewed her?” Sky asks the press while trying to remain calm.
“Sky!” I hiss. She’s only going to make things worse.
Alexis laughs nervously. “Don’t be silly! Sky is such a liar! I love my FA costars, but you guys all know Sky and Kaitlin will say anything to get some of the good press you have been giving me.”
That’s it! Something inside me snaps and I can’t keep quiet. “You’ve manipulated the press pretty well, haven’t you, Alexis?” I ask, getting mad as a flashbulb pops in my face. “It’s amazing how many unnamed sources there are to talk about how wonderful you are and how rotten we are.” I look at the press crew. “Well, we can play at that game too. Maybe you want to take a few minutes to get the real story and hear how Alexis threatened me earlier.” A few reporters move toward me.
“Don’t fall for it, guys!” Alexis blocks their path. “Think about it: Why would Kaitlin ever take Sky’s side? The only reason those two are getting along at the moment is that they’re hoping you’ll forget all about Kaitlin’s car crash and the fact that Sky is old as dirt.”
“That’s it,” Sky says and she grabs a fistful of Alexis’s red hair and pulls.
