by Hayes Grier
Excitement gripped Violet like a vise. They were going to Hayes Grier’s Hollywood party. And on top of that, she had to have a serious discussion with him, come clean about the stories.
After tonight, she thought, nothing may ever be the same.
* * *
Violet and Mia drove through the winding streets of Hollywood Hills. Carved from canyon sides, the road twisted in an upward spiral. At the top, Violet knew, stood the iconic Hollywood Sign.
She gazed out the window as they passed houses built on stilts and mansions half-hidden by trees. Narrow streets brought them higher and higher until Mia slowed the car and peered down a long, straight driveway. They couldn’t see the house.
“This is it,” she declared.
“Are you sure?” Violet asked. Cars lined the driveway on either side. There was one spot left, at the very end.
“Yup.” Mia pulled neatly into the empty space. “Looks like we’re the last to arrive.”
“Hopefully,” Violet said. She couldn’t imagine how many people must already be inside. Her preparty excitement quickly faded, leaving a hollow feeling in her stomach. With all these cars, she highly doubted it was an intimate gathering of close friends. More like a packed, blow-out party.
Mia eyed her. “So are we still on for this?”
Violet nodded. They were already there, after all.
The girls got out of the car and began to walk. At the end, the driveway curved, revealing a sprawling one-level home, every room brightly lit. Music blared, a fast-paced rap song Violet didn’t recognize, and the sound of laughter echoed through the trees.
Mia grabbed her hand, squeezing it twice. Taking a deep breath, they stepped through the open double doors.
The entrance led straight to a huge sunken living room. A DJ sat at a booth, tapping at a laptop. People lounged on white leather couches. Some couples were dancing. Violet peered around. The party seemed to push into halls leading deeper into the house.
Violet and Mia sidled tentatively inside. The living room’s floor-to-ceiling windows opened onto a patio and backyard. People were jumping into a kidney-shaped pool, complete with a slide and high diving board. Violet saw a taco truck parked on the grass, a line of people waiting.
“This is too much,” Mia whispered. She could have shouted, and no one would have heard. The noise level rose even higher as a bikini-clad girl did a perfect swan dive into the deep end.
Speechless, Violet could only nod. There were so many people, most of them girls, and all of them Hollywood beautiful. It didn’t seem real. It was like a scene straight out of a movie. Maybe one of those old ’80s movies, where the ultrarich guy threw a party and embarrassed the hero, who came from a poor but loving family and didn’t belong with the faster, hipper crowd. She’d definitely be playing that fish-out-of-water role.
Would the movie heroine feel the way she was feeling right now? She didn’t want to come right out and define it, even to herself. But it was a feeling in the pit of her stomach when she gazed at these tanned, together girls. After a few minutes, she found the strength to label it. Jealousy. Were all these girls Hayes’s close, intimate friends?
“Violet!” Hayes was moving through the crowd. “You made it!”
At the sight of Hayes, Violet’s confusion melted away. He was barefoot, wearing black shorts that Violet thought could be swim trunks and a blinding white shirt, unbuttoned. “I’m so happy you’re here!” He looked at Mia, and Violet quickly introduced them.
“Hey,” he said. “Violet’s talked about you a lot. It’s great to meet you.” He walked around her slowly, reading all the fabric patches. “This is one amazing tee,” he said. “Who’s the designer?”
“Mia designed it herself!” Violet put in quickly. “Isn’t it great?”
“It is!”
“Thanks,” Mia said quietly, beaming.
“Hey, Tez!” Hayes shouted into the crowd. “You’ve got to see this!”
As if on command, Tez materialized out of nowhere. “What’s up?”
“This is Violet’s cousin, Mia. What do you think of her T-shirt?”
Tez eyed the shirt up and down, giving a long, low whistle, and Mia blushed.
“Walk around,” Hayes said. “There’s more on the back.”
Tez loped around Mia, then stood in front of her, arms crossed over his chest. “Definitely dope.”
“This is what I’ve been talking about,” Hayes said excitedly. “I want to totally revamp my merchandise line, and this could be big! It’s spot-on innovative and different.”
“It could definitely work with your stuff,” Tez agreed. “We should get together,” he told Mia. He paused, grinning as Mia blushed again. “And talk about creating new designs for my man.”
Mia gave a little yelp, and now Violet was smiling wider than Tez. That was amazing news; it could be a real break for Mia.
“You must have an eye for what’s hot,” Tez was saying to Mia, edging closer.
And maybe, Violet thought, there’s more here than a business interest. An image flashed, unbidden, through her mind: Tez and Mia double-dating with her and Hayes, the four of them stretched out on one blanket at the Santa Monica beach.
“Want to grab a bite at the taco truck?” Tez asked Mia. She nodded, grinning, as he reached for her hand to guide her through the living room.
Quickly, Violet put the fantasy out of her mind. For all she knew, Tez and Mia were more of a sure thing than she and Hayes.
But now—if she ignored all the other girls hanging around—Violet and Hayes were alone. “What should we do?” he asked.
Violet’s heart beat faster. He wasn’t looking at any of those girls. He was looking at her!
Hayes swept his arm toward the opposite corner of the room. “There’s a photo booth over there. Should we strike a pose?” He raised his eyebrows and smiled.
A photo booth! With everything else going on, Violet hadn’t even noticed the curtained-off space. “Sure!”
Moments later, Hayes held the curtain open, and they squeezed into the small, cozy booth. When Hayes pulled the curtain closed, darkness fell, and a charged silence fell between them. Violet felt like they were the only two people in the world.
“Should we do silly, serious, or crazy?” She felt like she had to whisper.
Hayes leaned closer to whisper back, “Let’s start with goofy.” His breath felt hot against her ear.
Violet giggled as he drew back to make a face, crossing his eyes and baring his teeth. She twisted her mouth into a one-sided smirk and wrinkled her nose. Flash—one photo done. They went on to genuine smiles, Hayes tickling Violet so she was laughing hysterically, and then one when they weren’t even posing—just looking deeply into each other’s eyes.
“Caught on film!” Hayes joked when they looked over the photos, still sitting close together. A few people opened the curtain and peered at them curiously. Violet didn’t care what they thought. She was having too much fun.
“You take one.” Hayes handed Violet a strip. “And I’ll keep the other. I’m going to save it.”
He was going to save their photos? Violet’s heart hammered in her chest. That had to mean something. “Me, too,” Violet said, sure she was blushing.
“You know, pictures are really important to me,” Hayes went on as they stepped out of the booth. People were calling out to him, a few girls actually tugged on his arm, but Hayes ignored them, standing still, close to Violet.
“I’m away from my family so much. And I’m so busy, it’s hard to connect with everyone back home. But pictures … they’re like a little piece of my family that I can always have with me.”
Violet thought about her mom and dad, clear across the country, and how sometimes before she went to sleep, she scrolled through albums on her phone just to see their faces. She couldn’t believe Hayes felt the same way.
“Hayes, bro, move away and let someone else get into the booth.” Tez was standing right in front of them, Mia by his side.
Violet had been so wrapped up in her thoughts—and in Hayes—she hadn’t seen them approach.
“No, you guys take your time,” Mia said, pulling Tez back to give them space. “He’s just annoyed the taco truck ran out of guacamole.”
“We were done anyway.” Hayes gave a kind of salute and held out his hand for Violet. “Want to go somewhere we can get away from these jerks? Oh,” he added quickly. “I didn’t mean you, Mia.”
“That’s okay,” Mia laughed. “I have the feeling Tez is jerk enough for both of us.”
Still holding Violet’s hand, Hayes led her outside. “How about going up to the Hollywood Sign?” he asked. “I have a tip from a buddy that they’re filming there tonight. So for the first time in years, the sign will be lit.” He grinned. “He gave me a supersecret route and told me where to park. If we’re lucky, we’ll be able to see some stars through all the smog.”
Stars! Smog! He remembered their conversation. Violet caught her breath. Of course, she realized, she could remember each one of their conversations—even the ones where he asked her to pick up a smoothie. But still, it was thrilling. More and more, she was allowing herself to have feelings for him.
Tonight, she couldn’t deny the attraction. But before she could even think about that … about what could happen at the Hollywood Sign … she had to tell him about the fanfic. She only hoped he would understand.
CHAPTER TEN
VIOLET WAS QUIET driving up the mountain, letting Hayes carry the conversation. He talked about The Midnight Hawk for a bit. Then he switched to Tez, saying how he’s hard to keep up with, but it seemed Mia wouldn’t have a problem. “And she’s mad talented,” Hayes went on. “She’s really cool.”
Hayes liked her BFF. He thought she was cool. He totally got why Mia was so great. Violet smiled, feeling her heart expand.
Hayes swung the car into a dead-end street, then turned off the engine. A bright white light filtered through the trees. The Hollywood Sign, Violet guessed. They walked a bit, and the light grew brighter and brighter until there it was before them, letters blazing, the darkness surrounding them like a cozy blanket.
“Let’s sit here,” Hayes said, leading Violet to a low stone wall.
From here, the letters seemed to stretch right up to the sky. They could see each one, a full view of HOLLYWOOD just a bit above them, yet they were far enough away to feel alone. The film crew must be working furiously at the sign’s base, Violet thought. But she couldn’t see or hear a thing.
Violet twisted to look down the mountainside. LA spread before them like a tapestry, its own lights twinkling brightly.
The world seemed to shine just for her and Hayes. Violet turned to Hayes, readying herself to tell him about the fan fiction.
Instead, she found herself looking deep into his eyes. “It’s all so beautiful,” she said softly.
Hayes nodded. “Now look all the way up,” he instructed. “Let’s see if we can spot constellations.”
Violet peered at the sky, but only a few stars showed through the smog and clouds.
“On second thought,” Hayes joked, “keep looking down. The city lights might be the best we can do.”
“Let’s not give up,” Violet said. Suddenly, she grabbed his arm. “Look!” A shooting star arced over their heads, a streak of glowing light that came and went so quickly, Violet wasn’t sure it had been real. “Did you see it?” she asked. “Was it really there?”
“I did see it,” Hayes murmured. “And I made a wish.” He turned his body, leaning into Violet, his lips parted for a kiss.
Violet moved toward him, her heart pounding, a sweet sensation sweeping through her body like her own personal shooting star. But she couldn’t kiss him. Not yet! They hadn’t talked yet. It just wouldn’t be right.
“I … I can’t,” she said, forcing herself to pull back. “I have to tell you—”
“No worries,” Hayes said quickly. “You don’t have to explain. I get it. I just misread things, that’s all. Saw some signals that weren’t really there.” He shrugged.
Violet’s mind was racing. What should she do? He seemed disappointed, but he was acting so nice about it, Violet’s heart ached.
“No!” Violet said. She had to explain. She had to start right from the beginning. “You know I’ve been trying to write, and—”
Hayes’s cell phone rang. He pressed IGNORE and turned to her, his eyebrows raised in a question. But his phone rang again. This time, he silenced it, but the phone kept vibrating. He glanced at the screen. “It’s Tez,” he said. “It may be important.”
“Answer it. Really.”
Hayes swiped at the screen and held the phone to his ear. Before he could even say hello, Violet heard Tez shouting. “Bro, you’ve got to get back here. Things are getting crazy. One dude broke that photo in your bedroom—you know, the one with your whole family sitting in your dining room for Thanksgiving.”
“No!” Hayes spoke loudly, too. “Is it just the glass? Is the photo okay?”
“I’m not sure. Somehow it smashed to the ground, and the guy went and stomped on it, too. The frame snapped in half. I think the picture is torn.”
“Do me a favor and put it in a safe place,” Hayes told Tez. “I’ll be right back.
“My mom gave me that picture and frame, right before I came here,” Hayes explained to Violet, hanging up. “She wrote this whole inscription on the back. We need to go to the house; I want to see if I can fix it.”
“Of course.” Violet jumped to her feet.
“But you were about to say something.” Hayes paused.
Clearly, Hayes was upset; Violet knew pictures were so important to him. If she told him about the fanfic now, it would just make him feel worse. She couldn’t make this night any harder for him.
“No, it’s okay. It can wait. Really. Come on!” Violet said, pulling him back to the car.
She would hold off telling him. Waiting wouldn’t change anything. The fanfic wasn’t going anywhere, and hopefully neither was Hayes. She’d find the perfect time, then tell him everything. They’d pick up where they left off, and this time she wouldn’t pull back from the kiss. And maybe that kiss would tell her what she needed to know, too: that her feelings were real—for the real Hayes Grier. That he wasn’t just a celebrity crush.
Then everything would be great between them. It would be fine.
At least that’s what she told herself.
* * *
“You didn’t say a word the whole way home!” Mia was sitting at the kitchen table, digging into a big bowl of raspberry tea organic ice cream. She pushed an extra spoon at Violet sitting across the table, but Violet pushed it back dejectedly. “Does that mean Hayes got mad when he heard about the fanfic?” Mia pressed.
“I didn’t get a chance to tell him,” Violet mumbled.
“What?” Mia jerked to attention, overturning the bowl. Pink soupy ice cream spread across the marble table.
“Here.” Violet reached for a paper towel and mopped it up, catching it just before it dripped on the floor.
“Don’t try and distract me by cleaning!” Mia snapped. “Did you really not talk about it?”
“I couldn’t,” Violet said miserably. “I was about to—I swear, Mia!—but then he tried to kiss me.”
“And?” Mia drew out the word, meaning she wanted to hear everything … about the kiss … about the discussion. The problem was, there was nothing to tell. There wasn’t a kiss, and there wasn’t any discussion. And Violet couldn’t decide which was more upsetting.
Quickly, Violet explained how she’d wanted to talk to Hayes before anything happened between them. But just when she was about to begin, he went in for the kiss, and she stopped it. Then she tried a second time, but Tez kept calling. And when Hayes finally answered, Tez told him about the photo.
“I knew it wasn’t the right time,” Violet finished. She slumped in her chair. “There. Now I’ve told you everything that happened. What do you think?”
�
�I think you really need some ice cream.” Mia got up to get another bowl and dished out scoops. “I understand,” she told Violet. “I get why you didn’t talk to him. I do. But there’s never going to be a right time. The sooner you do it, the better. Do it at work tomorrow. Just get through it. Pretend it’s a homework assignment, maybe.”
Violet rolled her eyes. “That’s so lame, Mia. But I know, I know. I just have to do it. Do you think I totally messed up tonight? Did Hayes think I was rejecting him?” Violet paused. “That’s what I really want to know.”
“Well, there’s only one way to find out. Clear the air. Be honest. Talk about the fanfic. Then ask him!”
* * *
The next morning, Violet arrived at work earlier than usual. She’d barely slept the night before, thinking and worrying. Finally, she’d decided to just get up and had gotten out of bed at 5:30 to shower and dress.
The quicker she told Hayes about the fanfic, the quicker it would all be over. She felt ready, almost eager to get it off her chest. Maybe after, they could go back to being whatever they almost were last night. Friends? More than friends?
But even at that early hour, it seemed everyone had beat her to the lot. The place was in complete chaos. Loud voices rang out amid the uproar. People rushed here and there in a frenzy. Dozens of panicked production assistants talked excitedly on their phones.
TJ, meanwhile, was inhaling and exhaling into a paper bag—using it like a makeshift inhaler—in between shouting out commands. Violet could barely hear herself think.
Finally, Violet cornered Derek, another intern. “What’s going on?”
Derek paused long enough to say, “We’re supposed to be filming part of that big motorcycle scene today. You know the rest will be done on location?”
“Yes, I know, I know.” Violet waved at the back lot; a long line of cars stood behind a truck, its long trailer opened at the back. “Hawk” would ride his motorcycle out of the truck, jump over the cars, and land in a small empty space between a mobile home and an SUV. Then he’d spin quickly around. Wind machines had been set up to give the impression of movement. But even with stationary cars, it was a tricky stunt.
