Limelight (Hollywood Stardust)

by Kim Carmichael

  STEVEN’S GRANDMOTHER

  Did you? Or did you just decide to redefine yourself.

  ROXY

  My parents won’t speak to me. William left. Steven...

  (shakes her head)

  Everyone gives up, I guess.

  STEVEN’S GRANDMOTHER

  Steven drove away.

  (Takes Roxy’s hand.)

  Let me tell you something. No one gave up. When I spoke to your parents I could tell they are hurt. There is nothing like being hurt by your own child.

  ROXY stares into Steven’s Grandmother’s face, her eyes well up with tears.

  STEVEN’S GRANDMOTHER

  Both Steven and William are concerned. They don’t know what to do. Both wanted to come here to get you, but I stopped them.

  ROXY

  I don’t know what to do.

  STEVEN’S GRANDMOTHER

  (chuckles)

  Of course you don’t.

  ROXY

  (silently crying)

  What do I do?

  STEVEN’S GRANDMOTHER

  You don’t give up, you work hard and you make it on your own, then when you are ready you decide if you want to be a flowerbed or a rock garden. Both are beautiful.

  Chapter Ten

  IN A CARBON COPY of the night before, Erin hid out in her room until Drew arrived home.

  She heard him playing with Beaker and moving around downstairs. When his footsteps on the stairs echoed through the house, she froze, refusing to move a muscle.

  Maybe she came off a little strong at his office, but she just didn’t know what else to do. One moment she had a career and Drew seemed ready to kiss her, the next he pulled away, and she was being told to go to some two-bit loser agent for the has-been actors of the world.

  After her money fiasco, she panicked and went to her one safe place. What would she have done if Drew hadn’t returned to her life? She didn’t know the answer and didn’t want to know. All she wanted was to feel secure and have Drew. Neither was happening for her. Once Barbie or Bambo or Bimbo left the office, he simply told her he would have an agreement drawn up, practically threw some bottles of capsules at her to try, and then went to go fix a machine. She had yet to find out about some road trip.

  He must have forgotten that she knew him, even if it was the him of twenty years ago, and she knew when he didn’t return to his office that he was furious.

  All those years ago, their downfall started with furious. She could deal with furious, she thought or hoped. Furious held emotion and potential. Ambivalence and silence held nothing. Before this went further, she needed to fix the furious.

  She pressed her ear to the door and willed Drew to come to her. When she heard him speak to the dog then go into his bedroom, she sunk to her knees, closed her eyes and made a plan.

  With only the past on her side, she checked her face in the mirror, collected the few things she purchased on her way home in case of an emergency, and left her room.

  Like a girl sneaking to see her boyfriend, she tiptoed down the hall. With her treats in hand, she stopped just short of knocking on the door, watching her hand tremble.

  Along the way, he filtered out every good memory and only recalled the worst. She chose to remember the first time he made her shiver instead.

  Days on the set of Hollywood Stardust could be long, boring and tiring. As the veterans of the group, she and Ryder were more accustomed to drudgery of movie making, but Logan and Drew were not. Where Logan seemed to automatically fit in with the cast and crew, making his experience that much easier, Drew, like his character, had a tougher time.

  The day had been grueling all around, punctuated by take after take of her and Ryder kissing. In fact, the only one who had seemed to be enjoying it was Ryder. Logan went into mega jerk mode and Drew wouldn’t say a word unless it was a scripted line, and he had continued to flub those the minute he looked at her.

  “Let’s try it one more time!” the director yelled out.

  Ryder pointed at Drew. “You’re the only one who doesn’t have to do any heavy scenes. Let’s just get this one.”

  Erin bit the side of her mouth. Last time she defended Drew in front of the other two they didn’t stop making fun of him for having a girl come to his defense.

  Drew jutted his jaw out.

  “Everyone back at their marks.” The director raised his voice even more. “Come on.”

  “Let’s do it, poor Erin has the hardest job, hopefully this will be the last one,” Logan said, then elbowed Drew and they took their positions around the corner.

  “Erin is just fine.” Ryder flipped them the finger.

  “Come on.” She tugged Ryder’s sleeve and they went over by a huge brick wall. The makeup lady ran up and fixed her lipstick once more, and gave Ryder a glare.

  “What?” Ryder stretched and leaned back on the brick.

  “Are you having lipstick for dinner?” With a shake of her head, the woman walked away.

  “I would rather have you for dinner.” Ryder raised his eyebrows. “After this, let’s go back to the hotel and order room service.”

  She pressed her lips together. No doubt he was horny after all the kissing. The only problem was she didn’t feel the same.

  “All right, let’s get this one.” The director yelled.

  From behind her, one of the assistants yelled the scene and the take and like a trained dog, the moment the clapperboard snapped, she turned into Roxy.

  “Come on, give me something to go on.” Ryder instantly transformed into William and held his arms out to her. “We are supposed to be together.”

  Her character, Roxy, walked the tightrope between both male leads. This movie sometimes seemed like documentary of her real life, if she added a third male. Third? Before she became consumed in her personal thoughts, Roxy flashed her smile, shrugged and went to William. “Just a little something, but hurry, the guys will be back soon.”

  “Then there’s no time to waste. I love you.” He wrapped his arms around her and connected their lips, not wasting any time in opening his mouth and slipping her the tongue.

  Something was off, way off. What happened to the drop in the pit of her stomach any time he or Logan gave her a real kiss on camera? In fact, with the way Ryder practically shoved his tongue down her throat, she almost kneed him right in the groin. However, she didn’t want to lose this take and gently pushed him back. “William.”

  “I want you so bad, why won’t you let me get close to you?” Ryder pulled her in tighter.

  “Where are you guys? We’re late!” Logan’s voice boomed from the other side of the wall.

  “William.” Again, she tried to push Ryder back. Thank God they made it through everything thus far, but now came Drew’s line. Without moving a muscle, she held her breath. If he pulled out his line, she didn’t want to be the reason for a retake.

  Drew as Charles with all the prosthetics and padding attached to him, came around the corner, stopped, and backed up.

  Erin said a silent prayer of thanks he didn’t trip like last time.

  She, actually Roxy, jumped away from Ryder, well, William.

  Drew’s character stared at her, gave a slight shake of his head and turned, hitting his mark perfectly and colliding with Logan.

  “What gives?” Logan played the annoyed asshole all too well. “Are they here?”

  Erin held her breath. Drew just needed to deliver the line and they were home free.

  “Yeah, everyone’s here, we’re all here. Where else would we be? We are all stuck here.” Again, his timing on point, he pushed passed Logan and headed for the BMW.

  “Well, then let’s get going.” Logan winked, approached and took her arm. “Thank you for keeping her warm for me, I got it from here.” He put his arm around her and led her off set.

  She glanced back at Ryder and looked straight ahead, watching Drew who stood with his arms crossed waiting to find out the verdict.

  “Cut!” The director called out a
nd leaned over to the monitor.

  Logan tightened his hold on her shoulder. They all wanted to be finished.

  It seemed as if everyone on set froze.

  “That’s a wrap!” The director gave them a thumbs-up. “See you all tomorrow.”

  Everyone broke out into applause.

  Everyone but Drew.

  She watched him walk away, head hung low and his hands in his pockets.

  Though she knew he hated her seeing him upset, she ran after him anyway.

  Staying a few yards behind him, she watched while he disappeared into the wardrobe trailer, exiting quite a bit later in his street clothes and those damn prosthetics removed from his face and body and headed toward the tiny town.

  In the distance, she heard Logan and Ryder laughing and creating a ruckus, if they spotted her she would get pulled into their world and she didn’t want either one of them. Maybe it was hormones.

  She chewed on her lip and tried to calculate her next move. If she just walked into town, she would create her own kind of ruckus. Only Drew had the luxury to walk around in public without getting noticed. Once he was out of his get up, it was hard to recognize him.

  As fast as possible, she darted into the wardrobe trailer.

  “There you are, let’s get you out of that dress.” The wardrobe mistress lunged for her.

  “Wait!” She would never have time to fight with the lady, change, ditch the guys and catch up with Drew. “I need a jacket with a hood.”

  “Your wardrobe has nothing of the sort. Roxy would never wear that.” The woman put her hands on her hips.

  “Well, then you better go talk to Felix, he said he wanted one.” Getting clothes from this person was like trying to get her mother to wake up before noon, but hell, she was an actress and could improvise with the best of them.

  “Honestly.” With a huff and a shake of her head, the woman stomped out of the trailer.

  Seizing her opportunity, Erin ran over to the boys’ wardrobe racks, rifled through the clothing and found the sought after piece of apparel. Before she lost Drew, she ran out of the trailer as she put on the jacket and pulled the hood over her head.

  By the time she made it to the one street in the town, she could barely breathe and decided she really needed to take some sort of fitness class, or ask the studio to hire a rickshaw driver for her.

  Thankfully, she spied Drew right as he disappeared into one of the stores. Without a second thought, she went after him, colliding with the door and then him while a stench of something horrid collided with her nose.

  “Hey!” He tensed at her touch. “Excuse you.”

  “Excuse you too.” She supposed her disguise was pretty good and lifted her face to him.

  “What are you doing here?” He sighed. “What are you doing here in that?”

  “I always wanted to come in this store.” At last, she looked around, discovered the source of the stench and wrinkled her nose. “What is this store?”

  “Hmm, let’s think here.” He took her arm and guided her to a row of cages. “I’m going to go with the reptile and fish store.”

  The sight of a huge snake separated from them by only a thin slab of glass caused her to jump and grab hold of Drew’s arm. “Oh my god, I hope it doesn’t bite us.”

  “I promise you’re fine.” With a shake of his head he walked down the aisle. “Snakes are just reptiles.”

  She took in each one of the snakes, each one appearing more ferocious than the next. “They better behave or we can take them back to Los Angeles and have a purse made out of them, although he does have his appeal.”

  “Come on, I think you may like a different aisle better.” He led her down another row of cages.

  “Turtles.” Unable to stop a smile, she dragged him over to one of the displays of tiny turtles. “They are so cute.”

  From behind her, he let out a chuckle. “They’re reptiles too.”

  “I know, but they’re so sweet. Look at them, they look like they’re wearing a turtleneck.” Once she realized what she said, she burst into laughter and spun around to Drew.

  He gave her one look and with a shake of his head joined her in cracking up.

  “I’m just glad to see you laughing.” She touched his cheek.

  “It’s fine.” He motioned across the way to the lizards.

  Preferring the sweet little turtles, she wrinkled her nose at the large scaly creature sitting on a piece of driftwood.

  “They’re reptiles too.” He sighed and pointed to another cage.

  This one was little and spotted with huge eyes. When they approached, the lizard turned to them and appeared as if it had a huge grin.

  “Oh, this one is fabulous. Does it change colors?” The image of a color coordinated pet pleased her and she faced Drew.

  “Sorry. That’s a gecko, he just stays that color, but he’s a reptile too.” He raised his eyebrows.

  Thus far, he had pointed out that everything in the reptile store was a reptile. Maybe they needed to go to the fish section or maybe there was something he was trying to tell her. “Is this a lesson on reptiles?”

  “Actually, I was hoping you could educate me.” He motioned all around him. “All of these are reptiles, so how come every woman likes the little turtles and the geckos, but they gloss over the big lizard that blends in with a rock, but would make an amazing pet. And though girls are scared of the snakes, they still have an appeal?”

  Now she understood. Ryder and Logan obviously represented the geckos and snakes of the world, while her best friend was a loyal lizard who blended in with the surroundings.

  It was only a matter of time before this came up. He had been more upset about the other two more than usual and she knew he had feelings for her. She swallowed. “Well, I think that maybe rather than always looking for the dangerous snakes and other reptiles that lure one in with their built-in shells and their smiles, sometimes a girl should learn to look at the obvious choice of the reptile who will protect her and stay with her, even hide her if need be.”

  “Why did you follow me here?” He stepped closer, looked down into her eyes and ran his hand down her arm.

  Shivers ran through her, something she never experienced with him, a welcome yet terrifying sensation. If nothing else, she couldn’t mess up with him, and chance ruining what they already had.

  She chose to flash him a smile and pull the hood up over her head a little further. “There’s a lot to be said for blending in.”

  “There’s a marathon of that old 1970s show with the crazy family on. Will you be joining me tonight?” With a tilt of his head, he had led them out of the store.

  Butterflies had taken over her stomach, but she nodded. “That’s where I belong.” She had wondered if reptiles ate butterflies.

  Now, the same flutters took residence in her stomach, but she found her strength and lightly knocked on his door.

  “Come in.”

  Before entering, she touched her hair and straightened her nightgown. At the moment, this was as good as she was going to look. She licked her lips and opened the door. “Aren’t you going to ask who it is?”

  “Call me clairvoyant.” He lounged back in his bed in a pair of grey sweats and a black t-shirt and never even bothered glancing up from his book. “What do you need?”

  “How do you know I need something?” She went inside and closed the door. Until now she hadn’t entered his domain, and she took a moment to absorb the huge master bedroom some interior designer must have created to be fit for a Hollywood star or the owner of an important business. As if he were one perfect accessory to the oversized mahogany furniture, a fireplace and large flat screen television, Beaker lay at his master’s feet.

  “Again, my sixth sense is kicking in.” He turned the page. “Out with it.” His voice came out curt, almost snapping her. Too soon, he could tire of anger and head straight to silence.

  “You know what I was thinking about?” Her heart beating loud enough for her to miss h
er cue, she tried to stop her voice from shaking.

  “Enlighten me.” He pushed a pair of reading glasses up on his nose.

  “Remember all those bad old sitcoms we would watch together on location and we would literally laugh ourselves to sleep?”

  “I do recall those nights.” Still, he didn’t bother with a glance.

  “I also remember the night you spent combing my hair out after it got all tangled in that wind storm.” She inched closer to the bed.

  “I remember you yelling at me because you were sure I left you with a bald spot.”

  Stupid tears clouded the path to her goal. If all she left him with was bad memories, why did he bother coming back to her at all? “Then maybe you can remember the time I walked over a mile to a store to get some lotion from where your prosthetic cut into your skin, and I got us some forbidden treats.” She held out her offering. “I’m sorry if I came on too strong today at your office.”

  At last, he took off his glasses and lifted his head. “What do you need, Erin?”

  “My place.” She pointed to the side of his bed. “Maybe a movie, maybe a laugh.”

  Without a word, he threw a remote to what she would always dub her spot and slid over.

  She dashed forward, but Beaker went to her area. Not to be misplaced by her canine friend, she put her human treats on the nightstand, reached into the small breast pocket of her nightgown and revealed one of the biscuits she picked up when she got their snacks. “You know I was never allowed to have a pet, but I know if I was allowed one, I would have picked a beauty like you.”

  The dog sat down.

  “I promise there is room enough for all of us, but can I be here?” She leaned way over and tossed the bone shaped cookie back at the foot of the bed.

  Beaker lunged for his treat and lay back down, leaving the vacancy she was after.