Rookie

by JL Paul

  Sidney’s eyes bounced off every wall and surface of the cramped hotel room. Although the staff had been friendly and the place very clean, she was beginning to hate it. She hated everything it seemed to represent in her life. Perhaps a little cottage on the beach was the first step in the right direction of a new life.

  She got to her feet and picked up her bag. “Let’s go take a look at it.”

  ***

  The tiny cottage was not as luxurious as the homes that surrounded it. As a matter of fact, it sat behind a larger house that loomed on a hill above it. Leslie explained that the cottage was once used as a guest house but when her uncle bought the property, he decided to rent each out separately.

  “So, someone lives in the big house?” Sidney asked as they stood on the covered porch of the cottage.

  “Not right now,” Leslie said. “Uncle Phil has some work to do on it. The entire property has been in foreclosure and both places were a huge mess. He decided to get the cottage ready so he could generate a little money while working on the big house.”

  Leslie unlocked the door and they stepped inside. The scent of fresh paint assaulted them immediately, causing them to take a moment to get their bearings.

  Sidney wiped her feet on the mat before stepping onto the black and white tiles of the kitchen. Although small, it was designed to function. The walls were painted a brick red, the appliances stainless steel. The cabinets had been refinished recently and the countertop replaced.

  “He put a lot of work into this,” Sidney observed.

  “Yes, he did,” Leslie said.

  When they wandered into the living room, the first thing Sidney noticed was the huge window facing the restless ocean. She immediately crossed the gleaming hardwood floors to gape at the lovely view.

  “Wow.”

  “I agree,” Leslie said.

  The walls were eggshell – very neutral and easy to go with any décor. Slightly larger than the kitchen, Sidney figured she could easily fit a sofa and perhaps a recliner with no hassles.

  “There’s only one bedroom,” Leslie said as she opened a small coat closet. “It’s over here.”

  She opened a door to a pale blue bedroom. One window provided a view of the ocean while the other looked out at the side of the property. The closet wasn’t much, just big enough to hang her clothes.

  “Let’s look at the bathroom,” Leslie suggested.

  The bathroom was next to the bedroom and even smaller than the one in her hotel room. But it was hard to tell. A porcelain pedestal sink next to the toilet took up less space. A mirrored medicine cabinet hung over the sink while a linen closet opened up next to the shower. No tub, though. That was a disappointment.

  “It’s really small,” Leslie observed.

  Sidney shrugged. True, it was small, but didn’t need a lot of space. “Can we call him and tell him that I’ll take it?”

  “Absolutely,” Leslie said, digging her phone out of her purse. “He’ll be so happy. I told him you were living in a hotel room and he said to bring you over here as soon as possible. He said if you wanted it, you could move in right away.”

  They returned to the living room, both drawn to the window.

  “All the furniture in my apartment isn’t mine,” Sidney sighed. “The place was furnished.”

  “That’s all right,” Leslie said. “Phil has some stuff in his storage unit that might work. Plus, we can check out whatever’s in the big house. He won’t care if you use it. He’d probably be thrilled that he won’t have to haul it away.”

  Her heart twittered at the thought of actually having a home again. She smiled, excitement lighting her eyes. “Let’s get going on it, then. I’d like to be out of that hotel as soon as possible!”

  Eighteen

  The excitement of having a new home didn’t fade during the next week. Sidney emailed Rob, Chad, and Lexie, informing them that she was moving and that she would be taking some time off. She requested that they email her if they needed her for anything and left it at that.

  Chad was the only one to respond, thanking her for letting him know and congratulating her on her new home.

  Sidney had the impression that Chad bore her no ill will but didn’t want to take sides. Since Rob was his best friend and Lexie his fiancée, Sidney didn’t want to drag him into the middle of everything. She just silently appreciated his little note and the fact that at least he could be civil.

  But it didn’t console her shattered heart.

  Rob crept into her dreams every night, chasing away any trace of the nightmares that used to haunt her sleep. Although she should have been relieved, she began to wish for the nightmares again. At least Rob wasn’t in them, shredding her heart some more.

  Leslie and her two cousins, Phil Jr. and Evan, helped Sidney move furniture from the big house and the storage unit into the cottage. Phil Sr. came by to show her how to activate the alarm and to give her general information about the appliances, the furnace, and the central air.

  Escorted by Leslie’s cousins, Sidney visited her old apartment to gather the rest of her things and to inform her landlord she was leaving. Since she’d only agreed to rent month-to-month, she only had to pay for the rest of June.

  She took an entire week to settle into her new home. Every day, she’d rearrange or change things around until she was finally satisfied. And in the evenings, she’d sit outside the front door on the planks that served as a makeshift deck, and watch the sun set as she listened to the gulls argue with the terns and pelicans while soaring over the waves. It was as serene as it could be and she placed all her hope on this place helping her to heal.

  The Friday night before the studio party, she wandered out on the beach and plopped in the sand, staring out at the tranquil water reflecting the moon’s light. Gentle waves tapped the beach, as if wishing it goodnight, and adding to the serenity that surrounded her.

  Up the hill, in the dune grass, crickets called out to each other while other nocturnal insects buzzed through the long blades. The breeze tickled the grass and lifted Sidney’s hair.

  She needed to end the drama between her and the others. She was going to have to return to work on Monday and she needed to stop avoiding everyone. She wouldn’t be able to be productive and do her job correctly if she was constantly looking over her shoulder, hoping Rob wouldn’t pop up somewhere. Besides, there were things that they’d need to work on together.

  Her career for one thing.

  Her video was due to debut in two weeks. She needed to sit down with Rob and Chad to figure out their next move. That was going to be very difficult if they were constantly ignoring one another.

  Sighing, she planted her hands in the sand behind her and leaned back, raising her face to the dark sky. She’d talk to all three of them at the party and apologize. She’d ask them to please forgive her and hope that they could return to a working relationship. The friendships, though, they were long gone.

  “I don’t care,” she told the moon in utter defiance. But the truth of the matter was that she did care. She’d never had true friends until she’d come here. She hadn’t thought that she’d miss the companionship as much as she did. Leslie was great, but she was somewhat guarded and at times a little standoffish. She didn’t have the sparkly exuberance of Lexie, or the warmth and humor of Rob.

  Maybe, just maybe, if I apologize and we can get back to working together, maybe the friendship will return. It might not be as close as it once was, but I can live with that.

  Standing, she brushed the sand off her shorts and legs. She returned to the cottage with hope in her heart.

  ***

  She’d almost forgotten about how snug the dress fit her. Glancing in the mirror on the back of the bathroom door, she smiled at how the material hugged her curves, exaggerating them a bit, and highlighted her chest without making her look trampy.

  She slipped into the two inch heels, praying that she didn’t take a tumble that night, and checked her hair. She definitely was
not a whiz when it came to primping, but she wasn’t disappointed in how she looked. She’d swept her hair up in a neat bun, leaving tendrils to frame her face. She’d brushed an apricot shadow on her lids, lined her eyes, and applied mascara. It wasn’t much but it was enough.

  She’d contemplated the jewelry that Melanie had sent her for her birthday. Should she wear it? What if someone had told Mel about Sidney and Rob’s…thing? Would the other woman resent her? Would it anger or upset her to see Sidney wearing the jewelry?

  Hopefully, Melanie was still in the dark. If so, she’d wonder why Sidney wasn’t wearing it.

  She was just going to have to take a chance.

  Just as she’d fastened the necklace and the bracelet, a knock sounded. Grabbing the little clutch purse Leslie had loaned her, Sidney hurried to answer the door.

  “Wow, you look great,” Leslie said.

  “Thanks. You, too,” Sidney replied, admiring the sleek, red dress that clung to Leslie’s hourglass frame and lifted her breasts. She, too, wore her hair up in a bun but didn’t allow a single strand to hang near her face. She was truly stunning.

  “Let’s go get our drink on,” Leslie said, grabbing Sidney’s hand.

  ***

  The party was at a club on the outskirts of LA. Leslie explained on the ride over that Rob was friends with the owner and rented the entire club for his yearly party.

  “You’re going to have a good time,” Leslie assured her. “Just relax and have fun.”

  Nodding, Sidney gazed out her window at the building as they pulled into the lot.

  The club fronted a busy street with parking in back. The darkened windows drew curious stares from passersby, as nothing indicated what was behind the doors.

  “Going for the mysterious, huh?” Sidney remarked as their heels clacked on the sidewalk. They stopped at the wooden, double doors. “How does he get patrons if there’s no type of advertising out here?”

  Leslie pointed to the elegant lettering on the awning overhead. Mystique was spelled out in gold, the only indicator of what was inside.

  “Everyone around here knows what it is,” Leslie said. “Word of mouth type thing. People think it’s really exclusive and line up to get in. But it’s not all that.”

  “Well, if it works,” Sidney shrugged.

  With a sigh, Sidney followed Leslie into the club. A dimly lit hall greeted them with doors lining the right – restrooms and a coat check. Another set of wooden doors was on the left and it was these that Leslie opened.

  “Let’s go, girl. Show them that you aren’t going to just disappear,” Leslie said, filling Sidney with confusion and fear.

  The room was huge.

  A bar lined the entire back wall with lighted shelves behind it. In a corner, a stage sat with a big, black DJ stand. A man Sidney didn’t recognize stood behind it, earphones on his head, and sunglasses over his eyes.

  Intimate tables were scattered throughout the room except for the wooden floor directly in front of the stage. Overhead, several lights hung, their setting on dim.

  Charming and overwhelming, a flutter of excitement hit Sidney’s heart as she took in the ambiance and wondered what it was like on a Saturday night with a beat thumping and hundreds of sweaty bodies moving on the floor.

  “Let’s get a drink,” Leslie suggested, nearly shouting in Sidney’s ear over the volume of the music. Sidney nodded and followed Leslie, recognizing the song as one of Ross Records’ artists.

  Leslie ordered two vodka lemonades from the bartender before turning to Sidney. “There’s Rob and Chad. At the end of the bar.”

  Chancing a glance, Sidney slid her gaze that way, spotting Rob watching her with hooded eyes. Between him and Chad sat Lexie and Melanie, engaged in some animated conversation, not even aware that she’d arrived.

  “He still looks like he’s pissed at you,” Leslie said as she handed Sidney a drink. “Screw it. Have fun. That’s what tonight is all about.”

  Agreeing, Sidney sucked down her drink, the lemonade taking away the dryness of her throat.

  “That a girl,” Leslie smiled when Sidney finished her drink. “I’ll get you another.”

  Slow down, a voice inside her head warned. You don’t want to get drunk and emotional. Remember, you want to talk to Lexie and Rob.

  Nodding at the voice, Sidney accepted another drink and sipped.

  “Oh, there’s Peter Winthrope,” Leslie said as an attractive man walked to the bar. Tall and lean, he was dressed in a fine, black suit with a crisp white shirt. His red tie was the only splash of color but it added to the elegance.

  He took a small glass of amber liquid from the bartender and turned in their direction. The lines in his face relaxed when he smiled at Leslie’s wave. He approached them, drink in hand, and as he got closer, his handsome looks became more apparent.

  Must be the salt and pepper hair, Sidney thought, resisting the urge to giggle.

  “Leslie, my dear, good to see you,” he said as he leaned in to peck her cheek. “How are you?”

  “Great,” she said, beaming. Sidney suspected that Leslie had a crush. “Oh, I’d like you to meet Sidney Roper. She’s Ross Records’ newest employee and artist.”

  Peter’s well-trimmed brows rose at the introduction. He extended a hand in which Sidney took. “I’ve heard lots about you, Miss Roper. All of it very good.”

  Flushing, Sidney was grateful for the poor lighting. She didn’t want to look like an idiot.

  “Nice to meet you,” she said.

  A ballad filled the air. Peter set his drink on the bar, still clutching Sidney’s hand. “Rob sent over a demo. You have quite the powerful voice. Would you mind a dance with an old man? I’d like to talk to you about something.”

  “Um, sure,” Sidney said as Leslie took her drink and gave her a shove.

  Sidney followed Peter to a spot on the floor. He turned toward her, wrapped a light arm around her waist, and continued to hold her hand. Light on his feet, he held her at a respectful distance, never once making her feel uncomfortable.

  “I’m not sure if you know, but I am Rob’s partner,” he said.

  “Yes, I did know that.”

  He smiled. “I handle movie soundtracks and the like. I’m currently working on a drama and your voice is exactly the voice I think I’ve been looking for.”

  “Me?” she asked.

  “Yes,” he said, chuckling. “You see, I’ve written a duet – a torturous tune full of anguish and despair. I’ve just found a young man for the male part. And I think you would be perfect for the female part. What do you think?”

  “I’m flattered,” Sidney said, her mind spinning. “But Rob manages me and I suppose I should check with him.”

  Peter flashed his handsome grin. “Rob gives me full reins with his artists. He likes for me to use them as often as possible. It helps to promote, you see. He sends me demos of every artist so I can get to know their sound.”

  “Oh,” Sidney said as a thought struck her. “Who is doing the male part?”

  “A new guy,” Peter explained. “New band Rob just found. Young man, very good. His name is Nathan Brennan.”

  Sidney’s face lit. “I just met him, too. I like their sound.”

  “So, do you think you’d like to do this?”

  “Yes,” she said with a broad grin. “It sounds like fun.”

  “Great,” he said as the song ended. He held her hand as they walked toward the bar. “I have all your contact info – Lexie sends me that. Has anything changed? Your phone numbers the same?”

  “All I have at this time is a cell phone,” Sidney said. “But that’s the same number that Lexie has.”

  “Good. I will get in touch with you so we can set up a time.”

  “Okay,” she said as she reached for the drink in Leslie’s hand. “Thanks.”

  “No, thank you,” he said with a slight bow. He picked up his drink. “I think I’ll mingle for a bit. I’m afraid that I have to cut it short tonight. Have a lat
e meeting with a director.”

  He disappeared into the crowd as Leslie peered over Sidney’s shoulder. “Isn’t he sexy?”

  Laughing, Sidney turned to her friend. “He is. And nice. He wants me to do a duet.”

  “Really?” Leslie asked.

  Sidney told her all about it. Just as she was finishing, she felt a tap on her shoulder. Twisting, she smiled as Joey Price stood before her, dressed in a navy suit.

  “Hey, Sidney,” he said.

  Lighthearted, she stood on her toes to peck his cheek. “Wow, you clean up nice. Is this the same suit you wore to prom?”

  Over his shoulder, his band mates laughed.

  “No, it’s not,” Joey said, humor lighting his eyes. “I rented a tux for that.”

  Sidney greeted the other guys, anxious to get a second to talk to Nathan.

  “You look lovely tonight,” Joey said, not to be deterred.

  “Thank you,” she said. “I’d get you a drink but I don’t think they serve kiddie cocktails.”

  “Oh, how you jest,” he said, wrapping her in a friendly hug. He lowered his mouth to her ear. “You do look stunning.”

  “Thanks,” she said as he released her.

  As they ordered soft drinks, Sidney introduced them to Leslie. When Joey decided to try his charms on her, Sidney sidled up to Nathan.

  “I spoke with Peter Winthrope earlier,” she said. “He told me about the duet you’re going to do.”

  Nathan’s eyes sparkled. “Cool, huh?”

  She nodded. “He asked me to do it with you.”

  “Yeah?” Nathan asked, a smile preparing to unleash on his lips. She nodded. He gave her a one-armed hug. “Cool. We’ll have a blast.”

  Dylan stepped closer just as Joey convinced Leslie to dance. Ethan leaned against the bar, sipping a soda.

  “You’re doing the duet with him?” Dylan asked.

  “Yeah,” Sidney said. “It’s exciting. I’ve never done a duet before.”

  Her happiness fell to her feet as she remembered the birthday gift Rob had given her. They’d never recorded the duet – hadn’t had the chance. They’d stopped speaking before they could arrange a time.