The Scene Stealer: A Hollywood Romance

by Renee Harless

  Pushing off the ground, I rush toward my apartment door and stop short at the entrance. Tawny stands with her hands up, her gun lying on the ground before her. Opposite stands Tessa, a small and steady pistol in her grasp looking as cool as a cucumber.

  “Tessa?”

  “This woman just tried to get into your apartment,” Tessa calmly states as she walks closer to Tawny.

  “Tawny was bringing me home. She’s a police officer.”

  “Oh.” Tessa has the decency to look apologetic, but only slightly. “Well, perhaps you should announce yourself before walking in on someone.”

  My protector quickly defends herself. “You shouldn’t break into apartments.”

  Tessa’s face morphs as if she’s been slapped, her eyes widen, mouth hangs agape. Like she’s never been accused of such things.

  “I did not break in. I disabled the security system with the code and used a key to gain entrance.”

  In unison, Tawny and I ask, “How?”

  “You think I can let Devyn go off on his own and not have security measures in place? He’s not just a celebrity, he’s family.”

  “It’s still trespassing,” Tawny points out as Tessa lowers her pistol and tucks it back into her purse.

  “Semantics. Sorry, but I need to have a conversation with Larsen. A private conversation.”

  Two sets of inquisitive eyes turn on me and I nod agreeing to listen to what Tessa has to say.

  “Thanks, Tawny. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  The officer bends down to retrieve her gun and looks back to Tessa standing without a perfect brown strand of hair out of place.

  “You know if you’re ever looking to change professions, we’re always looking for new recruits.”

  “I don’t take commands very well.”

  I watch their small conversation unfold in front of me, their reciprocated interest blossoms before my eye.

  “I could train you.”

  “I bet you’d like to try.”

  Feeling like an outsider in my own apartment, I prepare to take a step back and let their teasing continue, but Tawny’s phone rings breaking their moment.

  “Tomorrow,” she murmurs to me as she steps out in a hastened pace, not giving Tessa a second glance.

  “Huh,” I murmur as I shut the door to the apartment and set the multiple locks in place. Tossing my bag on my kitchen counter, I sidle up onto one of the barstools and give my attention to my unexpected guest. “I didn’t realize you were into women.”

  She shrugs and then comes to join me on the other stool. “I’m attracted to both. Now, the reason why I’m here. Look at this.”

  She slides her sleek phone across the counter to me, and at first, I’m not sure what I’m looking at until my eyes focus on the zoomed-in picture.

  In disgust, I slide the phone back to Tessa, my stomach churning seeing Devyn and Elena in a lip-lock.

  “No.” Pushing the phone toward me again, she forcefully commands, “Look closer. Look at his face. Really look and remember.”

  Lifting the device into view, I take in how passionately Elena has wrapped herself around Devyn’s large body. Her arms hold him tightly against her figure, her back bent so that there is no space between them. In stark contrast, Devyn looks disinterested. His arms hang limply by his side. His eyes, though the lids are heavy, look outward as if he’s bored. His entire stance is the opposite of Elena’s.

  I remember those moments when we would kiss, we would lose ourselves in each other. It wasn’t just him or me, we became one. Pulling apart was one of the hardest things we could do.

  “Why are you showing me this? Furthermore, why are you even here? I mean, I’m happy to see you, but I’m really confused.”

  “Look, I know things went ass up for you two. Hell, you both look like you’re going to your own funerals.” Her eyes drift up and down my body and I have to stop myself from wrapping my arms around my body to cover up. “He hurt you. I get it. But you have to realize that everyone besides me and my family has hurt him, have used him. All he’s ever known is being the pawn in someone else’s game. With you, he was the king.

  “When you two were together, there was a happiness in him I have never witnessed before. It made him want to be better. You made him better.

  “I need him back, Larsen, and I need your help.”

  Despite the way things ended with Devyn, the fear in her voice ignites my love for him. It starts with a spark, just a flickering flame, and then the flare gets that first taste of oxygen and explodes into a cacophony of colors.

  “Tell me more.”

  “Since he came back he hasn’t been himself. Not eating. Not sleeping. He hasn’t resorted to his old ways, but I fear that the desire isn’t far off. We’re three days past the shooting schedule because he isn’t focused, his heart isn’t in it.

  “Tomorrow is the big scene. It can’t be postponed. It’s the racing shot he’s been preparing for weeks to get just right and the insurance is letting him do it without a double.

  “I think, well I know, that if you’re on set he’ll nail it. Even if you’re just there to support him he can get it perfect.”

  “What happens if something goes wrong?”

  For the first time in the months I’ve known Tessa, I see her outside of this controlled being she portrays herself to be. Her hand trembles as she combs it through her hair, the perfect curls frizzing at the touch.

  “If he misses his marks in the car there could be a crash, or worse, with the kind of stunt it is, he could be fatally injured,” she rambles.

  A car crash. My personal nightmare, and she wants me to come stand by and watch.

  My voice scratches as I reply, reminders of my night of horror filling my mind. “Tessa, I can’t. . .You know what happened to me.”

  “I know.” Her body deflates, realizing that my personal fright is more substantial than her nervousness. “I would have hated myself if I didn’t give it a try. For all it’s worth, I am sorry things ended the way that they did. Sometimes he reminds me of a lost boy seeking affection. He’s easily manipulated.”

  “I’m glad that he has you.”

  The silence is heavy, a weight on my chest.

  “What time do you leave?” I ask to make conversation.

  “Early, like last time. I was hoping that your rental would be vacant. I enjoyed my night there.”

  “Oh, sure. Let me get you a key.”

  Rising from the stool my feet just touch the floor when I see Tessa dangle a keyring in the air.

  “Ah, so you made a copy of that one too.” She shrugs with a smile, our tension broken. “You really did go into the wrong field of work.”

  “Probably.”

  “Have a safe flight, Tessa. It really was good to see you.”

  “You too. I’ll make sure to lock up when I leave.”

  I watch her leave my apartment, no embrace exchanged between the two of us, and I feel like my last piece of Devyn leaves with her.

  I hadn’t been tired when I got home, but now I can barely walk from the kitchen to my bedroom. My shoulders clang into the walls as I pass through the hallway. My body collapses onto my bed, the burden I’m weighted with feeling arduous on my shoulders.

  Instead of a visit from the sandman, I watch horrific images of my accident flash through my dreams. But instead of my face, Devyn’s takes my place.

  I wake in a cold sweat, shivers wracking my body. I have to peel away my sticky clothes from my skin. During the darkest part of the night, I step into the shower to rid myself of the dreams. The warm water does little to heat my skin.

  Naked and wet from the shower, I tuck myself under a clean set of sheets, covering my head with the duvet as if hiding from the boogeyman. But the nightmare lives in my head as the images continue to flit shot for shot, picking up where they left off.

  There is only one way these are going to stop. And for the same reason Tessa showed up here today, I would hate myself if I didn’t try to
help.

  Blindly I pack a bag, no idea what I toss inside, and slip on an olive green T-shirt and a pair of jeans.

  I’m standing in the hallway across from the door of the rental leaning against the wall. In the off chance that she’s sleeping, I don’t want to risk waking her up. I’m the opposite, my mind won’t turn off, so I have nothing else to do but wait.

  An art I’ve perfected.

  ~

  “Once we get to the track, I’m going to have to leave you to find Devyn. I’m not going to bring him to you until after, but I am going to tell him that you’re here. I’m hoping that it will give him enough focus on getting it done correctly in one take.

  “It may take me a little while to get back to you. You should know that they are going to film some crash scenes today as well. This wasn’t planned, but because of the tight schedule and the track rental, it was the best thing to stay on budget.

  “If it gets to be too much, you can head back here to Craft services.”

  Nodding, I make sure to clarify, “Devyn is going first?”

  “Yes, they want the track clean of debris as a precaution.”

  Her phone rings in her hand and she glances down quickly before looking back up at me. “Okay, it’s time. I’ll be back soon. Don’t look so scared.”

  Standing under the oversized tent with tables filled to the brim with all kinds of food, people milling about talking to each other, I couldn’t feel more alone.

  Apprehensively I try to blend in; walking over to the table filled with cookies, I grab two. I capture a few knowing looks. Eyes that have seen my darkest secrets plastered on a screen. Eyes that question everyone’s fascination. Eyes laced with confusion.

  I can’t regret coming here, though. If only to help Devyn perfect this new challenge before him. I’m not here for myself, a glimpse of him would be enough for me.

  “Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes?” the sultry voice purrs next to me, the exotic accent shimmying across my skin with the roll of her Rs. Turning my head, mouth filled with a biteful of cookie, I take in Elena in her full force.

  She’s more gorgeous than I imagined, embodying the supermodel status that she’s been given. Beside her, a tepid man stands with a clipboard clasped close to his chest, his dapper wireframes perched ever so delicately on his nose, as if it’s more of a fashion statement than a necessity.

  Though it’s a struggle, I manage to swallow the cookie in my dried up mouth.

  Without downcasting my eyes, I hold out my right hand to shake hers, but then quickly extend the left and tuck the right behind my back. I blush at the thought of having a supermodel shake my scarred hand. I imagine that she goes running for the Hollywood Hills. “It’s nice to finally meet you, Elena.”

  In a move that will possibly stay with me the rest of my existence, the model towering above me leans closer. I’m afraid I’ve offended her by even speaking in her presence. But her left arm snakes down my right, traveling the same path as my scars until she reaches my hand. The move is both intimate and intrusive.

  Elena brings my arm from behind my back, circling my waist until my hand meets her own right hand.

  Her lips are pressing against my lobe, and for a moment, I’m frozen in place until her delicate words seep into my ear. “My sister has contracture scars from spilling a pot of boiling water. Your wounds do not repulse me. I am happy to shake your hand.”

  The statuesque woman brings me almost to tears, but I recover as a person bumps into me from behind.

  “Ah. . .thank you,” I say, telling the complete truth. Perhaps there is more to Elena than any of us know.

  She finally releases my hand and I return to a normal stance, as normal as I can be in this instance.

  “I am sorry to have to leave so quickly. I would have loved to chat some. I just came to grab a snack.”

  “Oh, no problem. I’m just here to watch the Devyn. . .er, the cars. Maybe we can get together later?”

  “Oh, that sounds delightful. Michael,” she calls over to her assistant. “Schedule some time for me to meet up with Larsen, please.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” the man murmurs as he marks on his clipboard, but even as his hands move I don’t miss the malicious glare in his eyes. Eyes trained on me.

  “Until then. It was a pleasure.”

  “Likewise,” I reply just as they turn to grab a plate of food and retreat to a trailer off to the side.

  Off in the distance, I hear someone shout that everyone is to remain quiet on set. Forgetting the cookie in my hand, I walk toward the chainlink fence separating us from the track. A sleek car sits on the winding path, the layout reminding me more of a winding mountain road than one of the many races I’ve seen aired on the television.

  Across the way, a clapboard snaps at the director’s calling and then the car shoots off from its position. From where we stand, we can’t see much of the track, but a projection screen has been installed off to the side for viewing.

  I turn my attention to the screen, watching in amazement as the car zips down the path, Devyn maneuvering the metal contraption as if it’s no more than a metal toy. In the distance, I can see that a particularly tight turn is approaching, but instead of taking the turn slowly, Devyn drifts the back of the car into the twist.

  Awe powers through me at his achievement. I watch in amazement as he completes the series of turns, the brake lights never lighting as he anticipates the speed needed to increase and decrease.

  The director shouts, “Cut!” and I turn away from the screen, readying myself to see Devyn again. I have to wonder what Tessa told him to get him to focus so well or if he performed so well just to rid me out of his mind. With my back facing the track, I make my way over to the area Tessa had left me, making sure she can find me easily in the crowd.

  Cries clatter around me. Shouts of astonishment.

  Curious I turn to look back at the screen, wondering what has everyone in alarm.

  A blaze overtakes the screen. Beneath the fire sits the car Devyn was driving, the hood crushed from running into one of the concrete barriers. It seems surreal, and I have to wonder if this is staged for the movie. I can’t look away, waiting like everyone else for Devyn to exit the vehicle.

  An urge overtakes me as I wait for something, anything to happen – I need to get to him.

  I rush toward the fence, my exhausted limbs trying to scale the metal mass, but I’m pulled off by security.

  “I need to get to him. Please. Let me go to him!” I cry, but the guard shakes his head and tosses me back into the crowd.

  Right now, I imagine I appear like a crazed fan running around the space trying to find a way to get to a celebrity. My face is wild and frantic as I look toward an escape but find none.

  Suddenly I’m stopped short as a hand latches onto my arm.

  “I can take you.”

  “Yes. Thank you so much,” I reply as I follow him toward a waiting car.

  In my harried state, I don’t take in the wild eyes or tightening grip, my focus solely on getting to Devyn.

  Except my plan is thwarted the moment I slip into the back seat and a cloth is placed over my mouth and nose, the scent lulling me into a deep sleep, my awareness slipping away as I drown into oblivion.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN – DEVYN

  Ten days of giving up on everything. And as I stare at the amber liquid sitting on the counter before me, I’m about to toss it all away for nothing. Toss it away for the sweet and burning taste of a drink. But it doesn’t matter. I haven’t felt alive since I left that apartment walking away from Larsen.

  I’m wasting away.

  With a shudder, I pour a finger of bourbon into the glass. I just want to make it all go away.

  The pain.

  The hurt.

  The cold.

  I instinctively bring the glass to my mouth, letting the smell drift through my nostrils, filling my lungs, but I can’t bring myself to take a sip. I fight the addiction. Somewhere in the back of my mind
, I fear that I’m letting Larsen down by giving in. She always made me want to be stronger, to fight harder.

  God damn, how am I going to make it another day without her in my life?

  “Devyn? What are you doing?”

  Tessa’s surprise entrance causes my hand to jerk and a splash of the liquid lands on my lip.

  Disgusted with myself, I pull my arm back and throw the glass against the wall, shattering the tumbler and spilling liquid around the room. I feel like I’m watching the entire scenario in slow motion.

  Using the sleeve of my shirt, I wipe my face clean, hating that I’ve fallen so far.

  “I didn’t drink it, Tessa. I swear,” I cry as I fall into a heap on the couch, burying my head in my hands.

  She walks closer and grabs the neck of the bottle in her hand. “How did it even get in here? Everyone knows not to bring you alcohol. Their jobs are on the line.”

  “I don’t know. It was here when I arrived this morning.” Taking a deep breath, I look up at her, my eyes feeling red and dry like they did when I would wake from a hangover. “You know I didn’t drink any, right?”

  “I know. You’d have the bottle, not a glass.”

  The room feels like it’s closing in. The shelves across the way look like they’re growing in size. I’m Alice shrinking in Wonderland.

  “I don’t know what I’m doing, Tessa.”

  Nonchalantly she takes a seat next to me as if she didn’t just witness my meltdown.

  “I need you to focus today. It’s a big day.”

  “I know. I know. I’m trying. I just. . .I can’t find my mark.”

  “She’s here, Devyn.”

  That draws my attention. “What?” I whisper, wondering what she had to do to get Larsen here.

  “She’s here to support you today. And if you’re up for it, she’d like to see you after.”

  My mood instantly changes and it’s like the curtains have been pulled back. The light shines through and it’s marvelous. “Really?”

  “Yes. So we need your head in the game.”

  Surprising my cousin, I reach over and wrap her tightly in my arms. “Thank you. I’ll never be able to repay you.”