by Kailin Gow
Rachel’s eyes bug out for a second before she says, “So what will I be teaching?”
“How about something you do a lot of in real life,” I smirk. “Improv. Get them to pretend to be someone or something else for the hour. Stretch their imagination, ask them to think about all the things they would have to know, in order to become that thing. A hippo, for example, or a ballerina. What do they eat? Where do they live? Who do they live with? You know, background stuff.”
Rachel’s mouth opens into a big O. “You have to know all those things when you get into character? Five to seven year-olds?”
“Yup,” I say. “If you want to build out a well-rounded character. There’s more to looks, you know,” I joke.
“I should say the same about you, Summer. You’re surrounded by hotness all the time, and I don’t mean my brothers.”
“Oh, you mean Astor,” I say. “Well, not all the time. That was the problem.”
“Did you and he…” Rachel asks.
I blush. Rachel is my best friend since childhood, besides Drew and Nat, but I don’t want to be one of those girls who tell everyone everything. “Rachel, um, I’d like to keep that between Astor and me. I’m sorry, but Astor already has so many people wanting stuff from him, that even that little bit of info, if it leaks out, would cause him and me some embarrassment whether we did or not.”
Rachel licks her lips. “Oh, sorry, Summer, I don’t mean to pry. Just curious between girlfriends, that’s all.”
“I trust you Rach, it’s just that I don’t want to talk about that. You know Astor and I broke up, don’t you?” I take a breath. “I mean, I wasn’t even sure we were going with each other exclusively, but the schedule, the far away distance, the jealousy of having to see him kiss and get passionate with his co-star, the paparazzi, the fans…it’s too much for me right now. Maybe someday, when I’m back on my feet, but right now, I don’t need all that in my life.”
Rachel looks at me then with a sympathetic face. “Oh, Summer. I’m so sorry. I didn’t know you actually broke up broke up with him. He’s so nice, and he clearly loves you. But like you said, if it comes with all that, then I can’t blame you. You have to live your life for you, Summer. Not for anyone else. Including me, who would be totally trying to get your number for Astor and seeing if…Ow! That hurt!”
“Rachel…not helping,” I say.
“Sorry, not that I have a chance with him, especially after you. But tell you what? Let’s get the teaching thing I have to do, over, and afterwards, let’s go out for some ice cream or shopping…my favorite pick me up. Maybe a manicure, and we can get all those new crazy colors, or maybe we can even put in some highlights in your hair.”
“Purple?”
“Pink.”
“Um, no. Maybe when I don’t have to be meeting parents and trying to get a scholarship to USC.”
“Okay,” Rachel says. “But live a little, Summer. I know you do, and you did when Aunt Sookie was alive. But just because she’s not, doesn’t mean you have to die, too.”
“Rachel!” I say. I know what she means, and I know it’s well-meaning, but right now her words sound a bit harsh to me. “I am living. Just not the way I was before with Aunt Sookie. Before I was a kid. Now, I have responsibilities, I have bills to pay, a school to run, trying to get a scholarship or find my way to pay for college, and…”
“Okay,” Rachel says. “Enough stressing, let’s get working. Then afterwards, let’s go have some girl time fun.”
“Girl time fun?” I ask, raising my eyebrows. “You’ve been hanging with the guys too long.”
“Can’t get rid of them, Summer. You know, I’m related to them and all.”
I shove Rachel then. “And you’re complaining?”
“Summer, if I didn’t grow up with them and didn’t know all their flaws and imperfections…if I didn’t look like the female version of one of them…I might find them, um, hot, but…”
“It’s a good thing you don’t, Rach, or that will be kinda perverse. Although I grew up with them and know all their flaws and imperfections, yet I find them, um, very hot.”
“Eww, Summer, okay, that’s enough girl talk for now,” Rachel scrunches her face. With her long straight black hair, blue streaks, bangs, porcelain oval face, big blue eyes, little nose, and full lips, she looks like an anime doll. Wearing a short black and blue plaid skirt, black tights, and black combat boots, completing that look, I half expect her to stick out her tongue.
“You look adorable, BTW,” I say. “The kids will love you.”
“Cause I dress like one of them?” Rachel asks.
“Because you’re you. You’re fun, upbeat, cute with a little bit of crazy thrown in.”
Rachel laughs. “That’s me!” She checks her face in the mirror and say. “Five to seven year olds wouldn’t mind someone who has a mark on her neck, would they?”
I look over, and I can see a small purple and blue bruise on her neck. “A hickey? You should’ve put makeup on it to tone it down.”
“I didn’t think I would have one. I mean I barely felt it last night when Ryan and I were coming together. It was so intense that when he bit me, all I can feel was me exploding.”
“Um, Rachel, too much information,” I say. “But then again, I guess congratulations are in order that you and Ryan can get that far in your relationship and that you’re so happy together.” I think about Astor, and I’m a little bit sad about how things ended between us. But then I think about Nat and Drew…how I love each of them in their own way, and how I desire both of them in a mind-blowingly passionate way, too. Either one of them would be great with in bed…but am I ready to take that step and risk hurting one of them?
“We’re here!” Rachel says as we parked my SUV, another inheritance I received from Aunt Sookie. “So what should I say about this hickey? Should I put makeup on it, like you said?”
“Maybe, just in case you get any questions from the parents. And if you get any questions from the kids, just say…”
Rachel cuts me off and smiles widely. “That my boyfriend and I were playing vampires last night, and he took it too far, biting me for real that I actually got teeth marks.”
I nod, “Yup, that’ll do.” I shut off the engine, and opened my door. “Ready?”
“Ready,” Rachel responds, and we head into class.
*****
Rachel is grinning from head to toe, so pleased with her first time teaching. “I didn’t know it’d be so fun,” she says. “I mean, what a bright group of kids. What they came up with is so imaginative. Even funny! It was like they were entertaining me instead of me entertaining them.”
“Told you you’d like it,” I say, locking up the doors of the Academy and walking with Rachel to my car. “So what girlie thing do you want to do? Ice cream, a manicure, streaks in hair, or shopping or…”
“Hey, let’s leave the car here and walk over to that cute shopping area near the beach. They have an ice cream shop there, a beauty salon, and some cute boutique stores,” Rachel says. “Maybe we can get all of those things in today.”
“Maybe…if there’s no wait, but if not, then what do you really want to do?”
“Oh, it doesn’t matter,” Rachel says. “The important thing is, I’m here, back in Malibu, with my best friend, and being here with you is all that matters.”
“Aw,” I stop and hug her. “Thank you, Rachel. I’m just happy being here with you, too. I wish you were back here all the time, like when we were kids.”
“I know, me too. I think Drew and Nat feel the same way. Only, unlike me, they’re actually doing something about it.”
“Hey,” I say, “just because you’re a girl doesn’t mean you can’t too. If you want to be here, you’ll find a way. Plus, if you really like acting and want to pursue it, you should be here. You can always help me out with the Academy…”
Rachel’s eyes light up. “That would be perfect, Summer. After I graduate from high school, I can try to get in
to college around here, major in Drama, help you teach classes at the Academy, and see Ryan all the time. Oh, I’m so excited about this! Why didn’t I think about that?”
“Because I think you always had things planned for you. Because you’re the kid sister, the youngest one, and no one expects anything from you. It’s just the opposite with me where I’ve always been taught by Aunt Sookie and my mom to be self-sufficient, to be independent, to take care of myself.”
“To grow up too soon?” Rachel asks.
“Maybe, and now I’m really feeling it since Aunt Sookie’s gone.”
“I’m really really sorry, Summer. I should have been here for you more right after. You just seemed like you were handling it so well, and it seemed that Astor wanted to whisk you away with him right after so he can have you all for himself. And while Nat and Drew may not have liked that, I felt that was what you needed the most at that time…to get away with someone who wasn’t as close to Aunt Sookie as we were. I even had to assure Nat and Drew, just so they wouldn’t try to wrestle you away from Astor and bring you back to the Pad…Drew especially, since he’s impulsive like that.”
“No, that was fine,” I say, now knowing why they haven’t really contacted me as much afterwards. They thought I was with Astor all this time, when all this time, I’ve been in Malibu at the Pad with an occasional weekend visit with Astor.
“We’re here!” Rachel said happily. “My favorite salon here in Malibu. The Beautique. Let’s go in and get manicures. I’m getting purple with blue and silver glitter. What are you getting?”
“Have to see what they have. Maybe nude with a bit of mahogany at the tip.”
“Ooh, I can picture that now. Very sexy, Summer. When did you start getting this way? BTW, I love that you are.”
The elegant brunette lady who owns the place, Kitty Richards greeted us, and directed us to a manicure station, as we talked.
“Can I get you something?” a hip and pretty blonde girl asks. “Water, tea, coffee, ice cream?”
“Did you say ‘ice cream’?” Rachel’s face perks up.
“Yes, we have five flavors. Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry, Coffee Dream, and non-fat Butterscotch.”
“Um, can I have Coffee Dream and Chocolate?” Rachel asks.
“Sure,” the girl responds. “And you?”
“I’ll have Coffee Dream and Butterscotch,” I respond.
“Good choices,” the girl states before taking off.
“Wow,” Rachel said. “A manicure and ice cream at the same place. What else could I want?”
“Entertainment news, gossip, and all that good stuff,” I said, nudging her to look up at the big screen playing clips and interviews from one of the Entertainment TV shows. The girl with the ice cream returns, and she says. “Oh, if you’re afraid of not being able to eat your ice cream while getting your nails done, we can make them shakes, and you can drink your shakes with a straw so you don’t have to use your hands.”
“Okay,” I respond. “Make mine a shake.”
“Me, too!” Rachel says, laughing, “Only, can you add some whip cream to it, with a cherry on top?”
The girl smiles and responds, “Sure.”
*****
A moment later, we’re sitting there, getting our manicures, sipping our milkshakes, and watching television when I hear a gasp come from behind me. Some woman in her early thirties has her eyes glued to the big screen, and she is getting excited. “Oh, he is so hot,” she tells her friend, another woman in her thirties.
“What I would give to be able to lick his face,” she says. “I’d give my right eye if I can spend the night with him, letting him have his way with me. And me, taking him all in my mouth. I bet he’d taste so good, I could suck him all day.”
“That’s not even what I would do, Nicole. I’d rock him so hard, he wouldn’t be able to walk the next day.” She laughs.
“Oh, the toys?” her friend said. “He’d be great for a threesome, wouldn’t he? He’s got that angelic look, but he’s sexy as hell too with that body, sunken cheeks, and full pouty mouth that I could do so much with.”
Rachel and I stare at each other in disbelief, hearing how these women go on about having sex with some hot guy when Rachel nudges me, pointing at the television screen. It’s Astor, and he is in his costume, with a white open shirt falling to his black leather pants, exposing his smooth muscular chest and rippled abs. His blonde hair, which is now shoulder length is around his face. The women aren’t kidding. He looks so damn sexy, even I forget I am dating him, or had dated him. He is being interviewed on the set of his latest movie, and looking into the camera, answering the questions a beautiful television host asks him.
“All this couldn’t have happened for me if it weren’t for my late friend and mentor, Sookie Jones, and her Acting Academy where she coached me,” he says. “She passed away a few months ago, and I’m dedicating my performance in this film to her.”
“Any special plans for Christmas break when you finally get to go home from the set?”
Astor looks right into the camera, his blue eyes glistening. “To go back home to Malibu and be with my girl, Summer.” His eyes water up, looking into the camera. “I know that being away making this film has taken me away from you for a bit, but my heart’s always been with you, Summer,” he says. “I love you.”
“Aw,” the hostess responds. “That’s so sweet. She’s a very lucky girl.”
“I wish she would see that,” Astor states, his face showing a bit of sadness.
“A rough patch right now?” the hostess asks.
“Nah,” Astor says quickly, as if he just remembered he’s on national television. “We’re good.”
“Well, millions of your fans would be happy to see you single, you know?” the hostess says. “Or at least dream that you are.”
Astor laughs. “And I love my fans very much, too. Really. I wouldn’t be able to make the films that I do, if I didn’t have all of their support.”
The hostess smiles and states, “What a super nice guy. I wish you the best.”
“Thank you,” Astor responds, kissing the hostess on the cheek, causing her to blush.
“Oh, that Summer girl must be such a bitch to not appreciate him,” Nicole states.
“I hate her with a passion,” her friend responds. “Must be a total bitch.”
“A bitch we fans have to bring down so Astor knows there are better girls out there for him. Girls like us.”
“Definitely, Steph. Girls like us who have boobs and a real body. She’s probably some skinny model with a boy’s body and all hair.”
“Yeah, probably starves herself.”
“Here she is,” Nicole pulls out her phone and shows a picture to her friend. “Her name’s Summer Jones. What kind of a stupid name is that…like some kind of James Bond girl. Okay, so she’s not skinny but has lots of curves.”
“I really hate her now,” Steph responds. “Is she one of those Victoria’s Secret models? Probably as dumb as shit.”
“Not probably. Is. She doesn’t deserve him.”
“No, it says here that she’s the owner of Aunt Sookie’s Acting Academy. Right here in Malibu.”
“No, do you think she lives around here? She probably does. The school is here.”
“Someone should burn down her school, with her in it,” Steph says. “Then Astor can be ours.”
“Yes, ours! Ha ha!” Nicole agrees, sipping her milkshake.
When she finishes, she looks up and sees Rachel and I looking straight at her.
Her face freezes, looking confused at first, and then like a light bulb switching on, she nudges her friend, Steph.
Steph looks over at us, and they both grin a wicked mean grin. “Bitch.”
I get up out of my chair. My nails are almost all done except for the pinky on my right hand. Rachel gets up, too. We pay our bill, and start to leave.
On the way out, I hear one of them say, “She’s pretty, but she’s not all that
.”
At that point, Rachel goes back to our station, “Forgot my shake,” she tells the manicurist. “Thanks. Great job, we have to leave early though. My friend Summer Jones has an important date with Astor Fairway, you know.” She walks by Nicole and Steph’s stations and smiles widely. “Whom she gets to rock his world and lick his face, let him go down on her, all the time. Jealous much? Bitches!” She pours her milkshake over one of their heads and quickly walks out.
Rachel joins me outside, while I hear the bitches call Rachel a bitch and criticize her looks, and I laugh while we walk away briskly.
“You’d think by the time they’re in their thirties, they’d know better than to act like a bunch of insecure catty high school witches,” Rachel said. “Promise me when we get to be in our thirties, we won’t be like that.”
“And I thought high school had mean girls,” I say.
“Guess they never grow up, only uglier, older, and more bitter.”
“Guess so.”
“They probably think you deserve to be called a bitch and everything bad,” Rachel says.
“Probably,” I nod.
“That doesn’t mean they should feel justified in treating you badly. No matter what the reason is, no matter if they have any moral issues against you, treating someone badly by bullying and taunting you just because they feel morally superior to you, doesn’t make them right.”
I shake my head. “I honestly don’t know what I’ve done to get people hating on me so much. Date a movie star? Inherit a school that rivals another school? Being confused about having these intense feelings for a couple of really amazing guys whom I don’t even know how we’ve gotten so far already.” I gulped.
