Broadway Lights

by Jen Calonita

  "There you are, K!" Sky Mackenzie, my former FA costar and current PYA one, sounds like she's in a huff. She rolls her eyes at me. "Where have you been?"

  "Sky!" I say, and without thinking I give her a hug. She instantly stiffens, but I don't care. Even with our notoriously volatile history--Sky and I never got along during our decade-plus run on FA, even though we played fraternal twins--I've surprised myself by actually missing her. I even miss our bickering. "How have you been?"

  "Outrageously busy and in demand," Sky says with a toss of her long raven hair. She looks extra tanned (but thankfully not orange. That's happened to her before), and she's wearing a fitted, strapless silver ruched dress that she's paired with calf-length blue leggings and black Coach heels. "I went to Les Deux last week, and Winston's Bar on Thursday, and had meetings at Wagman's on Friday--they can't wait to work with me again--and I've been tanning and reading my script for my new show and..."

  I stare at Sky as she talks about her packed schedule. Normally I would think she's being smug, but despite her boasting, she seems nervous, and her dark eyes have shadows underneath them. I know this girl. We practically grew up together on set. "Sky," I interrupt quietly.

  She stops short and her cocky grin fades. She waves a hand in the air, her dozen bangle bracelets sliding up to her elbow. "I'm bored."

  "I know," I chime in, and put an arm on her shoulder without crushing her lacquered hair. It's an acquired Holly-wood skill. "Me too."

  "I thought I would love a little R&R," Sky dishes. "Time for Palm Springs, a shoot-down to Cabo, you know? But it gets old. I miss work. I need work. I can't wait to get on set in July. I just wish it was in town rather than in Vancouver." She makes a face, pursing her plump (fake. Shh!) lips.

  "At least you have a show to go to." The words slip out and hang there. Wow. Did I really just say that? Do I miss having a show? Why am I admitting that to my supposed rival?

  "Please, K, not the pity act," Sky clucks. "You're doing the Great White Way! You're going to get total cred and get some plum role working with Clooney after this. My show could be canceled after three episodes." Her eyes open wide, as if she can't believe she just admitted that to her nemesis.

  I can't help but giggle. "We're pathetic."

  Sky actually cracks a smile. "We are, aren't we? We've only been out of work for two months, if that!"

  "Excuse me, Sky? Kaitlin?" A guy in a tux holding a video camera approaches us. "Sorry to bother you. I don't know if you know me, but I'm Ryan Joseph, Media Relations for Family Affair."

  "Ryan!" I say, excited. I barely knew the guy, but anyone from FA is a friend in my book. "How are you?"

  He looks relieved. "Good. Tough getting in here tonight, but Tom said if I didn't catch you two here, I might never see you together again. We thought this could be fun to post this week, before the final episode airs next week, and..."

  "What are you talking about, Raymond?" Sky asks impatiently.

  "It's Ryan," he says, looking nervous.

  I shoot Sky a look and gently tuck a lock of my blond hair behind my chandelier earrings. "Ryan, what do you need?"

  Ryan's shoulders relax a little. "Tom Pullman sent me. He was hoping you guys would do a YouTube shout-out for the last episode of FA that we could put up ASAP. Let me just call Tom and he can explain more." He punches the number I know so well into his phone, and within seconds Tom is on the line and Sky and I are listening in to his request. Something short, sweet, funny, maybe in character even. Pretty please?

  Sky and I look at each other, and I see the small sparkle in her eye. We'd do anything for FA. "We'll do it," I answer for both of us. Sky doesn't try to stop me.

  After Sky does a quick makeup touch-up and I do a pat of powder on my shiny nose and a swipe of nude shimmer gloss, I stop quickly at our table to say hi to Liz and to apologize to Austin for the delay. Next thing I know, Sky and I are huddled on the glowing candlelit outdoor patio, where it's much quieter, shooting a two-minute impromptu promo for our (almost) dearly departed TV show.

  "We're back!" Sky yells, throwing an arm around me and making me giggle as the camera records. "Miss us much?" She blows a gum bubble through her hipster wine-colored lips, and it pops loudly.

  "Sky," I scold. "No chewing gum." I figure Ryan will rewind and redo, but he's still taping. Okay then. "The Family Affair finale is fast approaching, and you don't want to miss a second of it," I tell the viewers.

  "K means business," Sky interrupts. "Don't upset her. We don't need her winding up in Cedars Sinai again." I shoot her a dirty look.

  "Or Sky drowning her sorrows at a karaoke bar," I retort, and receive an elbow to my ribs. "You guys don't want to hear her sing."

  "Or K cry. Again," Sky deadpans.

  "Or Sky over-tan herself to combat boredom," I quip, and give her the evil eye.

  The two of us look at each other and start to laugh. "Some things never change," I tell the camera. "Like us. You know you love the drama."

  "Family Affair," Sky adds. "The series finale, next Sunday at nine. Be there or be...?" She looks at me.

  "Square?" I question.

  Sky shakes her head. "You really are a dork."

  I start to laugh some more. Soon we're both uncontrollable. Ryan stops recording.

  "That was clever," he says in amazement. "You guys seem like you really like each other."

  We both stop laughing at once.

  "Are we done here?" Sky asks. Ryan nods.

  The two of us head inside, and Sky turns to me. I see the smallest of small smiles on her dark lips. "I'll see you around."

  "Sure," I tell her, knowing it's probably not the case, and for some reason that makes me sadder than I would have thought. "Good luck with the--"

  BOOM!

  Someone pushes me and I bang into Sky, sending her backward into a waitress carrying a tray of drinks. The three of us crash with a thud so loud that DJ Bizzy actually stops spinning.

  "What the hell?" Sky jumps up and shakes liquid off her. My dress and even the tips of my hair are drenched, and the poor waitress is covered in spilled drinks. Rodney is at my side in seconds and helps me up. I turn to see who I banged into, and my jaw drops. "Ava? Lauren?" I say awkwardly. "I didn't know you were invited." Eek. That sounded rude.

  Ava Hayden and Lauren Cobb, two girls I spent more hours with this spring than my best friend, stand in front of me with their arms crossed. They're scowling, but they look amazing. Ava's long blond hair is pulled back, and she's rocking a cream chiffon Monique Lhuillier dress with a purple sash that I've always loved. Lauren's wearing what I think is a Roberto Cavalli sheath in black, but she's made the look her own by adding lots of chunky boho jewelery--maybe too much. Her brown curly hair is down and super shiny. For a split second I wonder whether their outfits were lifted. The two have a nasty habit of deciding to stuff new dresses into their purses at Saks, which is just one of many reasons we stopped hanging out.

  "Have a nice fall?" Ava stares at me darkly, her long, thin ivory face twisted into a deep frown. Lauren laughs so hard the unrecognizable drink in her hand splatters all over, missing her dress by inches. "Sorry," Ava adds coolly. "Guess we didn't see you. Kind of like the rest of this town."

  "You pushed me?" I'm flabbergasted. Yes, we're no longer friends, but we didn't end on such bad terms. We just sort of sailed away from each other--me with motor full-throttle, but still. I never said a bad word about either of them to the press and I definitely could have after the havoc they caused at my Sure photo shoot.

  "Aw, your dress," Lauren mock sobs, and puts a hand to her heart. She cocks her head to one side, her brown eyes so wide they seem to squish her high cheek bones. "To be honest, it's sort of an improvement."

  "Marchesa is so last month," Ava adds.

  "K, are you going to let these D-listers talk to you like that?" Sky comes to my defense.

  I remove Rodney's hand from my arm and walk over to the two of them. "Don't do this," I say quietly so that only they
can hear. "We're not friends, but we don't need to be enemies. Don't we all have enough of those?"

  Ava smiles thinly. "I never have enough enemies. Congratulations! You, my friend, just moved to our number-one spot."

  "Why?" I'm dumbfounded. "Can't we just leave each other alone?"

  "It's more fun this way," Lauren coos. "Ava and I like drama, didn't you know?"

  "You mean you like any chance you can get to get some free publicity," Sky interjects sharply. The girls ignore her.

  "I can handle this, Sky." I'm shaking and on the verge of tears. Everyone in the room is agape at the scene. My whisper-thin soft dress is clinging to my legs gracelessly, soaked in red wine, and I know a picture of me looking this pathetic will show up in some rag or another tomorrow, thanks to camera phones. I'm humiliated. I don't want the trouble, but if they're going to give it, then I have no choice. "I think you two should leave."

  "And what if we don't?" Ava taunts."We never miss a party at Crown Bar. Even if it's for a premiere as lame as yours." Lauren snorts.

  "That's it!" Sky yells, scaring even me. "This is our movie and I won't let you talentless posers bash it--especially when it rocks and you two are just jealous that the best offer you'll ever get is for Celebrity Rehab." She jabs a long, bony finger at them every other word, then makes a crazy hand motion to a nearby bodyguard and to Rodney, her plum polish flashing black in the low lighting. "Toss them out."

  Whoa. I need to sound more assertive like Sky sometimes.

  "You can't do that, Sky, and I don't think you want to either," Ava says smugly. "We were invited. Now, go throw your temper tantrums somewhere else. You really don't want to get on our bad sides again, do you?"

  "You've been uninvited," I say before Sky can answer the question. "Invite or no invite, this is our movie, not yours, and neither of you is welcome here. Not after this." I nod to a studio executive who has been watching the whole exchange. She motions to the private security.

  "Ladies, you're going to have to leave," one of the guys says in a gruff voice.

  "I knew you were weak, Kaitlin, but I had no idea you were this much of a baby," Ava murmurs.

  "Bye!" Sky says gleefully. "I'm sure there's some C-list party happening at some totally over 'hot spot' that would be happy to have you guys."

  I try not to snort, but it escapes my lips, and Lauren's eyes narrow like slits.

  "You're both going to be sorry for this," she snaps.

  "I doubt it," I tell her, my confidence coming back. That felt good. What's she going to do to me? I won't even be in town next week.

  The security reaches for Lauren's and Ava's elbows, but they snatch their arms away, click-clacking out of the room in their matching five-inch Charles David platforms. I can't help but giggle--they look like gangly, agitated giraffes. DJ Bizzy goes back to spinning, and someone from Wagman's hands Sky and me towels. They even ask if we want someone to get us new dresses, but I decline. Sky looks like she might say yes, but she sees my face and decides against it. "We'll dry. It's hot in here," I tell the poor assistant.

  "We'll just smell like the hobos down on Hollywood Boulevard," Sky quips, and then she's gone before I even turn around.

  "Are you okay?" Liz rushes over. "What was that about?" Liz's dark curly hair is pulled back for a change, and little curls fall around her caramel-skinned neck, which is adorned with a big turquoise necklace that matches her spaghetti-strap mini dress. Her arms look better than the First Lady's, thanks to daily kickboxing. Despite what's just happened, I smile. One of the best parts about New York is that Liz is coming with me. She's bunking with my family while she does a summer writing and directing workshop for high school students at New York University.

  "Who invited them?" Austin asks.

  "I don't know," I admit. "I thought we were on okay terms, but after this episode, I guess I was wrong."

  Liz sighs. "Guess your truce is over."

  "Guess so." I'm crestfallen. "At least I won't be here to deal with it."

  Austin looks at Liz. "Speaking of leaving town, Burke, I've figured out where we're going to go before you leave."

  "Without me?" I protest.

  "You were sort of preoccupied," he teases.

  "It's good, Kates," Liz insists. "You're going to love it."

  "So now it's a surprise." Austin smiles mischievously. "Don't try to get it out of Nadine or Liz either."

  "Fine." I take a mini burger from a waiter and stuff the whole thing in my mouth. Fighting really makes a person hungry. While I chomp, I wring out the front of my dress again. Someone snaps a picture of me. And another. Guess I'll be back in the headlines again this week, after a few months off. It's weird to think I'll have to read about it at a crowded New York City sidewalk newsstand rather than on a beach lounge chair in Malibu.

  "I'm going to miss Los Angeles," I say to no one in particular.

  "Even all this?" Liz is incredulous as she glares at a cameraman invading her personal space.

  I look around and shrug. "Even all this."

  Austin puts his arm around me. "I've got to say one thing about you, Burke. You really know how to go out with a bang."

  That I do.

  Wednesday, May 27th

  NOTE TO SELF:

  Interview w/ People re: PYA: Fri. @ 1.

  Ask Nadine 2 get more boxes 4 move.

  UPS Pickup 4 boxes: Mon. @ 4.

  Get guidebook 4 NYC.

  Date w/ A: Mon. Time: TBA.

  Flight 2 NYC: Tues. @ 11:15 AM.

  TWO: The Happiest Place on Earth

  "Ready to go?" Austin asks when he greets me at my door. It's only nine AM on Monday morning, which is kinda early for a date, but I'm not complaining. I have a little over twenty-four hours before I have to be at LAX to take a plane to New York, and I plan on spending every minute I can with Austin before I go. "You're wearing sneakers, right?"

  I look down at my feet. Green Pumas. Check. My KUT from the Kloth boyfriend jeans are rolled at my calf, my caramel hair is pulled back in a ponytail, and I'm wearing a green Juicy tank top to combat the eighty-degree weather. I also have an ivory Diesel sweatshirt with me in case we're in A/C today. Austin's only clue about today's mystery date was to dress comfy and casual. My guess would be the beach, but he didn't ask me to pack a swimsuit so I must be wrong, especially since Austin's not wearing a swimsuit either. He's got on long khaki shorts, a cool blue American Eagle tee, white Converse high-tops, and aviator Ray-Bans on top of his head that are pushing back his bangs.

  Hmm... Maybe we're paragliding? Nah. Mom would kill him, especially after how she wigged when I tried it in Turks and Caicos. Ooh! Maybe we're going on a hot-air balloon ride! I always thought it would be fun to go on one of those. But come to think of it, I've never actually seen a balloon floating over Los Angeles.

  "You're all set, Austin." Nadine appears in the hallway, her thin arms loaded with boxes. "Rodney is going to meet you guys there." Nadine shipped all of our nonessential stuff last week, but Mom keeps finding more things I might need (Books that might be worth optioning for a movie! White Chloé sundress for the Hamptons! I tried reminding her that I probably won't be able to get out there that much, but she ignored me). Nadine has to head back to UPS today to ship the rest. Thankfully my suitcases are packed, so I don't have anything else to do. I purposefully planned it that way so Austin and I could have the whole day together. Plus, anything I've forgotten I can text Nadine about on my iPhone. Nadine is the most amazing personal assistant ever.

  I'm so glad she is growing her hair out. Nadine's strawberry red locks are finally shoulder length, and now she can pin them back any way she likes. Today she's got her hair half-back in a clip. She never could have pulled that off last year with her pixie cut. Matty and I keep telling Nadine if she ever finds time for a boyfriend, this Ken Paves cut I treated her to will go a long way in winning him over. And why shouldn't it? The rest of Nadine is adorable too. She's tall and thin, and her look is very laid back. Nadine prefers On
itsuka Tiger sneakers over Yves Saint Laurent heels any day.

  "I really owe you for this one," Austin tells Nadine.

  "Nah." Nadine shrugs. "Just promise you won't miss Kaitlin's opening night performance. I don't think I could handle the drama if you didn't." Nadine winks at me.

  I feel my face redden. "We should be going." I grab the front door with one hand and gently shove Austin backward with the other. "Tell Mom I'll touch base later."

  After Austin powwows with Rodney to go over directions, and he and I finally get in his mom's car and hit the road, I can't take the suspense anymore. "Are you going to tell me where we're going or what?" I say, a tad impatiently.

  Austin smirks. "Be patient, Burke. You're going to love this."

  I eye him skeptically. Of course. I'm going to love it. I love doing anything with Austin. Which is why I'm mopey about not getting to do everyday things with him for the next few months. No dates, no drives to the farmer's market on a quiet Sunday morning, no runs to Pinkberry for much-needed frozen yogurt. No lacrosse matches to watch. My good friend Gina, who is on a CW show and is wise beyond her years, says that if I were older, the distance wouldn't be a big deal. I'd fly back and forth on my days off or meet up with him in Miami for a weekend.

  But I'm not older. I'm only seventeen. And even though some actresses I know have pads in nearby Toluca Lake (which I love and so wish we would move to), my mom would freak if I even suggested jetting off to see Austin. The term PR nightmare flashes in my head. I'll leave those to Lindsay Lohan. Instead, I'm trying to be mature about the situation and remind myself that location changes are part of my life. I go on location all the time for work. Except... I haven't gone away for this long a stretch since we started dating.

  "You're going to be back in three weeks, you know." Austin reads my thoughts as he leans forward to look into the lane of the interstate we're merging onto. I still haven't gotten my license so I love to watch him drive. He looks so responsible. Plus, the wind looks good in his blond locks (not that we have the windows rolled down on the interstate, but when we're just driving to The Grove we do) and I can stare at him all I want while his eyes are on the road. I glance at the interstate sign for clues. We're heading south, but we've already passed the city limits so I can rule out a picnic at Venice Beach. We're not heading toward the water so Malibu is out too. "We'll have all weekend together and you get to wear Diane von Furner," Austin adds.