Hollywood Heights! Leddie must go on

chapter 11

Mel hated being nervous. Most of the time she could shake her nerves and keep going. This was different. Not only was she at UCLA film school seriously thinking about pursuing a college career, but she was hoping to see Brian again and that made her feel guilty.

She knew that she wanted to take the job offer for the summer and next fall since she hadn't been serious about applying to schools. If things went well, she could start UCLA in the Spring. She walked through the open house smiling and nodding, hating herself for looking around the room for the boy with the dark hair.

Boy? Mel thought to herself. He was probably a professor, and she was totally crushing on him. Warning bells went off in her head that she needed to turn around and leave. She had a great job lined up that could turn into something permanent. Her situation with Adam was a mess, and what were they fighting about? She wanted him to go to NYU, so if she won the argument, he'd be leaving her.

Mel felt her anxiety rise, so she decided to grab a few pamphlets and walk out. She looked at one of the flyers sitting on a table, and it had a list of some classes in the degree program: History of American Motion Picture, History of Documentary Film, Theory and Practice. History and Theory? Mel was already getting bored. Maybe college wasn't exactly for her.

"You know, they put all the coma-inducing classes at the top of that list,"a voice said from behind.

Mel turned and saw Brian smiling at her. He was just as cute as she remembered.

"Are they trying to scare away students?" Mel laughed.

"Kinda," Brian said. "The school gets a lot of applicants, and that's one way to weed through them."

Mel had to find out, "You sounds like you know a lot about the admissions process; are you a professor here?"

"Me?" Brian laughed. "No, I work part time in the Dean's office helping to pay my way through school."

"Oh, that's cool. So you're an undergrad?" Mel asked. She could feel herself blushing. He seemed really into her.

"Uh, no a grad student," he said with a smile. "Just finishing up my first year."

"Oh, wow," Mel said. She figured he had to be at least 21 or 22. Wow, was he cute.

"Hey, so, do you maybe wanna get some coffee?" Brian asked. "I can fill you in about the school and the admissions process."

This was the moment she was hoping for. Or dreading? He was into her. It would be so easy to accept his invitation. She could say yes, have coffee, and tell herself it was nothing more than just picking a fellow filmmaker's brain about the business, college, whatever. But would it really be just that? Could it be that she was just running from the painful situation she was going through with Adam right now. Would it be easier to wash her hands of Adam and pretend she didn't love him? That way, she could start fresh with no attachments. It would make the pain of knowing her first true love was thousands of miles away a little less overwhelming.

"I wish I could," Mel said, "But I'm meeting someone in a bit. Thanks for the offer."

Brian nodded his head and told her a few other things about the college before he excused himself. Mel saw him go and knew she acted properly, but felt conflicted. Again, she did the right thing, but felt like it in some ways it was wrong.

　

Loren and Eddie had laid down the track of their duet. Loren knew that their love came through in the lyrics. Neither had told Jake their idea of recording the album together yet. They agreed to record a few songs to have as ammunition for their argument.