Mainstream

Motivation

It took a month for Waylon to adjust to the crew on the set of Mainstream. There was no hope of adjusting o the crew backstage at Hollywood Minute.

"Waylon, baby, you're gonna do great, do me a favor, put a little more eyeliner on this guy? I want him to be so pretty no one doubts Eddie Gluskin fell for him, and talk to wardrobe, this shirt is too plain, we need something tighter..."

There were no new messages on Waylon's phone. Miles had been informed about the date, time, and location of the interview. Why wasn't he blowing up Waylon's phone with the usual obnoxious emoji?

Waylon sat, wringing his clammy hands together as two fake tan women and one boisterous man took to dressing him up like Gay Malibu Ken. His shirt was silky with a floral print, and his shorts tight and salmon.

Waylon escaped the changing room and immediately went to find Eddie. Instead, he ran into his worst nightmare.

"Park."

"Hello, Jeremy," said Waylon. He forced his voice to stay conversational. A coworker talking to a boss.

"You know, this thing is gonna wrap soon, and we won't be seeing as much of each other," said Jeremy, dark blue eyes narrowing as he stared at Waylon. "I need to schedule you to come by the office sometime next week before our time comes to an end. I have some ideas I want to run past you."

"You can schedule me to come by the office, but that's all it will be--business talk," said Waylon.

"Oh, it'll be business, you can bet your ass on that," said Jeremy. "I have some business to give you. A couple of jobs I know you can do well."

"I'm not going to suck you off anymore," said Waylon. The blunt language echoed in the near-empty corridor. Jeremy held up his hands in mock surrender.

"Whoa, whoa, where is this coming from? Why are you suddenly against oral sex? I thought that was kind of your specialty," said Jeremy.

"I'm with Eddie now," said Waylon, holding his chin higher. "I won't betray him like that."

"Oh, please, I'm part the Gluskin Inner Circle, I know about his little contracts," said Jeremy, smirking. "Damn smart man, if you ask me. If you can handle the sexless relationships with gorgeous starlets, that's where I'd fail. See, I'm a sexual creature, with an immense sexual appetite, and you seem to be a creature of the same habit, which is why we get along so well."

"I don't care what you think you know about Eddie's relationships," said Waylon, his voice going cold. "But me and Eddie are together, and I won't do anything with anyone else while that's in effect. So, I apologize, but I can't make that meeting. I'm going to be busy. With literally, anything else."

"Hmm, you know, funny you can't make that meeting," said Jeremy, chuckling darkly. "See, filming is over in a week if Dennis can keep his momentum up. After that, I had a few pieces I was gonna offer you. Someone who knows their place, who works hard to do a good job. But...if you're ready to play for the team anymore, I guess I'll be interviewing the next generation. Your replacement. Replacements? We'll see how ambitious I get."

Jeremy turned and walked down the hall. Waylon let him go.

I don't need your disgusting jobs. I hope they like choking on your smelly dick.

Any number of cruel responses came to mind, too late to be of any good.

Waylon followed the signs to the greenroom, and walked inside. He sighed in relief when he saw Eddie.

"Darling, whatever are you wearing?" asked Eddie, seated in a cloth director's chair near the caterer's table. He wore the same nondescript black suit, pale blue shirt he had left wearing that morning. A Styrofoam coffee cup steamed in his hand.