Beverly Hills: Season 5

Season 5, Episode 14: It Takes Two

   Truso's Place is a tall building on Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills. Most of the walls of the entire building are covered in windows and and the remaining exterior spots are dark bricks. Israel sits in the tiny office he was given since starting this job months ago. Since he chose not to attend college, Israel took it upon himself to apply here to work for James Truso- one of the most successful businessmen in the state. He owns half of Beverly Hills and is working his empire up to own more of it. Israel has learned so much about the business world since working here and as much as he still hopes to snag a few jobs as a stunt double on the big screen, he wouldn't mind owning a few businesses here and there.
   "Knock knock." The door to Israel's office swings open and Harrow swoops inside with Iris in her arms. Her long brown hair spills down her shoulders and she's wearing a long brown tank top and jeans. Her entire appearance just bringing a smile to Israel's face.
   "Hey you." Israel gets up from his desk, going over to her side to hug her. The large window behind him overlooks Wilshire, the hospital just down the street. "What are you doing here?"
   "You forgot your lunch." Harrow hands him the brown paper bag filled with the lunch she had packed for him the night before.
   "Thanks, babe." Israel grins at her, pressing his lips against her cheek.
   "So I see your mom and James are quite cozy." Harrow glances behind her shoulder at Mrs. Sepulveda and James nuzzling each other in the doorway of James's office. The entire work place is covered with desks and working people who are somehow still getting paid less than what Israel is making. Mrs. Sepulveda is giggling as James whispers in his ear, a goofy grin on his face. "Hey, isn't it weird that if they get married, you'll be related to Alice?"
   "Don't even put that out there yet." Israel shoots her down, watching his mother and his boss in disgust. It's almost like watching a car accident. As much as he wants to look away, he can't. He doesn't want to think about Alice being his step sister. After last year, he's not the biggest fan of that girl and having her be a part of his family will be more than weird. Israel continues watching the couple before James spots him and lifts his hand to wave to him. Israel clears his throat, waving back from across the office. "This is mega awkward." He says to Harrow through a clenched jaw.
   "Just keep smiling and waving." Harrow waves to James as well and then makes Iris wave. Israel's eyes widen when he notices Mrs. Sepulveda and James both heading towards Harrow and Israel. "Oh, they're coming over here."
   "I should leave or something." He whispers to her, suddenly getting nervous.
   "No, they already saw you." Harrow adjusts the baby in her arms.
   "Well shouldn't I hide?" He hisses. "I don't think you know how uncomfortable this is going to be."
   "Looking sharp, Iz." Mrs. Sepulveda greets her son, her hands behind her back. She looks a little uncomfortable herself- which is a good thing. Israel isn't the only one feeling some type of way.
   "He does know how to pull off a business outfit." James agrees with a forced chuckle. He looks at Harrow. "And who's this?"
   "This is Harrow." Israel introduces them. "She's my girlfriend."
   "And this is our baby Iris." Harrow shows off her daughter with a proud smile.
   "Very cute." James smiles down at the baby before waving at her.
   The four of them stand in silence, the only sound is Iris's little squeaks as she looks around the office. Israel clucks his tongue with nothing really to say. He doesn't want this to be awkward because he's glad that his mom is dating again but maybe the fact that she's dating his boss in particular is the cause of why this is so uncomfortable.
   "Well, I should get going." Mrs. Sepulveda breaks the silence, Harrow nodding in agreement. "It was nice seeing all of you."
   "I should go too." Harrow glances at her boyfriend to let him know that she's only leaving so this isn't so awkward if Mrs. Sepulveda leaves by herself. "Bye, babe."
   "Bye." Israel waves goodbye to Harrow and his mother as the women leave. He glances over at James, who awkwardly waves at him again before heading over to his office next.

   "JC, let's go!" Xavier calls upstairs to his sister as he slings his back pack over his shoulder. "We're going to be late!" He stands at the bottom of the stairs, wondering if he's going to have to to up there and make sure that she didn't escape out the window again. Her running away not that long ago really scared both him and Julia. JC was dumb anyways for running off just to prove a point to her mom but he's glad she's back home and safe. Drew was... different.
   "You act like you actually WANT to go to school." JC comes down the stairs, her Kate Spade bag slung onto her elbow. "Can you have some common courtesy and remember that not all of us like it?"
   "I don't like it but Julia told us that we have to be at the school by 7:15, thanks to you." Xavier slips on his all black converse. Ever since JC's incident last week, Julia had given the two of them some new ground rules that they need to stick by for now on. Xavier knows that JC never got along with her mother so he was surprised to see Julia squirming a little when JC wasn't returning calls or coming back home. Xavier often wonders if his mom would be the same way- if she was still alive, that is. His mother died in a crash that resulted in her drowning in some lake that Xavier never goes near anymore. After her death, Mr. Archer fell off the map so Xavier landed in the arms of the Millers- who were friends of Xavier's parents. Xavier doesn't think about this stuff often but when he does, he likes to believe that his mother would think that way too.
   "You actually plan on listening to that?" JC raises her upper lip in annoyance. "It's not like she's actually there to make sure we followed her rules."
   "You never know with her." Xavier mumbles to himself as he opens the front door, blinking quick when he realizes a man standing on the porch, his fist in the air to knock on the already open door. "Oh, hello."
   "Hi." The man looks from Xavier to JC, confusion in his eyes. "Is this the Miller residence?"
   "Miller slash Archer slash Kane." JC answers with a small laugh, looking at the man and tilting her head. "I'm sorry, who are you?"
   "I'm Steven Archer." The man's grayish eyes look straight at Xavier. "I'm your dad."
   Xavier doesn't move a muscle. He hears JC gasp but he stares ahead at the man that claims to be his dad. He doesn't doubt this dude's title. They have the same eyes, the same dark hair, the same dimple in the right cheek, even the same nose. He has never seen his father before so this is definitely a first. Well, he probably has seen his dad before but that was when he was just a baby, before he was abandoned. "Come on, JC. We have to get to school."
   "Xavier." She whispers to him as he leads the way out of the house and onto the porch.
   "What?" Xavier looks at her in confusion.
   "Did you not hear what I said?" Steven speaks up again, giving some sort of wave to his son to get his attention. "I said I'm your dad."
   "I heard what you said." Xavier snaps at him. "What do you expect me to say to that?"
   "I'm not sure." Steven stuffs his hands into the front pockets of his jeans. "Maybe invite me inside?"
   "We have school." Xavier blinks. "Plus, I want nothing to do with you."
   "Xavier." JC whispers again.
   "What?" He finally looks at her. "Why am I going to invite the man who left me with a complete other family into our house? Why would I give him any time of day?"
   "I want to sit down and talk with you about that stuff." Steven explains, looking weirdly nervous. "If you're willing to?"
   "I'm not." Xavier responds dryly before walking down the porch steps towards the Lexus in the driveway. No way is he standing around chatting to the guy that was supposed to be his dad. They may be related by blood but Steven is definitely no father of his.