Love in the Spotlight

Chapter Seventeen - Game of 'nothing happened'

Jon was not really surprised he woke up in Alice's bed. He'd been thinking about her so much that no wonder his feet, or rather the taxi, had taken him there when he had been in a state of . . . less self-control. He felt like at home around her and he could sense she felt good with him around too, but at the same time Jon clearly saw how she was trying very hard not to let him too close or rather not to allow herself to feel something for him. He played her game, as he felt this was the only way to be near her, at least for now. Alice would however, every now and then, put her guard down, like this morning under the shower. This allowed him to hope the game they were playing would at some point turn into something real.

* * * * * * * * * *

"Scrambled eggs and toasts?" Alice asked when they reached the kitchen.
"Yes, great." Jon sat by the table. "Thank you."
Alice started moving around the kitchen. Jon did not mind just sitting there and watching her.
"So will you end up on some compromising photos with strippers after last night?" Alice asked seriously but he saw she was making fun of him.
"I hope not. God, this would give people something to talk about . . ."
"You know what they say . . . ?" Alice turned to him with a smile.
"What's that?"
She sang quietly:

"Cause the players gonna play, play, play, play, play

And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate . . .

Baby, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake
I shake it off, I shake it off..."

Jon started laughing.
"You are making progress at our song-game, Alice!"
"So we have a song-game?" Alice asked mockingly.
"Seems like we do." Jon looked very much pleased with himself.
"Anyway." Alice went back to making breakfast. "I don't think people talked much about the other stripper photos . . . ? I could not find any on the web . . ."
"You've been busy, I see." Jon dodged the question. Seeing that Alice was not planning to say anything more, he added. "Well, I might have exaggerated a bit . . ." And he gave her a puppy look.
"A bit?" Alice shook her head. "Anyway, did Travis manage to get you some interesting offers from Universal?"
"He actually did . . ."
Alice again stopped making breakfast and turned intrigued to Jon.
"Well?" she encouraged him when he did not continue.
"You will not believe what movie it's going to be . . ." Jon smiled like a little boy.
"Another drama?" Alice asked in disbelief.
"Nope . . . I mean they are interested in making a drama with me as well, but we mainly talked about making a romantic comedy!"
"Really?" Alice started laughing. "And who would get the leading female role?"
"This is not yet confirmed. We are to discuss the details on a meeting in two weeks . . ." It seemed Jon wanted to add something more. Alice clearly saw he was hesitating. He did not add anything though.
Alice realized something.
"But you are doing this because you want to, right? Not because I suggested it?"
"Take it easy, Stone. I can make my own decisions. And anyway, this is just in plans for now, but the plot seems interesting and quite original, so we said we can continue discussing this."
"OK, OK." Alice raised her hands in defense and went back to stirring the eggs. "I think it's a good change for you; trying to be funny, rather than making people cry."
"Hey, I'm very good at making people cry!"
"Yes, you are," Alice admitted. "So let's see whether you can be as funny, Midland."
"Jeez, thanks for believing in me, Stone." Jon stood up and looked over her shoulder. He was getting really hungry.
"You're welcome." She grinned. "OK, breakfast is ready. Let's eat in the garden, shall we?"
"As long as we do not end up soaking wet again . . ."
"As far as I remember last time we were soaking wet, we did quite alright . . . ?" Alice reminded him.
"Touché."

They went out to the garden. You could still feel the morning chill, but the sun was already shining; this made the air very refreshing. Jon had the jeans on, but was still barefoot. They put the food and plates on the table and sat down.
"So tell me, Midland . . ."
"Why does this table feel like a confessional?" Jon interrupted. "Will I always be expected to tell my secrets every time we sit here?" He asked smiling, but was again a bit uncomfortable, as Alice was clearly going to ask another difficult question.
"Why don't you wanna celebrate your birthday?" Alice inquired, totally ignoring his remark about the confessional.
Jon sighed and ran his hand through his hair. He started putting eggs on his plate and had a bite of the toast. He was definitely not in a hurry. Alice started eating as well, but gave him the look saying "I'm watching you." Seeing there was no running away from it, Jon finished chewing his toast.
"You know what one of my best childhood memories is?" He asked. Alice just shook her head. "My mom, my dad, and I going out for dinner on my birthday . . . It was my thirteenth birthday. I remember I felt so grown up, you know. My dad let me order for everyone and then we just sat there . . . talking, laughing . . . nothing special actually." Jon paused for a moment with a faint smile; in his mind he was back there, in that restaurant. He then remembered where he actually was and looked at Alice. "My dad left my mom two weeks later."
"Oh . . ."
"Now that I think back about that birthday party . . . he must have known already . . . he must have planned it before . . . but yet he was sitting there with us smiling, laughing. Something that was a great evening in the child's eyes, turned out to be one big lie, a falsification." Jon looked up at Alice trying to smile lightly. "I don't know . . . since then I do not like birthday parties. They . . . feel artificial to me. People wish you all the best, bring you gifts, but underneath they have their own agendas."
"First off all," Alice interrupted him. "Eat or your eggs will get cold. Second of all, last time we were sitting here, I asked you whether you are happy and you said that you are . . . but this." She pointed her fork at him. "This is not being happy, Jon. You do not celebrate something so symbolic as your birthday, because it still makes you think of the past? I know that the words I'm going to say are not mine and might sound pretty lame, but, Midland, you cannot have your past dictate your future! I know what I'm talking about, I'm the expert in that, remember?"
"I remember," Jon admitted.
"Jeez, it seems we are more alike than I thought . . ." Alice shook her head and continued eating.
They were eating in silence for some time when a thought hit Alice. She knew what she could do for his birthday . . . This would require a lot of coordination and she would need Travis' help for sure, but it might work . . .
"You know what my therapist says?" Alice broke the silence. "Take it step by step . . ."
"Are you giving me free therapy, Alice Stone?" Jon smiled, clearly a bit more relaxed.
"Who said it's free." She smiled naughtily. "Anyway, take it step by step, Jon. You do not need to throw a big part or any party whatsoever, just start with appreciating that it is your day and you have the right to feel happy on that day. Without any hidden agendas."
"Fine, this I can do. Just please, let's not have the whole crew gathering with a cake and singing the birthday song . . . Could you please make sure this does not happen?" He sounded so pathetic, Alice could not help but laugh.
"I'll do my best; no cakes, no singing, no wishes."
Jon just gave her a thankful nod.
"Since we have that all figured out." Alice started picking up the dishes. "Coffee?"
"Yes," Jon agreed. "But this time let me make it." He stood up and Alice looked at him surprised. "I hate that you feed me, serve me coffee and I just sit there and do nothing."
"Well, I am your assistant, Jon . . ."
"Yes, but on the set, not in your home."
"Fine! Then go make the coffee and grab this since you are in such an obliging mood." Alice handed him some dirty plates with a grin.
Glad that he got a task, Jon moved in the direction of the kitchen. Alice heard him singing one of Whitney Houston's as he walked: