Starlet's Web - #1 {Exclusive Read}

Starlet's Web - Uaries - LEARNING LINES

~    LEARNING LINES

I had a text from Richard when I got out of the shower. I changed into sweats and met him in his trailer. Clyde, Sara and Byron were there, too.Richard handed me the new script.

“Marie, run lines with Byron. Clyde and Sara will work with Renee. You have a ton to memorize.” Richard gave me a hug. “And thank you, honey, for stepping up to the plate again and again. You’re awesome.”

“Sure. No problem.” I told Richard, still completely annoyed with my life.

Richard nodded, “Clyde, move Byron into a trailer here on set. You are now this asshole’s babysitter so he doesn’t ruin the project.”

Byron and I left Richard’s trailer and headed for the catering tent.

“Shit, I guess it’s my last night in my condo. Let’s go there. Everyone hates me here. I can’t concentrate.”

“Okay,” I agreed. “But only if we just practice. You promised you’d control yourself.”

“I promised that I would try, and I will. Trust me. I don’t want to get screamed at again tomorrow. Richard said that just cost him fifty thousand dollars and told me he’s taking it out of my percentage. I feel awful that I’m dragging down the project.”

He put both of our scripts in his backpack and he put it on my back. We got on his motorcycle and were at his condo within ten minutes. I noticed the photographers.

“Why the paparazzi?” I asked as we headed to the door. I felt better. The ride on his motorcycle was fun and kind of sexy. I liked holding him. It was comforting. I liked being close to his body without him having the opportunity to kiss me.

“Oh, they want to see who I’m with today.”

“Why are you such a slut? Don’t you find it, like, empty?” I asked. He went straight to the kitchen fridge and got two microbrews out, opened the tops, and handed me one. I could drink one beer but that was all. I was on a one-drink maximum policy since recovering from my almost alcoholism.

“No, honestly. What I feel is out of control. I’m not me. The girls back home were much harder to impress. Actually, I was innocent until my recent fame. I won a reality TV talent show in Australia and immediately got cool when I was just a normal guy before. I’m a singer/songwriter, not an actor. I’ve never even had an acting class.”

He shrugged his shoulders. “I get surprised that the women in L.A. are so aggressive.” He grinned. “I don’t love them and they don’t seem to care. I only love you.”

“Ugh. Byron, why do you keep saying that? It’s absurd, ya know.” I probably downed half the beer in just one swig. It tasted so good.

“No, it’s not. You’re the sweetest girl in Hollywood. I’ve never met anyone like you before, ever.”

I dismissed him. “Thanks. Now let’s start.” I went ahead and just finished the beer.

“Hey, do you want another beer?” He noticed, finished his, and got another.

“No, thank you. I can only drink one.” I laughed. I wanted another and another and another. “As you can see why, I love beer!”

We ran through the script changes several times and were finally perfect. His six pack of beer was gone. He was drinking a Long Island iced tea, and I wondered how I’d get home since I didn’t want him to drive drunk. He had four beers and I had two. I went over my one drink maximum and felt lousy about it.

“Byron, good job. You rocked it. So, I need to get back to my trailer.” I grabbed my iPhone. “I’ll call a cab. Where are we?”

“I don’t want you to go, yet. It’s not even ten o’clock.”