by Mia Masters
“Wait, wait,” said Drake. “Are you telling me, they have live plants they keep in storage?”
“Yeah,” I said. “Whole trees in pots. That way, they can just pull them out and change them as needed. Some of them are pretty big. I mean, they can only do it to the ones with really shallow roots. Come on, I’ll show you.”
I took them around, intending to show them the suburban street, but they became fascinated by the soundstages. They peeked into one that was mostly empty. There was very little shooting being done today, so the place looked empty.
“I don’t get it,” said Josh. “Are you telling me that they can shoot a car chase inside one of these things? How do they do that?”
“They don’t,” I explained. “But they might shoot part of a car chase here. Like just the actor’s faces and expressions. They would use a green background and then mess with the background of the shot later.”
“But I heard they shot the whole Avengers movie in one of these,” said Cody. “Is that true? And can we meet them?”
“They didn’t shoot the whole movie inside,” I insisted. “Just certain parts of it. And no, I don’t know anyone from the Avengers. They’re just actors.”
“We’re not stupid, Blythe,” bristled Bryce. “We know that. But did those actors live in a trailer like you?”
“Yeah, probably some of them did,” I said. “I mean, there are ones who live in Los Angeles, so I guess those guys probably went home every day. It’s not like the studio has to give you a place to live or anything.”
We walked around. I spotted the Commissary and thought that would be a good place to visit, but then a tram car full of tourists passed by.
“Aw!” said Bryce. “Can we take the tour?”
“I’m giving you the tour right now,” I said, mildly insulted.
“I know, but that looks fun,” said Bryce. “No offense.
“Some taken,” I said, aloof.
We went to the commissary and got something to eat.
“So, you get to eat here when you’re working? This is nice,” said Bryce.
“Actually, I usually eat in my trailer. They bring me food,” I said, mildly embarrassed. “But I come here sometimes with the guys.”
“Wait, since all those guys work with you on the movie,” said Kallen, “then you’re dating your co-workers. Wouldn’t HR get on you for that?”
“HR is a little different out here,” I explained. “Actors have to do things. I mean, I’m doing sexy scenes with them. I have to be comfortable touching them and kissing them.”
“Did you have sex with them on camera?” said Drake, shocked.
“No! Of course not,” I said frustrated. “That’s not how movies work. It’s not porn. And it’s all fake anyway. You don’t think I’m really going to jump off a moving train, do you?”
The brothers got quiet and ate their snacks. I felt like we were kids again, only I was the oldest and I had to babysit the brood of boys.
They scanned the room looking for celebrities, but I explained to them that it was the weekend. There was zero chance that any of the major actors were on the lot, much less coming into the commissary.
I took them outside to see the bungalows.
“These are used as offices for production companies,” I explained. “Sometimes the writers will work here, but that doesn’t happen very much anymore. A lot of it is computer rooms for animators and CGI people.”
“What’s that mean? See-gee-eye?” asked Bryce.
“It’s the special effects,” I explained. “So, in the Avengers, when you see Iron Man fly, it’s done using the computer. They add it later.”
“Is Robert Downey Jr. here?” asked Josh.
“No,” I said. “That’s another lot. I can’t introduce you to celebrities. Well, my boyfriends are kind of celebrities. I mean, we all are. We’re in the movie.”
“Do they have a special area for them? Some place where they hang out?” asked Bryce.
“If they did, they probably wouldn’t let us in,” I said. “This is just a workplace. People come in and out of here. They work and then they go home.”
We left the commissary and walked around some of the lot. I showed them the city lot, the suburban lot and the house made of metal. Well, it’s not actually a house. It’s a metal façade that looks like a house, so the studio can simulate a fire.
“Why would they be building a metal house?” asked Bryce, confused.
“They used to use it for simulating fires,” I explained. “Now it’s just part of the tour. They can do that illusion without burning anything.”
“You know, the one weird thing about this place,” said Bryce. “Everything looks kind of familiar. Not just inside the lot, but outside of it. Driving around the city, I felt like I had been here before.”
“That’s because they shoot so many TV shows and movies here,” I explained. “Almost every building in town at some point was on a TV show or in a movie.”
“It’s so weird,” said Bryce looking around.
The tour was really impressing them. At the same time, I think they felt rather small in the big city.
Here they were, a bunch of small town boys trying to make their grandpa proud. Now they were in one of the biggest cities in the country, walking around one of the biggest movie studios in the world— it was all too much.
“Blythe, I’m sorry we burst in here like this,” said Bryce. “Seeing all this—
what you’ve done and all— it’s humbling.”
“Ah, it’s fine,” I said. “You were just looking out for me. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Quite frankly, the city’s not so safe. There are dangers, but my boyfriends keep me safe when you’re not around.”
A truck went by, moving a massive statue of an Egyptian God. Then we passed by a soundstage where a group of Western dressed actors were going inside. There were showgirls, cowboys, gamblers, a bartender, pretty much everything you’d expect.
I took them to the water wall and showed them the giant pool. It was full and they had set it up for some kind of scene. But it was roped off and the equipment was being guarded by one of Mac’s co-workers.
Finally, we returned to the truck and got in. We drove out and around Los Angeles.
I showed them the Hollywood sign, which everyone always liked to see. We drove past the La Brea tar pits, Universal Studios, Disneyland and you name it— the sprawling city was just endless. We had to stop for gas at one point.
“People here are so friendly,” said Drake, as he gassed up the truck. “But I kind of get the vibe that they don’t mean it. Am I crazy?”
“No,” I said. “People here a little phony. They would rather be polite than honest. It’s just the way it is.”
“Plus, it’s like, everyone that does a median wage job is from Mexico,” said Kallen. “Is everyone else out here so rich that they don’t do those jobs or something?”
“It is pretty expensive to live here,” I revealed. “See what you’re paying for gas?”
“Holy shit!” said Bryce.
“Don’t worry, this one’s on me,” I said, swiping my credit card. “Let’s head back to my place. I want to get changed for dinner. You guys need to get a shower or anything?”
We headed back to the apartment and I introduced the guys to Layla. Then I grabbed a shower and dressed for dinner.
The guys changed a bit too, but since it was a barbecue place, I told them not to dress too fancy. I was glad things had calmed down and that my brothers were ready to try to get along with my boyfriends.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Blythe
We went to a place called Dante’s Ribs. The theme was hell and barbecue, believe it or not. Kind of a weird combo, but in this town, it flew. It wouldn’t have passed mustard in Montana, but my brothers didn’t seem to care or notice.
The host brought us to a long table where I sat at the head. We ordered just about everything on the menu and then some. I knew my brothers loved t
o eat and I figured if I fed them well, they’d be that much happier.
Zack got a text, excused himself and got up. He came back with his dad, Russell Kimball, in tow. My brothers, who were big fans of country music, immediately recognized him.
“Guys, this is my dad,” introduced Zack. “I asked him to stop by. Blythe said you might be fans.”
“Wow! You’re related to Russell Kimball? Oh, my God! Mr. Kimball, I’m just about your biggest fan. Can I get a picture?” asked Bryce.
“Sure, hey, Blythe, boys,” he greeted.
I had already met Zack’s dad briefly on one of our previous outings. He was a charming guy, but always busy. I guess when you were a country music star, you constantly had things to do. My brothers took pictures, got autographs and shook hands.
“Dad, you sure you don’t want to stay for dinner?” asked Zack.
“No, I have to be in the studio in ten,” he said. “But it was nice meeting your friends. I got a to-go bag to take with me because I love this place. It’s damn good barbecue.”
Zack’s dad headed out and I knew our dinner had started on a positive note. It was the best of both worlds. It was part family, part Los Angeles and part supportive of me and the boys.
The ribs came and we chowed down. My brothers were, of course, full of embarrassing questions. I was mortified, but thankful that our table was in a private room, away from most of the other dinner guests.
“So, here’s a thing I don’t understand,” said Kallen. “Which one of you pays for dinner if you go out? Do you split it three ways or four ways? What’s the etiquette?”
“Whatever,” said Christian casually. “We’re making good bank from the movie right now, so it’s not even an issue.”
“Well, I guess that makes sense,” said Kallen, seemingly satisfied.
“But do y’all kiss goodnight at the same time?” said Bryce confused. “Because that would be awkward.”
“It would be awkward, Bryce,” I said. “So, we don’t do it. Don’t be ridiculous.”
The next round of food was brisket with various barbecue sauces. There were tons of amazing cornbread, baked beans and mac n’ cheese dishes. The chef also had his take on Texas Toast.
I was already full, and I was basically just tasting everything. I asked the waiter if there was any kind of salad available and everyone laughed. This was not a place to lose weight!
“Okay, I’m just going to ask,” said Josh, unable to contain himself. “How do you guys all sleep together?”
“Oh, my God, Josh!” I said embarrassed. “You’re so gross. Do I have to draw you a map? We’re all grown-ups here! Okay? We just make do with what we have. I can satisfy three men at once; is that what you want to hear?”
Josh turned beet red and I realized I had made a mistake.
“I just meant, how do you sleep sleep together, all in one bed? How do you all spoon? Wouldn’t one of the guys have to double up?” he asked. “Sorry.”
“I am sorry, Josh,” I said, embarrassed.
“But I was going to ask about that,” said Bryce. “I just can’t— that’s nuts. I just figured the guys took turns.”
“Yeah,” said Drake. “I mean, one at time seems to make more sense. The other two could play video games.”
“That’s not a bad idea,” said Zack. “I should get a new console.”
“PS4 or Xbox One?” asked Christian.
“Let’s get both,” he said.
“Oh, no,” I said, dropping my head to the table. “I’m going to go to the restroom.”
I felt mortified. I went into a stall and checked my purse for an aspirin. Were my brothers accepting my boyfriends? Or were they just giving me lip service so that they could return home to Grandpa Kelly and say they tried? I really wanted their support.
Despite my positive attitude and all the fun that we had had before the nosy questions started, I was becoming mentally exhausted. I had to work, and I had to worry about Jim, the paparazzi, the guys, the movie we were shooting— I even worried about Layla and Harlow.
A group of other women entered the bathroom and I got quiet. I could overhear their conversation without trying. As they chatted about work and their husbands and kids, I couldn’t help but think that, compared to me, they seemed to have such normal, mundane lives.
Maybe that was what I needed. I could leave Hollywood, get a job in an office somewhere and find a nice safe guy to marry. Or I could move back to Montana, work on the ranch, maybe find a local cowhand. Then people wouldn’t question me because I’d be doing what everyone else was doing.
But how could I go back to such a mundane existence when I had tasted such paradise? Being with the guys was great and I loved them. I loved being in Los Angeles and acting. And despite everything bad that had happened on the set, I loved working on a movie.
Why should I give all that up just because things got a little rocky?
I needed a pep talk. I imagined talking to one of my idols in the stall: Marilyn Monroe. I pictured her standing there in the bathroom with me, in her prime.
She was tall, blonde, statuesque and confident. She adjusted her lipstick, which looked perfect, and snapped closed her compact.
“What’s wrong, kiddo?” she said, in her breathless voice.
“Was it always this hard? I just wanted to be a stunt girl. It just seems success makes everything more complicated,” I lamented.
“Oh, don’t give up,” she said. “I had lots of boyfriends, too, you know.”
She winked at me.
“Jack was my favorite,” she giggled. “Such power. But I’ll always love Joe. He was my heart. But I had a big heart and I couldn’t just love him. There were so many boys I adored.”
“Can it really happen? Can I really do this?” I asked.
“Sure, you can! If you believe in yourself, you can do anything!” she smiled. “You’re almost there, Sweetie. You just have to weather a few more storms.”
“Thanks for the pep talk,” I said.
“Any time,” she said. “Oh, and watch out for that Jim. He’s a bad egg.”
Marilyn faded from my daydream and someone was knocking loudly on the stall door.
“Hey! You almost finished in there? You’ve been in there forever,” she insisted.
It was one of the women from the group who had entered earlier. There weren’t enough stalls for everyone, and I had gotten so caught up in my fantasies that I hadn’t realized that fact.
“Yeah, sorry,” I lied. “Stomach flu. I’m coming out.”
I exited the stall, checked my makeup and headed back to the table. Things had settled down and the boys were even laughing together at some joke. The brothers were pestering the guys about some of their favorite celebrities— who they knew, who they’ve seen, etc.
Suddenly, flashbulbs started to go off. Well, flashes anyway. I didn’t think they make the actual bulbs anymore. It was one of the paparazzi who had snuck into the back. She was as sleazy as you might imagine, with greasy hair and an even greasier disposition.
“Hey, boys,” she said to my brothers. “You part of Blythe’s harem now, too? Or are you just auditioning for the role, huh?”
“Whoa! Hey now. We’re her family,” Bryce objected. “We’re her brothers. Are you supposed to be in here?”
“It’s called Freedom of the Press, jackass, look it up,” she sneered rudely. “Well, so you’re her brothers, huh? Then how ashamed are you of your sister? Folks back home have to be pretty upset by all this, huh? It’s not how decent people in small towns act, now, is it?”
Bryce looked at me and then back at the reporter.
“Blythe is our sister,” said Bryce. “We love her.”
“Yeah,” added Josh. “We support her.”
“That’s why we came out here,” said Kallen. “To show our love and support.”
“Now why don’t you go crawl back into the gutter,” suggested Drake.
“Thanks for the scoop,” she added, as the security
guard guided her out of the restaurant.
“Thanks, big brothers,” I said, giving them each a hug. “This really means a lot to me.”
“Hey, that’s what family does,” said Bryce. “The reporter’s lucky she’s a woman. I have half a mind to kick her teeth down her throat, anyway.”
“Please do not do that,” I insisted.
“I won’t,” sighed Bryce.
The incident with the reporter really put things in perspective for me. My brothers were on my side and I never should’ve doubted it. Sure, they had their own doubts and reacted badly to new information, but in the end, they were reasonable and sane people.
And they were family, so I shouldn’t have worried so much.
At the end of the meal, each group of guys tried to pay for the check, but I slipped the waiter my credit card while they were arguing.
“This one’s on me, fellas,” I said. “Trust me, I owe you. You really made my night with the reporter. Let me thank you.”
The guys shrugged and let it go.
“You watch out for this one,” Bryce warned Monk. “You see how she is?”
“Yeah,” added Cody. “She likes to pretend she isn’t in charge, but she’s in charge.”
Cody didn’t talk much, but when he did, his words could cut you to the quick. That wasn’t a totally accurate statement on his part, but I let it go. I was now anxious to get my brothers back to my apartment and away from my boyfriends.
“Thing about Blythe is,” said Drake, “she’s always four moves ahead of you, so you need to be like eight moves ahead of her.”
“Yeah and don’t ever let her go into the bathroom first if you have to get somewhere,” warned Josh. “She can be in there forever.”
“Okay, let’s wrap this up,” I urged. “Guys, I’m going to take my brothers back to the apartment so they can get settled.”
“We could just grab a hotel,” offered Bryce.
“Hotels are like three hundred dollars a night here,” I informed him.
“What? Seriously?” he exclaimed.
“Yeah,” I said. “And did you even know how much the bill was that you were fighting over? It was twelve hundred dollars, with tip.”