by Hollye Davis
“Oh, good grief, how don’t ya know? That’s Victoria Beasley. She’s the wildest of them on the show and off. I think just last week she got caught with a DUI, for real. The rumor is that they are thinking of writing her out because she causes so much trouble. She plays this wicked character on the show and is always doing mean things. She was Jason McRoy’s girlfriend but like early spring they broke up cause he caught her with another dude, it was totally drama.” Chloe nodded as the girl kept talking because obviously this was her favorite subject. “They said that there’s going to be open auditions for her replacement. I was thinking that I’d do it but Britney has said that she’s got it in the bag. She claims that she knows some producer or something.” Tearing her gaze from the picture the girl looked sharply back at her. “Oh, right, sorry about that. I know that you and Britney don’t exactly get along,” she said.
Chloe smirked, that’s putting it lightly. She looked back at the picture one more time, “Thanks,” then turned back to the girl, “What’s your name?”
“Jennifer.”
“I’m Chloe,” she held out her hand.
“Yeah I know,” the girl answered watching her wearily.”Whatever you think know about me, it’s all lies,” Chloe said. Jennifer’s eyes widened and nodded. Chloe smiled and walked on. The girl watched her leave as if she had lost her mind, but all Chloe cared about was that girl just gave her an idea.
Everyone was elated to see her in art class and at lunch they settled down to their usual conversations. It was like none of it had ever happened. The big talk was about holiday break and what everyone was going to do with their time off. She was a little shocked how quickly time was flying. In a few months she’d be in California for a year and she would have known Edwin for a year. Wild, she thought. That and she had no idea what she was going to do for the holidays.
“Are you going to prom, Chloe?“ Kim asked. Chloe jumped slightly because she had been deep in thought about holiday break.
“Isn’t it a little early to be talking about prom?” She asked Kim.
“No, here it’s on Valentine’s day, so, like when we get back from Christmas, it’s like only a month away.”
“Oh, well, I don’t think it’s going to work with Edwin,” She said, looking at her pointedly.
“Why don’t you go with someone else?”
“Clearly you don’t understand Edwin. He has attacked his best friend for merely trying to be friends with me.”
“You’re kidding?” Jody piped in.
“No, Edwin is very possessive of me,” Chloe said to Jody.
“Oh yeah, I was with him for like half a second and I could tell that,” Kim said to Jody.
Jody’s eyebrows raised nearly to her hairline, “You met Chloe’s boyfriend?”
“Yes, and man, the dude’s got it bad for Chloe. The way he looks at her,” Kim sighed, adding dreamingly, “If only Cole could look at me like that.”
“I really didn’t think he existed,” Jody whispered.
Chloe gasped, “That’s mean, you think I made him up?”
Jody shrugged, “Well if I’d thought of making up a rich connected boyfriend first I would’ve.” They all laughed.
“I’m going,” Jody announced and then clarified, “to prom that is.”
“Really?” Kim asked, “With whom?”
“Jeff,” Jody sent a shy glance Jeff’s direction sitting across the table who was probably talking football with Tom.
“Well all right then!” Kim exclaimed and then said shyly, “I was thinking of inviting Cole.”
Chloe smiled hugely. “My life has been crazy, so forgive me for not asking, how is the whole Cole thing going?”
But Kim couldn’t answer because Britney came to the table and said, “Hey, losers! Hey, Chloe, how was the trip to the hospital? Too bad the suicide didn’t work, the world could use one less ugly face.” So this was her counteract? How pathetic.
Jeff got up and so did Kim ready for battle. Chloe was so tired of this. She calmly stood up and walked toward her forcing Britney to take a couple steps back. It amused her, she smiled and kept walking, throwing her lunch in the trash. She then said to her friends, “Hey guys, I’m heading to my class, I’ll see you later.”
It felt good to just walk away from Britney.
Kim, Jody, and Jeff followed.
Kim came rushing up to her, “Oh Chloe, why don’t you smack the bitch?”
Chloe sighed, “Because that’s what she wants. It’ll just prove her rumors of me trying to commit suicide are true.”
“I can’t believe those rumors are still circulating, you’d think they would die down by now.” Kim said.
“Rumors only die down when people stop feeding them. Britney is feeding it to her friends who are repeating it over and over again. The only bright spot is that people will see how inaccurate they are and Britney will lose some of her power. At least I hope so.”
Kim nodded, clearly disbelieving.
When the end of the day finally arrived Chloe was so excited. She ran out the front entrance toward the parking lot. Edwin was waiting for her incognito, dark hoodie, dark glasses. She recognized that now. She ran into his arms for a nice embrace. Britney walked by and said, “Whore.”
Edwin looked at her and opened the car door for Chloe. “If she was a guy I would punch her straight in the mouth for calling you that.”
“Don’t worry about it, she’s just mean.” Besides she had something brewing that would resolve the Britney issue.
Later that night, she was curled into Edwin on her bed reading a book when she decided to ask about Victoria.
“Is Victoria special to you?” she asked as nonchalantly as possible.
Edwin looked shocked but answered clearly, “Absolutely not! Victoria is trouble, always has been. I wasn’t happy that she was to be my girlfriend on the show but sometimes you don’t have choices. I’m thankful she’s leaving soon.”
“So the rumors about them finding a replacement are true?”
“How did you hear about that?”
“It’s amazing what you learn when you actually pay attention.”
“Yes, it’s true. Want an audition?” He smiled.
She laughed, “You must be out of your mind if you think for one second I would want to do that!” Then she added seriously, “but I have an idea.”
He smiled back, “Okay?”
“Evidently Britney, that bitch in the parking lot, is evidently auditioning for the part.”
He smiled even bigger, “Really?”
“So when are the auditions going to take place?”
“I think in January, after Christmas. We have some more scenes for Victoria and a transition period. I think they are going to kill her off in a car accident or something.”
“Oh, how terrible.” Even though she didn’t like the girl, killing her off sounded harsh.
“That’s show business,” he said without feeling. Then he reached over and kissed her.
“Well then this is my idea…” she said and then she laid out her plan of revenge.
She was feeling better than she ever remembered. Her stomach didn’t hurt and especially after she and Edwin concocted a plan in order to put Britney in her place, or basically make sure she never had a place in show business. She also found out that Edwin’s father was a producer and had a lot of connections. She supposed that, too, was what show business was about…connections.
I never knew the pressures of being a television star, never cared, but the intrusion of your personal life without shame or manners is disgusting. I had never paid any mind to it but now I am entrenched so deeply, I can’t help to notice. Funny, I still care so little about it. –Chloe’s Diary
Chapter 18
A Night Out
Fridays were awesome now. Before it signified a long and boring weekend, now it meant more time with Edwin. She and Kim chatted happily as they walked to their waiting men in the parking lot. Cole had a huge smile for Kim and no
matter what Kim’s fears were, that man was smitten with her. Edwin usually stayed in the car trying not risk exposure but as soon as she got in he would kiss her as if he hadn’t seen her in weeks. It was heaven.
She was sitting in the passenger seat looking at the scenery slipping by. It was part of her self-improvement project - trying not to be so oblivious to her surroundings because she never wanted to be ignorant again.
Edwin reached over and touched her hair tenderly.
“I have a surprise for you,” he said.
“I don’t like surprises. The last one I ended up in the hospital.” That was a low blow she realized immediately. She blushed turning her head toward him, quickly apologizing, “Sorry Edwin, I didn’t mean it as it sounded.”
“No, it’s okay. I need reminders from time to time.” He paused then said, “I think this time you will like this surprise, it’s good.” She didn’t have any time to inquire because they pulled in to the cottage driveway.
She was trying to needle him for information while they entered the cottage but he just smiled. Inside she found Sandra, Christine, and Penelope waiting for her.
Edwin kissed her on the cheek and said, “I’ll see you later.”
He turned and bowed to the others, “Ladies,” and then immediately departed. She was not happy. When she looked at the girls with devious expressions she wondered what was about to happen. They looked ready for battle.
And battle it was. The surprise was they were taking her dancing at a nightclub. She stated passionately, “I don’t want to be recognized with Edwin.” They laughed.
“You won’t be,” Sandra said simply.
She snorted her disbelief when Penelope explained, “Chloe, we’re in show business, we know how to make ourselves look different. You don’t have anything to worry about.”
Then Christine piped up, “Believe me, we don’t want you exposed to the media either, it makes things very difficult especially with someone like Edwin, who’s constantly hounded by the press about his relationships. It’s hard to live in a glass bowl, Chloe. Just have faith in us, we know what we’re doing.”
Chloe nodded. They were right. They understood why they wanted to keep her relationship with Edwin from being exposed to the press. She can only imagine what her friends have gone through. The price of fame, she supposed.
“Come on, we brought some stuff. It’s in your bedroom,” Sandra said waiving Chloe to follow her.
The trio had brought a virtual wardrobe complete with wigs, make-up, and mile high shoes. All designed to make her look older and very, very different. She kept wondering how in the world she was going to walk in the needle sharp high heels without doing serious injury, but when she put them on, she was surprised how comfortable they were. Sandra smiled at her amazement and said, “That’s the difference between an expensive pair of shoes and a cheap pair of shoes.”
After what felt like hours, they turned Chloe toward the full length mirror on her closet. What she saw looked nothing like her. She was at least an inch taller. Her blonde wavy long hair had been pinned to her scalp and a wig of straight brown hair laid sleek and beautiful down to her back. But mainly she looked older with her smokey eyes, dark red lips, and dramatic skin tight dress. She tilted her head to the side not believing she was looking at herself. The girls laughed at her amazement as Chloe smirked, “You guys are really good!”
They left out of the community in a snazzy blue BMW. At least that is what it said on the round emblem on the front and she knew it was German. She recognized it from a plant outside the military installation where she went to school. It was a silly thing but she was proud of herself for paying attention to that detail.
To her surprise they didn’t pull into a club. Instead Christine went into a parking garage where a limo was waiting for them, completely clueless, she followed them like a newborn puppy. She was getting more excited about a night out, feeling unlike herself in her new outfit. Tonight she would be someone mysterious, someone who would dare to laugh loudly, dance and be…well…normal.
Once they were seated comfortably in the limo and headed to an unknown destination, well at least unknown to Chloe, Sandra pulled out a bottle of sparkling cider. Sandra explained to Chloe while pouring the cider into long flutes, “It is not Champagne because we try to stay as clean as possible. This kind of life could sneak up on you, and well our co-worker Victoria is an excellent example of what could happen if you let it control you.”
Chloe’s respect for her group of friends grew. How very cool and smart of them. She remembered the kids in Germany living a pretty fast life overhearing stories about drugs, pregnancies, and a classmate dying after alcohol poisoning. She had a few opportunities to drink liquor but it was hard to swallow and she didn’t like the feeling of being out of control. She had her home life to do that for her, she didn’t need anything else enhancing it.
“Besides, Edwin will kill us if you showed up drunk,” Christine added.
When the limo stopped she could hear the music pumping into the cool night air. It was dark outside but the club lights made the street bright. She was the last to step out on a red carpet and the girls surrounded her as if to protect her. She didn’t understand why it mattered, but she guessed they understood what was best.
Chloe held her head up determined to be confident, or at least appear to be confident. She was a different Chloe tonight.
As they walked the long red carpet Chloe noticed there was a long line wrapped around the building. She was dismayed that they would have to wait to get in, she was anxious to see Edwin. In the cool night with her tiny red dress that had shockingly little fabric, didn’t provide much protection toward the outside elements. But, the girls skipped the line, and to her surprise they walked right up to a huge bulky man out front. She was sure he was going to look at the trio and let them in but make her wait in line. Then she became appalled, was she considered a groupie now? Boy she hoped not.
To her utter surprise he said, “Ladies.” and let them walk right on in. A huge sign hung in the main entryway, “Cameras strictly prohibited.”
The first thing that happened was the pulsating music slammed into her senses immediately intensifying her excitement. The second thing was that she stopped, probably gaping unintelligently at the very rich décor unlike any nightclub she had experienced prior. Sandra grabbed her hand and started dragging her to the other end of the club. People were staring at Christine, Penelope, Sandra, and the her. They were staring at her.
She fought the urge to squirm under intense scrutiny. Forcing herself not to put her head down, she tried to emulate her friends by walking confidently, as if she belonged there, with them. She silently repeated to herself…you are not Chloe, you are some strange girl who is fun and exciting.
When they passed one table Chloe overheard a chick, “Maybe she’s the new cast member.” Chloe snickered wanting to say, “and maybe you’ve had too much to drink,” but she reframed.
Sandra dragged her out to the dance floor where they immediately started dancing. After a few beats the music switched to a song they had practiced their moves so many times before, they all smiled at each other, stepping in their positions.
For the first time in her life, she paid attention to who was watching her, her surroundings, and just danced unabashedly. She was really getting into their routine when she spotted Edwin, Christoph, and Duke off to the right. Her heart skipped a beat, stuttered, galloped at the sight of him. He was dressed in a dark blue button down shirt collared that accentuated his blue eyes and jeans that hung sensually from his hips. He was watching her intently. There was a girl draped over Christoph but he looked bored. Duke seemed to be running interference for Edwin with a group of girls vying for his attention. But one girl slipped Duke’s defenses and sauntered up to Edwin with a drink in her hand, offering it to him. He shook his head, his eyes still on Chloe. A shot of jealousy ran straight through Chloe even though Edwin was clearly uninterested in the drinky drink girl.
She wondered if he recognized her, then quickly pushed the thought aside. Of course he recognized her, she arrived with Christine et al. She smiled slightly, kept dancing but now her eyes were intent on him, beckoning him to join her. He must have gotten the message as he abruptly pulled away from the wall, leaving the girl with the drink behind, and came down to her, pulling her to him, and they danced together. Christoph and Duke soon joined them and like at the fire on the beach, they danced.
Edwin leaned down to her ear and whispered, “Chloe, I’m trying everything in my power not to drag you off somewhere and have my way with you.” She was light headed at the thought. He continued, “You may look different but I would recognize you anywhere. You make my heart pound and my blood sing.” As if to prove his point, he grabbed her hips pushing her closer while he lowered his head and began nipping at her neck. She closed her eyes, her head falling back, feeling heat pool between her legs, wanting him right then and there. The methodical beat making everything in her throb for him.
But they were interrupted when Edwin was making his way up to her mouth and his hand was on her butt grinding her into him.
“Good grief you two,” Sandra hissed, “You guys are causing a lot of reaction, you need to slow down!”
They immediately broke apart. Although it sucked, this was their first public outing and they didn’t need attention and speculation. Reluctantly and with less enthusiasm, they danced the more practiced moves and less intimate moves. When he twirled her around she let out a laugh tilting her head back and letting it go. It wasn’t a reserved boring Chloe laugh. It was a seductive party girl laugh and it felt good.
She felt Edwin tense, and was alarmed when he turned her right off the dance floor into a darkened corner. He didn’t say anything when his head lowered and he began kissing her. No, not kissing, he was assaulting her senses to the point she didn’t think she had a brain cell left. He could have taken her right there and she didn’t think she would have even thought about it. Geez, what a wig and a red dress can do for a girl, like make her into a shameless ho.