Laguna Nights

by Kaira Rouda

  Madison did not like feeling out of control. Her perfectly constructed life in Laguna Beach depended upon few connections aside from her mom, and her best friend, Annie, from high school, and off and on, Dolby. She hadn’t even had a chance to inform Annie of Josh’s return. Everything was getting complicated and it was all Josh’s fault. She crossed her arms in front of her chest and turned away from him, towards the glowing orange sunset.

  Madison was upset, he knew it, but he also knew she’d get over it. She always had. Well, not always, but mostly, if he just wrapped his arms around her she would melt. Back then, he’d apologize for whatever he had done – surfing too long, forgetting to call when he said he would, not picking her up from work on time – and she’d be mad, but then it would blow over like the Santa Anna winds. Until that stupid episode had aired, he’d been able to keep them together no matter what.

  Because he loved her, and the truth was, he hadn’t slept with Laura no matter how the show’s producers spun it. They hadn’t even had sex until after high school, when they were both cast in the spinoff show, and that was six months after Madison stopped talking to him. And if she wasn’t talking to him, nothing else had mattered. So he’d focused on Laura, acting like her perfect boyfriend, hitching his star to her reality TV fame train.

  “Hey, babe,” Josh said, watching her shoulders stiffen. Her back was to him, her hair blowing gently in the breeze. She was at once immovable and irresistible. But he shouldn’t have used that word. “Babe” was a made-for-TV word, fitting of his cocky character, and he should have thrown it out of his vocabulary when the Hollywood Nights show was cancelled. “I’m sorry. I didn’t suggest this, Roger did and now he’s got Marty interested, too. He doesn’t know how you hated the showbiz stuff. I tried to tell him, but he says you’re a natural. All I know is you’re irresistible.”

  “I don’t believe you,” she said quietly, still facing the ocean, her back to him. His heart fell. “You’re trying to torture me or something. I have everything planned. My life is set. It’s fine.”

  “It’s just dinner, Madison. We’ll make things clear to Marty together,” he said, gently touching her shoulder. He felt her soften, just a little. He wanted to wrap her in his arms, pick her up and carry her to his room, be alone with her, convince her that he wasn’t the bad guy. That he was the guy she needed in her life. That he always had been.

  “Just dinner. That’s all,” she said, finally facing him, her jaw clenched. A single tear was working its way down her cheek.

  “Oh, babe, don’t cry,” he said, reaching to wipe the tear away, pulling her to him, her head resting on his shoulder. Everything in him wanted to protect her, to be with her, to never let her go. He touched her cheek, gently turning her face so she would meet his eyes.

  But Madison obviously felt otherwise as she pushed away. “Don’t call me ‘babe’. Never call me that. That’s what you called Laura, at the end of our season and on Hollywood Nights. Don’t you care when you hurt me?”

  Josh watched stunned realizing the deep hurt inside her as Madison walked away from him pulling open the glass door of the restaurant and disappearing inside. He knew she needed space and this time, he’d give it to her. At least until dinner, which was in half an hour.

  Josh hurried back to the tented reception area, searching for Marty, hoping to explain to him why Madison wouldn’t work for Journeys with Josh. He spotted Marty in the corner of the tent, next to the bar, chatting with the director of photography. That meant the film crew had arrived, Josh noted, and his heartbeat intensified before he could calm himself. This was his destiny, he told himself. He was meant to be in this industry, a respected actor. This is a stepping stone.

  “Josh, there you are,” Marty said, smiling, hoisting his drink in the air. Josh noted the slick shine on his forehead, the sweat on his lip and wondered again why the man insisted on wearing a full suit and tie, everywhere. “You remember Paul, our DP? The crew is all here. It’s happening.”

  Paul sported shoulder length dark hair, flip-flops, ripped jeans and a tight T-shirt meant to display his ample biceps. He was tragically hip, LA style, Josh thought as he shook his hand and thought he noticed the other man smirk.

  “Whatever this is that’s happening,” Paul said. “At least we get a good meal or two out of it.”

  “Paul, this is going to be huge,” Marty said, taking a big gulp of his drink.

  “Sure,” Paul said before walking away.

  “We can’t hire a crew that believes in the project?” Josh said, feeling his jaw clenching and his neck tightening.

  “They do. Relax. Everyone’s behind you; wants this to work. It’s your comeback, kid,” Marty said. “I’m starving. Should we round everyone up for dinner? And where is Madison? Roger insists on her joining us for dinner, and testing for the show.”

  “She’s coming to dinner, but that’s all,” Josh said. “She’s not doing the show. Period.”

  “I love it when women play hard to get,” Marty said, smiling. “Let’s go eat.” And with that, Marty walked away leaving Josh alone in the corner of the tent, watching them all make their way to dinner. Madison was going to kill him, he realized, joining the rest of the men walking to dinner.

  The private dining room was elegant, Josh observed with a white linen tablecloth covering a long table set for thirteen. White candles dance in crystal bowls and one half of the table, the side facing the windows, enjoyed a spectacular view of the darkening, post-sunset sky. Roger had dictated seating and had placed Josh and Madison in the middle of the table, with their backs to the windows, next to each other thankfully, facing him. This would be a long dinner, Josh realized. Madison would not even make eye contact with him as he pulled out her chair. Marty sat directly across from Josh, next to Roger. This entire meal, Josh realized, would be devoted to forcing Madison to do a screen test.

  “Stunning, just stunning,” Roger said, and Josh nodded as he sat down, assuming the producer was noticing the sunset. But he wasn’t. He was transfixed on Madison, gaping at her as if she were the only woman left on earth; the only person of consequence in the room. Josh realized that to Roger, she was, at least until she agreed to whatever plan he’d concocted.

  Two waiters moved along the table offering a choice of red or white wine. Josh asked for red, and then turned to make eye contact with Madison. She was ignoring him, her face buried in the menu, staring at it as if she hadn’t been the one who planned the entire event. Josh touched her leg under the table, and she pulled it away.

  Roger raised his wine glass. “A toast. To beautiful Laguna Beach and its locals, and to a productive shoot this week. I’d say we’ve come to the right place. I’m personally excited about the addition of Ms. Alcott to the team,” he said. “Cheers.”

  Josh looked at Madison, whose face was flushed, her eyes narrowed. “I’m glad you’re here at the resort. Enjoy your meal. Cheers,” she said, her voice quiet but calm, her anger simmering just below the surface.

  As the men at the table began to place their dinner orders, conversations divided into each end of the table, leaving the four of them as if on an island, Marty and Roger circling Madison like sharks.

  “I understand your reluctance to do reality TV, dear,” Marty said, his green eyes shining. “But this is scripted. A travel show and you’re a travel industry professional. Roger and I both agree you’d give Josh a certain credibility. I mean, this guy doesn’t know this world.” Marty used his hands to indicate the room, the resort and, Josh supposed, his town.

  “Bullshit, Marty, I grew up here, with a silver spoon as you’re often saying,” Josh said. “Can we just eat and let Madison think about this? She has a career, a life she’s happy with and she really doesn’t want to change it,” Josh said, patting Madison’s thigh under the table, hoping to demonstrate solidarity or something like that. His heart sank as her hand pushed his away.

  “I won’t be screen testing for this show, or any show. My television days are long beh
ind me. But thank you for asking,” Madison said quietly, her eyes dark, her lips set in a firm line. His heart went out to her, wishing he could hold her, pull her away from these men.

  Roger smiled, his orange glasses reflecting the candlelight. “I’m sure you’ll reconsider. Your boss, Bob, and I have been in discussion. I’m not sure you realize but this resort is for sale. They’re very excited to have it showcased on Josh’s Journeys and they’re especially proud to know that you, a former TV actress – a fact unbeknownst to them – will be featured on the first episode. In fact, they’re rather insistent on it,” Roger said. The waiters descended like a symphony, silver platters held high, one server for each guest, placing the elegant entrees in front of each person at the same time. Roger smiled. “Bon appetite.”

  Josh looked across the table at Marty, but his manager simply dropped his eyes, pretending to be absorbed in the meal. Beside him, he could feel Madison’s anger pulsing through the air. She was too much of a professional to have a disagreement in front of the restaurant staff and the film crew, Josh knew, but he also knew she wasn’t a push over. Roger thought he’d won, but Josh knew Madison.

  Silence descended on the room as the men dove into the main course. Josh had ordered the pan roasted John Dory and the fish literally melted in his mouth. Surrounded by gnocchi, peas and some other vegetable Josh couldn’t identify, it probably was the finest meal he’d had in a couple of years, since his appearance money had dried up. He glanced at Madison’s plate and noticed she was pushing grilled vegetables around, lifting a bite of cauliflower to her lips. Her head was down, her eyes locked on her plate, chewing creating the only expression. Across the table, Roger devoured the lamb loin, and Marty’s sautéed duck breast was disappearing. At each end of the table, gourmet food was disappearing as if the men hadn’t eaten for days.

  Josh was at a loss for words and decided the best course of action was to eat in silence, too. So he did. And as he did, from the corner of his eye, he saw a woman, wearing a skin-tight red dress with a plunging neckline clearly selected to show off her enormous breasts. Sally, his LA roommate, had arrived, clearly intent on being noticed, playing up those breasts that had been paid for by her doting father. As was the rest of her lifestyle, as Josh knew. He froze, hoping she was here for another reason, hoping this was all a huge coincidence while his brain slowly realized she was here for him as she crossed the intimate foyer of the restaurant and descended on their table. This, when he had thought the evening couldn’t get worse. He of course hadn’t mentioned Sally to Madison. Sally wasn’t important, not really. Marty and Roger thought she was good for his image, and had encouraged him to let her move in with him. He wondered if they had approved of her appearance in Laguna Beach.

  He tried to stand up, to stop her, but she was behind his chair before he could move, wrapping her arms possessively around Josh’s neck before bending at the waist and kissing him on the cheek, purposely ignoring Madison.

  “Josh, honey, I decided to pop down for the weekend,” Sally said, as the men at the table watched, mouths agape, as her breasts threatened to pop out of her low-cut dress. Josh was frozen, but watched as Marty stood and said hello, motioning for the waiter to bring another chair.

  “Sally, I thought you were staying in Hollywood, like we discussed,” Marty said and Josh knew him well enough to detect Marty’s temper flaring just below the surface. A waiter appeared with a chair and helped maneuver it into place to Josh’s right. Josh felt Madison’s stare but couldn’t meet her eyes. On his other side, he felt Sally settling into her chair. He knew she was enjoying the attention from the men at the table. And he knew she must wonder who the beautiful blonde was seated to his left. He hoped she’d behave, be classy, but Josh knew from experience she never did.

  “Well, Marty, you know I like to be with my fiancé whenever possible and this is his big week for us, am I right?” Sally said.

  “Bring the lady a wine glass,” Roger commanded and Josh could see he was appreciating her display, as she’d intended.

  Josh wished the Big One would hit right now and swallow them all up, drop them into the ocean. At least a 9.0 on the Richter scale would do it. That was the only way he envisioned getting away from this table and out of this mess.

  “Don’t I recognize you from somewhere?” Roger asked, a smile cemented on his lips. “Were you in the cast of Laguna Nights, too? Fabulous.”

  “No, I’m Sally Stein, Alan Stein’s daughter,” Sally said, proud as always to name drop her famous dad, a man old enough to be her grandfather. He had married her mother, who was 40-years younger, for long enough to conceive and produce a child support payment in the form of a baby girl named Sally. Alan Stein’s string of hit movies in the 1970s still made him an industry heavyweight, and a wealthy one at that, who was currently on wife six or seven, Josh thought. Somehow, he and Sally had crossed paths at a club in LA just about the time his credit card payment had come due.

  “Of course. Give your father my best. Roger Dalston, producer of Josh’s new hit show,” Roger said, clinking his wine glass against Sally’s. “A pleasure to meet you my dear. Have you thought of acting?”

  Josh rolled his eyes before he could stop himself. Of course Sally had thought of acting, that’s all anyone in Hollywood thought about. He shot a look at Marty but Marty was fixated on Sally, no doubt hoping she wouldn’t ruin anything. Marty’s opinion of Josh’s roommate was even lower than his, Josh realized suddenly. Why hadn’t he extracted himself from this relationship before now, Josh wondered. He glanced at Sally’s profile and noticed her plump red lips. She’d had injections since he left town, he thought idly. He wished he could reach over and squeeze those lips shut and force her to stop talking.

  “I’m actually more interested in producing, that’s where the real power is in Hollywood,” Sally said. “My daddy’s helping me review projects right now. I’m going to produce a feature film, at least that’s the plan. We’re going to option something next week. So exciting.”

  “Ahh,” Roger said, believing her plans would come to fruition about as much as he believed Josh would hit the A list again. “Well, good luck my dear.”

  “It’s too bad you missed dinner. We were just about to call it a night,” Marty said locking eyes with Josh.

  “Yes, we were,” Josh said, as turned to check on Madison in time to see her say, “Good night” before she darted from the room. It took everything he had not to run after her as he felt Sally’s hand close around his wrist, her fingernails digging into his flesh.

  “Who is she?” Sally said, her voice cold and threatening.

  “My co-host,” Josh said, standing and pulling out Sally’s chair. The other men were heading for the door, but he could tell Marty was listening to their conversation. “Look, Sally, it’s been a good run, but I think it’s best if you move out. You’ve got your project, I’ve got mine. Cool?”

  “Are you breaking up with me? Here? Now? After I drove all the way down here in all that Saturday night traffic? I mean, the 405 was crazy and even the 73 was bad. I came to support you and this is how you act?” Sally said. Josh saw her eyes were filling with tears, a familiar ploy she’d used regularly since their first date six months ago. Why had he allowed her to suck him in? Because he’d stopped believing in himself, he realized. He had thought Sally and her famous father could save him when instead, he was drowning under the weight of her attention and need.

  “You’re right, come with me,” Josh said, softening his tone. Marty shot him a look and shook his head before pushing through the restaurant doors, as disappointed in his client as Josh was with himself. Josh walked Sally out into the chilly evening, the sound of the surf crashing below the cliffs echoed in his ears. He needed to handle her with respect, and then focus on Madison. It was all a mess, and now, he realized, Madison would have every reason never to trust him again.

  Did this woman who was dripping in diamonds and literally bursting out of her red dress actually careen into th
e private dining room and call Josh her fiancé?

  Madison knew she had been in shock even before the latest dinner guest had arrived, given Roger’s insistence that her boss had agreed to her on-camera gig without even discussing it with her. That, after all these years of loyalty? She couldn’t believe it. And then, Josh, with his reassuring hand, trying to tell her all would be well, that he hadn’t sucked her into a television appearance, that he hadn’t cheated on her on national TV and ruined her life. He had kissed her, flirted with her since he had arrived and even taken her to dinner, all to get her to appear on his show. And now, she discovered, he was engaged.

  Madison gripped the seat of her chair. She trusted her legs had the strength she needed to propel hers out of this disastrous dinner and back into her quiet life. She stood up, nodded to Roger and Marty and dashed out of the room, out of the restaurant and into the cool evening. She looked behind her and nobody had followed her. She pulled off her heels and hurried down the path to the employee parking lot.

  She noticed three missed phone calls from Annie and smiled. Annie was her best friend since high school, a strong and supportive friend through the television magnified disaster of senior year and beyond. Annie had stayed in Laguna, graduating from the University of California Irvine. She had found true love with a guy named Hank, who had been a junior at Laguna Beach High School when they were seniors. With two kids and another on the way, Annie had, in a nutshell, the opposite life from Madison; yet they’d both predicted their journeys in the last episode they filmed.

  Madison slid into the driver’s seat of her car and relaxed. She thought back to filming what the producer called their “dreams” segment on their last season, season two, episode six “Graduation”. The scene had featured Madison, Annie, Laura and Jessica drinking iced tea on the balcony of the oceanfront Surf and Sand Hotel. As a waiter poured their drinks, the “friends” – the only girl she still spoke to on the cast was Annie by that point -- talked about where they pictured themselves in ten years.