... not in love with Kale Eddison

by Joanne McClean

  Izzie had laughed and was impressed to find some great classics among the books. Now she was just lounging back in one of the comfy armchairs while Kale raided the fridge.

  “So,” Izzie began as Kale laid out some of the snacks and drinks from the fridge onto the table, “how long do you reckon we’ll have to hide out here?”

  Kale shrugged as he helped himself to an apple, “Dunno, guess we’ll have to keep checking that we weren’t followed and then escape later.”

  Izzie nodded and picked up an apple also; it looked like it was going to be one long day with Kale and there wasn’t exactly much to do in the den.

  Kale chewed on his apple and watched Izzie look around; he’d really have to try and make this bearable, after all it was his fault that they had to resort to hiding out in his den. He sighed and then noticed that Izzie had spied one of the scripts he had received earlier in the week and had been reading over.

  Izzie lifted the script and scanned the first couple of pages; another romantic comedy – surprise, surprise! She flicked through the rest of the pages and scoffed at the predictable ending.

  Kale watched her with amusement, “I take it that you wouldn’t go see that movie then?”

  Izzie raised her eyebrows at him, “No, I think I’d rather stick needles in my eyes. Have you ever thought about doing something different or is this what your agent recommends you to do?”

  Kale sighed, “What do you think? You think I like making these fluffy movies? Don’t get me wrong; they’ve helped me build a name for myself but I want more challenging roles now. I want to play someone who is completely different; a character with flaws or maybe a villain. But the way this business works is ‘stick with what works’ – another way of telling me to do what I’m told and tough shit; I’ve no choice in the matter.”

  Izzie looked shocked, “Seriously? That is such bullshit Kale, really. You always have a choice … seems to me you’re just too chicken shit to take a stand.”

  Kale laughed, “Guess you’re right; harsh but it’s the truth. I guess I’ll just have to wait until the right script comes along and then dig my heels in.”

  Izzie shook her head in mock annoyance and reclined further back in the chair; she looked rather bored now.

  “So,” Kale began hesitantly, “I’m sure you hate my guts for what’s going to be one long and boring day.”

  Izzie shrugged, “Nah, at least I don’t have to put up with Maddie’s mood swings and I could do with the break. Although, there isn’t really much to do around here, is there?”

  Kale smiled apologetically, “Yeah, sorry about that – hey, I’ve an idea … you wanna run lines together for the play? I think I’ve a copy of it around here somewhere.” He got up and rifled through his bookcase and extracted a copy of ‘Much Ado About Nothing.’

  Izzie laughed, “Sure, since there’s nothing better to do. Where do you wanna take it from?”

  Kale quickly scanned the pages and turned to near the back; he smirked, “What about Act 5 Scene 3?”

  “Why do you wanna do the scene that is like, near the end?” Izzie looked at him curiously; he was up to something.

  Kale managed to keep his face straight, “No reason but all the drama’s going on in that scene … you know the whole reveal of ‘Hero’ and whatnot.”

  “Ok,” Izzie said slowly; she was still suspicious of him but she agreed regardless.

  Kale flicked to the appropriate page, “You wanna just do our characters or the others as well?”

  “Nah,” Izzie shook her head, “just ours, now give me the book, I don’t know my lines yet.” She snatched the book from his hands and smirked at his shocked expression.

  “Hey!” Kale protested, “Let’s just test how well you know the story, give me the book back and see if you know your lines … you might surprise yourself.”

  Izzie rolled her eyes, “Fine, here you go. You are so touchy.” She handed him the book back and he laughed.

  “Ok, start from ‘I answer to that name. What is your will?’ and see if you remember the rest.” Kale nodded to Izzie and she found herself automatically recalling her lines with ease; this really surprised her as she hadn’t even had time to learn them yet.

  She paused for a moment and looked at Kale curiously, “How’d you know I’d remember my lines even though I haven’t learned them yet?”

  Kale shrugged, “Just a feeling, if you’ve read it enough times, it just sticks without you knowing it - now come on, keep going.”

  “Fine, where was I?” Izzie thought for a minute and remembered, “I would not deny you,” she continued on.

  Kale nodded when she had finished that particular part of the dialogue perfectly and smiled to himself when he knew what was coming next, however, by the look on Izzie’s face, she didn’t.

  Kale looked into Izzie’s eyes and continued on, “Peace! I will stop your mouth.” And before Izzie even realised what was happening Kale had leaned forward and kissed her firmly on the mouth. Izzie was angry and yet pleasantly surprised at the same time.

  She pushed Kale away roughly, “Oi, what the hell Kale?” she spat angrily despite the butterflies she was feeling in her stomach and the sudden weakness in her legs.

  Kale tried to look innocent, “It’s in the script, see?” he waved the book in front of her face and she reddened slightly.

  “Oh, sorry I forgot about that bit. I – um – let’s finish the scene.” She finished off awkwardly; she was totally embarrassed by her over-reaction.

  Kale smirked, “Let’s leave it for today, and I’m sorry if I took you by surprise but that’s the way it has to be portrayed.”

  Izzie nodded slowly, afraid to meet his gaze; she felt incredibly stupid at how she had acted and she also felt something else but she couldn’t quite explain. She cleared her throat nervously and sat down on the armchair again while Kale took the one opposite her. It was plain to see that their kiss had affected her but Kale wondered was it the same reaction he’d had? As soon as he had kissed her, he felt something spark off in his stomach; like a jolt of an electric shock. Kale wasn’t quite sure how to explain it but one thing was for sure; it felt good and he wanted very much to do it again. However, it was a case of whether Izzie would agree to it or did she still hate his guts and now even more so? It was very hard to tell by her expression but Kale figured it would be better left alone for now; he decided to change the subject.

  “So,” Kale began awkwardly, “is there anything else you want to do?”

  Izzie didn’t answer straight away; she was too preoccupied thinking about their kiss. She shook herself mentally and forced herself to meet Kale’s eyes, “Well, there’s not really much else is there? Although, I am getting kinda hungry … what are we gonna do about lunch?”

  Kale smiled, “I could check if the coast is clear and if it is; what do you say we make a run for it and go somewhere, what you think?”

  Izzie raised her eyebrows, “After this morning’s newspaper article … have you gone totally mad?”

  Kale’s grin slipped a little, “Oh yeah, well I’ll check it out anyway and then we can go up to the house. There’s more food up there and nobody will be able to see us besides the cook and maids.”

  Izzie reluctantly agreed and waited while Kale went outside to have a look around. He came back about ten minutes later and declared - much to Izzie’s relief - that all was clear and they could escape to the house.

  After a lunch that consisted of salad sandwiches and some coffee, Izzie felt much better. She actually found that Kale seemed to be just like any ordinary guy; she actually felt like she could begin to tolerate him – at least a little bit anyway.

  “So,” Izzie began after she’d drained the last of her second cup of coffee, “what now? I know we’re a lot more comfy now but we still have the issue of the photographers following us; we still can’t go anywhere.”

  Kale sighed, “I know, welcome to my world. I dunno, you wanna watch a movie or something?”

/>   Izzie shrugged, “Sure but please don’t make me suffer through one of yours!”

  Kale laughed, “I promise, come on; the cinema room’s downstairs.

  Izzie followed him down to the lower level and found herself in a very large room that resembled a film theatre; there were reclining red chairs lined in a row, a popcorn machine and other sweets and drinks. Izzie couldn’t help but be impressed; the large screen and even the décor of film posters made the whole room feel like the real thing.

  “Wow,” Izzie exclaimed, “what films you got?”

  Kale rhymed off a couple of titles and Izzie settled on a Hilary Turner one; she was her favourite actress and it was her favourite film of all time – the classic story of boy meets girl - ‘A Time to Love’.

  Kale looked impressed and loaded up the reel while Izzie helped herself to some popcorn and some nachos. Kale dimmed the lights and took the seat beside Izzie, grateful that she didn’t tell him to move away. The credits began to roll and Izzie found herself absorbed in the film while Kale found himself absorbed in looking at Izzie. He really did like her but he highly doubted that she felt the same and he couldn’t blame her – to date, her picture had been splashed all over the papers and her name tarnished. He knew he was to blame but he struggled to think of something that would make it up to her; he knew being involved in his life wasn’t easy and it was unfair of him to be so selfish and want Izzie to be around him constantly. He sighed to himself and turned his attention back to the screen and regretted it; it was the scene where Hilary’s character told her husband – a superb Dean Jameson - she was dying. That scene was always one that pulled at Kale’s heart; the acting was so realistic and believable – something he felt he had yet to achieve. That was acting at its best and he was just a poor man’s Dean Jameson. Kale turned away from the screen, ashamed of the lump in his throat; he coughed in an attempt to clear it and saw Izzie glance at him out of the corner of his eye – her look was one of curiosity.

  The film ended and Izzie stretched and yawned; it had been very comfortable to just relax all day – apart from dodging the photographers this morning. She looked at Kale and smiled lazily, he returned her smile and felt his heart thump rapidly – what the hell was wrong with him? He cleared his throat, “You want some coffee?”

  Izzie nodded and he was relieved to leave her for a few minutes; she was really making him feel … well he really didn’t know how to describe it – it felt good but he had difficulty naming the emotion. He shook himself mentally and concentrated on making the cappuccinos.

  Izzie remained seated in the recliner, she was feeling quite confused. She had been touched when she noticed Kale’s expression while watching the film; there had been a fierce determination in his eyes and also a sense of vulnerability about him. It was clear that he was very passionate about acting and it seemed to Izzie that he was a guy who would persevere until he achieved what it was that he was after. She was also beginning to feel something else as well … she couldn’t quite put her finger on it but when he had smiled back at her and their eyes had locked, she had felt … well she didn’t know for sure but had thought it was quite a nice little moment – wow, what was wrong with her? ‘A nice little moment’ … where had that come from? She tried to clear her thoughts just as Kale came back into the room.

  “Here you go,” he handed her the mug and sat down again.

  “Thanks,” Izzie smiled at him briefly then quickly averted her gaze to the floor – there was that unnamed feeling again. She ignored it and took a fleeting glance at Kale, “So, what time is it? You think we ditched them?”

  Kale laughed, “4.30 and yeah, I think we have, so what do you wanna do now?”

  Izzie shrugged and Kale smirked, “You know we could always run lines again … I wouldn’t mind.”

  Izzie raised her eyebrows, “Yeah, I think not.”

  Kale kept smiling at the look she was giving him, “Not a hope in hell then,” he laughed and Izzie reluctantly let her gaze fall on his baby blue eyes.

  Kale stopped laughing and for a few minutes they simply looked at each other, Izzie started to feel uncomfortable but also butterflies in her stomach – what was wrong with her? She coughed awkwardly and attempted to break the eye contact but Kale was too quick. Before she could even comprehend what was happening, she felt Kale’s warm lips meet hers. It took around five seconds for her brain to catch up and she pushed him away.

  “Why the hell do you keep doing that?” She glowered at him while Kale looked confused.

  “I thought we were having a good time, weren’t we? I – why are you so mad?” Kale scratched his head perplexed as Izzie abruptly stood up.

  “I have to go,” she declared loudly and she started marching towards the front door of the house while Kale chased after her.

  “Izzie, no – don’t go,” he told her as she turned back to look at him.

  “Don’t ever speak to me again,” Izzie told him and she turned back to the door, within seconds she was gone.

  Kale stood for a few minutes and felt really messed up. They had had a nice day together, they were starting to get along and he actually thought Izzie was beginning to like him but now it had all gone wrong – him and his stupid actions. He cursed himself but let Izzie go on; she was far too mad to reason with at the minute. He sighed and returned to the cinema room where he flopped onto the chair Izzie had just vacated. It was then that Kale realised he was sitting on something, he got up to investigate; Izzie’s mobile. Figuring it had fallen out of her pocket when she had fled so suddenly, Kale took it and left the room, making his way up to his bedroom. He knew he would have to return it and by the fury in her tone when she had left, Kale concluded that he wouldn’t be able to return it in person. He sighed and then an idea struck him.

  Izzie drove home quite recklessly; she really didn’t know what she was feeling and felt very mixed up indeed. On one hand, they had had a nice time together but, on the other, he was Kale Eddison – mega film star – she loathed him – or so she claimed frequently. That was twice he had kissed her today – true, the first was acting but the second – the second had been the real deal; he had wanted to kiss her. She shook her head; did she like him? Could he be trusted? Would he bother her again? Would he go to the papers to spite her? What would be the next headline; ‘Isobel Frank – heartbreaker and cold-hearted bitch’? Izzie shuddered and tried to pay attention to the road in front of her; she pushed these thoughts to the back of her mind and concentrated on getting home safely. She was just grateful that she had been the one driving or she would have been stranded with Kale. Izzie eventually ended up home and found - much to her relief - that there were no photographers camped out. She got out of her car and made her way into the house.

  “Hey Gran,” Izzie found her grandmother sitting at the kitchen table with a coffee mug in her hand.

  “Oh, Izzie dear, I didn’t hear you come in. Those dreadful reporters aren’t lurking outside again, are they?” Her grandmother frowned and Izzie laughed.

  “No Gran, anyway I’m kinda tired, I think I’m just gonna go on up to my room, ok?”

  “You don’t want anything to eat?” Her grandmother looked at her with a worried expression.

  Izzie shrugged, “I had a big lunch.” Her grandmother looked at her carefully but let the subject drop, so Izzie made her way upstairs. She threw her bag onto the bed and flopped down beside it. Her head was full of thoughts about Kale and this frustrated her. She sighed and figured she’d phone Maddie; even though her friend was acting weird, Izzie felt like talking to someone and Maddie would have to do. She rummaged through her bag and checked her pockets; no phone. She frowned and then punched the mattress … Kale. Izzie was angry at herself; how was she so stupid to have accidentally left her phone at his house? She’d never get it back now. Just as she had decided to take a shower, Izzie was in the middle of slipping off her shoes when there was a knock at the front door. She sighed, knowing her grandmother wouldn’t hear it, and ma
de her way downstairs.

  Izzie flung open the door and was met by a pretty blonde woman. “Uh, hello?”

  The blonde woman smiled at her, “Hi, Izzie isn’t it?”

  Izzie nodded, wondering who this stranger was and how she knew her name.

  “Hi,” the woman said again and continued, “I’m Alicia – Kale’s assistant – he wanted me to drop this off.” She produced Izzie’s mobile from her bag and handed it to her.

  Izzie took it and gazed at the woman, wondering if Kale had told what had happened between them today? “Um, thanks.” was all she managed to say.

  Alicia smiled, “Mr Eddison was busy and insisted it be returned to you A.S.A.P. Have a nice evening.” She smiled at Izzie and made her way back to her car and Izzie watched her drive off. Izzie looked down at her mobile; it didn’t look to have been unlocked and for that she was grateful; at least Kale respected her privacy. She decided that Kale wasn’t all bad but returning her phone wasn’t going to make her forget his actions earlier. She made her way upstairs again and threw the mobile on her bed before she headed for the shower; she really needed to clear her head.

  Izzie felt ten times better after her hot steaming shower; she put on her comfiest jeans and a hoodie and settled onto her bed. She extracted her iPod from the mess within her schoolbag and selected some soothing songs that would help her relax. She was really just beginning to forget the events of the past few hours when she heard her phone bleep. Izzie sighed, a little annoyed that she had been distracted and lifted her phone. A quick glance at the screen showed there was one new message alerting her to a new email message in her inbox. Izzie sighed and booted up her laptop; it took a few minutes for her email inbox to load but when it did, she found she had received an email from one Kale Eddison. Izzie had had an inkling as to who it might have been from and she was proved right. She sighed and clicked the message open.