Hollywood Days with Hayes

by Hayes Grier

  People started to clap encouragingly. They parted, leaving an open path to the stage.

  The emcee shielded his eyes from the lights and called, “Don’t be shy! We’re all friends here.”

  Violet looked back at the door, blocked by the dense throng. Would it be easier to just go onstage and get it over with?

  Not knowing what else to do, Violet slowly walked forward. The emcee leaned over and held out a hand to help her up. Onstage, she couldn’t see a thing; the audience was lost in the lights. She glanced back at the emcee, who was disappearing through a door at the back of the stage.

  The music started. She gripped the mic. She couldn’t sing! She thought she might be able to, but she just couldn’t. Instead, she said in a squeaky voice, “Coco and I were supposed to stand together.” She stopped, then added, “And now I’m alone. Got to go!”

  She dropped the mic. It clattered to the floor, a screeching sound filling the room. She ran to the back door and slipped off the stage.

  “Huh?” said a man wearing a white apron, his hair pulled back in a net. Violet was in the kitchen. The chef looked at her curiously.

  “How do I get out of here?” she asked in a panic. He pointed behind him. “Thank you!” she called. Racing around refrigerators and counters, she found another door marked EXIT. She raced through and found herself in a dark alley. She made her way to the street.

  Now where was that Uber?

  * * *

  Violet pushed open the front door. Well, she was back home, that was good. But she felt even worse than before she’d left. The night was a fiasco. Going onstage, then running away? How ridiculous was that? But it did take her mind off her Hayes dilemma, that was for sure.

  “Violet!” Mia rushed over, pulling Violet inside. She breathlessly slammed the door behind her. “I can’t believe it!”

  “Can’t believe what?”

  “Have you seen it?”

  “Seen what?” Violet was losing patience.

  “The picture of Hayes and Coco.”

  “Oh.” Violet walked into the kitchen to get a glass of water. Her throat felt dry and scratchy, even though she hadn’t sung a note. “I know they’re together tonight. It’s not a big deal, Mia. Calm down. Coco had to leave the karaoke bar for an emergency meeting with Hayes and TJ.”

  “Just look!” Mia stepped in front of her and practically shoved the phone in her face. Violet squinted. The photo was on Newsflash!, a celebrity gossip site, and it was dated that night, just an hour ago. The picture was dark and grainy, but its subjects were unmistakably Hayes and Coco.

  They were kissing.

  And TJ was nowhere in sight.

  Violet felt like she’d been hit by a train. I’ve been betrayed, she thought—by Coco, and by Hayes!

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  ANOTHER NIGHT AND, ONCE AGAIN, Violet hardly slept at all. This was getting to be a habit, and Violet didn’t like it. Early the next morning, she examined her face in the mirror: Puffy eyelids. Circles under the eyes. A haggard look. Turning away, she pulled her hair back in a ponytail without checking to see how it looked. She should really look her best for work. But at this point, she thought, it didn’t really matter.

  Violet grabbed her backpack from the hall and had just reached the front door when her phone buzzed. She paused, wanting to ignore it. Really, she just wanted the world to go away. Of course, she couldn’t, though, looking at her phone was a knee-jerk reaction. She swiped the screen.

  “Oh!” Violet yelped. The message was from the fanfic website, but it wasn’t from an ordinary reader. It was from Lydia Jacobs.

  Hello? the message began. Are you there, mystery writer? I still want to meet you. ASAP. I can guarantee you ten meetings in one week, starting with the head of A-List Studios and ending with director Zoe Zalewski. Everyone—and I mean everyone—is freaking out over your fanfic. It’s awesome. So get in touch—now!

  Now this is how to beat the blues, Violet thought. For a moment she forgot about Coco and Hayes. She forgot that the fanfic could be trouble. This was her big break. Nothing would stop her now!

  She opened her mouth wide and sang some lines from the karaoke song, changing up the words: “I’m standing with Lydia Jacobs. I’m not alone, don’t you know!”

  Violet skipped down to the driveway and stopped short. The garage was empty. Apparently something could stop her: lack of a car.

  “Anything wrong?”

  Violet jumped. She spun around, then smiled. “Oh, hi, Jay. I was about to drive to work. But my uncle must have taken the car.”

  Violet’s mind raced. Did she leave anything she needed in the car? Going by her recent luck, the answer had to be a resounding yes. Frantically, she searched through her backpack.

  Jay smiled at her. “You have a hard time in the mornings, don’t you?” He spoke in a teasing way, like he actually found that appealing.

  “Oh, you catch me at my worst, when I’m running late. I’ll call an Uber.”

  “Don’t be silly. You don’t know how long that will take. I can drive you.”

  He was being so nice. How could Violet refuse?

  * * *

  Jay drove a Volvo SUV. Her parents would be pleased, Violet thought. The car had a high safety rating, and Jay took the curves with a sure, steady hand. She leaned back against the seat and tried to relax.

  Jay glanced over. Violet knew he was noting her strained, haggard look and her toes anxiously tapping the car mat. It turned out she couldn’t forget about the fanfic. Lydia Jacobs’s offer meant her name would come out. Everyone would know Violet Reeves was HollywoodWriter310. Even Hayes.

  “It’s not just getting to work on time,” he said. “Is it? Something else is wrong.”

  “No,” she insisted. “It’s nothing, really.”

  “Why don’t you tell me, Violet? I want to help.”

  Violet sank deeper into the seat and sighed. She couldn’t tell him everything, of course. She couldn’t admit to her feelings for Hayes or that Hayes and Coco had kissed. She couldn’t even talk about the fanfic. But she could give him a general idea of one problem: Lydia Jacobs. If only she’d talked to Hayes earlier, she could meet with Lydia with a clear conscience. But, with Hayes still in the dark, it didn’t feel right—even if he was with Coco now.

  Jay seemed like a totally nice, totally together guy. And he must be smart. Maybe he really could help.

  “Okay,” she agreed. “What would you do if you were handed a dream opportunity? But if you took that opportunity, you’d wind up hurting somebody you cared about?”

  Luckily, Jay didn’t press for details. He drove for a bit, thinking, then said, “This is my take on it. Ready?”

  “Ready.”

  “You should be honest with the person you care about. If the opportunity is really your dream, this person—with time—will understand. He or she may be hurt, but eventually, they’ll come around. That is,” he stressed, “as long as you’re honest.”

  Violet nodded, gazing out the car window quietly until they reached the studio. The guard caught Violet’s eye and waved them in, and Jay pulled over by the soundstage. “So,” he said, “what do you think?”

  “I think you may be right.” She smiled and patted his hand. “Thanks for the ride, Jay, and for the good advice.”

  She opened the door to leave.

  “Wait!” Jay said. “There’s a beach party tonight in Venice. Why don’t you come? It will take your mind off things.”

  Violet had tried that strategy before—at Sing It, Sister!— and it hadn’t worked that way at all. But it did sound like a nice night out. Maybe she deserved a break. She caught a glimpse of her tired-looking reflection in the window. But maybe she’d be so zonked out, all she’d want to do is sleep.

  “I’m not sure I’ll be up for it,” she told him honestly. “Can I text you later?”

  They exchanged numbers. Violet stepped out of the car and called as he pulled away, “I’ll let you know!”

  No
w, she thought, I just have to get through the day.

  * * *

  As usual, the set was a blur of motion: tech people setting up lights and cameras, cast members rushing to makeup and wardrobe. Violet spied Hayes by the craft service table, munching on a chocolate chip muffin.

  A big piece fell on the floor. Hayes quickly bent to pick it up, popping it in his mouth, then looking around to see if anyone had noticed. It was so little-boy cute, it just about broke Violet’s heart.

  Stop it, she told herself sternly.

  The key to surviving the workday, she thought, was to put aside her feelings. Forget about Hayes and Coco. Remember Hayes was the movie’s star, and her job was to keep him on-target.

  “Hey,” she said, checking the schedule. “You’re due for a photo shoot soon for the new movie poster.”

  “Morning, V,” Hayes said, reaching for a napkin. “You’re all business this morning! Sorry your night out with Coco was cut short.”

  So you two could hook up, Violet couldn’t help but think. But it was weird. Hayes was acting like his usual normal self, like last night didn’t happen at all.

  “Cheer up!” he said, moving closer to tap her shoulder. “You guys can get together another time.”

  So he thought she was upset because Coco had left the karaoke bar? Not because he’d kissed her.

  So what did Hayes think of their relationship, then? His and Violet’s? Of course, they weren’t boyfriend/girlfriend. So he really had every right to kiss another girl. But they did have something. A certain connection, a special one. She could see it in his eyes and feel it in her heart every time they spoke. Even now, when she wanted to run away from him, she felt a pull to hold his hand, to stroke his cheek. Chemistry, plain and simple.

  So much for putting aside her feelings.

  “How was your dinner meeting?” Violet asked, striving to sound like she was making small talk.

  “Nothing special.” Hayes shrugged. “We went over that final scene and talked it through. It turned out to be an early night. TJ wanted us to get some rest.”

  Inside, Violet fumed. So the dinner was nothing special? They just worked? Hayes must think she lived in a world without Internet. And now he was lying! The guy who claimed he hated dishonesty! He was keeping the truth from her … unless he didn’t think his new “relationship” should be her concern. Maybe he thought he and Violet weren’t even friends, just boss and assistant!

  Could she have been completely off on this? Were all these feelings one-sided?

  * * *

  Violet was taking Zan back to the trailer. She’d let him run around a back lot with benches and a playground. He’d played for an hour, fetching an old tennis ball. Each time he brought it back, she’d say, “You’re a good dog! You’re not like your owner at all, are you, boy?”

  “Hi, Violet!” Coco was walking in the same direction. She motioned to her phone, meaning she was on a call. “We’ll talk later,” she whispered, one hand covering the receiver.

  Violet nodded curtly, then sped up so they wouldn’t walk in step. Behind her, she could hear Coco laughing. “I know!” she said to whomever she was talking to. “I think it’s really going to work out. Last night was so great.”

  Quickly, Violet veered off to the side. She found a quiet spot behind another trailer. She leaned against the side, then sank to the ground. That was it. Proof that Coco and Hayes were an item. And where did that leave her?

  Crying at work.

  She let a few tears trickle down her cheeks. It felt good to release the emotion. But the next minute, she stood, drying her cheeks with her sleeve. She had to get herself under control. She was on set! She walked back around the trailer and saw Coco had stopped, too. She was leaning against a lamppost, the phone against her ear, still chatting happily. She couldn’t escape that girl!

  Of course, it wasn’t Coco’s fault; Violet knew that. Coco had no idea how Violet felt. Violet liked Coco; she really did. But now they wouldn’t ever be friends. And what about Hayes? Maybe he wasn’t totally at fault, either. Maybe he felt just as confused as she did.

  “Hey, V. What’s up?” Hayes was loping toward her, his step easy, his face set in a friendly, open way. Violet froze, not saying a word. Hayes didn’t seem to notice. He kept walking. “Hey, Coco,” he said in exactly the same way.

  “Thank you again for last night, Hayes!” Coco called out in a flirty sort of voice.

  That did it! Instantly, Violet felt a shift. She was angry now, not sad or confused; she actually stamped her foot. She’d show them both. She pulled out her phone, tapped on Jay’s contact info, and began to text: If your invitation still stands, I’d love to come to that beach party.

  * * *

  The sun was setting over the water. The sky, a rainbow of colors, looked so beautiful, it seemed more like a painting. For a moment, Violet just stood on the boardwalk, admiring the view.

  “Come on,” Mia said, tugging her hand. “The party’s already started.”

  “Thank God you’re here,” Violet told her cousin as they stepped onto the sand. “I won’t know anyone here but Jay.”

  “Well, I’m guessing he’ll only be talking to you, anyway,” Mia teased. “I think the boy has got it bad.”

  Violet elbowed her. “Stop it! You don’t know that.”

  But sure enough, Jay was already coming over, a huge grin on his face. “Hi, Violet. Hi, Mia.” He hugged Violet tight and whispered, “I’m so glad to see you.”

  Maybe Mia was right. Violet felt pleased. Finally, a guy who made his feelings clear.

  Jay waved over to a group of people piling driftwood into the center of a circle of beach chairs and blankets. “I’ll introduce you.”

  He took Violet’s hand and led her to the group. “Everyone!” he called out. “This is Violet.” He pointed to friends, naming them one by one. Violet tried to remember who was who. There was a boy-Dylan and a girl-Dylan, and twins named Isabel and Jacob, but she soon lost track. Everyone smiled and waved, but Jay seemed content to keep her to himself. Mia, meanwhile, wandered off to join some girls wading into the water.

  Someone lit a fire. Bit by bit the flames grew bigger, until it was a full-fledged bonfire. Violet and Jay found a spot in the circle and sat close together.

  By now, the sky had darkened. Stars blinked brightly. The fire crackled, sending sparks into the air. A guy with long, straight hair strummed a guitar.

  It was a perfect night; couples leaned close to one another, caught up in the romance of the evening. Violet pushed thoughts of Hayes out of her mind. She was here with Jay—sweet, smart Jay—who really liked her. She was determined to like him back.

  One of the Dylans passed them sticks and marshmallows to make s’mores, along with chocolate bars and graham crackers.

  “That’s s’more like it,” Violet joked, thinking that was something Hayes and his squad would say. Jay didn’t seem to hear. Just as well, she thought. It was pretty lame.

  Violet and Jay edged closer to the fire to hold their marshmallows over the flames. When the marshmallows turned golden brown, they pushed them onto a cracker, adding the chocolate and another cracker. “My favorite sandwich,” Violet said, taking a big bite.

  “Plain, simple, and delicious,” Jay agreed.

  “I don’t know, I like my desserts on the weird side,” Violet went on. “The stranger the better. One time I made a s’more with peanut butter, cinnamon, maple syrup, and sprinkles.”

  Jay twisted his face. “Ew. That is weird. Did you actually eat it?”

  “Of course I ate it. That was the point!”

  Jay nodded, but Violet knew he didn’t get it. And it bothered her. Why did crazy ingredients make such a difference to her? Violet wasn’t sure. Maybe it had to do with individuality and a sense of adventure.

  Hayes had gotten it right away. He got her, in fact. There was that almost-instant bond, a spark that seemed to be missing with Jay.

  But maybe Violet wasn’t being fair. Open mind,
Violet, she told herself. Open mind. She finished the s’more, licked her fingers, and smiled at Jay.

  A cool breeze ruffled her hair.

  Immediately, Jay took off his sweatshirt and draped it around Violet’s shoulders, keeping his arm around her. “Better?” he asked.

  “Better,” she said, snuggling closer. Jay cupped her chin and tilted his face, moving nearer and nearer for a kiss. Violet closed her eyes and parted her lips, letting it happen. They pressed against each other, and Violet felt …

  Nothing.

  She opened her eyes and pulled back. Someone called Jay over. He looked at her questioningly, and she nodded, giving him permission to go. Alone, she stared into the fire, knowing her feelings once and for all.

  She wasn’t into Jay. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t force the attraction. The bottom line: She was using him to take her mind off Hayes and to make herself feel better. That wasn’t right.

  Hayes … now she knew her true feelings for him, too. It had been building since the moment they met, with some setbacks, of course, while she figured things out. She didn’t want a friendship. She’d fallen for him—hard. And one way or another, she had to see it through.

  She knew it may already be too late. He could very well be with Coco now. And who knew how he would react when he found out about the fan fiction.

  There were so many “what ifs,” Violet felt like her head was spinning.

  But one thing was for sure. She needed to leave the party. She couldn’t keep leading on Jay. Quickly she found Mia and said, “We need to go.”

  “What do you mean? What about Jay?”

  Violet’s eyes swept the beach, the bonfire, and the water. She didn’t see him anywhere. She’d have to talk to him later and explain it all. It wasn’t ideal, but right now she’d have to text.

  Quickly, she typed, I’m sorry. Had to go. And they left.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  THE NEXT MORNING AT THE STUDIO, Violet peered into the editing room. Hayes was going over some film with the editor, watching a scene from the day before. Violet nodded. He was right where he was supposed to be. On schedule.