Secrets of My Hollywood Life #4: Paparazzi Princess

by Jen Calonita

  Spotted at the Vanity Fair party in a delicious navy Jay Godfrey gown--none other than our favorite good girl, Kaitlin Burke. But were our eyes deceiving us or did she really spend the evening with notorious party animal heiresses Ava Hayden and Lauren Cobb? Those three seem to be spending an awful lot of time together. Better watch yourself with those two, Kaitlin. Unless you're gunning to be a daily fixture in this column for bad behavior, steer clear ...

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  FA2020 "Sorry Is Not Part of My Vocabulary"

  (CONTINUED)

  7. INT. BUCHANAN MANOR-- SAM'S BEDROOM

  SAMANTHA is at her bedroom window looking over the Buchanan Estate. She's wearing sweats, her hair is uncombed, and her face is free of any makeup. She opens her window and waves to someone below. From underneath her bed she pulls out a rope and flings it over the side of the window. She starts to climb over when the door opens.

  PAIGE

  (alarmed) Samantha! What do you think you're doing? (grabs her daughter's arm)

  SAMANTHA

  Going out. Get off.

  PAIGE

  You're not going anywhere. You're grounded, young lady! (looks out the window) And you're certainly not going anywhere with Nick Masters. He's a con artist.

  SAMANTHA

  Nick is the only one who understands me.

  PAIGE

  Understands what, Sam? That you don't want to move? This is no way to make a case for staying. You're not with Ryan anymore. Your teachers keep calling about missing assignments. You got detention last week for mouthing off to the principal. This isn't you, Sam.

  SAMANTHA

  Maybe it's the new me, Mom. Did you ever think of that?

  PAIGE

  Sam, I know you've been having a hard time adjusting to the news that we're moving, but that doesn't give you license to act out like this. Fighting what's happening won't change things.

  SAMANTHA

  Maybe, but seeing the grief it causes you certainly makes me feel better.

  Paige starts to cry and Sara enters the room.

  SARA

  Whoa. Sam, way to dress casual. Why is Mom crying?

  SAMANTHA

  I'm done with this drama. I'm out of here and I'm not coming back. Enjoy Miami!

  Sam shimmies down the rope and runs to Nick's car. The two tear off with the engine roaring as Paige and Sara look on from the bedroom window.

  Nine: Someone's in Denial and It Feels So Good

  "Thanks, Pete," I mumble sleepily as he hands me my second iced double espresso latte of the day. "You're a life-saver."

  Did I mention it's only ten thirty AM?

  If we didn't have craft services at work, some days I don't know how I'd survive. Pete keeps crafty stocked with everything you could possibly need for a good jolt (frozen coffee concoctions included) or a major meltdown (M&Ms and brownies at your service). He's a pro at knowing exactly what we need when we need it -- like the morning after the Oscars, when almost everyone on set is overtired and cranky. Calling in sick won't fly. Tom knows we were out partying last night. He's got the paparazzi pictures in every major magazine and on every Web site to prove it.

  Things are moving slower than usual, though. We've only shot a three-minute scene inside Summerville Breads (a school hangout) and we still have to get through the scene where Sam runs away from home. (Tom promises Sam will get her act together before the last episode. In the meantime, the bad Sam is fun to play.) I don't know if we're going to get to that scene today. We're all tripping over our lines. Thankfully Tom was out last night too, so he can't get too mad.

  Sky snatches her own latte from Pete's outstretched hands. "There better be an extra shot of espresso in mine."

  "That's Sky's way of saying thank you," Trevor tells Pete. Instead of coffee, he takes another Red Bull.

  "How would you know what I meant?" Sky asks, sounding upset. "People have to spend time with other people if they want to know those people's thoughts. You can't ignore people and then expect those people to pay attention to you." Her voice is rising and Pete steps back to avoid the fire. "Isn't that right, K?"

  Sky looks at me helplessly. Her under-eye circles are huge, as I'm sure are mine. The whole set has them and I'm sure the makeup staff will go through at least a dozen tubes of concealer today trying to cover them up.

  "Yes?" I say, even though I'm not sure what Sky is so worked up over.

  "So you're saying people need people?" Trevor starts singing the old Barbara Streisand song as he walks away and I can't help but giggle.

  Sky's chest is rising and falling like she's just run a marathon. She grunts loudly in exasperation. "I don't get him," Sky complains to me. "He asked me if I was going to the In Style party and I said yes. And then when he got there he ignored me all night. I skipped the Vanity Fair party because of him and he still didn't talk to me!" She looks so upset that I actually feel bad for her. Maybe I should tell Trevor to tone down the cold shoulder act a bit. It could backfire.

  "Did you ever think that Trevor was just trying to make you jealous?" I ask.

  Sky's face brightens. "Did he say that?" she asks hopefully.

  "No," I lie. I can't sell Trevor out completely. "But maybe that's what he's doing to get you back for the way you treated him last summer."

  Sky rolls her eyes. "He's not over that yet?"

  "Not all of us bounce back from humiliation as quickly as you do," I remind her. "Maybe if you just keep being nice to him, and don't fall all over him, he'll pay more attention to you. Give him time."

  "Okay," Sky mumbles. "Now enough of you giving me advice. It's making me itchy. How was your night?"

  I take a sip of my latte. "Fun. I hung out with Ava Hayden and Lauren Cobb."

  Sky's eyes darken. "Again? What is with you three and the paparazzi?"

  "We've hung out a few times," I say. Being with Ava and Lauren is the most relaxed I've felt in a while. "They're nice."

  Sky makes an unidentifiable noise. "You wouldn't say that if you really knew them."

  It's all coming back to me now as the sleep fog lifts. Lauren mentioned Sky! Apparently they were a tight threesome up until last year when they all had a major falling out over some guy. They hate each other now.

  "Have you guys talked to Melli?" Matty interrupts us as he approaches crafty. He takes a granola bar and an apple from the table. "She dropped out of that Revenge movie."

  "Are you serious?" I'm shocked. Melli couldn't stop talking about the part all last week in between takes. "She loved that role!"

  "It's in this morning's Variety," Matt says.

  "You went to the Vanity Fair party and still woke up early enough to read Variety?" Sky asks.

  Matty shrugs. "Anway, I just passed Melli talking to Tom and she said she realized she didn't want to take on another role so soon. She wanted time with her family."

  "What did Variety give as the official reason?" I ask.

  Matty smirks. "Creative differences."

  Ah. That's always a good one.

  HOLLYWOOD SECRET NUMBER NINE: Even after a celebrity has made it public knowledge that they intend to do a film, it doesn't mean it's actually going to happen. I've already told you about stars that are dropped like hot potatoes because the director realized their golden child was not so golden after all. But what happens when it's the stars, not the director or studio, who want to pull out of a role they've already committed to? You could probably pull out when you get a new draft of the script and hate it or if the film switches directors, but what if neither of those things happen? If you don't want to wind up slapped with a multi-million dollar lawsuit for delaying filming, then you have to be careful. Most stars who do this sort of thing veto the project somewhere between the original verbal agreement and the date they sign the official contract a few weeks later. Sure, it upsets the studio, but they can't actually sue you over that. And if the studio has already announced or leaked that you were starring
in their summer must-see, it's their mess to clean up.

  "So Melli's got no project lined up after Family Affair?" Sky looks stunned. "What is she thinking? People will forget about her!"

  "I highly doubt anyone is going to forget about Melli," I tell her patiently. "She's a huge star."

  Sky shrugs. "That's today, but a few months or a year without anyone seeing her face on TV or in theaters and she'll start getting passed over for Hallmark movies. You know how this town works -- one bad role and you're yesterday's news." Sky shakes her head sadly. "I know Melli's made money on this show, but it won't last forever. She won't be able to keep affording that house if she doesn't sign on to new movies."

  "You're wrong," I tell her. I'm shaking and I fold my arms across my chest. It's kind of cold in the studio when all you have on is a Juicy tank and sweats. Sky is in a green skirt by Zac Posen, with ankle high boots and a belly-baring fitted dress shirt that screams tacky. "Not everyone has to have project after project lined up," I remind Sky. "Maybe Melli wants to take time before she makes her decision. Maybe she's tired of everyone bossing her around! Or maybe the project she really wants just hasn't gotten back to her yet." I think of the Manolos movie. The director has been out of town for two weeks and Seth hasn't reached him. I'm beginning to lose hope.

  Matty shifts uncomfortably in his Nike track pants and the Summerville High sweatshirt he had on for the previous scene.

  "Are you sure we're talking about Melli, K?" Sky asks lightly. "Stop getting so stressed out. It's ruining your complexion." She takes a loud sip of her coffee, smiles at Matty, and practically skips off to her dressing room to get ready for the next scene.

  "HEY!" Nadine's voice is so loud and bubbly; I practically fall backward into the craft services table. Pete, who was in the middle of making a smoothie for Matty, drops the top of the blender and it clanks onto the floor.

  "What are you doing? Are you done with the scene?" she asks. She's clutching an oversized paperback book to the bible, which can only mean she wants to . . .

  "Run," Matty whispers in my ear.

  "I was hoping we could do another SAT test," Nadine says. "I wasn't thrilled with your last score."

  I groan. "Nadine, I've been studying every day," I complain. "I don't think I can handle another practice test. Not today. I'm exhausted."

  "What are you going to do if you have to work late the night before the test?" Nadine asks me. "You'll have to trudge on. This is good practice!" Her beaded bracelets dangle on her wrist. She's wearing a cute brown sweater with khaki pants. The look is dressed up for Nadine.

  "Are you going somewhere after work?" I ask.

  She looks at me like I'm crazy. "We'll be on set till at least ten PM."

  "Then why are you dressed up?" I ask.

  Nadine looks down at her outfit. "I'm trying to dress more professionally," she says. "But that's not important. What is important are the SATs. The test is --"

  "In a few weeks," Matty and I finish in unison, our voices as flat as a supermodel's stomach.

  "Exactly." Nadine nods, oblivious to our tone. "We should really get in one extra test a day until then. Oh! And I talked to Seth again." She begins flipping through her binder and hands a few loose papers to Matty.

  "Since when does she talk to Seth?" Matty asks me quietly.

  "Ever since she started morphing into Laney and Mom," I whisper. I love Nadine to death, but I don't know how much more of these cheerleader SAT/career pep rallies I can take. I want my real Nadine back. I don't understand what happened. Nadine went home for the holidays and came back a task-master monster.

  "It looks like the director of Manolos is still out of town." Nadine frowns. "I think Seth sounds a little worried you're not going to get this part, but that's just my opinion. The folks from that play are flying out this week to talk to you. But that won't work. You have to study for the SATs. I'll have to reschedule that." She begins dialing her phone.

  "Nadine, wait!" I beg. "If they're flying out to meet with me, I can't reschedule."

  "We'll have to keep the meeting short then," Nadine stresses. "Your mom doesn't want you to do the play anyway. She said it's not enough exposure."

  I throw my head back and groan. What alternate universe have I fallen into? That's the only explanation I can come up with to explain how Nadine could be brainwashed by Mom. I roll my neck like Austin taught me. He thinks it will help the tension I seem to carry in my neck and shoulders. My pocket starts to vibrate and I reach in for my phone. Finally some good news -- it's Austin!

  "Hey!" I turn away from Nadine and Matty, who is talking to Pete about a second smoothie to take back to his dressing room. "How was the scrimmage? I tried calling -- "

  "I know, I'm sorry. We won and coach took us out for dinner to celebrate." I hear a lot of noise in the background and realize Austin must be on the bus heading back to school. The scrimmage wasn't till 8 PM last night and the game was two hours away so the team stayed overnight.

  "That's great!" I tell him. "Were there any scouts?"

  "Actually one knew my name and said he'd be calling me," Austin says. "And I met one of the coaches from that camp Rob and I want to go to in Texas."

  "Sounds like you had a good night." I smile. Just talking to Austin lifts my mood. I wish he were here now. I really miss him.

  "You too, Miss Vanity Fair," Austin teases. "Partying all night like a rock star, posing with Jay-Z and Ava Hayden. It looks like you had a ball."

  "How do you know that?" I ask.

  "Rob brought his laptop," Austin says. "They had Wi-Fi in the hotel. I checked out the pictures this morning. It made me madder than ever that I had to miss taking you. You looked gorgeous."

  I blush. "Thanks."

  "KAITLIN, YOU'RE HOT!" I hear someone yell. "WE LOVE YOU!"

  "Guys, enough." Austin laughs. "Let's just say your red carpet pictures were rated a ten."

  "I'm glad they approve." I giggle. "Even if your opinion is the only one that matters."

  "I didn't know you knew Ava Hayden," he says. "There were a ton of pictures of you two with some girl named Lauren."

  "Cobb," I tell him. "She's really nice. I think we're going shopping together later this week."

  "Cool," Austin says. "So, I hate to bring this up, but have you talked to Liz yet?"

  I take a deep breath. "I tried her last night, but we got disconnected. Then she called me back, but I missed her call."

  "So try her again," Austin pushes. "I'm still not sure what happened at your lunch, but Josh said Liz has been really upset about the fight you guys had and I know you are too."

  "I am," I admit, "but I'm not sure how to fix things. I know we've both been busy, but I didn't think we'd grown apart. Liz feels differently. She said I can't understand what she's going through."

  "She said that?" Austin sounds surprised.

  "Basically," I say quietly. "I guess I feel the same way. She's so busy with Mikayla and NYU stuff that she has no time for me either." A wave of sadness washes over me again, but before I get upset, I think about Lauren and Ava and how supportive they were last night. "Look, if that's the way Liz feels, she's entitled to her opinion. I don't know where we go from here and to be honest, I have too many other things stressing me out at the moment to deal with this too." Okay, that's sort of a lie. I can't stop thinking about Liz, but I'm choosing to ignore the situation till I figure out how to deal with it. How do you make up with your best friend when she's said things that really bother you?

  "I don't understand girl fights," Austin says. "I swear, guys have a disagreement and it's over in two minutes. Girls, they drag it out for weeks or months."

  "We're sensitive," I sniff.

  "Can we talk about it more when I see you?" Austin pauses. "When am I seeing you anyway, Burke? I miss you."

  I smile. "How about Friday?"

  "Friday it is. I hope I can make it that long."

  Aww.

  "I'll call you after work," I promise.

&nbs
p; "You better," he says and hangs up. I'm in such a daze after that, I don't see Tom standing right in front of me.

  "Hey, sport," Tom says with a smile. His face looks haggard and his skin is almost yellow. "Did you have fun last night? Great shot of you dancing on a couch at the Vanity Fair party."

  "How come everyone has seen these pictures except me?" I complain.

  "They're on Private Hollywood Eyes," Matty says as he drinks his strawberry smoothie.

  "Anyway, I was wondering what you're doing now," Tom asks.

  I'm confused. "I think the next scene, right?"

  Tom shakes his head. "We're shooting one with Melli and Spencer right now. You don't have another one till around two."

  "You mean I'm off till two?" I can barely handle my excitement. This means I can sleep!

  "Oh good! You have time to study," Nadine jumps in. I ignore her.

  "Actually, I was hoping Kaitlin could do her FA retrospective interview," Tom says. "I don't know if you've heard, but we're doing one that will air in May. Everyone is shooting individual interviews. You'll be asked about your first memories of the show, your biggest fashion faux pas, what your favorite episode was. It's simple. You'll be done in under an hour and still have time for lunch."

  I can feel my palms begin to sweat and the whooshing noise in my ears. Shoot the retrospective show? Is it time to do that already? That means we're really nearing the end now. "I don't know, Tom," I say nervously. "I have such under-eye circles today. I don't know if Shelly has enough concealer to retouch me."

  "You look fine," Tom insists. "Kaitlin, I know it's hard to say goodbye, but --"

  "I don't have a problem saying goodbye," I lie. "I'm just tired."

  "You'll be fine," Tom assures me. "I'll come find you in fifteen minutes and see if you're up for it." He walks off.

  "I'd say no," Nadine tells me. "He sprung it on you! You can do that later. Right now we should do a test." Her phone rings. "Oh hi, Laney. Meg. What's up? What? No I haven't seen the pictures. Who are Lauren and Ava?"

  I'm not even paying attention to what Nadine is saying and that's because across the soundstage I see a group of grips tearing down the Summerville Breads set. At first I think they're just redressing it, but then I see them taking down the back wall board by board and someone carrying away the booth Sam and Sara always sit at.