Hollywood Bound

by Morticia Knight

  They were led into a dark corner of the room, which, ironically, was where they would have chosen to sit anyway, even if they hadn’t been strong-armed into it. It was just a bonus that they were getting free champagne out of it. They sat down at the small table, and their reluctant host whisked off to do his duty. Jack turned his chair towards Nick a little more so that he could have his back to the wall, and not miss any of the action. He always made sure that no one was behind him when they were in crowded places.

  “Do you think Trixie is okay?”

  “I think Trixie’s a big girl. She seems ta know these toughs pretty well. I’m not sayin’ I like how they’re treatin’ her, but at this point, it’s none of our business.”

  “Who do ya think they are? Motion picture guys? Producers? They sure seem to have a lotta cash.”

  “Yeah, well, I say the less we know about these mugs, the better off we’ll be.”

  Hook-nose approached their table with an elegant chrome bucket etched with a geometrical design. There were gold accents on the handle, and inside the receptacle were crushed pieces of ice surrounding a fat bottle with a beautiful foiled label. It looked as though it should belong to a king. Or a sheik. Not two bums like them.

  I don’t really think Nick is a bum. But I’m sure all the people here do.

  Jack vowed to himself right then that with his very next paycheque, he was going to buy some nice shirts and pants for him and Nick. Maybe they would try for a suit after that with some snazzy dress shoes to go with it. They weren’t ever going to come to one of these classy joints again without looking like they belonged—like they were part of the glitzy crowd.

  Nick tried not to squirm in his chair. He felt completely ridiculous in here. Now this reprehensible hawk-nosed man was managing to look simultaneously disgusted and accommodating at the same time.

  The sooner we get outta here, the better.

  Anything had seemed like it would be better than the place where Bernie had been, but this was a different type of awful. Nick was fairly certain that their reluctant host was a gangster, most likely the bootlegger who supplied the ritzy joint they were in. He wasn’t sure hanging around with Trixie was such a good idea after all.

  “All we have is a newer vintage Bollinger. I hope this meets with your satisfaction.”

  The sarcasm in their server’s voice was blatantly obvious. Nick decided his best course would be to ignore his snide tone. However, since he couldn’t punch the guy in the kisser with a room likely filled with gangsters, he would just have to cut him down by using a few choice words of his own.

  “My satisfaction has been met, my good man. You may pour.”

  With that, Nick looked away as if he were an upper-class gentleman with an impeccable pedigree, nose in the air, a wave of the hand as though he couldn’t be bothered with such a lowly servant. Nick could hear Jack stifling the giggles. Since he had his head turned away, he didn’t notice the man take his leave, but he felt the nudge of Jack’s elbow alerting him that it was safe to turn back around.

  “Oh, Nick, you should have seen him! I thought he was going to bust open right here at our table.”

  “Serves him right, the bastard.”

  “Nick, do you think it would be okay if we toast each other with this champagne? I’ve never done that before.”

  “Neither have I, Jack, so I think this is the perfect moment.”

  Nick raised his glass. “To one of many firsts for us both.”

  Jack picked up his glass and clinked it with Nick’s, sloshing a bit of the costly liquid.

  “I’d be careful of every drop, Jacky boy. We may not get to drink any more of this liquid gold for a while.”

  “Oh I don’t know, Nick. If I become a big movie star like Valentino or Fairbanks, I’ll buy you a bottle all for yourself every night.”

  Nick’s chest constricted from the fear growing inside. Something inside told him that the Hollywood dream that Jack was chasing could be the end of their life together. Yet another part of Nick still only wanted what made Jack happy. If being a famous movie star was what Jack wanted, he would help him get it in any way that he could.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Trixie had come by their table to ask them to dance a couple of times, but her ever-watchful guardian kept a close eye on what they were doing. Jack was a little scared of her friends, and was glad that there hadn’t been any room at the table for them. He was worried about Trixie, even if Nick wasn’t. During a slower dance, Jack whispered in her ear, “Are you okay, Trixie? Those guys aren’t trying to do anything bad are they?”

  “You are such a sweet thing to worry about silly ol’ Trixie like that. I’m okay, honey, I promise. They just like to act like they’re big and important. They’re just like gorillas, theys beatin’ on their chests all the time.”

  “I ain’t never seen a gorilla.”

  “My Mama took me to the Bronx Zoo once when I was little. That was before Papa left, so we had money to do fun things once in a while. I saw ’em there. They were like giant beasts, but the man that took care of ’em said that they pound on their own chests to let everyone know that they’re the boss, and to stay away.”

  “Maybe you should stay away from these guys.”

  “Oh I can’t, honey, I ain’t got no choice.”

  “Whaddya mean? Sure you do.”

  Trixie looked over her shoulder, and Jack could feel how nervous she was all of a sudden.

  She put on her bubbly Trixie smile, and tossed her head back to let out a tinkling laugh.

  “Oh you are adorable! I am fine, honey, just fine. Look, I have to take off with my friends for a little while, so I probably won’t see you anymore tonight.”

  Jack couldn’t help but look disappointed. He had hoped to spend all of their time with Trixie that night—he’d just been waiting for those other guys to let her go.

  “I’m sorry, sweetie, but I tell you what. Meet me at the Silver Star tomorrow night at nine o’clock, and I’ll take you to an even better place than this one. We’ll have a real fine time. I promise.”

  “Just the three of us?”

  She got so close to him when she spoke, that her breath tickled his ear. Her voice was low and soothing.

  “That sounds very nice.”

  She kissed him on the cheek, then turned to wave giddily at Nick. He half-smiled and raised his hand in a polite acknowledgement. She blew some air-kisses in his direction, which seemed to throw him off. Jack had to smile. Nick was never comfortable with openly enthusiastic displays of affection. He gave another little wave, then busied himself taking a sip from his glass.

  * * * *

  Their walk home was quiet. Jack was filled with curiosity about what Nick thought was going on with Trixie and her friends, but he didn’t want to prod Nick too much. He seemed the most relaxed he’d been all week. Even the odd way he’d acted after work seemed to have dissipated. But Jack did want to mention what Trixie had said about meeting the next day.

  Nick looked at him sideways after he told him about meeting at the Silver Star.

  “We don’t have to stay there do we?”

  “No, Nick, she said it would be just the three of us, and that she would take us to someplace better than where we went tonight. No more funny business.”

  Nick snorted. “That’s one way to look at it.”

  “I don’t get ya.”

  “I’m not sure how funny all of that was in there tonight. I know you like Trixie a lot, Jack, but she might be involved in stuff we should stay away from.”

  “Well…maybe we could ask her? I just think she’s real keen, and we don’t know anyone here in town yet. I guess we sorta know Bernie and the other guys from work…”

  “Enough. You’re right, Jack. She seems like she’d be fun to go around with. But we ain’t never goin’ back to that Allah place again, okay?”

  “Sure, Nick. But before we meet Trixie tomorrow, you think we have enough money to buy some nice dress shirts? I’
ll pay for them when we get our wages.”

  “We’d need some slacks too. It would look funny otherwise.”

  “Yeah, I guess you’re right. How about just some nicer shirts—ones that aren’t worn and faded.”

  “Sounds fine, Jack. Now let’s go get some rest. We gotta be on time for work.”

  Even with all of the liquor and the late hour, Nick lay staring at the ceiling in their bed back at the motel. He had one arm behind his head, his mind swirling with all that had happened that day and night. The one thing that he didn’t want to think about at all was the one thing that wouldn’t leave him alone.

  Wilson.

  In a twisted sort of a way, he’d got lucky with Wilson. Not because of the jobs for them, but because Wilson’s puny little dick was useless. All he’d really had Nick do was show him his body whilst he made lewd remarks, then he ordered Nick to jerk off. So far, he hadn’t had to touch him, or put his mouth on him in any way, and it certainly seemed he wouldn’t be able to ever penetrate him either.

  That’s supposed to make me feel good about this?

  Anger built in him again—not a good precursor to falling asleep. It wasn’t the sex acts themselves—it was the humiliation. Nick knew that was all that Wilson was getting out of it. Nick just had to be better than him. He had to somehow numb himself to Wilson so that he wouldn’t get the satisfaction of breaking Nick down into little, tiny pieces.

  Jack slept peacefully at his side. He certainly seemed to be having the time of his life. And he had a puppy dog crush on Trixie. It was really very cute, if Nick wasn’t so concerned about what dilemma Trixie had got herself into. He would just have to monitor the situation with her carefully. Jack was too easily taken in.

  Nick rolled onto his side, and draped an arm across Jack’s chest. He mumbled something, and snuggled up to Nick.

  * * * *

  “Whaddya think, Nick? Am I the cat’s meow?”

  Nick chuckled. “You love that expression, don’t you, Jack? I think you’re more the bee’s knees.”

  “That one sounds a little silly I’ve decided, but I’ll take it anyway. But you look so handsome, Nick. I’m the luckiest guy in the world.”

  When Jack said things like that, it always made Nick feel self-conscious. He didn’t think about himself in those terms. He was just a regular guy. He measured his worth in how hard he worked, how he took care of Jack, and what he was willing to do to make sure that they had all that they needed.

  I should feel extra-worthy.

  Yet he didn’t. It came to him in the morning when he’d first woken up, and heard Jack humming in the bathroom whilst showering. More than the degradation, more than any other consideration, what had really kept him awake the night before was what Jack would think of him if he found out. He could handle debasing himself as long as Jack never thought less of him, which was why he needed to guard this secret so carefully. And why he had to keep Jack as far away from any social situations that involved the guys at work as much as possible. At this point, it was the only reason why he was even considering hanging out with that Trixie broad again—she would keep Jack’s mind off anything odd happening at work.

  So here they were again after finishing their second day of work at the studio, and they were ready to meet up with the lively Trixie. Jack could have his movie glitz fun, and Nick could down some badly needed gin to help him get over another day of being in Wilson’s office.

  They met at the prescribed time and place. Trixie was only fifteen minutes late, which she assured them meant that they were the most important people in her life, as she was typically one to two hours late. They knocked back three glasses of hooch, and took off to experience the next speakeasy on Trixie’s list. As promised, this one was much more to their liking. It was the happy in between of Silver Star and The Garden of Allah. It was dazzling, yet neither pompous nor a dive.

  They drank, laughed and danced. Several men and women alike came up to Trixie to get air-kissed and give their regards, and when they shook Jack and Nick’s hands, they seemed genuinely pleased to meet them. It had a wonderfully relaxing effect on Nick, and he found that he was really enjoying himself.

  Maybe this dame ain’t so bad.

  He had to admit that he’d never met anyone with such a lust for life, and it was quite contagious. So when she suggested they continue the party at her place, they readily agreed.

  She lived in an apartment building just above Franklin Avenue, close to the hills where the Hollywoodland sign was. It was only a couple of blocks north of Hollywood Boulevard—where the speakeasy had been—and that was only a few blocks north of Sunset Boulevard, near where Nick and Jack stayed.

  “Nick! Look!”

  Jack was pointing excitedly at the hills. Nick stopped in his tracks. They hadn’t noticed it since they’d arrived as they’d only spotted the sign during the day, but the Hollywoodland sign was blinking. Three different sections of it would light up at one time. Holly. Wood. Land.

  “It’s so beautiful, Nick, don’t ya think?”

  “I’ll say.”

  Trixie giggled. “You guys are so cute! It’s just a real-estate gimmick.”

  Nick frowned. “I don’t get it.”

  “They built all these new homes up in the hills there. You can see ’em if you follow Beachwood Drive up from Franklin. They’re tryin’ ta convince everyone ta live up in glorious Hollywoodland. Ha!”

  Just a few seconds ago, Nick had thought it was one of the nicest things he’d seen since they’d arrived, and now it was just a scam like every other promise that had been dangled in front of them.

  But not to Jack. He had his hands in his pockets and stared at the sign with rapturous wonder. He was so lost in it that he almost ran face first into a tree along the sidewalk. Nick put his arm out to stop him before he crashed into it.

  “Hey!”

  Then Jack realised what he’d almost done, and hung his head sheepishly whilst Trixie burst into hysterical laughter. Nick could tell Jack was embarrassed and starting to get a little steamed over Trixie’s mirth.

  “Okay, Jacky boy, it coulda happened to any of us, right, Trixie?”

  “Especially me, honey. I’m lucky I don’t walk into trees all the time as much hooch as I guzzle.”

  Jack seemed to accept their reassurances, and he bounced back into a playful mood. “Okay, you guys.”

  Within a few minutes, they were at the front door of the four-storey apartment building that Trixie called home. It even had a small elevator, but Nick thought that Trixie must have the strength of Goliath to be able to pull the gate open and closed. It ground its way up to the top floor where Trixie lived, and when she opened the door to her place, they were quite impressed. She had a decent-sized living room, a little separate kitchen with a dining area, and a bedroom and bath on the other side of the kitchen. She gave them what she called ‘the grand tour’.

  But the ultimate treat in her place was the view. She had the corner apartment on the top floor on the side that faced the downtown area. Trixie lived on one of the streets that rose up to the Hollywood Hills, so that it added to the feeling above being high above the city. The skyline wasn’t as fantastic as New York’s, but it was still bright and full of life. She opened the French doors to her balcony and let the warm breeze of a summer night in southern California blow through.

  “Isn’t it divine?”

  She said it so wistfully, hugging herself and closing her eyes, that they were speechless as if they were watching a motion picture. She turned to look at them and frown.

  “Well—isn’t it?”

  “Huh. Oh sorry, Trix, you just look so beautiful in the glow by the window…” Jack blushed and looked away.

  Jesus. Is he falling for her after all?

  Suddenly, Nick felt uncomfortable. He began to wonder if he’d ever really feel okay in their new city. It had been such a jumble of highs and lows that it was difficult for him to determine what was safe anymore.

  “
Oh, honey, you are so precious. I can’t decide which one of you is yummier!”

  Huh?

  “I know let’s what. We’ll break open some gin or whisky or something else, and get this party goin’ again proper like.”

  “You have your own bottles at home?”

  Nick was astonished. Only the very rich could get their hands on any booze in the city. Sure, you could get home-brew—especially out in the sticks—but moonshine wasn’t the same as top-shelf gin and whisky. In town, you had to rely on the speakeasy and a little bit of scratch to get your fix.

  “Oh yeah, honey. I got gin, whisky, brandy, rum. Whatchya want?”

  Trixie hummed along as she pulled out several bottles along with beautiful crystal tumblers from a built-in cabinet. This was an unexpected moment in his evening. Jack looked shocked.

  “I don’t wanna take your nice booze, Trixie, this must have cost you a fortune.”

  “Don’t be silly, you silly goose! I got my connections and plenty more where that came from. You are my boys, now pick out whatever you want.”

  “I wouldn’t mind tryin’ a brandy. I had one once with my uncle, and it had a nice smooth taste. I’d like to try that again.”

  “What about you, sweetie?”

  Jack looked back and forth between Nick and Trixie, the sudden availability of good free booze obviously overwhelming him. “Geez. I guess I’ll try a brandy too.”

  “That’s the spirit, Jack. Let’s see if we can grow some hair on that chest.”

  “How do you know what my chest looks like?”

  Trixie let out her trademark hoot. “Oh, Jack, you are too much—absolutely too much! I could spend every night with the both of yas. I know, I’ll make a Brandy Smash. I have some fresh oranges. Oh! And there’s some mint leaves outside in one of those bush things. I think. Anyway, the Mexican lady that lives next door always picks them and puts them in her tea. They’re called—oh shit—I have no brain sometimes. I’ll be right back. You two get nice and comfy for me while I’m gone.”

  With that, she winked at them and scooted out the door.

  “What was that all about?”