Starlet's Web (The Starlet Series, #1) (13 page)

I opened the garment bag, and my heart sank. I became acutely aware of my headache. I hated the dress. It couldn't be my prom dress. I was
sure
I included it in the list to be donated to the tsunami relief auction. To me, it symbolized the destruction of my family and the consequential isolation I felt since my parents divorced.

It was the dress I wore to my first Academy Awards when I was fourteen.  I was nominated, but didn't win, for my performance in my first film,
Left to Die.
  It was the project over which Dad divorced Mom. It was the film for which Mom won Best Actress and reinvigorated her A-list career. It was the launch of my career. It was the first time I got drunk at an industry event. It was my first kiss.

No. I would not wear the dress. I pushed it back inside the garment bag and carried it into the garage. I threw it in the back of my Prius. I'd get rid of it later. I stopped in the kitchen and took two more Excedrins with water and ate an apple. I washed my hands and then tried to rub out the back of my neck. It throbbed and my vision blurred. I tried to relax and sat in the chair at the kitchen counter for I don't know how long with my eyes closed until I felt the pain subside. I headed back to my room when my vision cleared.

I found a comfortable dark purple jersey cocktail dress in my closet. It was no prom dress but I'd look great with some simple Spanx under it, and I could move freely. I decided to wear my hair up.

We were going to prom with Alan and his date who was thankfully not Sherry, Mitch and Beth, and a group of dateless friends of ours that hung out with us at school.

Mitch had an intensity and maturity that I had only seen in a few people. He had a great, supportive family, too. His parents were high school sweethearts that were still married—an anomaly in Santa Monica. His sister was also the valedictorian of her graduating high school class and attended Georgetown University. She was one of those everything girls: a gorgeous blond with an attractive body, performed on the dance group during half-time, was social and kind, had good friends, and managed to get perfect grades in honors and AP classes. She was thriving at Georgetown, too.

Mitch and I dated twice and had a wonderful time. We were going to go to the junior prom together in April last year, the Saturday after my seventeenth birthday, but I canceled because Manuel complicated things. The three guys had agreed to triple date, just like they did this year. Alan invited some girl who ended up being a bitch, of course. Manuel was going with Kate. Mitch hadn't asked anyone yet. I was incredibly busy that spring filming
Jefferson's Muse,
but we were in L.A. on set in front of the green screen. I commuted from my house to the set. I was not going to school and was doing my work through the studio teacher and independent study, but I saw my friends on the weekends. On a day in March when I didn't have to go to work, I sat with Mitch as I studied in the high school library. We were at the same table, but were not chatting. He slipped me a note, asking me to prom. Delighted, I accepted.

If Manuel and I had not been friends since preschool, it would have been so nice to date Mitch. Manuel said dating Mitch would bust up their friendship because he'd punch out Mitch's face if anything happened to me. I felt I had to choose between Manuel's friendship with his weird sense of brotherly protection and a budding romance with Mitch. I wanted both but I was also so busy working. At work, I was kissing two guys on camera, Matthew and Grant, which was confusing off set, too. The month before, Evan and I kissed during the
Romeo & Juliet
worldwide premiere and slept in the same bed together several nights during the tour. We were both working on films but emailed and Skyped. I hoped Evan would be my boyfriend but thought it'd be silly to take him to my junior prom. The timing of my relationship with Mitch was just wrong. I decided I didn't want to complicate my life and chose to break off the date to prom. I told him the truth. He appreciated that it wasn't about him. Fortunately, Mitch had time to ask Beth to prom and they dated ever since.

 

It took me forever to do my hair. I thought it would only take me a few minutes to do a simple up-do but it was not easy. The limo was coming. I needed more time. I called Manuel.

“Hey Manuel, I'm running a bit behind. Is it okay if we just drive my car? I'd be happy to still pay our share of the limo but I don't want everybody to be late because of me.”

“Well, Marie, that would make my mom happy! She was trying to get me to bail on everybody so she could get pictures here. I already tried to pay Alan for the limo but he won't take money from a busboy. I'll text Alan and Mitch.”

“Good, thanks.” I responded, wanting to get off the phone so I could finish getting ready.

“Thanks again for the Vespa, even though you should never do that again.” He sighed. “Do you want me to come get you and drive your Prius back here for pictures?”

I bought Manuel a Vespa scooter for his 18
th
birthday, the weekend after he came to San Diego to be with me. Manuel thought it was too big of a gift and wanted me to return it. I didn't.

“I can just drive over when I'm done.”

“Okay,” he said disappointed. “I'm ready, already, and will just sit around bored while Mom and Dad keep making eyes at each other.”

“Okay, I'll see you in a few,” I resigned and hurried to get dressed.

Manuel lived with his mom, Liz; dad, Carlos; and sister, Janet; in an apartment south of Montana Avenue and south of Wilshire Blvd. Liz owned the apartment building, managed it, and lived “rent free” in the biggest three-bedroom unit. She inherited it from her mom. Carlos worked for a delivery company. Like Dad, he was a gorgeous man but wanted nothing to do with Hollywood.

I wasn't completely sure of how Liz and Carlos met, but from what I understood, Manuel's parents met when Carlos delivered a package to the same apartment Liz has now, but at that time she shared it with her mom. She thought he was the sexiest man she had ever seen and flirted with him while she slowly signed the tracking receipt. It was a very hot day and she could see that he was sweating. She asked him if he wanted a glass of water and flirted as hard as she had ever flirted before. She wanted him badly. Finally, she just told him how she felt and she was soon making a baby with her Latino heartthrob.

Liz was loving but completely irresponsible. She often made me uncomfortable when she was brutally honest, which is the norm rather than the exception. On the other hand, I respected that her marriage to Carlos had lasted so long. After nineteen years, they were still madly in love with each other and truly loved their kids.

“Knock, knock.” Manuel laughed as he opened the front door. He meant to make his voice sound sinister, but I couldn't remember from what movie he quoted. I was an actor who rarely watched TV but enjoyed the Star Trek Next Generation DVDs with the Borg. I thought of Hollywood at the Borg.

Manuel letting himself in was no big deal to me. Mom had a strict rule about who was allowed the door code. Whoever knew the code had to sign some legal document Martin came up with. I never read the form that Manuel had to sign. I just knew that he was not supposed to give the code to anyone, including his family.

“Where is the love of my life?” Manuel yelled.

“In my room, finishing my makeup,” I answered and closed the bathroom door so I could surprise him with the complete look.

My cell was ringing Dad's ringtone. “Hey, that's my dad. Can you get it?” I asked with the door to my bathroom still closed.

“Hi, Tom. Manuel here. How is Northern California treating you? How are the horses?”

There was a pause before Manuel answered, “Yeah, I'm feeling pretty cool taking your gorgeous daughter to prom.” Another pause, “Yeah, of course she's lucky, too. I
am
the bomb,” he laughed and answered another question. “Yeah, I'll take good care of her.”

Manuel answered again, “Yeah, I was really surprised and grateful. My best friend gets me a Vespa so I can get around without the headache of finding a parking place. Now what should I get her for her birthday on my meager restaurant tips?”

I didn't want Manuel to feel like he had to reciprocate. He was my best friend. I loved him. I had way too much money and it was absolutely trivial for me to buy him a necessary mode of transportation. I bought him his road bike for his 16
th
birthday, and he refused to ride it until I forgave him for a fight that we had and until he took me to my favorite restaurant on Wilshire for dinner. Manuel was totally broke and had to babysit his neighbor's brats for several weeks to afford the dinner. He liked taking me to dinner, saying that he wanted to fatten me up because I was way too thin. I was.

“Please don't go all out for my birthday,” I said as I opened the door.

I took Manuel by surprise. He wasn't used to seeing me with a little bit of makeup on. Either I didn't wear makeup or I was extremely made up. I usually had on lipstick, sunglasses, and a hat whenever we went somewhere. If we went anywhere; he preferred not being in public with me. We usually just hung out at his apartment or my house. He got uncomfortable when people stared at me.

I was also surprised to see Manuel. He stunned me every time I saw him since I could remember, but this time I didn't have to hide it. He looked dazzling in his tux.

“Wow,” he said to Dad with a huge smile on his face. “Your daughter looks pretty.”

I put my hand out for the phone. He took it, kissed the top of my hand without letting go of my eyes, and handed my cell to me. I took his other hand in mine and smiled at him.

I laughed a bit uncomfortably, “Hey Dad.”

“Lia, sorry to call so late but you didn't answer this morning. Celia and I are flying in tomorrow. We should be there after two in the afternoon. Celia wants to stop at the bakery. Do you want a pretzel croissant?”

“Yeah, that would be awesome. Thanks,” I answered and then interrupted, “Manuel, can you please zip me up?”

Dad laughed. “Lia, you're going to drive that boy out of his mind. Do you have any idea how hard it must be for a teenaged boy to zip his girlfriend's dress on prom night?”

“Thanks for the reminder, Dad. And thanks for coming tomorrow.” Manuel kissed my back and neck while he zipped my dress. “I will be so happy to see you and Celia! Love you.” I concentrated to hit “end” on the phone.

Awkwardly, I turned to Manuel, smiled, and kissed him. “I can't believe you're my boyfriend.”

I hugged him and rested my head on his chest, careful not to get makeup on his tux. His hug was wanting and rigid. I stepped back and studied his expression. “What's up? You look nervous.”

He smiled as he took my hands in his. “I have naughty thoughts.” He chuckled. “I thought I could stay with you tonight, ya know, but of course we wouldn't make love.” He brought me into a hug and smiled at me. “I sure would like to wake up next to you. Please don't think I'm trying to get some before you're ready.”

I thought waking up with him would be glorious. I certainly trusted him. “I'd love that, too.”

He lifted me up when he kissed me. I floated. We both relaxed after I touched the ground. I asked, “Now that we got past my parent, let's get on to yours. Do you want to drive my car? I don't mind being a passenger if you want to feel manly.”

“From one sissy vehicle to another. With all your money, why can't you get a Ferrari? Now that would be a fun car to drive to prom,” he said as we he headed to the garage.

When we got there I noticed Mom's Porsche and asked, “Why don't you drive Michelle's car?”

He smiled. “No way. That'd be awesome!”

He took out his cell phone from his pocket and dialed her number.

“Hey, Michelle.” He smiled at me and answered her question, “Yeah, we're ready now.”  He answered another question, “Well, I wanted to know if I could borrow your Porsche?” He smiled. “Thanks! That's so awesome!” He listened again and raised his eyebrows. “Well, that's up to her.” He grinned. “
Claro. Adiós
.”

I went inside and got her keys out of the drawer and then handed them to Manuel. I laughed because he was so happy.

It only took a few minutes to get to his home. His parents and sister waited outside a carport that Liz waved us into, borrowing it from one of her renters.

Liz was attractive, striking but not pretty. She had the most perfect, porcelain skin I had ever seen. She had brown hair and brown eyes, never wore a touch of makeup, and had several tattoos. I had rarely seen her wear anything on her feet but rhinestone-studded flip flops. Her nails were usually painted in some awful color like black, fire orange, or green. Her toes were painted green with yellow daisies on top. She was in a low v-cut sun dress and black bra. It was always either this look or colored bra, tank and bling jeans. She liked to show off her “art.” She must have known that she had perfect skin. I followed her.

“How are your tenants? Any surprise evictions this week?” I fumbled.