BOOK ONE: DECEPTIONS
Chapters One to Twenty Six
Vignettes 1 - 140

BOOK TWO: YESTERDAY ECHOES
Chapters 27 to
Vignettes 141 -

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Vignette #52: Somebody

She was so enjoying herself. She used to hate this. They had to force her to do it, but she had come to like it, adore it, and then suddenly they didn’t want her to do it any more.

She turned and looked at her reflection in the mirror. Someone had designed it just for her, blue, her favorite color. And not just blue, royal blue, for that’s what she was—royalty, Hollywood royalty. She understood that now, and she was not about to be kept in the background any longer.

She sipped her champagne, tipping her head slightly to the handsome young actor that smiled at her from across the restaurant. She sighed. He was a nobody, and she was a somebody.

Her fingers played with the jewelry that graced her neck. She smiled; at least he wasn’t around to tell her to stop. She had taken care of that. She was in control now; she knew it and no one could say anything different. As soon as the new musical came out, she was going to put him in his place for good.

They thought she was stupid. She sipped her champagne again so no one could see the wry smile. She’d been slipping away money and sending it to her cousin. She had put it all in the bank in her name, not his, not theirs, hers and hers alone. As soon as this movie opened, she wouldn’t need anyone.

It had been a big fight, but she held out and gotten what she wanted. It surprised everyone when the quiet little wallflower started making a few demands. They never thought she’d balk. She showed them.

Now it was her turn to make the monkeys dance. It was her turn to say do this, do that, wear this, wear that. They had made promises they had had no intention of keeping until she forced them. She knew without her they had nothing and she was smart enough to know that she didn’t need them anymore. She could do this. She really could.

“Aren’t you looking gorgeous tonight, dear.” The woman said as she passed.

“You, too.” She smiled, just a small one. The woman was shocked that she spoken back. No one expected that, but they’d better get used to it, no more quiet little mouse, no more hiding. Those days were gone and gone for good.

She glanced around the room, in now rehearsed shyness. They were all looking at her, admiring her, loving her. Yes, these were her people.

The water’s parted and in she came. She wasn’t afraid of her anymore. The woman was one of them.

Of course she came right up to her. “What are you doing here?”

“It’s the Academy Awards, Lucille. I belong here.”

“You weren’t nominated.”

She looked in her eyes; she knew that would throw her. “Neither were you.”

Lucille looked down her nose. “But James was.”

“Did he win?” Not that she really cared.

“No.” She stepped in close. “Where is he?”

“How would I know?” The waiter bowed and allowed her to replace her empty glass, with a deliciously full one. “Thank you.”

“Oh, please…” Lucille hissed. “I know what’s going on.” She said loudly.

“Lucille, keep your voice down. You’re making a spectacle of yourself.”

“Everyone knows you’re sleeping with him and I'm making a spectacle of myself?" She felt the ears of the room listening.

She dropped her eyes and looked at the floor, lowering her voice hoping Lucille would follow her lead. “Lucille, you are mistaken.”

“No I’m not.” She looked around but lowered her voice.

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“How dare you, tell me not to be ridiculous. If it weren’t for me…”

“Lucille, you keep insisting if it weren’t for you…did you ever stop to think if it weren’t for you that things wouldn’t be nearly as difficult as they are. We are stars, Lucille. You are a paid employee. Remember your place.”

Lucille squinted her eyes. “You remember yours.”

“This discussion is over.” She started to move away.

“Stay away from my husband.” Lucille warned.

“That will be hard to do, dear, since we are making a picture together.” She looked back into Lucille’s eyes and smiled. “A love story…” She walked away.

“You can forget about that picture, dear.” Lucille said for all to hear. “Even if it gets made, no one wants to see a picture starring a sweet, innocent little WHORE!”

She whirled around and slapped Lucille’s face. The room gasped. Lucille stood unmoved, just a moment, then calmly reached for the champagne in her hand and threw it in her face.

She looked down at her beautiful blue gown. She looked at everyone in the room, thinking…oh God, what they were thinking? She covered her face with her matching gloves. She had to get out of there before they all started laughing. She couldn’t stand the laughing. So she ran, ran to anywhere, somewhere, as long as it wasn’t here.

Lucille casually walked to the corner, knowing everyone in Hollywood was watching not her, but the tarnished star running away. It wouldn’t be long before everyone was quietly whispering, and Lucille knew without a doubt most of it would be blown way out of proportion. She walked over to David Turner, stunned but standing tall, the bastard.

“Lucille,” he said. “What have you done?”

She looked at him and took the drink out of his hand. “Cleaning up the mess, again.” She started to drink, but saw the look in his eyes. “And don’t tell me that didn’t take care of the problem.”

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