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36. Seeing Divas

“How did you sleep last night?” Krislynn muffled a yawn as she sat restlessly in Pete’s car. He had picked her up right at 10am like he had promised and the two of them were heading to the Paramount Studios where Chase was filming for the next few weeks.

“Not good,” she admitted. “I barely slept last night – too many things to think about.”

Pete stopped in front of a red light and turned to smile at her. “You don’t look exhausted,” he pointed out. “What were you thinking about?”

Krislynn shrugged it off before turning her head to face the window. It was true. Although she had tossed and turned all night thinking about working with Chase, dating Chase, kissing Chase, and many other forms of thinking that involved Chase, she had never felt so rejuvenated in the morning. It was as if she had fifteen hours of sleep when in reality, she probably had about two.

“Ahh... So it’s a big secret huh? Were you thinking about Chase all night?” Krislynn turned at the name and Pete smirked at her before focusing on the road again. “You know what? I’m not even going to pry this time.”

The rest of the drive to the studio managed to be nice and peaceful, but once through the main gate, Krislynn was ecstatic to get started. “Who’s the actor I’ll be helping out anyways?” She asked with jittery enthusiasm.

Pete tapped a finger to the tip of his chin as he parked the car in one of the parking lots and got out. “Have you heard of Andrea Parson? She’s not that famous of an actress since she’s only been in one big production, but she won an Oscar for Best Actress from that one movie she filmed. I think she guest starred in several popular T.V shows after that, but I’m not completely familiar with her history.”

“I’ve heard of her!” Krislynn’s eyes immediately lit up. Eagerness bubbled through her pores as she skipped after Pete from the parking lot to the main drag. “I don’t watch too much T.V or movies, but I’ve read about her in a magazine at the doctor’s office once. She models on occasion too, right? She’s really pretty.” A weird smile grew on Pete’s face and Krislynn narrowed her eyes at him in response. “What’s with that look?”

“Nothing,” Pete chirped. “Are excited to meet her then?”

Krislynn nodded fervently. “I’m really excited to work with someone that talented. I mean, that’s pretty amazing to win an Oscar for your first movie, isn’t it? And Best Actress!” Pete nodded sweetly at her. “Why doesn’t she film more movies though? I mean, it’s been a few years since she won the Oscar, hasn’t it?”

“Well, I think it’s pretty much a hobby for Andrea. I’ve been told she’s been taking all kinds of lessons ever since she was a kid.” Pete stopped and wrinkled his eyebrows, lost in a moment of thought. “I guess you could say she’s a brunette Paris Hilton, but with talent. She’s got money beyond your dreams. I don’t think she cares for any more.”

“So she’s pretty much a modern day princess. She’s pretty, rich, and talented.” Krislynn heaved a sigh. Her life couldn’t have been more different. “What a threat. Her ex-boyfriend must have jumped off a cliff when she dumped him.”

“I’m pretty sure he dumped her.”

Eyes wide, Krislynn chuckled. “Seriously?! What kind of stupid idiot is he?!”

Her remark sent Pete rolling with laughter, but he managed to calm down long enough to give her a word of wisdom. “Just remember, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. What one person finds repulsive, someone else might find breathtaking.” Gingerly, he touched the tips of his fingers to the scar on the side of his forehead. “You’re a prime example of that, aren’t you?”

A gentle giggle escaped her lips, but before Krislynn could say anything more, she was cut off by a frail male voice shouting from afar that sounded sort of like a mouse. “Pete! Pete! Is that you?!” Krislynn turned around to an unbelievably tall and skinny male with a flock of unruly orange curls. He quickly jogged up to them, completely out of breath, and took in a lung full before speaking again. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you! How come you didn’t answer your phone all morning?”

“Because I was in the presence of a beautiful young lady,” he said, giving Krislynn a wink. “I couldn’t possibly act rude.”

Krislynn narrowed her eyes at him. “You’re just using me as an excuse because you didn’t feel like answering any calls.”

He laughed. “Alright. My bad. So then, what is it Sam? Why were you calling me all morning?”

Krislynn stood idly as Sam leaned into Pete’s ear and started whispering things that she couldn’t make much of. Pete spoke back a few times in a low volume and then eyed her with weariness as his eyebrows creased together. “Did something come up?” She asked, though she figured as much before she even purposed the question. “If you like you can point me the direction I’m supposed to go and then leave first.”

“I feel so lousy that you have to do that though.”

She shook her head and offered him a grin. “Don’t worry about it. I feel like you’re going out of your way to introduce me to my new co-workers anyways. I’ll be fine. We can’t be that far off from Andrea’s dressing room, right?”

Pete hesitated at first, but because of the urgency in his matter, reluctantly decided to point her in the direction of the rectangular building straight ahead before telling her Andrea’s dressing room number. After a brief goodbye, Krislynn scurried across the road and made her way into the structure. She found Andrea’s dressing room with relative ease, and after standing nervously outside the room for a moment, finally got the courage to knock on the door.

“Come on in! The door is unlocked.”

At the sound of the high-pitched masculine voice, Krislynn turned the doorknob. She was as fearless as always, but there was something about meeting celebrities that always made her insides giddy with excitement. “Hi, I’m Krislynn Reimer. I’m supposed to be the new assistant working with Andrea for this film.”

The words came out of Krislynn’s mouth a lot more professional and calm than what she projected on the inside, but she was disappointed to find the dressing room empty of people besides a lone male standing in the center of the room with a rack of pretty outfits. He gave her a look of disapproval as soon as he laid eyes on her, and made a face. “Bless you darling! You’re not from the city, are you?”

Krislynn took a quick glance down at her outfit. She had decided against wearing the expensive stuff Michelle shopped for her last week for something more casual since she was working and not going out, but thinking back, that probably hadn’t been the wisest choice. The male in front of her was dressed fashionably in designer duds, and she promptly realized Chase left for work every morning looking like a model attending a photo shoot. Even Pete, she recognized, had been dressed semi-formal in a dress shirt with a gorgeous silver chain around his neck and a Rolex on his left wrist.

Krislynn was wearing nothing more than her best T-shirt, a souvenir from Ella when she had visited Tokyo with her family, orange flats, and a pink and purple ankle length skirt. “I’m from Canada,” she said, forcing a light chuckle.

“Oh that makes so much more sense!” The male cooed. His brown eyes lit up and Krislynn instantly thought he seemed like a nice person. “No wonder you’re dressed like that! You’re not used to dressing for warm weather because there’re only igloos in Canada!”

“Well no. Canada isn’t–”

He held out a hand and beamed at her ecstatically. “It’s nice to meet you then,” he chirped. “I’m Baby Panther.”

Krislynn stared at him blankly. “A what?” She yelled.

“Oh bless your heart darling. You’re not so bright are you?” He made a face and patted his thickly gelled short curls as if he was checking to see if one small ringlet was out of place. “My. Name. Is. Ba-by. Pan-ther!”

Her eyes went big, but she tried her hardest not to be rude. “It’s a pleasure to meet you... um... Baby Panther.”

He waved his hand at her as a big smile adorned his face. “Oh don’t act so distant!” He sang. “I’m Andrea’s makeup artist so you’ll probably be running errands or helping me or one of the other stylists out when we’re working together. Just call me Baby.”

Krislynn smiled at him as soon as the oddness of his name sunk in and she decided she loved it. “Is it just you here then Baby?” She asked. “Where’s everybody else?”

“Hell like I know,” Baby muttered. “All I did was arrived fashionably late today. Saw some shoes in the window while coming here.” He rolled his eyes. “Loved it! Had to get them.”

The sound of running water suddenly made Krislynn turn her head. She located the door the sound was coming from just as it died away and a girl with long African braids tied into a high ponytail rushed out from what seemed to be the dressing room washroom. “What took you so long?” Baby said with a loud tsk.

“There was something in my eye!” The girl snapped. It took her another second before she saw Krislynn standing near the entrance. “Oh, hey girl! You must be Krislynn. I’m Willow. I’m sort of the person in charge of everything in Andrea’s team to make sure the schedule runs smoothly. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Yeah. Same.”

“Anyways, Pete told me you were coming, but unfortunately, Andrea already left for the set. Should we get going as well?”

Krislynn nodded and the three of them headed out the dressing room and down the hallway in the opposite direction Krislynn had walked in from. “So anyways, not to be blunt or anything,” Willow mumbled, “but girl, you’re sleeping with Pete aren’t you?!”

Krislynn’s jaw fell. “No way,” she squealed.

Willow giggled before giving her a little nudge. “Don’t be ashamed. Admit it! You’re totally sleeping with him!”

“Jealous!” Baby cooed.

“I’m not!” Krislynn’s cheeks brightened up with embarrassment. “Why would you even think that?”

“Because security is tight so they don’t usually let just anyone get near the celebs unless they’re liable or they’ve got connections. Pete personally hired you, didn’t he?” She grinned and playfully nudged Krislynn again. “Sooooo? You sleeping with him?”

“I’m not.”

Baby rolled his eyes. “She totally is.”

“I’m not,” she screamed. “I’m not sleeping with Pete! I’m sleeping with the director!!!” Krislynn’s voice echoed down the mostly empty hallway. There were a couple of people walking by and they all expectantly turned to look, which only made her blush harder than she had her entire life. She was well aware that Baby and Willow’s eyes and mouths were wide open. “Once,” she quietly added. “Accidently. When I was drunk.”

“No way girl! You slept with Chase Evans?!” Willow’s face immediately scrunched in anger. “What a jerk! You slept with him and he doesn’t even give you a part in the movie, but a job as an assistant?! You should give him a good kick in the middle if ya feeling me!”

“No. It’s not like that–”

“Well I can’t say I’m surprised.” Baby rolled his eyes as the three of them finally got to the end of the hallway and exited the building. “I mean, who hasn’t slept with Chase Evans?”

Willow snorted. “You say it like you’ve slept with him.”

“How do you know I haven’t?” He shrieked.

“Really Baby? Really?”

He made a face. “A boy can dream!” He cried.

Willow rolled her eyes at him before leading them to a six seat golf cart and starting it up. She sat on the front, steering wheel in hand, as Krislynn took a seat beside Baby on the seating behind it. “So then, what’s Andrea like?” She asked, deciding to put the previous topic behind her for the sake of no more humiliation.

“Talented,” Willow spoke up. “You would think she’s just another rich daddy’s girl trying to break into Hollywood, but girl got game.”

“I’ve heard,” Krislynn murmured, “but I was wondering what she’s like in person.”

Baby turned to her. “Well, to put it in the simplest manner, Andrea is a whiney, melodramatic, two-faced, snobby hoe – bless her heart!”

Krislynn made a face. “What’s there to be blessed about then?”

Eventually, the three of them made it to the backlot and Krislynn got a sight at the kind of person Andrea was firsthand. “Hey girl, this is Kris–”

Brown hair in a fancy bun, Andrea turned around and threw Willow a glare. “First, I’m not your girl,” she said sternly. “Second, I don’t care what her name is. You’re number one. He’s number two.” She pointed at the two girls standing behind her. “They’re number three and four and new girl here, will just have to be number five.”

Willow became a little tongue tied at her remark. Frustration showed through her face, but it was obvious she was trying her hardest to act professional. Baby decided that moment to cut in. “Oh Andrea,” he cooed as he gave her yellow gown a sad look. “Bless you darling, you look absolutely dreadful in that color!”

She let out a shrill scream at once. “That’s why I said I’m not wearing this dress,” she shrieked at Number three. “I want to wear the pink one!”

“But it’s in the script,” Number 3 shot back. “He teases you and calls you a sunflower. He can’t call you that if you’re wearing pink!”

“Well, change the script! How stupid can you get?”

“I can’t just change the script!”

“Because you’re pathetic!”

Krislynn stood stiffly as a fight broke out between Number three and Andrea. “You know what? I quit! You are so hard to work with! I hope you get hit by a bus the minute you walk out of this place!” The girl quickly ran off with Willow trailing behind her begging her to change her mind.

Disappointed, Krislynn heaved a sigh. She had such high hopes Andrea was going to be a real life princess, but it was delusional on her part, as Andrea turned out to be just another spoiled rich girl. “I’m sorry for Andrea’s poor attitude.” An older woman bowed her head apologetically. “I’m her manager, Susan.” Krislynn nodded her head in greeting and they both glanced at Andrea who had started yelling at Number four before Susan continued.

“Andrea’s just extra cranky today because she’s had a horrible morning,” she whispered. “You’ve heard about her on and off relationship with Chase, the director, right?”

Krislynn’s jaw dropped. “What?!”

“Yeah. Supposedly he had another actress signed for Andrea’s role, but the actress backed out last minute and this guy named Pete phoned me and offered Andrea the role instead. Anyways, Chase didn’t know about this so when he ran into Andrea this morning, he completely flipped.” Susan sighed. “Poor girl. She’s still hung up over him. She even arrived on set extra early so she could get a chance to talk to him before they started filming. Apparently he changes his phone number every time she manages to get it.”

I would too, Krislynn thought to herself.

“Speak of the devil. There he is.”

Krislynn’s eyes followed the direction Susan was facing and found Chase stomping inside the set with a huge frown, shouting orders at random people in his crew. Pete was noticeably behind him until Andrea jumped in front of Chase, blocking half of Krislynn’s view.  “Chase!” She whimpered. “This dress looks horrible on me.”

“Look at my face,” he growled. “Do I look like I care?” Without another word, Chase trudged ahead until his eyes found Krislynn in the distance and he let out a grunt of annoyance. “Why are you here?”

She stepped forward, irritated that he was so unhappy to see her. “Chill out. I’m not here to bust your style. This is my new job. I’m working as an extra assistant for Andrea.”

Fury filled his eyes. “For Andrea?” He screamed, and for a second, Krislynn thought he was yelling at her until he spun around and threw Pete a death glare. “I’m not even gunna get mad that you gave her a job without consulting me first, but for Andrea!”

“I thought she’d tell you,” Pete responded.

“I was going to tell you yesterday,” Krislynn spoke up. “But you know...”

“Wait.” Andrea picked up the train of her dress and walked up to them. “You know this girl Chase?”

There was a moment of utter awkwardness before Chase finally spoke. “Krislynn, this is Andrea. She’s sort of... my ex. Andrea, this is my current girlfriend, Krislynn, so back off.”

“Your girlfriend. Wow.” Andrea gave Krislynn a disgusted look. “So what? Are you following in the footsteps of Lady Gaga and making outfits out of garbage?”

Krislynn bit her lower lip and felt something inside her snap. “Envious much? Jealous that Chase is going for someone with a real personality this time?”

Andrea laughed as she shoved Chase out of the way so she could stand in front of Krislynn. “Are you kidding me? Who would be jealous you?! Who needs a real personality when I’ve got double D’s like these!!”

“Oh you do have nice boobs!” Krislynn squealed sarcastically. “Were they expensive or did they come half price when you purchased it with your ass?”

Andrea’s jaw dropped. “My ass is real!!!”

“I’m sure,” Krislynn snorted. “And I’m a leprechaun.”