"Let me be your star" I belted out the last note and gave it everything I had. I tipped my head back and spread my arms open to the audience. A picture of Marilyn appeared behind me.

My breathing quickened as the audience applauded and the lights went dark. I felt someone guide me off the stage and towards Derek. He was smiling, not the cat who ate the canary smile, but a real ear to ear smile.

"That was Amazing, you did amazing!" he wrapped his arms around me and I gave in to his embrace. The ensemble crowded around and were hugging each other as Derek cupped his hands around my face. His big smile was lost as something else took over him. He looked in to my eyes and I felt something flutter in my stomach. His mouth opened as if he was going to say something but before he got the chance Jessica grabbed me by the arm and spun me around to face her.

"IOWA! AHHHH!" She squealed and jumped up and down. "You were absolutely freakin fantastic!" She grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the stage. "C'mon silly, you have to take a bow." I shuffled in the guided direction and glanced back, meeting Derek's eyes, watching me. "A well deserved one at that."

"Thank you..." I said in a flustered tone. There were so many emotions flooding me right now. Happiness, excitement, pride, but most of all... confusion. What was that whole pre-song talk that Derek gave me while changing into my last dress. "And I do understand love." What exactly was he trying to say?

We all lined up and took our bows as the audience cheered. I moved towards the back of the lineup but was once again pushed to the front and handed a mic by Jessica.

"Why are you giving this to me?" I said in a hushed tone

"You have to give a little speech...obviously" She widened her eyes as if she just told me people have to wear clothes in public.

"Since when!" No, nope, not happening. I'm not a good public speaker. A script I could follow, but coming up with something funny and sentimental at the same time while remaining calm;cool and collected, not my strong point.

"Do it!"

"Fine!" My heart quickened and I looked out towards the audience.

"Thank you..." An uncomfortable smile came across my face and I cleared my throat. "I'm sure I speak for all of us when I say that we are truly grateful that you all came out to see this show which means so much to us and that we've worked so hard on." I inhaled slowly and clenched my fist that was hanging limp at my side. An awkward silence came over us and once again I cleared my throat. I turned my head to stage right and saw Derek smiling and holding in a laugh. What the hell was he laughing at? It better not be my speech.

"Finally I would personally like to thank our song and script writers, Tom Levitz and Julia Houston, our producer Eileen, and most of all our director and choreographer Mr. Derek Wills. Without him pushing us through many, many rehearsals and staying up all night trying to make things perfect, we wouldn't be standing where we are today "

Julia, Tom and Eileen all stood in the audience and spot lights were put on them. Derek on the other hand was reluctant to come out from the safety of the wing. I smiled at him and nodded my head towards the ensemble, summoning him to the stage. He slowly walked out and stood next to me, slightly bowing his head.

He took the mic out of my hand and I stepped back preparing to give him the spotlight.

"Uh, uh, uh. Not so fast Iowa." He whispered to me as he tenderly took my hand in his.

"I think that a special round of applause is due to the wonderful and beautiful Ms. Karen Cartwright." He gave my hand a light squeeze. "Who, through her hard work, late nights, and perseverance has rightfully earned her place as the equally wonderful Marilyn Monroe" The crowd once again applauded as Derek stroked my hand lightly with his thumb. My heart quickened and my cheeks felt hot. The company took another bow as a whole and walked off the stage Derek never letting go of my hand until Jessica approached and raised an eyebrow.

She gave me a look and a small knowing smile. "So Iowa, where's lover boy?"

My chest felt like it squeezed and my eyes began to sting.

"I don't know Jess, but at this point I really don't care."

"Okay then... I'll leave it at that"

"Good idea." He said under his breath with his trademark smirk.

I squinted my eyes towards him and cocked my head slightly to the side.

"What?" He put up his hands in mock-surrender. "I'm on your side"

"I thought you didn't give a damn about what happened between me and Dev."

"I don't. I just care about you." My eyes widened and the back of my neck felt tingly

"AKWARD" Jessica stated, I guess trying to diffuse the so called awkwardness.

Derek stumbled over his words. "I mean since without you, our Marilyn, we would've had no show."

Jessica began to giggle and walk away after giving me a wink. The whole company congregated in the dressing room as Julia, Tom, Eileen and Derek walked in. Congratulations went around the room.

_Karen POV END_

"I'll be right back." Tom said starting off towards Ivy's row of mirror stations,

"Ivy!" He exclaimed quietly. "What in God's name do you think your doing." He smacked the pills out of her hand knocking them all onto the floor.

Ivy slowly turned to him, tear tracks visible on her face. "No one wants me Tom." She glanced at him and then back down at her hands. "They never have and they never will. Even Derek said that he didn't pick me because I was missing something." Her nostrils flared and silent tears ran down her face. "Why don't they want me Tom" Her plea sent pain through Tom's chest.

"Oh, sweetie." He embraced her as she cried into his shoulder."I want you. I've wanted you since the beginning of Bombshell. YOU got the part during the workshop. They picked YOU."

She let out a sad laugh."And then I LOST the part. I got there because I was good between the sheets and a bit of a whore. Derek's decision swayed everyone else's and I never would've gotten it if I hadn't slept with him." She sat slouched in her chair taking broken shuttering breaths. "I'm not special. I'm just like every other girl with a broadway dream. I'm not a star."

"Ivy, you are most definitely a star, the brightest one I know in fact. Broadway is in your blood."

"Exactly! My mother was a star and even with her connections I can't make it."

"Listen. I don't think that anything I will say will sway your thoughts, but I truly mean it Ivy, your day will come."

Tom stood from the chair and gave Ivy a kiss on the forehead. "If you need a place to stay tonight my door is always open."

"I know Tom"

Ivy put her head in her hands and took in deep breaths as Tom walked back towards the rest of the company

_KAREN POV_

Everyone was chit chatting and laughing as I watched Derek talk with Eileen and Julia. His running of his hand through his hair made me laugh, apparently quite loud, which got his attention. He caught me staring and I didn't look away when his eyes met mine. He smiled and winked. I felt the flutters in my stomach again.

What is wrong with me? I broke up with Dev all of 5 seconds ago and now i'm acting like a little school girl with a crush. You know what its just because he cheered me up before and I have so much adrenaline from the show. No one is acting like themselves. That surely is it.

Derek looked back to Eileen and Julia and said something that I couldn't catch. He then turned toward the entire cast.

"Listen up. You all did amazing tonight." People laughed and Ow Owwwed. "So as a treat, you are all being given the rest of the weekend off. Rehearsals are as usual on Monday."

Plans were quickly made to go out and grab a couple drinks by the ensemble. Jessica approached me.

"Hey Karen were all gonna go to this little club down the street from the hotel tonight to celebrate, wanna come and party?" She asked hopefully.

"I don't know Jess... I'm kind of tired and it's been a really grueling day. I think i'm gonna hit the sack." She frowned looking a bit defeated. "But don't worry, we can totally get together tomorrow, I promise."

She smiled "I'll hold you to that one Iowa."

I made my way back to the changing area and slipped into a pair of jeans a t-shirt and scarf. On my out of the building I accepted many congratulations and hugs from both audience members and the ensemble.

The air outside was crisp and refreshing. It gave me time to clear my head. How in the world could things have gotten so bad between me and Dev, that he went as far as sleeping with Ivy? Then on top of that, proposing to me after, out of pity. He knew she hated me and it hurt even more that he knew I knew Ivy. That was just low. What I did find a little comical about the whole situation is that he said the worst is over. The worst? I could never have another relationship with him with the thought always in the back of my mind that when things got tough he would give up and cheat on me. What he did was unforgivable.

When I arrived at the hotel, bad elevator music was playing in the lobby and a drunk man wobbled out of the elevator. I took it all the way up to my floor and made the long trek to my room. Too my surprise guess who I found.

"Why are you here Dev?"

"I'm so sorry Kare..."

"Save it. I don't want to hear your excuses. We're done."

"Please Karen, i'm in love with you. Why can't you see that? He tried to grab my hand but I ripped it away.

"Why can't you see that was you did was unforgivable? Your trash Dev! A piece of scum on the side of the road." I screamed at him

"It was a mistake. Like I said before, I thought that we were done." Was he seriously trying to defend what he did?

"Exactly my point. You were ready to call it quits after one fight"

"I'm sorry... i'm so sorry." He sounded hurt. I was the one hurt, not him.

"Well go be sorry somewhere else."

I turned my back to him and slid the keycard into the door. The light turned green and I felt it unlock. I closed the door behind me without feeling any guilt. I slumped down on my bed and felt a big ball of stress in my stomach. The anxiety about getting everything done for the show, finding out Dev cheated and the confusing statement that Derek made before the final number was pent up in my mind and felt like it was suffocating me. Maybe I did need that drink.