Foremost, I want to thank everyone who continues to read, favorite, follow, and write a review of my Hollywood Heights stories. I truly appreciate you and want you know, I haven't stopped writing. It's because of the positive feedback I've received from you, I have the courage to expand my writing. Since my last post on FanFiction, I've written a Romantic Suspense Trilogy. I am excited about the storyline and plan to self-publish. The projected release of the first book is October 2016. Encouraged by my dear friend, Joan, who I met here, I'm posting a final Hollywood Heights FanFiction. This short story will be a mixture of my other HH posts, with a few changes. Eddie and Lauren didn't get married yet, and they do not have children. I will post a chapter a week. As a special thank you, in the final chapter, I will post an exclusive sneak peek of the Men of Phantom Military - LIES trilogy.
To get me back into the HH frame of mind, I watched each episode from beginning to end. Without further ado, here is my farewell Hollywood Heights story. Enjoy.
The Exclusive Interview: The Lily Park Show
Chapter 1
"Welcome guest and viewers. I'm Lily Park. I won't start the show with Hollywood gossip because my guests are the hottest topic trending on all the social media sites and gossip magazines. That's right folks, Hollywood Heights' power couple, Eddie Duran and Loren Tate-Duran is here today. They are giving me the exclusive interview that will confirm or deny the rumors of their break-up. I know a lot of you are wondering how I convinced Eddie and Lauren to grant me an interview. Yes, there's a negative history between us. But you, my viewers, have made me the number one talk show host nationwide. No other host could do justice to this story like I can. So for the next hour, we'll take a look back at Eddie and Loren's lives. Talk to their family, friends, old classmates. And give the couple a chance to set the record straight. Let's begin."
She walks over to her chair and sits down; crossing her legs.
"Lauren Tate was once a camera shy high school senior with a typical fan crush on international rock star Eddie Duran. Her best friend, Melissa Sanders, secretly videotaped her singing 'Mars' and entered it in the Eddie Duran's songwriting contest in 2012. Not only did her music career take off, she caught the eye of the irresistible rock star. Many labeled her the rebound-chick because their relationship started on the heels of his break up with supermodel Chloe Carter, or Cynthia Kowalski, it depends on which name she's using these days." Lily chuckles at her own joke.
A baby picture of Loren comes up on the screen.
"Loren is the only child of Trent McCall and Nora Tate. The couple married right out of high school. They had Loren at a young age. Trent couldn't take the pressure of fatherhood and walked out when Loren was four years old. Nora and Loren lived in a modest two bedroom home in Tarzana, a mere seventeen miles from Hollywood. Nora worked as the office manager for a medical group headed by the deceased Dr. Donald Masters. For a short time, Nora was romantically involved with Dr. Masters. Loren was a straight A student at West Valley Charter High School. Her dream was to go to Brown University and study law. She worked part-time at Aroma Coffee Shop to save money for college. Nora couldn't make it to the show today, but she sent this video."
Nora's smiling face comes up on the screen. She's sitting on the couch, her hair pulled into a loose ponytail and wearing glasses. The aqua colored shirt she's wearing makes her look fresh and young. The video plays.
"For as long as I can remember, Loren was into music. She used to get into the kitchen cabinets where I kept the pots and pans and take out the pot tops. She marched around the house banging the tops together and singing at the top of her lungs. I was afraid the neighbors would complain. Little did I know that my baby girl would grow into a successful international Pop Star. I'm so happy she followed her dreams. I love you sweetheart. I love you too Eddie."
The video stops and a slide show of pictures of Loren from infancy to present dances across the screen.
"Like all fans of rock star Eddie Duran, Loren followed him on social media sites and received alerts anytime he was mentioned online," Lily says. "Loren was a true Eddie Duran fan. Is she still a diehard fan today? That's a question on everyone's mind."
A baby picture of Eddie comes up on the screen.
"Eduardo Eddie Duran is the only child of Max and Katie Duran, the famous MK duo. He grew up surrounded by music and stars as he traveled with his parents. Eddie was destined for stardom, and he did it without using his parents' name. His breakthrough came when he was cast in the movie Senior Ditch Day and the sequel."
A slide show of pictures of Eddie from a toddler to present dances across the screen along with candid shots of him and Chloe during the time of their relationship.
"After the tragic death of his mother, Eddie threw himself into his music. He met ex-fiancée, Chloe Carter on the set of Senior Ditch Day. He once said she was his first love. Eddie and Chloe were Hollywood Heights' 'it' couple. I was given the exclusive interview when they announced their engagement. But once rumors of cheating and lying chipped away at their relationship, and photos of her with actor Tyler Rorke went viral, the engagement was off. Chloe talked me into interviewing her, along with her mother, Jackie Kowalski, in the living room of her apartment when she publicly fought to win back the love of a heartbroken, Eddie Duran. There was speculation she overdosed the night of Eddie's twenty-second birthday. She showed up at Rumor, uninvited, and tried to pour a glass of wine on Loren. The world was shocked when news broke that Chloe Carter was the driver of the car that ran Max and Katie Duran off the road."
…
I pace the floors of Green Room A, listening to Lily read, from cue cards, the details of our lives. Why did Eddie agree to come on this show? He doesn't even like Lily Park.
"Lo, you have to tell him," Melissa says.
I stop pacing long enough to glance at my best friend. "We've been through this already Mel. I'm not telling him. I have to face it, I've lost Eddie." As painful as it is to let those words slip pass my lips, I have to come to terms with the truth. Eddie Duran is leaving me.
"But if you tell him…"
"No. Mel. I'm not making a total fool of myself. He wants out of the relationship, so I'm letting him go…"
"Did he say that?" She interrupts me.
"No, but he's been spending a lot of time away from me."
"You know Eddie goes to the bungalow when he needs to think."
"He's been back and forth for a year Mel. What could he be thinking about for that long? Besides." I bite my lip, looking away. "He's not going to the bungalow."
"How do you know?"
"Last weekend I drove up there to spend time with Eddie. He wasn't there. And when I asked him where he was, he lied. It wouldn't be the first time he lied about his whereabouts. He has a history of running when he feels trapped. And…"
"And what Lo? Spit it out!"
"And I found love letters written by Chloe." I scrunch my nose.
Melissa jumps up from the couch. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because you would have poked holes in the story. You're my best friend Mel, but sometimes I feel like you're Eddie's best friend instead of mine."
"We have been best friends since forever Lo. How could you think that way? I only poke holes because you suffer from tunnel vision. I'm just trying to get you to see the bigger picture. You haven't talked to him about the letters."
"It's kind of hard to hold a conversation with someone who isn't there Mel. Plus Jake let it slip that Eddie's been pushing the record execs to promote a tour. After his last tour, he said he'd work on a couple duets for us for my next album."
"I still think you should tell him Lo."
I ignore her and start back pacing.
…..…..
I pace back and forth in Green Room B, listening to Lily go on and on. If we weren't announcing my surprise for Loren, I never would have agreed to come on this show. Lily is the top talk show host worldwide now.
Pop and I co-wrote and co-produced my new album. Pop is featured on a couple of the tracks. This album is my love letter to Loren. It's very personal and it's been hard keeping this a secret. I know she feels like I'm pulling away from her.
"You act like this is your first interview." Pop teases me.
From the corner of my eye, I watch him struggle to stand to his feet. My instinct is to go help him, but he doesn't want that.
"I've been working on this for a year and it's caused a distance between Loren and I. Hopefully she'll understand and forgive me for abandoning her for a year."
"After she hears the songs, she'll forgive you. She may even decide to go on tour with us. Too bad Nora didn't stick around…" He doesn't finish the sentence. Pop slowly walks over to the table and opens a bottle of water. He takes a sip. "Have you talked to Nora?" he asks. "How is she?"
I exhale. They promised their break up wouldn't affect us. But we spent Christmas day with Pop and the day after with an emotional Nora.
"She's thrown herself into her school work, like you threw yourself into getting your life story down on paper."
He gulps down the rest of the water.
He's given up alcohol, of course, that was after the binge that put him in the hospital for a week. If Loren hadn't stopped by the apartment, Pop would have died that day. Jake and I kept the incident out of the gossip papers. Since then, he's been writing his memoirs. Several big publishing companies are already interested in the manuscript. Osborn Silver is vying for the film rights to the book and offered me the lead role. If I do it, I want Loren for the role of Katie Duran.
I know she can do it, Loren co-starred along with Miley Cyrus and Zoe Kravitz in that Charlie's Angels remake.
Everyone thought I would hit the roof when Demi talked Loren into taking on the role of Erin Grant in the remake of Striptease. My girl did a phenomenal job in the movie. Those striptease and pole-dancing classes really paid off. Channing still teases me about my girl being the better stripper.
I called him up and teased him about the lap dance his wife gave him on the Lip Sync Battle. It took a minute before he could stand up.
After Magic Mike 2, the phones were ringing off the hook. Casting agents wanting to set up a meeting. Producers sending me scripts. The record label wanting me to record more songs. It was a mad house that's still just as mad today. I've decided to put my music on hold for a little while and pursue my acting career.
Tyler and I signed contracts this morning to do the Grease remake. We'll start filming once I get back from tour.
"Eddie!" Pop yells.
I look up.
He points to the television screen.
"Why is she here?" I pull out my cell phone from my pocket pressing the speed dial button. "I told you Lily would never change." I wait for the head of our security to answer. "Cody, is Loren here yet?"
"Yes sir, she arrived thirty-minutes ago. She and Melissa are in Green Room A."
"Is Brittany with her?"
"No, Brittany got an alert that Chloe Carter is here, she went to shadow her. I'm guarding the door."
"I'm on my way," I tell him and disconnect the call. I walk towards the door.
"Where are you going?"
"I never told Loren about that lunatic Chloe Carter."