Disclaimers: I own nothing. This is merely fiction and what I wish would happen! Team Ivy all the way! (This takes place immediately after season one ends and I'm bringing in bits from what I saw from the season 2 trailer.)
Author's Note: This is not BETA-ed if there are issues and they bother anyone too much feel free to step up. ENJOY!
Bitter Pill
Chapter One:
As Karen Cartwright's voice carried through the theater Ivy Lynn dumped a handful of pills into her palm, staring them down. She never thought becoming Marilyn Monroe even for a mere few months would have her going down the same destructive path.
"Ivy." Derek Wills' voice came from right behind her, causing Ivy to startle and the pills to scatter.
She turned to face her boyfriend with a mix of emotions: fear, shame, bitterness, and sadness. She took a breath before speaking. "What?"
"What are you doing?" he asked, crossing his arms over his chest as his eyes darted to the pills that littered the floor.
"Don't you have Karen, your new Marilyn, to fawn over?" Ivy shot back, gathering the pills and throwing them in the trash.
"Ivy, don't act like this, so childish. It's beneath you." Derek said simply, gathering Ivy into his arms.
"How is it beneath me if I'm no one? I'm certainly not a star, not Marilyn." Ivy said, pushing out of his arms and sitting down at her station.
"Darling," Derek's breath caressed her ear. "You are a star. You may not be Marilyn for the preview, but that doesn't mean you won't get your chance to be her on Broadway." This was stated as his arms came around her shoulders, closing around her. Ivy's eyes widened, meeting Derek's in the mirror. Derek's eyes danced with mischief as a smile curved his lips.
"I may see Karen for Marilyn for the preview, for something small, to get her feet wet. But for you, I see big things. You will have your shot. I will see to it." Derek assured her.
Ivy cradled her face in her hands as she absorbed Derek's plan. She definitely didn't see it coming. But, then again, Derek kept her in the dark about most things. She sighed.
"You may not want to 'see to it' if I tell you what happened the other night." she said.
Derek stood back and crossed his arms over his body. "What happened the other night?" he asked.
"I slept with Dev." Ivy said, meeting Derek's eyes. She wanted to see his reaction, wondering if it would even matter to him.
"Dev?" Derek's mouth curved into a sneer as he echoed the name. "Karen's Dev? Why on Earth would you do that?"
"I did it because I was angry, hurt, and drunk." Ivy replied.
"You were angry? Why were you angry?" Derek asked.
"Because you slept with Rebecca! Twice! All while completely ignoring me and our plans together!" Ivy shouted, throwing her arms out in exasperation.
Derek merely sighed, "I thought we covered this." He crossed his arms once again. "We're professionals above all things. Nothing gets in the way of the show." Derek's face showed no emotion of the mention of Ivy's dalliance with Dev.
"I may be a professional, but I have feelings! Which you obviously don't!" Ivy spat back, she grabbed her coat and purse, storming out of the room before Derek could stop her.
Derek watched Ivy go, arms still crossed over his chest. After a few moments, he sighed. Derek knew himself to be jaded. Having talent and knowing what to do with it, lent itself to having the world at your finger tips and getting whatever you wanted, whenever you wanted, even whoever you wanted.
As he went back to the stage where the cast and crew were already celebrating, Derek felt no mood. His spirit lifted slightly as he saw Karen glowing like a beacon, shining brighter than anyone in the room. He'd be lying to say he had no romantic feelings towards her. There were some, she was one of the rare innocents in the jaded world he lived. Plus she was the only one who ever turned him down flat.
Karen raced towards Derek and launched herself into his arms. He took a moment and thought about how she felt in his arms. It was nice, but it wasn't Ivy. Pulling her back, he smiled. "How pleased are we, Darling?" he asked.
"This was amazing!" Karen said, "Such a rush!" she beamed brightly. Linda handed them both champagne.
As the rest of cast and crew surrounded them, one person was notably absent: Ivy. Murmurs instantly clouded the celebration and people tried to reach her on her cell to no answer.
Before panic set in, Derek spoke. "Ivy just needed air and a few moments to herself; please don't worry. Let the celebration begin!" he said jubilantly, although he felt the opposite on the side. Music began to play and the music and the party began in full swing.