A/N: Day 2 of filming. Things will pick up soon, I promise. Again, I have no knowledge of the workings of the music business, so don't scorn me if I get things wrong.
P.S. I am SOOO sorry for the lack of updating. Once you get to part 2, you'll see why
P.P.S. Truth in the Moon rocks my socks!
Disclaimer: Bad boy, Kartik! Go to my room.
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Ch 3: Chinwag at Yonder Eatery
Finally, I had gotten Pippa beneath me. I was a complete moron if I thought she couldn't look any sexier than she did at Panera Bread. Her limbs were spread across my sheets. She met me thrust for thrust. And her cleavage was everywhere. I almost got dizzy following her with my eyes. But the best part was her screams. They were loud to the point of being earsplitting. Her last shriek jarred me awake, leaving me hard as hell.
In an attempt to glare daggers at my "screaming" alarm clock, the green numbers read 7:15 in the morning. "Fuck." My shower would have been quick if it weren't for the massive boner I was sporting. Although I'm sure it would have gotten a rise out of Gemma, I wasn't sure if the guaranteed pain was worth it.
I was met with a chorus of "You're late" and a scowl from Fowlson when I arrived at the studio at eight-thirty.
"Sorry, I woke up late," I said to Steve, the director, bypassing Fowlson altogether.
"Well, at least you both are here now so we can start reviewing what we already have and go from there."
"Both?" Just then, Gemma and Simon walked in much like yesterday—she was all over him and he was…checking out the refreshment table girl. I smiled to myself.
"Ah, Sleeping Bonehead has finally graced us with his presence," Gemma began. "I was afraid we'd have to send your prince to kiss you back to life." Kartik 3, Gemma 2.
"I bet it took you that whole hour and a half to come up with that remark, didn't it?" Her glare told me I was right. Kartik 4, Gemma 2.
"Children," Steve exhaled, irritated. "The sooner we get started, the sooner we leave, okay?" He glared pointedly the two of us, waiting for our nods of temporary truce.
Now I knew why we needed to get to the studio early. We reviewed all the footage shot yesterday, each person suggesting improvements, Gemma in particular—if you call her whining, bitching, and overall disdain for my every move constructive criticism. "Your hair looks weird." "What is your nose doing?" "Ew, tongue! No one wants to see that in a music video." Consequently, we reshot the scenes of Gemma and I on the bed the whole damn day. It only seemed natural for me to respond in kind.
"I knew you looked familiar to me yesterday when we met," I said to Gemma before she left, her dipshit boyfriend in tow.
"Oh yeah? Where have you seen me before?" Her face looked so innocent and excited I almost felt bad about what I was about to say. Almost.
"Weren't you in that one porno called Never Been Blown?" Both Gemma and Simon's jaws dropped straight through the floor, but only Simon looked intrigued at the idea of his girlfriend being a porn star. Kartik 5, Gemma 2. "It's a spinoff of some movie with Drew Barrymore, or something." Everyone started looking over at us, needing to find out if Gemma starred in an X-rated movie.
Jaw securely back in place, she replied, "I absolutely was not in that movie. I have moral standards, thank you."
"Then I sure hope you have an identical twin sister who doesn't. At least she'd be a good lay." I would have continued, but my favorite extremity met the force of Gemma's knee. As she walked away, pissed off and oddly radiant, I got the sense that I had encountered Carrie White's cousin.
Kartik 5, Gemma 7. Bitch.
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The damage from the kick forced me to postpone the phone call to Pippa until the next afternoon. I'd spent the rest of my D-Day lying on my bed with an ice pack between my legs. I would've invited my friends over to keep me company, but I wasn't in the mood to explain my falsetto.
Pippa and I agreed to meet for dinner on Thursday night. I was going to be working on my album all week and she handing was résumés out like she had no tomorrow. I left the studio early on Thursday to give myself time to find something to wear—not that I was conceited, I just didn't want to look like a total fucking slob. By the time I deemed myself appropriately dressed for dinner, I barely had enough time to put on cologne before sprinting out the door.
We chose to eat at one of the more casual places in town, because I didn't think either of us had that kind of money quite yet. I was just grateful I didn't need to dress in a penguin suit to eat something that probably wasn't all that good anyway.
Not surprisingly, I beat Pippa to the restaurant and had to sit in the waiting area, because, apparently, only full parties can be seated. It was then that I noticed how many stares I was receiving from men. Uncomfortable was an understatement. I now knew what it felt like to be at the horse up for bid at an auction.
"Hey," one guy said as he approached me.
"Hey."
"This seat taken?" he asked, pointing to the space next to me.
"No, go ahead." As he was sitting down, I noticed how well coordinated his clothes seemed to be. I hadn't really seen that before.
"Aren't you that new musician? The one who sings 'Split Screen Sadness'?"
"I am. Do you like the song?"
"Yes, I do. It's very good. And, I must say, the artist is very handsome," he giggled. I have a fan. And an odd one at that.
"Oh, well, thanks. It's always nice to meet a fan."
"You know, I think the video didn't do you justice. You're much better looking in person." Did he just bat his eyelashes?
"Uh, I think it's the tone of the song. It has that depressive 'we broke up' feel to it."
"Oh, I don't really think it's because of that." I felt his hand reach for my arm and immediately wanted to take cover. "Ooh, very muscular."
I moved my arm away. "Um, yeah." Is there anything more uncomfortable than this?
"I hardly ever see exotic looking musicians such as yourself in L.A."
"Oh."
"I think that redhead was very lucky to be with you in the video, especially to kiss you as well." He glanced down at my lips then back to my eyes and smiled—fucking smiled—at me. Don't kiss me. Don't kiss me. Don't kiss me.
"Kartik?" I looked around to see that—thankfully—my date was the one who called me.
"Oh hey! I was wondering where you were." The level of excitement in my voice could've been toned down as she approached me, but I didn't care. The guy next to me needed to know that I wasn't interested.
"I'm so sorry I'm late. Traffic was a nightmare. But, then again, that's how it always is in this city," Her laugh was beyond anything I'd ever heard. If I loved her laugh, I was absolutely positive I'd love her scream.
When I looked back, my potential stalker had vanished—hopefully due to my reaction to the hottest female I've ever seen. Standing up, I said, "You totally just saved me from being picked up. You're my hero."
We walked over to the hostess who led us to our table, menus in hand. "You're welcome, but we are at a restaurant in the gayest part of the city."
"We are?"
She nodded. "I'm afraid so. Didn't you notice at all?"
"I thought it was odd how the men were staring, but I didn't know where I was."
"Maybe I should show you around the city after—give you the scoop on what happens where. If you want me to, that is."
"Yeah, sure. It appears that I could use the help," I chuckled.
"Well, I'll be more than happy to help." She smiled and I smiled back.
Our small talk continued with only the few interruptions by our waiter taking our orders, bringing them to the table, and asking how they were. Good waiter, good tip.
"So," I asked Pippa a few minutes after our food was brought out to us, "have you had any luck sending out your résumés?" She sighed.
"So far I've had two rejected and the rest are still pending. I'm very nervous as to what might happen."
"I'm sure you'll get something. Directors would be morons to turn down a face like yours." She blushed.
"Thanks. But, strangely enough, I have been turned down a few times. But I have a feeling I'll get something this time and be closer to becoming a real actress."
"Sometimes I feel like what I'm doing isn't real. I'm living the life I've wanted for…forever. Now I'm worried that I'll wake up from this amazing dream."
"Don't worry. This is all real. If you'd like, I can pinch you to see if you're actually going to wake up." Her smile had the slightest hint of seduction and I was almost positive my jaw hit the floor. I think I just fell in love.
"Maybe later." I mirrored her smile.
"Promise?"
"Absolutely."
The next few minutes were quiet with the exception of our dinner noises and the chatter of others around us. The silence we shared was comfortable. And I quite enjoyed that.
"Have you started working on your next video?" Pippa asked.
"No, that's not going to happen for about another month. I have to work with the record company to see which song would work well as a video. Plus, there's still that release party next week."
"I'm sure that will be fun. I remember the time I went to one after I filmed my first video. At least I think I can remember it. I had a bit too much to drink that night," she laughed.
"You were in a video?" She nodded.
"I was one of Leighton Meester's friends when she sang 'Good Girls Go Bad' with Cobra Starship. But I was still able to go to the release party."
"You were in that one? I'll have to look for you the next time I watch the video."
"Well, I was wearing a wig to make my hair look shorter."
"I'll keep that in mind." More eating.
"So, back to the video, I have a question."
"Okay, shoot."
"What was it like working with your female lead? Because I've heard that the actors are either rude or really nice."
I had to bite back my scoff. "Rude" wasn't a strong enough word. "She was…" Whiny? Bitch? Hot? Wait, what? "…a total nightmare. She essentially made it clear that she hated me from the second we met. And, in the review, she criticized everything I did."
"Oh wow, that's awful. I don't know what could've made her not like you. You're, clearly, a very nice guy and she must be blind not to see that."
"Well, thanks, but I held my own," I chuckled and she laughed with me.
"Well then, here's to not letting negative influences affect our jobs," she toasted.
"Cheers." My glass rose and clinked with hers.
Aside from being hit on buy another guy, the night had gone unbelievably well. We talked and joked. She even showed me around the city until early in the morning. I definitely had every intention to see Pippa again. And again. And again.
If you wanted to get into Jessica Alba's pants, why wouldn't you continue to go out with her?
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A/N: Wow. TONS of dialogue. Never done that before. Again I'm SO sorry for the forever-long hiatus. Take me back? I'm pretty sure there's going to be more KARMA in Chapter 4, but I'll have to see where the pen takes me. Suggestions are always welcome. So PLEASE review and tell me what you think.