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Chapter 4

Karen's POV

So this morning didn't exactly go to plan maybe I can still meet up with Jess and the gang. I take out my phone and text her:

What are you guys doing today? I hope you guys aren't nursing a hangover?! :) xx - Iowa

As I start walking back to the hotel, I can't help but look back to see if maybe Derek decided to do that cliché romantic scene where he comes running behind me. He wasn't. I'm not sure if that is to my dismay or to my relief?

Either way I carry on walking to the hotel to find Ivy staring at the entrance. I stayed around the corner for a little while but then came to the realisation that no one was coming out to drag her by the hair kicking and screaming! I decide to stroll around the corner and act like I didn't see her, (I know it's not like me but I am not entirely sure how to take her after the incident. After all she did ruin my life), until I feel her hand stop me.

"Ivy, get your hand off me," I state as if it was an infectious disease. As quickly as I felt her touch, it was soon well away from me and I carry on strutting in. I want to prove to her that what she did has had very little effect on me, that may be a lie but I still don't want her to know that.

"Karen, wait," she says tentatively but with a small plea in her voice. At that I couldn't help but turn around. Instead of being greeted with the face of a spiteful cow I was faced with someone I knew very little about. Ivy Lynn looked scared almost like a child on their first day of school, but of course this situation being far more serious. Nevertheless I still couldn't help myself from feeling anger and resentment in place of pity and compassion. I was still unable to look her in the face without seeing the woman who became the catalyst for the demise of my relationship with Dev.

"What," I state nearly spitting out the words.

"I just want to talk," she said in a near whisper while looking at the ground. She looked scared and lonely, if it was any other person I would give them a hug and tell them that everything was going to be ok but it wasn't. It was Ivy. The spiteful pitiful woman who thought destroying my personal life would be a gateway to her stardom. I know I may be looking at her with eyes for only problems she caused me and not for the quandaries she may have. For that I feel guilty but I just can't get over what she did, maybe in time but not yet.

I sighed but turned around anyway. "About what exactly?" I said trying to sound condescending so she will go but I couldn't she was still the Ivy trying to please her mother, trying to please anyone with power. She was still Ivy, an insecure woman who just wanted to be a star.

"About anything I just need to talk to someone," Ivy said sounding more and more irremediable. I looked at her face and saw a plea of help.

"Why me? You hate me," I responded still trying to keep that resentment in my voice but it was getting harder and harder for me to do so. I was startled by a sound behind me but as I turned around I saw no one.

"It's just...I don't know who else to turn to and you've always tried to be so nice to me," she said while looking me straight in the eye, something about this didn't seem quite right. "I know I don't deserve your time right now after what I did but..." she carried on but stopped. Her face was now a mirror of horror.

"Ivy? Ivy what is it," I question now with concern in my voice.

"Mom?" was all she could say. I don't understand I thought her mom had left the city.

I turn around and true enough there she was, but I don't understand why Ivy would be looking at her in horror. In fact I am nearly certain that my face showed glimpses of thanks. I look back to Ivy and try to say something but I am quickly interrupted by the high pitch squeals of Jessica and Bobby.

"IOWA!" I hear behind me and am expeditiously relieved from the tension of the situation. I try to edge away from where I am standing, (which is now in the crossfire of these two very strong minded women). How do I move without being detected and without seeming rude? Before I was able to even think of an answer I feel two very strong grasps pull me out of this excessively awkward situation. I turn to find myself being dragged away from Ivy and her mother and I can't help but give Ivy an apologetic look. She seems as though she wants to call me back but I am soon too far out of reach to do anything.

"What were you thinking Karen getting in between them?" Bobby questioned as soon as we were out of ear shot.

"I wasn't," I responded trying to figure out what had happened between them.

"So why were you there?" Jessica cross examined. Both Bobby and Jessica were giving me the why-the-hell-are-you-talking-to-Ivy-when-she-hates-you look but realise that I won't be answering anything until I get food. By now my stomach sounds like an earthquake is taking place.

We carry on walking until we stop at a café near the theatre I look around and see Tom and Sam approaching, (hey, my plan is kind of coming together is it not?). They both look slightly embarrassed of being caught together in public; however, we're not sure why because everyone knows they're together anyway!

"Hey guys," Sam calls walking towards us with Tom by his side. Oh, they make such a cute couple!

"Hey," we all say in unison and then quickly start laughing but we're not really sure why.

"If you guys could teach the rest of the ensemble to do everything in unison then Derek would be one happy man," Tom replies to the laughter he hears. I suppose that's why we're all laughing; even when not we're working we are working! At that moment all our stomachs' started to rumble. We all look to each other before I pipe up and say "shall we go in and get some food." Before I could even finish my sentence Bobby and Jessica were already pulling me inside with Tom and Sam following closely inside.

Once we were seated we pick up the menu and scan all our possible choices. I am nearly incontrovertible that between the five of us we could happily finish all 25 things on this menu in the current famished state that we are in. Instead we all choose quite conservative dishes: Bobby the chicken Caesar salad; Jessica the fish and chips; Sam the spaghetti; Tom the beef and tomato ravioli and for me well I chose the chicken Caesar salad too, (maybe I'll have desert as well!).

It was only approximately 10 minutes before our food came which gave us barely any time to "gossip" and for Jess and Bobby to cross examine me again, (Thank you!). As soon as the food was placed in front of us we all gave each other a glance to make sure everyone's food, (so to be polite), had arrived before eating ravenously. While I was eating I looked up and gave them all a once over and came to the conclusion that we were all like animals at the zoo at feeding time! I laugh quietly to myself and then turn back to my food.

I wonder what Derek is doing? KAREN, you just saw the man and you're already thinking about what he is doing. You cannot possibly have feelings for him it has hardly been 72 hours after Dev broke your heart. How can you be over him so quickly? Was the relationship that bad? Tears are welling up again and I look even further down to hide my face from those at the table. They can't know now, what if Tom thinks that I am too broken or/and gives the role to someone else? No, I can gain my composure and get through the rest of day. I think after lunch I will be going back to the hotel again and spending the rest of my day there.

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Derek's POV

Walking away from that was thought provoking. Mainly about how I just got rejected by Karen Cartwright! There were also other things; I started thinking about how if something like that or something just plain bad happened to me I would not know who to turn to. The only reason why Karen turned to me was because I just so happened to be there at the time and take her by the arm. Should I re-establish a friendship with, I don't know...Tom? That may ruin my reputation for not giving a rats arse about anyone or anything, but for some reason I find myself caring about what she thinks and even about what Tom thinks. This really isn't right! I am just going to pass by the baker's near the hotel and pick up a sausage roll then head back and work. I wasn't lying when I said I needed to work!

As I was walking down the pavement towards the hotel again I hear her, I hear Marilyn. This time however I am unfazed from the plight.

"You're making a mistake letting her go," she said in that teasing voice, but I don't really understand what she's talking about.

"What are you talking about?" I respond realising my question would be answered if it was said.

"You let her go," she replied still being cryptic.

"Let who go, who are you talking about?" I retort hiding the fact I now know full well who she is talking about.

"Looks like I will have to spell this out for you," she answered back with the same patronising tone I use more frequently than I care to admit; (she really is my subconscious). "You let Karen reject you and now you're walking back to the hotel without her," she carried on.

"I didn't let her reject me! We parted on mutual terms," I antiphon.

"When did you become the romantic type?" she asks sounding slightly surprised.

"I am certainly not a romantic, I like her it doesn't mean I have to sleep with her," I say matter-of-factly.

"That is perfectly true but both you and I know that you are not a man who gets into a relationship," she rejoinders.

"That is also perfectly true, but what do you call Julia then?" I ask.

"Married," she states confidently and I carry on walking shaking my head with a smirk on my face.

"OK, what about Eileen?" I ask hoping she doesn't have any more comebacks.

"She was married, going through a divorce and has a bartender; too messy. Messy isn't your type!" she states again with a voice that said "you know I'm right just quit while you're ahead!" I turn to look at her but by the time I do she has disappeared into the restless street.

Just as I turn back to detour to the hotel I see Ivy's hand on Karen's arm. I wanted to run in and stop the fight that was sure to commence but I occlude myself and decide to see how this plays out. Besides I don't think that Karen is the type of woman who would get herself in that sort of situation.

I retreat slightly as I see Karen turn suddenly but stay within eye shot of what is now a conversation. If only I could hear what they were talking about it would make this situation so much easier, anyway I am pretty sure that Ivy is accusing Karen for something or another. I decide to detour to the baker's because I figured no one in their right mind would want to get in the middle of that! As I walk away I feel a slight feeling of guilt for what I am not entirely sure because I haven't exactly done anything bad and if I have I am positive that it will pointed out to me by my fellow members of the creative team.