Part VII: Ice Cream, Rumors and Uncertainty
Katie and Jessie strolled along Sunset Boulevard, with vanilla cones in their hands.
"It's been like forever since I had one of these…" Jessie said as she tried to prevent the ice cream to drip in her hands.
"I have them for dessert whenever I can…" Katie licked hers.
"Well maybe when I'm not in Alaska or some cold region" Katie added making Jessie chuckle.
They found a bench and sat on it. They watched the sun set making the horizon fiery.
"Miss Sammler…"
"Call me Jessie."
"Jessie…" Katie smiled but didn't turn to the blonde.
"Why don't you go out with the crew when they dine out?"
"I have other things on my mind…"
"Then, why did you agree to go with me for Ice Cream?" Katie turned and looked at Jessie.
"Who would pass up Ice Cream?" Jessie retorted with a grin on her face.
"Yeah… Who would?" Katie and Jessie shared a giggle and caught each others gaze momentarily.
Their gaze turned to their hands resting on the bench which were now touching the other. Katie abruptly raised hers and scratched her head with a silly smile. Jessie for her part rested hers on her lap and looked away, still with a grin on her lips.
----
"Hey Sarah, have you seen that bitch go out with the new girl? She's in for some hollering!" Tom, one of the lighting crew exclaimed.
The technical crew was with Sarah for some last minutes instructions and dinner as well.
"Well… If you didn't know, Katie, the new girl, is a friend of mine. She's a good person who actually has the guts to tolerate her! Aren't you thankful the bitch is less annoying now?" Sarah scowled.
"Yeah you're right… Maybe she has a thing for your friend." The crew laughed.
"Well I like it. Did you see the way they were into each other in the last scene? MAN IT WAS HOT!" AJ howled and everybody who was by an earshot howled as well; everybody except Sarah who just shook her head.
Boys…
Men…
Whatever…
----
The moon was in full view now. It illuminated the path Jessie and Katie took on the way to Jessie's place. Katie would constantly glance at the blonde beside her. She was unsure on what to ask, or say next. Jessie just locked her gaze to the road ahead.
"You're not as bad as they say…" Katie began to say.
"Really? I didn't know that…"
"Sometimes I think it's part of your act…" Katie smiled but walked on.
"You can consider that… I guess…" Jessie smiled back.
"Why do you have to be like that? I'm sure people would love you just the way you are…"
"I don't know…"
"People in Chicago did. Specially in Upton Sinclair… They admired you…" Katie trailed off making Jessie giggle.
"You really did a background check on me did you?" Jessie shook her head smiling.
"Well… It was my job. Was because, I kind of… Have a new job now…"
"Hollywood is brutal Katie… They can use anything against you to pull you down… Presenting them with something so exaggerated hides the truth away. They want something interesting. Not what is real… which most of the time is boring. They're not like you…" Jessie sighed.
"Well… I'm no saint either… But… I do know anything in your life can't pull you down Jessie… So what's the use of hiding who you really are?" Katie replied.
She stopped to look at Jessie.
Jessie struggled for the words but nothing came out. She just sighed then walked on.
----
"Is Katie home?" Sarah appeared in Katie's newly furnished apartment.
"Nope. But she's on her way. How's her first day?" Tad replied trying to plug the DVD player.
"Good. Not bad for a first timer."
"Hi guys!" Katie stepped into the apartment giving a hug to each of her friends.
They all sat down on the couch and watched reruns of Sex in the City.
"Hey Sarah I've been meaning to ask… Who inserted the last test script during the auditions?" Katie asked not removing her gaze away from the TV.
"Only three persons could possibly have authority to do that. August, Grace or Jessica. Best bet would be… Grace. She's the writer… Why?"
"Just asking…" Katie stood up and grabbed a soda from the fridge.
Grace Manning was in Chicago when I was talking to her.
Before I left Chicago she told me she was in California already.
She's not male too.
Well that's what she said…
Katie shook her head and drank from the can.
Could it be Jessie?
"Nah…" Katie smiled.
"Maybe it's just pure coincidence." Katie walked off to the living room to watch TV with her friends.