Chapter 10

After she had calmed down a little, Jessica, Dennis and Tom took her out for some celebratory drinks. They walked out to a little bar a few blocks from the theatre. Well, her friends walked, Ivy floated. All those years in the ensemble were finally paying off. She had a part; she was Marilyn Monroe. Ivy felt as though she were dreaming, everything was passing in a haze. Tom brought her a drink, champagne, and proposed a toast.

"To Ms. Ivy Lynn, our new star, by unanimous decision, I might add." She perked up. Everyone had voted for her? Even Eileen?

"I don't know what you did Ivy, but even Derek was raving about your performance and he was really pulling for Karen initially. Whatever your doing, keep it up." Ivy frowned. She'd slept with Derek to "secure" the role but she hoped that that wasn't the only reason he'd cast her. She brushed the thought off. He didn't seem the type and anyway who really cared how she had gotten it? The point was, she was going to be the lead in a broadway musical. Nothing could bring her down tonight. She sipped her champagne with a goofy smile on her face, her friends beaming back at her. Tom turned to Jessica and Dennis.

"Hey, would you two be interested in being in the ensemble for the workshop?" Jessica and Dennis exchanged looks. The money for workshops wasn't great. They both look at Ivy. She hoped they would follow her put she wasn't going to put them under any pressure.

"We'll definitely think about it." came their reply. They all clinked their glasses together and spent the evening gossiping about the latest broadway news. Apparently, Spiderman had maimed yet another ensemble member.

"I was supposed to be in that show." Dennis exclaimed.

"Thank God that fell through."

"Yeah. Wouldn't want that body out of commission." agreed Tom, flirting. Dennis looked exceedingly pleased.

"Guess its a good thing you scooped me up then." Dennis replied, looking Tom up and down. But before the two men could continue their witty banter, Tom's phone rang.

"Ugh, its Derek. You'd think he'd hold the Marilyn stuff until tomorrow and let you celebrate."

"Play nice Tom. He's not as bad as you think. I mean, he came to see me, didn't he?" she defended. Honestly, Derek wasn't nearly as bad as people made him out to be, at least not from what she'd seen. Tom gave her a look and Jessica eyed her suspiciously. Crap. She blushed, realizing how that must have sounded. Dennis and Tom would probably let it go but Jessica? Ivy mentally prepared herself for the barrage of questions that would certainly be fired at her once Tom vacated the area. She wasn't disappointed.

"C'mon Ivy. Give it up. What's the deal with you and Derek Wills?" Jessica asked, giving her the and-tell-the-truth look.

"It's nothing. We just..."

"Oh my god Ivy! You slept with him." Dennis interjected, putting the pieces together. There was no point in denying it now.

"It was just one time." she said, trying to defuse the situation.

"When did this happen?" shouted Dennis. She shushed him.

"Dennis, keep it down alright. Tom cannot know about his. He hates Derek's guts. It happened about a week ago when we were rehearsing."

"He casting couched you?" Jessica asked.

"No. He just... I don't know. One second I was doing a scene and the next, we were making out. It was like a heat of the moment thing. I doubt it will happen again." Jessica didn't look convinced but before she could say anything, Tom reappeared. He seemed slightly dubious of the silence that ensued as he returned to the table so Ivy quickly changed the subject.

"You certainly took a while. What was that about?"

"Nothing too important, some stuff about sending him all my rough work. He's just so condescending. Oh Tom, remember to give me a copy of everything, I need to keep on top of things." imitated Tom, putting on a fake British accent and miming sipping tea. They all laughed a little too enthusiastically but Tom didn't seem to notice. He seemed distracted, his eyes kept looking up at the stage despite the fact that no one was playing. After a few minutes of his constant sideways glances, she figured out what he'd been waiting for. A man got up on the stage, the manager. She knew him fairly well as she and Tom often frequented this bar, talking to each other about boyfriends and the drama of theatre.

"Hey, I just heard that it's a special night for one of our friends. Ivy Lynn, just landed a big gig playing Marilyn in a new musical headed for broadway." She laughed, smacking Tom in the shoulder. She knew that phone call couldn't have taken that long.

"Come on Ivy. How about a song?" She shook her head but Dennis pushed her towards the stage, all three of them chanting her name. She ran down the aisle. Why not? It was her big night. Walking over to the pianist, she told him her song selection. She'd sung it here before so he already knew the arrangement. She grabbed the mic and started in on the first verse, glowing with happiness.

Hello you long shots...