Chapter 24 Second Chance

"I'm sorry, Manny. I swear, I'll take you sometime before we leave." Hazel said to Manny who was still hassling her. She was still upset because Hazel didn't take her to that art's and craft store downtown like she promised.

The girls had been there for three days already and they rarely went downtown or anywhere for that matter. Jimmy mostly stayed inside with Hazel watching television or sitting on the patio by the dock cuddling. Craig locked himself in the music room trying desperately to think up a new song for the movie soundtrack. Paige spent most of her days exploring the grounds especially the pool house when Jenny wasn't around and sometimes she would go out on the patio with Hazel and Jimmy until they started to cuddle. Manny never did a thing but sit by the pool and sunbath or swim in the pool or take a stroll to the nearby beach and check out the guys which surprisingly were few in numbers. Emma was the most outgoing of the group for the three days they had been there J had taken her out on a date everyday and Lenny offered to take Manny but she, well she said she would rather get a sunburn then go out on a date with him. Jenny was always in the house sitting in her room studying her lines and ordering food for the gang.And Sean well no one really had a clue were Sean went when he wasn't in the game room shooting pool alone he would take the van and disappear strangely the same time Emma left on dates with J.

"Well don't forget you promised me." Manny replied. "Remember we only have a couple of days until we have to go back home."

"I won't forget." Hazel said. "I'm going to look for Jimmy." Hazel walked down the back stairs to the patio.

Manny walked back to her and Emma's room. Emma was dressed in a crisp blue tunic with light blue jeans and strappy sandals tied around her ankles. "Hey, where are you going tonight," Manny asked.

"I don't know J wouldn't tell me he said it was a surprise," Emma said while applying mascara to her eyelashes.

"I can't believe you're going out on another date with him things must be going well."

"Yeah they are," Emma put the mascara wand back into it's tube. "It's been really nice he's taking me to really nice places. He's kind of upset that he can't take me to really really expensive restaurants but he said he doesn't want to run into his manager just yet he's been avoiding him all summer and surprised he hasn't found out about the penthouse, he claims he's pretty persistent about keeping an eye on him. To tell you the truth, I hope he doesn't meet up with his manager well at least until later, I wouldn't want to go to a really expensive restaurant where the press can harass us and where we have to keep up appearances. I really like when we go on nightly strolls on the beach and to the park."

"That sounds romantic," Manny cooed.

"You know your welcome to join us, Lenny has really been asking about you."

Manny rolled her eyes and made a sour expression with her face. "No thanks, I really just want to sit by the pool and get a nice even tan."

"OK, but the offer still stands if you change you're mind." Emma looked at the digital clock on they're dresser. "J isn't arriving for a couple of minutes."

"I don't think I'll change my mind but thanks for the offer."

Emma shrugged and went back to applying her makeup until she heard her cell phone ringing. "Oh great I'm really thinking about turning this cell off I just know it's going to be another telemarketer." Emma flipped her cell phone open. "Hello...oh hi mom...yeah I'm fine everythings great...the counseling yeah it went great...yeah I can't wait to start school...next friday...Ok... I'll like that...Manny...yeah she's been staying over a couple of times...no mom...no party's...I promise...OK... tell Mr and Mrs. Simpson I mean grandma and grandpa I said hi...ok, love you too...bye."

"What did she say, did she suspect anything, please don't tell me she called my mom?"

"No, she didn't call your mom." Emma closed her cell. "She just wanted to check up on things, make sure I had enough food and money that's all."

"Phew," Manny exhaled. "I thought for sure we were in trouble. Well, Paige plan with the with the call forwarding must've worked she didn't suspect a thing."

"No, she didn't." Emma replied.

"We'll, I'm off." Manny put her sunglasses on and picked up her beach bag. "Have fun on you're date tonight and don't do anything I wouldn't do unless it's worth it."

"I won't." Emma laughed.

Manny walked towards the doorway and saw Jenny wearing a killer outfit that Manny would have had to rob a bank to afford. Her short hair was glistening with red highlights curled in it's short bob. She really looked pretty and vaguely familiar for a moment. "Hey Manny," Jenny smiled and waved.

"Hey," Manny mumbled.

"Going to the beach again don't forget to wear some SPF those rays can be pretty intense. We wouldn't want you to age before you're time." Jenny smiled before going into Craig's room.

Manny walked back into the room. Emma was still applying her makeup. "Hey I thought you were leaving." Emma replied

"You know what I changed my mind." Manny said as she put her bag down "I hope that offer still stands."

"Don't you think this is a little...dumb." Spinner said to Jay while watching a pretty girl with long legs and even longer brunette hair walking by.

"No, just enjoy it while it last." Jay mumbled to Spinner. The two walked into a posh restaurant in town with Don and a barrage of body guards including Bruno. "How many times are we going to get star treatment like this in our lives."

"You're probably right." Spinner agreed. "But what if we get caught it's a wonder they didn't figure out something wasn't right at Parish's party."

"We'll they didn't." Jay mumbled. "How was I suppose to know Don would track us down." The two sat down at a big table with Don and a couple of other people they didn't have a clue who they were. "We just gotta play along while we can. It's only going to be for a couple of days, no harm.

"I don't know this just seems like it's going to blow up in her faces."

"See, that's the thing with you, you think to muc."

"So J the producers are here and they wanted to see this new hairdo of your's." Don screamed to Jay.

"What hairdo...oh yeah...wait producers for what?

Everyone at the table laughed but Spinner and Jay. "Oh J, you're so funny." A middle aged tall blond woman exclaimed. "But really we have to get down to business. Why didn't you show up for the reading last week?"

"Umm, I've been pretty busy, you know partying," Jay hesitantly replied.

"Well no more of that this week. We want you back on a plane to L.A." A guy with large dark glasses and even darker hair said. "Don make sure you keep an eye on J and if you have to get Bruno to help you." The guy looked at Jay. "You really need to stay focused, no more partying, that has to stop."

"What. But.I.."

"No buts," A really skinny guy with an even thiner nose and very little hair exclaimed. "We can't keep making excuses for you.You have one week to straighten up. We want you on a plane bound for L.A by then." The guy threw a large thick script to Jay. He looked at Don. "And make sure he reads it this time. Line is not one of the lines in the script.

"Will you like to order now." A waiter asked the group.

"Yeah, I'll have a hamburger with fries." Spinner replied.

"Who is this guy," The middle aged woman asked.

"He's a nobody," Don exclaimed. "Hey! You. Spanner! They don't serve that crap in this place!" Don turned to the waiter. "Give that guy the cheapest entrée on the menu and for J here the usual."

"What's the usual," Jay asked Don.

"You're kidding me right." Don laughed. "You're favorite, liver smothered in garlic, gravy and onions served very rare."

"What," Jay exclaimed. "I think I'll past on that today."

"Don't be silly you love that stuff." Don shooed the waiter away. " I swear these past few days it's like you're a whole different person."

"You have no idea," Spinner mumbled.