Chapter 17
Jade
"I can't believe this is happening, Tori. I can't believe that our careers are taking off and we're not even out of school yet!" I told Tori as we walked back into the house after Trina drove away.
"Well, most of the things we have done are unusual to do in high school, but Hollywood is an unusual town, with very unusual people. So to say what is happing to us right now is unusual, I would have to say it's normal for Hollywood," Tori said, smiling at me like she just dropped the world's best knowledge on me.
I turned my head to look at her, and I could feel the dumbfounded look I was giving her, but I just couldn't hold back what came out of my mouth. "That is a pretty big slice of bullshit you just piled on. I couldn't be more proud of you if I wanted to," I said, shaking my head like I couldn't believe that this intelligent woman I married would come up with that line of crap. And it was supposed to make me say, 'Yay! We are normal because we are unusual!' Damn, she is nuts.
"Well, fine then, we are lucky and everyone else sucks. Happy?" she said, walking away from me. I laughed and smiled at her, which she didn't see, since she was heading for the stairs.
"That works…but how lucky can I get right now?" I say before running after her as she ran through the house and up the stairs to our room. I stay right behind her, only a few steps behind. When she runs into our room, she looks back and smiles at me. "Oh yeah, pretty damn lucky," I say before slamming the door behind us.
I step out of the shower and I hear my phone ringing in the bedroom. I walk in the room to see who it was, and it is Beck. I started to get a bad feeling that he is calling to tell me that they won't let me be a part of the movie. I stand here looking at the phone as it rings and I'm so scared to answer it that I just drop it on the bed. "Jade? Who's calling?" I hear Tori from the doorway.
"It's Beck, but I can't answer it. I don't want him to tell me that I can't be on the movie." I look back at her and I can feel myself shake. It is pissing me off that I'm like this. I want to be strong, but I'm so scared that this could be taken away from me because I'm still in high school. Usually you have to go through college, get a degree, then start at the bottom before you can see the chance of being an AD. So, who am I kidding? Thinking that I would be any different than the other would be directors that have went the long way around to get where they are today.
Tori came over to the bed and reached for my phone. "I will call him and find out what he wanted. If he doesn't have bad news, do you want to talk with him?" she asked me as she scrolled for his number. I nodded and looked away. I felt like such a failure. Standing here naked but for a towel, crying in front of my wife, over something I didn't know I should be crying over. She smiled sweetly at me and sent the call. I sat on the bed in just my towel and waited for Beck to answer the phone. "Hey Beck. It's Tori. Sorry I didn't answer. This house is so big and Jade is in the shower. What's up?" She talked to him like there was nothing going on here. That I wasn't sitting here thinking I was stupid to believe I could be the next youngest AD in Hollywood. I sat and listened to the one-sided conversation and I just want to scream at Tori because she wasn't asking if I was a dumb ass or not. "Oh. Well, okay. I think she is getting out now. So she is still the AD, right?" Tori smiled and then her eyes grew wide and I thought she was going to have a stroke right there. "Well I'm not going to wait for her to get out. I will get her right now." She pulled the phone away from her ear and yelled for me like I was still in the other room. I looked at her like she was nuts. I'm sitting right here and we're not on PearTime.
"What are you doing?" I hissed as I stood up and grabbed my robe.
"Calling you," she smirks with her hand still over the phone. "Here. You want to talk to him." She hands me the phone and kisses me on the cheek. "Cute. You should keep the robe like that." I looked down and my robe is tied at the bottom and opened at the top, only covering the lower half of my breasts. I smile at her and wave her to sit on the bed.
"Tori likes your robe?" Beck asks me when I get on the phone. I suppress a snort of laughter.
"Yeah…so what's up, Beck?" I ask, trying to sound like I don't have a care in the world.
"Well, I thought you should know that the leading lady we had isn't going to work out. Something to do with scheduling and contracts. So, how would you feel not being the AD but the leading lady? I told Matt that you would be a great leading lady, and we've worked together before. He also said that if you want the part then we need to get you onboard now. We're both leaving for home tomorrow, and we have a meeting with the studio after you get out of school. But if you could get Helen to let you go early, it would helpful. I could have Matt come to the school if you think it would help," Beck told me, and I just sat there on my bed, smiling like a moron. I can't believe that I was just offered a leading part in this movie.
"No, he doesn't have to come. I'll just tell her and Sikowitz that I have a meeting with the studio. They know I was going to be working on the movie. You have been away for a long time if you don't remember that Hollywood Arts has a last minute casting call policy, so I just have to sign in at the office." I tell him, laughing at the fact that he had forgotten the one rule that set our school apart from all the other acting high schools in Hollywood. Beck's smooth laughter echoed mine.
"Yeah, I guess I did. Okay, well, then I guess I'll see you tomorrow. And tell Tori I'll see her too, because I want her and Andre to come with you. I have some ideas for them," he told me before telling me good-bye. I turned to Tori and smiled at her.
"I wasn't wrong. I'm not going to be the AD, but I didn't see them asking me to be the leading lady. Damn baby, this is big and only gets better. He wants you and Andre to come to the meeting with me tomorrow. He said he had some ideas for you two," I told her as I stood up and took my robe off to get dressed. I walked over to the dresser and took out some clothes and moved back to the bed to get dressed. "You know, if his ideas are music, then this may just seal the deal with Columbia," I told Tori as I pulled my pants on.
"Or it could make them turn away because I did another deal without them," she said, handing me my shoes.
"Why? You haven't signed anything with them, so they don't have any say what you can do. If it will make you feel better we could always ask Tiffany to come with us. She did just get that new job with that entertainment firm. She can tell you if it would be a good idea or not," I tell her as we both walk out into the hallway and to the stairs.
"Yeah, I guess it would be, but we should find out first. I mean, he could be asking us about music, or he could be looking for extras. We don't know what he wants, so before we get ahead of ourselves we need to find out," she said as we made it to the bottom of the staircase. I turned and looked back up the stairs and then around the little bit of the house I could see from where I stood.
"You're right. This house is damn big. Where is my phone?" I asked, looking around like it was going to fall out of the air at me.
"Upstairs on the bed where you left it," Tori pointed to the stairs and smiled.
"Shit." I ran up and called Andre from our room.
Tori and I got up early so we could get to school early. We wanted to get our work for the day and then come home before the meeting with Beck. After we showered and dressed, we stopped in the kitchen to get some coffee and something for Tori to eat. After we ate, we drove to the school and Andre was in the parking lot waiting for us. He handed me a coffee and Tori a green tea. We walked into the school and Helen is waiting for us right inside the door. "Good morning kids. So you all have a big meeting today with the studio," she said as she turned and started to walk to her office.
We all looked at each other in confusion. "How did you know that? I mean we haven't told you yet," I said, walking behind her, holding Tori's hand.
"Yes, I know that Mrs. Vega, but I received an email last night from Beck, telling me about the meeting and asking me if I could excuse you all early today." She stopped right before opening the door to her office. "Does he not remember the last minute policy here?" she asked and then opened the door. I just shook my head and followed after Tori and Andre.
We signed in and then went to Sikowitz's class room. He would be our first class if we were going to stay. We walked in and Cat was already here and Sam was with her. We put our stuff down and walked over to find out what brought Cat in so early and with Sam in tow. "Hey there Little Red, what are you doing here so early?" Andre asked, giving Sikowitz a manly hug and then hugging both Sam and Cat.
"We are here to talk to Sikowitz about Robin. She wants to go to Hollywood Arts Middle School next year, and we want to see what we have to do to get her in," Cat said, taking her seat and looking over the paperwork Sikowitz had given her.
"Well, shouldn't it be the same as we had to do to get in here? I mean, it is Hollywood Arts sister school, right?" Tori asked the question I know both Andre and I had.
"It used to be. In fact, there were four schools in the Hollywood Arts family. We had an elementary school, the middle school, this school and the Hollywood Arts College of Fine Arts and Film, which is still in the family. But after some budget cuts, we had to sell the elementary and middle school. They are both now private schools and cost a lot to attend. However, in the last year we have been in talks to buy back the middle school, and we are hoping that we can sometime soon buy the elementary school as well," Sikowitz told us, and I for one was stunned that Hollywood Arts had had so many schools, only to lose them to money problems. I wish there was something we could do to help buy back the schools.
"So why are they letting you buy back the schools, if they're private and cost so much to go there?" Sam asked as she read a pamphlet on the school.
"Because their tuition is so high, people can't afford to send their kids to such a costly school. This school does cost to go here, but we are not a full private school, so the cost is offset by the public school system. When we are able to buy the others back, they will also become part of the public system and people can afford to send children to the schools again. Plus, if you are a serious lover of the arts, then you can go from here right to the college. A lot of kids that go here don't see that they can do that and opt to go to other schools Like NYU, UCLA, or some other school far away. But if you go to the Hollywood Arts College, then you don't have to apply because you already have when you applied here. You will never be on a wait list because you are a shoe in from going here. They take students from this school first before even looking at other applications. So that could be something you kids should think about before you go looking for greener pastures. Plus, something that will make David and Holly happy. Going to Hollywood Arts College is cheaper," Sikowitz said and we all looked at each other. Did he think that Mom and Dad were going to send us all to college? I mean, damn, that's a lot of kids and I don't think they will do that. I don't have to worry about it, because my birth family has made sure I had money for school and with the money from the house and both my grandfathers, I could almost buy a college. Then something hit me like lighting. I looked over to Tori and grabbed her wrist, pulling her to the door.
"Really Jade? We still doing this?" she complained as I pulled her into the hallway. I closed the door firmly before answering her.
"Yes. Now listen. You know all the money I have gotten in the last year? Well what about us…" Tori started to shake her head and pulled away from me.
"No. Jade, if you are asking me if I think we should buy the schools, the answer is no." I stood there, staring at her like she lost her mind.
"No. I want to pay for Robin to go to school," I said, letting a touch of the old sarcasm to come through. I watched my wife as she thought about what I just said.
"That, my dear, I can get behind," she said, kissing my cheek.
"But as for college, I was thinking that the rest of us are pretty much set. Beck has his acting and the money that came from that. Robbie has whatever he will be doing at the BBC. You and Trina are set with your college fund, plus you're married to us. And I know Andre has money that his parents and grandfather left him. That just leaves Cat. She never did have anything, and I don't know if her Nana will leave her money for college. And Sam, I don't have a clue what she has. So I would like to help them pay for college, too. Baby, I think we both have enough money to help all three of them out," I said looking at Tori, hoping she will also be behind this idea as well.
"Well, let's hope that Cat doesn't want to go to Yale or MIT," Tori said, smiling, and I knew that she was going to be okay with this.
"Oh, I think we're safe with her not going to either one of those schools," I laughed and took her hand and we walked back into the room.
After we all talked about the school, and how we were going to pay for Robin to go; Andre, Tori and I left for the day. We all went back to mine and Tori's place. Andre stood at the front door, staring at the house with his mouth hung open. "Andre, you alright?" Tori asked.
"I never been here before. This place is huge," he said in a dazed voice.
"Oh, that's right, you were in Sana Fe with Tiffany all summer and weren't here when we moved in," Tori said, smiling at him.
"Yeah. And now I'm staying with Tiffany, at her and Beck's old place," he said, following us into the house, looking around. "We're changing the RV into a writing studio for me," he said, looking at the pictures on the wall.
Tori and I looked at each other, and I could tell she was thinking the same thing I was. Tori shook her head then she walked over to Andre, putting her hand on his shoulder, and lead him to the sitting room right off the entry way. Andre sat down on couch, and both Tori and I sat in chairs across from it. "So you're living with Tiffany?" Tori asked.
"Yeah she took that job here and asked if I wanted to come live with her. I have to say this last summer has been really great and the thought of not living with her kind of made me sad." He said looking around the room.
I sat there listening to the two of them talk and watching Andre I could tell there was something off about him. "Okay Andre. Now for the hard question. Are you into Tiffany?" I asked, receiving a slap to the arm from my wife.
"You know, this summer was great, but I always knew I would have to return to my grandmother's, and I didn't want to. I wanted to stay with Tiffany, and when she took the job here, I was happy that I would still be able to see her, but then she asked me to move in with her and I was on top of the world. Yes, I do love Tiffany, but as a sister. It is like if I would be living with you or Tori or even Cat. I love all of you, but I could never be with any of you, because I do see you as my sisters," he told us, and part of me was calling bullshit, but I was going to let it go for now.
"Cool," I said and jumped up and walked out of the room to the kitchen.
After we all ate and freshened up a bit, we left for the meeting at the studio. Tori had called Trina, asking if she wanted to meet us there, but Trina had to take Little David to the doctors for a check-up.
We drove up to the studio lot and gave our names and was told where to go. I have been on the lot before, but I never have been to the offices. I have only been on sound stages. This was weird for me, and when I looked over to Tori, I could tell she was freaking out. I know she has been on the lot before. In fact, it was this exact lot we came to last time, but like me, I don't think she has ever been to the offices. Andre, on the other hand, has worked in an office at Miramax, and even met Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes from the Jay and Silent Bob movies.
We found a parking spot and walked to the building and just as I reached for the door, Andre pulled my hand away. "Jade, just take a second. We are about to walk in here for a meeting with the studio heads and talk about a movie we all have a hand in," he said, and both Tori and Andre grinned at me.
"No Andre. We are going to walk in here and take an elevator ride to the office that will change our lives, but we have to finish getting there first," I said, opening the door. "So come on you two, and don't act like a couple of fame hungry actors. Just be yourself." I stopped in mid step, turning around and stopping them. "No, second thought, don't be yourself either. That is the last thing we need right now." I smirked and took Tori's hand, pulling her beside me. Tori pulled me closer to her. I could tell she was nervous. I looked back to Andre, and he was even walking a little slower, and had a weird stupid smile plastered on his usual calm face. I pulled Tori to a stop and turned back to Andre. I was about to say something to them, but just as I opened my mouth, Tiffany walked down the hall and took Andre's arm in hers.
"What's going on? I thought we had a meeting today, and I know it isn't going to be in the hallway on the first floor," Tiffany said, kissing Andre's cheek and pulled him to the elevators. I smiled and walked behind them with Tori.
"Andre may see her as a sister, but I think she may have other thoughts," Tori whispered, and I just chuckled, thinking the same thing.
We made it to the third floor where the office was and found Beck sitting in the lobby. I got a bad feeling, but it was quickly washed away when he looked up at us and smiled. "Oh good, you're here. I was starting to think you were going to be late," he said, getting up and giving us girls and hug and kiss and shaking Andre's hand.
"No, we just needed to take a breather on the way up. We are all a little nervous and it was touch and go for a minute," I said, smiling at our brother.
"I get that. I was scared the first time I went on set too. However, you guys are a shoe in. Jade, you helped write the script and you have done that before. Tori and Andre, you both have sang in front of people before. Hell Tori, you sang on national TV, so you shouldn't be nervous about a meeting to talk about singing and acting." He turned to look at Tiffany. "Not that I'm not happy to see you Tiff, I just didn't know you were coming today," Beck said, taking her hand and looking at his sister questioningly.
"Well Beck, I wasn't going to stand by and let you all go into this meeting without being here. They may be handing you the moon and stars, but it all comes with a cost. And I for one will not let my family be taken for a ride. So I will be here on all of your behalf and we will get these contracts tight and in your favor," Tiffany said as she was striding around us like she was in a court room.
"Okay. Well, that covers getting representation. Looks like this is becoming a family business," Beck said giving us all a wry smile.
Andre pulled Tiffany away and we all watch as they started talking. Andre placed his hand on Tiffany's hip and her smile grew with the touch.
"Yeah, he loves her like a sister," Tori said quietly, shaking her head and giggling.
"Well, I just hope she doesn't break his heart like the rest," Beck said, not looking too happy about the two being so close.
"Guess we have to wait and see. They do live together in your old place Beck, and they're even talking about making the RV in to a writing studio for Andre," Tori told him and I just watched as he took in this information. Surprise, dismay, thoughtfulness, and acceptance flickered over his face in rapid succession.
"Well, if that is what makes them happy. I just don't like the idea that she kept that house. But turning the RV into a studio is a great idea, I wish I could have done that. Oh well, when Trina and I find a house, I can make one if the place is big enough," Beck said, more to himself than talking to us. Tori and I looked at each other and smiled. We waited for five more minutes when the others joined us and we were able to start the meeting.
We all walked in the big office and took a seat around the table that was at the far end of the office. Matt handed me the finished script and turned to Tori. "Beck here had some ideas on the soundtrack, and after listening to both of you singing I will have to agree. Now, if you look at the cast list in front of the script, you will see we still have question marks by three rolls that have to be filled. Beck said that he thought that you, Tori, and Andre would be great in these rolls. If you two would like to read over the script and then do a read through, then we can move on from there." We all started to read through our scripts when one of the other studio heads named Brian started talking to us.
"We have long lasting friendship with your school and have called on Hollywood Arts for good actors for extras and minor rolls in the past. This will be the first time that we have had students come to us with such high recommendations. I'm not going to lie, we did call to see if there were any other kids that would be good in these rolls and were told that you're all are the top of the schools list. We were even told about another girl by the name of Caterina Valentine that would be another good choice. Do any of you know who this girl is?" Brian asked us.
"Yes, Caterina is our sister. She is a very good actress and a wonderful singer. Looking at the character descriptions, I think she would be great as the female friend that has her head in the clouds," Beck tells them with a grin.
"Cat has been playing that part for as long as I've known her," Andre said, laughing.
"Okay. I'm confused. You say she is your sister, but you two are married. I don't get it," Brian said, shaking his head.
"It's a long story that will take a long time to explain," Beck said.
"Tori's parents took us all in and we became a family. Tori and I started dating before we all were taken in and now we are a big happy dysfunctional family," I said, without looking up from my script. Beck burst out laughing.
"In a nutshell. And apparently not that long of a story," Beck said. Brian chuckled as well. Tiffany leaned forward in her chair, drawing attention to herself.
"Well, now that we have covered the scripts and rolls that have to be cast, can we get onto the contracts?" Tiffany said, folding her hands on the desk in front of her.
"Yes. Good idea." Brian started to hand out folders to all of us, including Tiffany. "You will see that this is a straight forward contract, and if you would just sign on the last page we can move on," Brian said, handing out pens to all of us. Tori reached for a pen, but Tiffany laid a hand on her arm before she could pick it up.
"Not so fast. I want to look this over before any of my clients sign anything." Tiffany took her copy over to the couch and started to read as the rest of us opened ours and started to read the contracts. I looked over to Tiffany and saw that she had read through four of the ten contracts in her folder. With her not saying anything, I turned back to my own and finished reading. "Okay so this looks good. However, I did not see where the studio will be providing an onset teacher for them. Can you please point out that you are indeed going to provide said teacher?" Tiffany stood up and walked to the desk setting her folder down, waiting for Brian to show her what she wanted to see.
"I can't show you because we did not provide the onset teacher. We are planning the filming to be done over the summer," Brian said.
"Yes, well, that is fine and dandy, but we both know that some great ideas don't always go as planned. So if you would please note that my clients are still in high school and will be needing an onset teacher to be provided," Tiffany said, tapping her lacquered fingernails on the desk in front of her.
"I was under the impression they would be graduating this May," Brian said firmly, standing up to match Tiffany's stance.
"Let's look at the facts shall we? Cast Away was to begin filming in late June and was pushed back until early August. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers was to wrap in mid-June and ran over to mid-July. Shall I go on, or do we have an understanding here?" Tiffany said with as much authority as she could muster.
After a few tense silent moments, Brian nodded. "Yes, I do believe we do. And I will have to note that you are a force to be reckoned with. I will add a provision that if we run into the school year, an onset teacher will be provided. Is there anything else that you would like to cover?" Brian said with a smile.
"No. I do believe we have come to an understanding, and I will be happy to ask my clients to sign the contracts," Tiffany said, turning around and walking back to the table. She gestured to the pens, and we all reached for the pens.
"I have a question, if I may?" Tori said, "what about royalties? Do we get a cut in that?" Tori asked, pointing to her contract.
W finished reading our scripts and talked more about the movie. Beck promised Brian that he would talk to Cat about the part. We all signed our contracts and left to go home. On our way, Tori called the rest of the family to come to our place for a family dinner which I ordered in for. Pulling up to our house, I looked at Tori and I could see that she too was looking forward to spending time with our family.