I don't own any rights to Hollywood Heights storyline or characters; this is the fantasy world I created.

Keeping Secrets Chapter 10

Down and Out in Hollywood

(Down and Out in Beverly Hills an old 80s movie)

I searched for Loren for three days. I even contacted Joe, pop's private investigator, he couldn't find her. After the press conference I put on my favorite pajamas and laid around the house thinking about every stupid mistake I've made in my relationship with Loren. Now I'm waiting for the knock on the door from Loren's attorney office serving me with divorce papers. I could drag it out and fight against the divorce but why put her through that. I had a secret friendship with Chloe. I kissed Chloe; why would I hurt Loren even more by keeping her bound to me when she clearly wants out of this marriage. I won't fight it; I'll give her whatever she wants. The house. The cars. Every penny in our joint account. Whatever her demands are I will willingly give it to her and more. So I sit in my favorite pajamas waiting for the knock on the door.

I hear the tires of a car screech to a stop in the driveway and a car door slam. I get out my bed just as my father calls out to me. "Get dressed son, let's save your marriage, I think I know where Loren is," my father says to me when I walk to the top of the stairs.

"Pop I searched every place I could think of, Joe searched as well. Loren does not want to be found," I say slowly walking down the stairs.

"Loren is an international rock star. If she went to a hotel or to the beach house, someone would have spotted her. But where is the one place she wouldn't be spotted and the last place we would think to look for her?" Pop asks me as I plop down on the couch.

"Pop. Joe and I went over all the scenarios, and searched all the possible places Loren could have gone. She doesn't want to be found. I'm just waiting to be served with divorce papers now."

"You can't give up on your marriage son. You and Loren belong together."

I look at my dad like he has three heads, "a week ago you wanted to kill me and you told me I deserve whatever Loren does to me. Why the change of heart?"

Pop takes a deep breath and sits on the couch, "I was wrong son. I was so ready to think the worst of you instead of recognizing the man your mom and I raised you to be. I didn't give you the chance to explain why you kept your friendship a secret for five years. I wasn't there to help you through the pain of losing the love of your life. According to Nora I went Papa Grizzly on you. I'm here now son. I'm here to help you get the love of your life back. So get dressed and let's go."

"It's too late pop, Loren isn't coming back. This is different from the first time she and I fought that time on our first tour. This time we're not upset over some lap dances; this time I kept a big secret from her for five years and to top it off I kissed my ex- fiancée."

"Why did you kiss her son?" pop asks me.

"Honestly pop, I'm not exactly clear why I felt the need to comfort Chloe that way. I mean I know all the events that led up to the kiss but I don't love her; I care about her as a friend."

Pop looks me in my eyes, "do you love Loren?"

"Of course I love Loren. I've loved Loren since the day she walked into my life pop. And I was engaged to Chloe when I finally met the lovely Loren Tate," I chuckle, "I fell in love with my best friend," I say fighting back tears. "I miss her pop. I miss her so much."

"I know son, that's why I'm here. Now go get dressed so we can go bring your wife home."

I take one last look at pop before I stand up and walk towards the stairs, "Hey Ed, you might want to take a hot shower before you get dresses," pop says holding his nose. "How long has it been since you showered?"

"Not since the press conference," I say scratching the back of my head.

Pop looks shocked, "Eddie! That was four days ago!"

"I'm heartbroken pop," I was walking up the stairs.

"Yeah, you smell like it," I hear pop mumble.

Thirty minutes later pop and I are pulling out the driveway. "Where are we heading?"

"To the Tate family cabin in Big Bear," pop says.

"What makes you think she's there? Loren hates the cabin at Big Bear."

"That is the perfect place for her to hide-out for a week."

I don't know why I didn't think of looking there. It's the perfect place to hide-out like pop says. It's secluded, she doesn't have to check in and cellphone reception sucks up here.

After an hour of comfortable silence, I work up enough courage to ask pop a question. "Pop. What changed your mind?"

My father smiles, "your friend wrote me a letter."

I was shocked, pop actually read a letter Chloe wrote to him? "What about the letter made you change your mind?"

"She signed it Cynthia Kowalski."

I told Chloe to leave it alone. But I'm grateful that she would reach out to pop to help me. It's that side of Chloe I became friends with. "You see that she's changed?" I ask.

"I'm keeping an open mind and giving her the benefit of the doubt. She says she wants what's best for you and Loren." Pop listens as I tell him about my reasons for befriending Chloe; and why I ended that friendship a week ago.

The ringing of pop's cellphone over the car sound system interrupts my story. Pop pushes the answer button, "Hello?"

"Hi Max, this is Tyler. Is Eddie with you?"

"I'm right here Ty. What's up?"

"Why aren't you answering your phone? I've been calling you for almost an hour." Tyler complains.

I pat my pockets for my phone. I haven't heard it ring. "I must have left it at home. What's the emergency?" I ask.

"Loren called me." I go silent. My heart is racing. Why would she call Tyler?

I take a long pause. "Why did she call you Ty?"

"She asked me for Chloe's Fresno address." I pause again. I'm speechless.

"How long ago was this?" I ask,

"Almost an hour ago," pop crosses over three traffic lanes causing the drivers to press hard on their breaks. I hold on as he takes the next exit going well over the posted speed limit. We exit the freeway at the first exit and pop makes a left turn on a red light once again causing drivers to step on their breaks, this time earning him new profane names. He takes another left, this time on a green arrow and now we're back on the freeway going the opposite direction.

"Did you give her the address?" I ask.

"Yes, I gave Loren the address."

"How did she sound Ty?" I had to ask.

"Heartbroken. Mad. Determined." Tyler chuckles.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath, "did she say where she was?"

"No she didn't say, but I know she's on her way to Fresno."

"Thanks Ty," I say.

"Hey Ed," Tyler begins.

"Yeah?" I reply.

"I don't care how much Chloe may have changed. She is not the woman you or I was meant to be with. Let her go man. Move on. Let Chloe live her life and you live yours with Loren. Trust me, I've known Chloe since high school, it took me a long time to get to this point and I'm a better person for it. I wish Chloe the best, but some people are meant to be kept at a distance." Wow, I've never heard Tyler talk like this.

"I think I remember how to get to her place in Fresno but you better give me the address anyway," I say grabbing a pen and paper from the armrest. I write down the address. "Thanks Ty. Thank you for everything man. Give my Goddaughters a kiss from Uncle Eddie."

"I will man. Good luck with Loren. Call me if you need me to meet you in Fresno."

"I can handle it. I'll call you later." I say ending the call. I use pop's phone to call my voicemail and check messages. My heart stops when I hear the message Loren left an hour ago. Pop can hear it too since it's still the phone is still connected to the car's sound system. I look at my father with tears in my eyes. "How do I fix this Pop?"

"Answer her questions son." I think about it for a minute and a plan starts to form. I make a few more calls. I can tell pop likes my plan because he's smiling from ear to ear. Now that my plan is in place there's one more thing I have to do. I turn and look at my dad, "Pop from this point on I will pay for every speeding ticket or moving violation you get today, but I really need you to press on the gas. I need to get to Fresno." Pop nods his head as the car picks up speed.

~jm~