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Karen's eyes widen as she realized who was on the other end of the phone. Derek tried to stop her from answering, longing to revel in all things Karen. But she couldn't help herself. She recalled the text message she sent Ivy that morning. Remembering how upset Ivy looked as she ran out, reject pushing tears towards the surface. Karen was familiar with that taunting feeling of not being good enough. The close but no cigar notion, which drove young women into despair. Karen looked up with Derek as pitiful as she could, knowing that any interruption in their physical bliss would ruin the moment. But right now she couldn't concentrate.
"Hello?" Karen said tentatively . She suddenly felt guilty for being with Derek as Ivy was on the phone.
"Iow-Karen, I. Um I know this might sound awkward, but I need to talk to you." Ivy's voice was shaky.
"Now? It's not really a good time. What about tomorrow? I can meet you for breakfast." Karen was concerned, yet not eager to leave.
"Um, yeah sure. It's; just Tom and Sam think it's a good idea that we talk, before I go back to New York. Oh...and just so you are aware. I know you are with him right now." Ivy's voice suddenly turned cold.
"Who? Ivy, It's not, it's" Karen was searching for a way to divulge the situation delicately. She couldn't tell her that she had just performed an oral rendition of a Mozart masterpiece against his length. Nor did she feel that it was any of Ivy's business.
"Of course it is Karen. You are the new me. It won't be long before he has you convinced you're in a relationship. When in reality, it's just another way to control you. Imagine you, so young, naïve, green. He'll have his way with you and more. I bet you think you are in love with him." Ivy giggled as she spoke cheerfully. Ivy said all the wrong things with the brightest expression. She stuck a nerve with Karen.
"Fine Ivy. You want to meet, just tell me where." Karen was experiencing an anger that she thought she left behind in Iowa. A deep rooted anger ignited by the audacity of Ivy. She stood up a little off kilter. Peering around the room for her jacket and bag.
Derek was frowning as he watched her demeanor change. Karen flashed him a smile, which was more like a wince. She didn't want to alarm Derek. Nor did she want his involvement. This was between Ivy and she.
"Hmmm. Don't be mad Karen. I'm just trying to help. Before you can know what you bring to the party, you ought to know what type of party it is." Ivy was begining to slur her words as she spoke.
"Ivy, you're drunk." Karen ignored he repetitive metaphor. Ivy had always underestimated Karen. And Karen was sure now, more than ever that she knew what she brought to the party.
"Sure I am. Why wouldn't I be? I have nothing left to do. You took my part, you took my friends, and know you have my boyfr- Derek."
"I'll be waiting for you in the lobby." Karen said as she hung up on Ivy.
She turned to look at Derek who was fostering a returned erection, an intrigued look and soft grin. She felt bad for leaving him there. But there was no turning back. Ivy wanted to start a fight, and Karen wanted to finish.
"Where are you going love?" Derek said obviously still please by Karen's inhibition. He grabbed her hand and pulled her close kissing her on the neck.
"I have to go meet Ivy, Derek" she sighed and lt out a slight moan as he continued a soft trail of kisses along her neck. He was making it incredibly hard for her to leave, but she had to.
"No you don't" he was pretending to be oblivious to everything she said.
"I'll see you tomorrow?" forgetting about the arrangements he made for her.
"Did you forget you were staying here? Here's the key. I don't understand why you have to run off and meet her." he frowned, awaiting an answer. Although Karen knew no answer would gratify his need.
"Ivy is drunk and wants to talk to me with Sam and Tom." Karen was being forcefully cheery and mocking excitement.
"Oh bloody hell. Did I fall back into secondary school. This is elementary. You and Ivy is one thing. But she needs her bloody keepers to protect her from you? Help her hash out her problems. " Derek hoped up adjusting himself. "I'm coming too."
"Derek I appreciate your concern, but I have to do this by myself." Karen was forceful in tone.
"I know darling. I just don't want you walking into a bashing session, theater people can be unrelentingly ruthless. I just want to protect you" he smiled at the woman.
Karen kissed Derek, ending their conversation in the best way she knew. Holding her head high and swaying her hip she left the room. When she reached the hall way she looked at the suite across the hall. Oh Dev, why did you do this to me? Her thoughts remained on Dev until she got to the lobby of the hotel.
"Karen, over here." Tom called for her from the corner of the room.
"Hey" she was definitely sober now. Even though she was sure she would need a drink for this. Her head was already starting to hurt.
"Thanks for meeting us here. Have a seat" Tom motioned for Karen to have a seat next to him. Ivy was laying motionless in Sams arms. Her eyes were puffy, and smudged with ruining black mascara. Karen couldn't help but stare.
"Hey Karen. As you may have suspected, Ivy is not doing to good. We hate to put you in this position. But, there is something we need to get to the bottom of before she can move on." Sam was always very kind to Karen, and his request seemed reasonable.
"Okay. What's up?" Karen tried to form her mouth into a smile. It was a sorry attempt.
"Ivy baby, come on. We don't want to be here all night." Sam nudged the young woman.
The young blonde remained silent for a moment. Karen grew increasingly annoyed. She didn't imagine her evening festivities involving Ivy. She really just wanted to lay down with Derek. A flash of their recent escaped appeared into her mind. How she longed for his fingers to run through her hair again. To hear him moaning her name in a lustful passionate call. She closed her eyes unaware that everyone was staring at her.
"He made me feel that way too." Ivy said in a crackling voice. Breaking the silence, and Karen's vivid memories.
"What are you talking about Ivy, what is the point of this?" Karen snapped at her out of frustration.
"The point is Iowa, you and I hate each other. And these two seem to think it is fueling my life choices. But you and I both know you are not that important." Ivy was stone faced as she spoke.
"Ivy, if I recall correctly, we were just fine. I would have even considered you a friend." Karen's words were genuine.
"You would have considered me you friend. Even after everything?" Ivy was shocked by the revelation.
"Yes Ivy. I considered you my friend even after you tried to get me fired,criticized my lack of attributes, threw away my favorite glasses, and every other rude cynical remark you made. But sleeping with Dev, that goes way out of line." Karen felt unaddressed emotions coming to the surface.
Tom and Sam sat in silence but the expressions on their face were a mixture of surprise and disappointment. Karen ignored their telling looks and continued on to Ivy.
"I don't hate you Ivy, I never have. Why do you hate me? I have never done anything to you."
"You've never done anything to me? Never done anything? Don't play nice girl to me Karen. You are anything but a nice girl. You are condescending and conniving. You've been trying to still this part from me since day one. Over dancing, out singing and playing miss perfect. When that didn't work you resorted to sleeping with Derek. And look, you magically got the part. You're Marilyn, and I'm nothing." Ivy began to sob.
"Ivy, I didn't-" Karen started back.
"Save it Karen, you stole everything to me and I hate you." her stream of tears continued as she spat out her words. Sam cradled her in his arms. He looked at Karen and mouthed the words I am sorry.
"Ivy you need to get a hold of your self honey. We here to work something out, not bash each other. " Tom spoke softly, but Ivy reacted immediately, trying to recompose herself.
"Ivy, I am sorry you feel that way. But I have never hated you, nor tried to steal your part. I admired you. You are not the only one who was had to deal with setback or disappointment. I was as shocked as anyone when Derek said I would play Marilyn. I hadn't spoken two words to him since you told me about Rebecca. So I resent the fact you think I slept with him. I would never." Karen felt tears forming in her eyes too. She knew the day would come when she would have to hash it out with Ivy. It was needed.
"So then what were you doing with him tonight?" Ivy was obviously jealous.
"It's none of you business Ivy. But I have not slept with." Karen didn't want her to overreact. but eventually she would have to tell somebody. "look, Derek and I, we're friends. We've been spending time together and I like him. It wasn't a shot at you, nor my attempt to dethrone you from your part. It simply happened. I've been going through a lot this week. And he's the only person who has been there for me." Karen let the tears she'd been holding back fall from her eyes and roll ever so gently down her face.
"I did hear about Dev, Karen. I am sorry." Ivy looked down.
"Ivy you were sleeping with him. And despite you trying to drive a spike through my heart, I wouldn't have blamed you. But you kept seeing him. Even when I came into the hotel, you were with him Ivy. You rubbed it in my face. You don't get to drag me through the mud about Derek." she all but growled at the older woman.
"Karen. I am sorry. I just wanted you to feel like i felt. I wanted you to know that I am just as good as you. I wanted you to feel rejection and pain. I was wrong." Ivy straightened her posture and looked as if she was having a shell release it's hold on her. The shell didn't break, but maybe, just maybe it was cracking.
"Pain! oh I've had my fair share of pain Ivy." she replied with a laugh.
"Of course you have Karen. You got yelled at by Derek and then he turned you into his understudy. As his understudy you became best friends with a movie star. And then they practically begged you to be Marilyn. Sounds like pain to me." she smiled, an uncomfortable and unrealistic smile.
"Ivy" Sam cut in, not able to control his emotions. She was being childish and it was very unflattering.
"Ivy, my brother was killed in New York chasing broadway dreams. My parents didn't want me here at all. My father didn't talk to me the first three months I was here. I heard no to every part I have audition for in the past two years. I haven't even been able to get into the chorus, so consider yourself lucky. When I got here I had to be harassed by you, hated by your friends. And finally to top it all off you slept with my fiance, and then he killed himself in my hotel. I think I know a little bit about pain."
"I'm really sorry Karen. I just always think you are so perfect, that no one notices me. Makes me feel inferior, when I work so hard." Ivy wiped the tears from her face, but they wouldn't stop coming.
"Ivy, who were you before I got here? Really you have to remember yourself. You can't spend the rest of your career comparing yourself to someone else. You are phenomenal Ivy. I have always told you that. I just wish you wouldn't take it out on me. I am not the one making the choices Ivy. I am simply grateful for each chance I get." Karen reached her hand out and touched the other woman. "I am sorry you had to go through this Ivy. But that's life, the bad days make the good days that much better." she smiled, seemed as if Derek's wise words were coming in handy.
Surprisingly Ivy didn't pull away.
"Listen Ivy, I don't know how long it will take us, or how to even start, but we have to get over this. We started on the wrong foot Ivy. And I will take my share of responsibility. But it doesn't make sense to keep fighting. Karen was hopeful for a positive response. She hadn't realized how much this situation was weighing on her.
"Ivy, Karen is right. It's time to abolish this abysmal rivalry. Whatever you women need to do, get it done. I am not interested in watching you two fight anymore. You are too beautiful. Now Ivy, let's get you ready to go." Tom said as he stood up.
"Your still going to leave?" Karen inquired. She knew this wouldn't solve everything but it would help.
"Honestly Karen, I don't know why I am telling you this. But, I need to get some help. Seems as if I have an opiod addiction. And I really need to get in under control if I am going to give you a run for your money on our next big part." Ivy smiled and did an unexpected gesture. She hugged Karen.
Karens eyes lit up with surprise as she embraced Ivy. She felt good, knowing that they had an understanding.
"Thanks" Ivy whispered just loud enough for Karen to hear.
"Take care Ivy. I'll see you when we get back to the city." Karen smiled at her.
She said her goodbyes to Tom and Sam. She was glad they were there to witness the situation. Hopefully it would relieve some of the tension in the group. They were never rude nor mean to Karen, yet it was clear whose side they were on in all of this. And now she finally got to go to bed. Although she had an aching feeling that Derek would be up waiting for her. She walked to the elevator and took a moment to gaze at her phone. She hadn't realized that it was two in the morning. She had an excruciatingly long day. The elevator arrived on her floor and for a moment she lingered inside of it. She was satisfied with her meeting with Ivy. It was figuring out how to approach Derek after her deed, that left her puzzled.
She opened the door to find him asleep on the coach. He appeared as if he had showered and drifted off with a smile still on his face. Karen looked at him and felt butterflies tickling her stomach with their fluttering wings. She couldn't help but get nervous around him. She looked on the bed, the prospect of sleeping alone didn't seem appealing. She was developing a strong dislike for alone time. So she sat her stuff down and curled up in a ball on the floor underneath Derek's arm.
"You can't seriously believe I would let you have your slumber on the cold hard floor." Derek yawned as he spoke, startling the young woman.
"I'm sorry, did I wake you?" Karen replied.
"No I was waiting for you. I must have dosed off. So what was so bloody important that you had to run off at one o'clock to speak with Ivy?" Derek asked sitting up.
"Can we talk about that tomorrow? I am exhausted." her voice becoming more lackluster.
"Well love. You need to get in the bed." Derek stood up and offered her a hand off the ground.
"Will you sleep with me? Please" her big brown eyes widen as she made her puppy face and pleaded with him.
"Is that what you want Karen?" he responded.
"I wouldn't have asked if I didn't. Don't worry, I wont take advantage of you this time." She smiled coyly and walked towards the bedroom.
"That might present a slight problem Ms. Cartwright. I long for you to take advantage of me." he chased behind her.
Karen ran into the room and climbed in the bed. Derek climbed on top of her and kissed her deeply.
"I missed you."
"Wow, I missed you too. I was a little nervous about coming back after you know." she pointed down as if to remind him.
"Don't be love. That was beautiful. I won't think any less of you. Matter of fact, I probably think even higher." he said chuckling.
"Derek!" She she squeal as he kissed her again.
"Let's go to sleep love. You need your rest. Because if we don't I might not be able to restrain myself." his tone low and sexy. He was so different with her
"Mr. Wills, what are you saying?"
"I am saying I owe you a favor. However, I respect the fact that you are a lady, and I will wait my time. Thus, we must sleep now."
"Goodnight Derek." she kissed him softly on the lips.
"Goodnight Karen."
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