Fame (25 page)

Katy studied him. He looked honest, and she had no reason to doubt him. The fact was incredible to her. Dayne Matthews,

hunk, sitting home alone watching movies? It was the last thing she expected him to say. It made her like him more, made him easier to connect with.

And it did something else. It shook her view of the Hollywood life.

“So…” Dayne interrupted her thoughts. “You didn’t stop auditioning because you were afraid of the attention, the fame?”

Katy took her time. “No, I guess not. Something… something happened to a friend of mine, but it wasn’t the fame that caused the problem. At least not directly.”

Dayne waited, and Katy had the feeling he wanted her to tell him the details.

But she wasn’t ready. She still barely knew him, and the stoW about Tad was something she hadn’t shared with anyone since leaving Chicago. She took a bite of chicken and held her piece up. “It’s good. You should try it.”

He relaxed his shoulders and picked up his plate again. They ate in a comfortable silence, talking only once in a while about 208

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the pretty campus and the wonderfully sunny afternoon and the geese.

“They’re actually attack geese.” Dayne finished up his mashed potatoes and wiped his mouth with a napkin. He pointed behind them to the pond. “Really. Look.”

Katy glanced over her shoulder at a cluster of geese. They were swimming toward the shoreline, climbing out of the water, and heading in a line straight toward them. She let out a light scream and slid toward him a few inches. “Are you serious?”

“Yes—” he reached into the bag and brought out two bis cuits—”but that’s why we have these.” He stood and met the geese head-on. Then he broke the biscuits apart and tossed them ten yards in the other direction. The geese attacked the food, pushing and pecking at each other to get to the big pieces.

“There you go.” He dusted off his hands and sat back down beside her. “Once they know the food’s gone, they’ll leave us alone.”

“Good.” She shuddered a little. “Keep an eye on them, will you? I’d hate to be attacked by a Pepperdine goose.”

Dayne laughed. “I don’t think they have teeth.”

Their laughter mingled, and for a while neither of them said anything. Then Dayne gave her a thoughtful look. “So, where were we?”

She smiled. “The past, you mean?”

“Mmm-hmm. What are your dreams, Katy? What makes you tick?”

Her stomach felt suddenly queasy. She couldn’t share that either, not exactly.

She pursed her lips and thought of an answer that would work. “The tick part’s the easiest. I’m a Christian; have I told you that?”

“I figured.” He made a funny face, as if he were calculating something. “Let’s see, Christian Kids Theater?” He grinned. “Yeah, I had a feeling.”

“I guess.” She laughed, and the feel of it made her heart soar.

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the tensions of the play and Heath Hudson and the parent trees felt like they belonged to someone else. She looked Dayne again. “Anyway, my faith’s what drives me. God and I : sort of best friends, I guess.”

Something changed in Dayne’s expression, but it was too sub-to read. Whatever caused it, Katy had the feeling faith or Christianity had hurt him somehow. He stroked his chin, . smile tugging at his lips. “Okay, so what does your faith say coming to Hollywood and auditioning for a part in a big “I’ve prayed about it.” In the distance she saw a couple walk t onto the grassy bluff and sit down. If it was strange before— lunch with Dayne Matthews on a hillside overlooking libu Beach— now that they’d ventured into her faith, it was surreal. She lifted her hands a few inches and let on her knees again. “I’ve asked God to make it clear. He either shut the door or open it. I don’t want it unless He it for me.”

“Okay.” His smile grew. “Well, then maybe this’ll be a sign.” “What?” A pair of noisy seagulls flew overhead and out to-sea. “What sign?”

“Well, to start with, the scene turned out pretty nice. I mean, and all.” Dayne grinned, and for the first time she the feeling he was flirting with her. Then, though his eyes shining, he grew more serious. “The part’s yours, Katy. and I both want you to take it.”

“What?” Her head was spinning, her heart racing. She had no to say, no sense of whether it was even really happen ing or not. He was waiting for her response; she could feel it. But the words wouldn’t come. He was offering her the part! It was ‘hers! And suddenly she did the only thing she could do, the l:hing that felt most bizarre and most natural at the same time: She shouted and threw her arms around Dayne’s neck.

Wait until she told Rhonda! And the Flanigans and the other 210

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CKT families! They would be happy for her, wouldn’t they? If she took the part it would only be one film, one brief commitment. She could return to CKT if she wanted to. But as She hugged Dayne and he hugged her in return, another though occurred to her. One that was even stronger than every other unbelievable thing that had happened since she arrived at the studio this morning.

If the way she felt now was any indication, she might never go back at all.

Chloe was fuming.

Whoever the new girl was, neither Chloe nor Anna had seen her before. Some sweet-faced blonde with a cute smile. Anolhcr floozy, for sure, even if she didn’t look like one. Chloe’s binoculars let her capture every detail of the little picnic lunch between Dayne and the girl. She was parked just a few spots down from the girl’s car. And it had to be hers, because Dayne had never driven a sedan once in the three months they’d been together. Married, not together.

She would’re missed him, but once she returned to her place on the hill overlooking the studio, she decided to check every car that came and went, That way she could see the women wing for a part that should’ve been Chloe’s alone.

She hadn’t noticed the blonde enter the studio lot, but when the silver fourdoor sedan pulled out of the parking area, Dayne was driving and the blonde was seated beside him.

The hussy.

Hers wasn’t a face Chloe recognized. Probably someone nosy, And that meant she’d only just met Dayne, but already she was willing to head off with him. Maybe even go home with him.

She felt the knife, ran her finger along the sharpened blade 1

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.asn’t in her pocket anymore. Not when she might need to use it ytime now.

Something wet was on her linger, and she looked down. She ias bleeding. The knife must’ve cut her when she was feeling he blade. She chuckled to herself.

Good thing it was sharp. She

night get only one chance at a girl like Kelly Parker.

Or the blonde floozy down the hill on the bench.

She’d already made up her mind, and she’d ordered Anna to eep quiet or else. The competition was too stiff, too aggressive.

i

fDayne was ever going to take his rightful place beside her and we with her as her husband, she had to get rid of the competi }

A golf cart turned into the parking lot, and Chloe studied it. he swore.

Security guard, of course. Bring out a pair of binocurs and everyone thought you were a weirdo. Fine. She looked ne last time at Dayne and the blonde.

i./ Then she tossed the knife and the binoculars onto the seat bede her and started the engine. She wouldn’t get the job done here, in broad daylight on a public campus. But she would get

e job done. Once and for all.

I: The golf cart was approaching. She backed her car up, turned it he opposite direction, and squealed away. The blonde better enVy her 1,u.nch, because if she continued seeing Dayne Matthews, }le didn t have many meals left.

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ATY CALLED RHONDA FRss,butshedidn’tget therewas looking for.

“That’s fantastic, Katy. Really.” A hint of sorrow colored her “You’re going to take it, right?”

“Rhonda, you’re supposed to scream or throw the phone or a dance. Dayne Matthews wants me to star in a film with Katy squealed. “Can you believe it?”

“I know. That’s great.” Rhonda hesitated. “Will you move to then?”

“No . of course not.” Suddenly Rhonda’s hesitancy was She thought she was losing a friend. And there possibility of that, wasn’t there? If the feelings she’d had at erdine were any indication. She kept her thoughts to her ‘Tll be gone six weeks at the most. You can direct the next for me, and then I’ll be back and everything’ll be just like been.” “Okay, Katy.” Rhonda didn’t sound convinced. “If you think But, hey, whatever. I’m happy for you. Everyone’s going to be

when they find out.”

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“You didn’t tell anyone, did you?”

“Of course not.” Indignation rang in Rhonda’s voice. “You asked me not to.”

“I know.” Katy felt bad for bringing it up. “I was just check. ing.”

The conversation stalled after that, and Katy brought il tO an end.

Now she paced in her hotel room, a deluxe suite on the eigh teenth floor of the Sheraton Universal, wondering who she could tell. Her parents didn’t even know she’d gone on the first audition, so she’d have a lot of explaining to do.

Besides, it was eleven o’clock in Chicago. She’d have to wait and tell them when she had more time.

She sat on the edge of the bed. The day had been amazing, something from a dream. After lunch, Dayne had taken her for a drive along the beach and then back to the studio. They looked over the first half of the script and picked up dinner at the com missary. Just after seven o’clock, they went their separate ways, and now she had so much nervous energy” she could’ve flown around the room.

Instead she stood and kept pacing.

Her feelings were a jumbled knot, and she wasn’t sure where to start unraveling them. Every few minutes she’d catch herself reliving the movie scene—the leisurely walk, hand in hand, his kisses. Always she would stop and chide herself. It was acting, nothing more. Dayne was a professional, and that meant a ro mantic scene now and then.

She went to the window, opened her blinds, and looked down at the millions of lights. That was okay, right? Performing ro mantic scenes as an actress, so long as it was fairly low-key?

God, help me know what to do. She allowed herself to be mes merized by the stream of traffic below on Hollywood Drive. It’s okay, right? What I did today?

Daughter… above all else, guard your heart.

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Guard her heart? The words felt so clear she was tempted to at the ceiling and see if there was a hidden microphone zhere. First the reminder about holiness and now this. her heart. Well, she was guarding it. She wasn’t failing for Dayne, at Yes, he was attractive and fun to be with. But he wasn’t she’d fall for, not when faith was everything to her. : “God,” she whispered against the cool pane of tinted glass, “is You?” Daughter, guard your heart. A chill ran down both her arms. Once in a while, she was ab sure she heard the voice of God respond to her. Not in dible words the way it first seemed and certainly not in a tone. But in the quiet recesses of her soul, where she to be very still to hear Him. This was one of those times. If God wanted her to guard her heart, then that meant He careful. But He wasn’t shutting the door on the of kissing Dayne for a movie scene, was He? And He espe ‘ wasn’t shutting the door on the idea of her taking the part, She gripped the windowsill and stared up. The stars not in contrast to the city lights. Still, she imag seeing them the way they looked in Bloomington. God, I still mean what I said the other day. I don’t want this if You want it for me. If it would change me or make my life worse or You, please.., shut the door on it. Show me Your will, Father. That’s all I want. Her cell phone rang just as she finished, She flipped it open. “Hello?” “Hi. It’s Rhonda.” Her friend sounded sheepish. “I’m sorry. When you called, I don’t know, all I could think about was that everything would be different now.” Sorrow and a little fear filled her tone. “You’re my best friend, Katy. I don’t want to lose t 215

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you; that’s all.” She sighed. “Still, I should’ve acted more excited. Forgive me?”

“Of course.” Katy sat on the edge of her bed again. “I under, stand. It is scary. Who knows where this will go or whether I’ll even take the part, but I feel the same thing. Like everything’s about to change. And that’s not always good. Especially if you like your life pretty well the way it’s been going.”

“Exactly.” Rhonda gave a sad-sounding laugh. “I knew you’d understand. You always do.”

Katy smiled. “Thanks for calling. I wasn’t mad.”

“Well, I’m sorry. I couldn’t go to sleep until I told you that.” “You’re a good friend, Rhonda.” Katy leaned back on the pillo,v. She pictured Dayne, the way she’d felt when he told her the news. Then just as quickly she pictured her life in Bloomington. “Don’t worry; I’m not going anywhere.”

There was a pause. “So… you didn’t tell me the details. You know, the audition with Dayne.”

“It was sort of a love scene.” Katy giggled. “I wondered when you were going to ask about the good stuff.”

“A love scene? Katy Hart, what are you trying to say?” Rhonda sounded intentionally indignant, but she couldn’t keep up the act. She laughed. “Say it quick—you’re killing me.”

“Well, it wasn’t that involved, thankfully. Dayne’s character is walking me home from work, and both of us are falling for each other and—”

“You are?”

“Rhonda! Not me and Dayne! The characters!”

“Oh, right.” She laughed again. “Sorry. Go ahead.”

“Okay, so we’re walking home and we get to my apartment door and he kisses me.”

“He kissed you?” Rhonda screamed. “Dayne Matthews kissed you?”

“Twice.” Katy laughed harder this time. It was fun sharing the 217

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iidetails with Rhonda. This was the sort of conversation she’d :’:been looking for earlier. “
,,He kissed you t ,w, ice? Was that in the script?” Of course, sill),. She sat up and planted her elbows on her .ees. She t,hought about mentioning the part about her hair !ixad how he d told her she was beautiful.

But that was only ,ii,ayne’s character talking, his way of going freestyle through a