Vicious Circles - By Leann Andrews Page 0,5
of them.
The small couch was my refuge that evening. I could hear the music and screams as I sat there, my arms wrapped around my legs. It made me think about my first night in LA, the first time I had met Jill.
Jill and I met at a screening party by pure accident. My very first roommate, who also turned out to be just another wannabe actress, was lucky enough to get an invite and I was lucky enough to be asked to tag along with her. I remember hanging out at the bar, drinking martinis and building a cabin with the toothpicks from my olives. We struck up a conversation about my roommate who had disappeared to do God knows what with God knows who. I really did like Jill at first.
It was when she couldn’t keep up her part of the bills, when we got a place together that ultimately was the downfall of our friendship. I spent all my savings, trying to save our asses. Then I lost my job.
We’d been homeless ever since. Unfortunately, we’d been friends since then.
Around one in the morning, the music and the screams died down. I watched with tired eyes through the window as the crowd was filtering out of the small bar along with the other guys. I watched as they hugged fans and took pictures. The only one missing was Mason. When I heard footsteps on the wooden stairs behind me, I knew it was him.
“Why aren’t you downstairs, mingling with your adoring fans?” I wondered without turning to face him.
“I thought I would come up and make sure you were still here. Do you want a beer or something?”
“Ok first, you’re a smart ass because you know there isn’t anywhere else I can go and second, I just want to get out of here.” My patience with him was wearing thin. I couldn’t figure out why he was tolerable one moment and severely annoying the next.
Mason sighed and cracked open a can of beer that had mysteriously appeared from his coat. “There is no warming that frosty exterior is there?”
“Asshole!” I was up off the couch and in his face before he realized it. “You have no business judging me. I know all about you. The arrogant walk and good looks; you’re just a prick with talent and luck.”
He was frozen, not knowing how to react to my harsh, but definitely true, description of him. I backed away, leaving his personal space to him once again.
“You know,” he started with a frown, “I admire you for saying what you think but you are way off.”
“Am I? I think-”
“No…you’re wrong and if it were me, stuck miles from home I wouldn’t be too damn picky about how I got back.”
As much as I hated to admit it, Mason was right. He was putting me on a plane at his own cost and sending me back to Los Angeles. When had I become so hateful and jaded? Losing everything you have affected people differently it seemed. Some were humbled and thankful for just being alive but others…like me, were angry at the world and refused to look at the bad choices that may have led them astray.
“I’m sorry, okay? It’s just…” I had no idea what to say. Mason and I were quite a bit alike and that was the problem.
He waved his hand, blowing off my half-assed apology. “I called my manager earlier and she’s got you set up in a room and on a flight tomorrow morning.”
Hold the phone. “Wait a minute.” I held my hand up, watching his face the whole time. “You mean, I sat up here by myself all night when I could have been in a room that was already booked?”
Mason nodded without apologies. “I bet if you run on downstairs one of the guys can get you a cab.” He laughed, tossed some money and a piece of paper on the couch beside me then walked off.
***
I thought about things that night, as I soaked in a very large whirlpool tub. Mason had walked out on me twice. Granted I had pissed him off and completely insulted him both times as well. I had been a total bitch and he still helped me out.
Mason was right, I was an ice queen.
Chapter 3
June 2009
As much as I wanted to track Jill down and beat her ass, I resisted. I had something like an epiphany, realizing that staying clear of her was more beneficial to