Starlet

Chapter Two- Wrong Place, Right Time

Serena was frightened by two things; the location in which Paolo was taking her and the silence that was spent between them leading her to this undisclosed location. But she managed to use this lack of conversation to her advantage as she took note of her surroundings instead. She took stock in the number of signs leading to this destination, but upon looking towards the driver's side window to gain further knowledge, she became temporarily distracted by his appearance. He was the kind of attractive that you didn't find in the men in possession of the film's lead role-he wore the mischievous eyes and constant side smirk that would be seen in that of the villain. And yet, she could not tear her eyes away from him. Serena was always used to the clean shaven men who gave the appearance of being "all-American" and Paolo was anything but...but was also the only thing they managed to make her heart race in this way…

"Where have you taken me?” She inquired before her eyes fell to the receiving sign of the movie studio’s currently closed lot. And suddenly, Serena did not need an explanation as she found the driver of the car to emerge just long enough to manually lift the divider that separated the ‘public’ from the royalty of Hollywood, before returning to her, and bringing her on the front lot. Immediately, her eyes came to recall the details of the sets as having graced the silver screen in several of her favorite pictures-at least the ones that were shot locally. And it was as if she experienced the scenes herself as she could recall the exact conversations that had taken place between the members of the cast as she was mesmerized by the sites before her. 

“Do you have one you want to get a slant at?” Her eyes illuminated further as she could not contain her excitement and nodded with elation. 

“Is the lot for “A Price For Vanessa” here?” He nodded and motioned to a dimly lit lot with a set still intact. 

“They find use for it in all scenes that include a living room…” Paolo explained as he slipped the slender straits of his fists into his pockets following flicking the illumination of the room into motion and watched her in awe. Just as she had observed him in the vehicle, he now watched her; taken with her intriguing beauty. But his intrigue was born from the simple fact that she was unchanged by the cruel hand of fame that promised so much and gave so little in return.

As her fingers traced the outlines of the bookshelves that appeared so true across the screen yet made of nothing more than cardboard and plastic, Paolo took in the perfection of her jawline that came to a soft point and drew his attention immediately to her lips. Unaware, he brought his fingers to his bottom lip with the thought of what it would feel like to kiss those lips, so undeserving of any wrong numbers like himself. But as the thought crossed his mind of his own ineligibility, he could not tear his eyes from her as she continued in her state of overawe. He followed the sight of her fingers as they would touch a prop and then return to her face in study as he took his attention to the perfect petite lines of her nose and the elegant length of her physique hidden beneath the emerald fabric that caught the eye of so many. 

But unlike his fellow gender peers who desired to simply wish for the garment to be shed so they would be allowed to know what rested beneath it, he wanted to travel deeper than that; as he wanted to know everything about her; not just the details of her breasts or the number of beauty marks she had in her more intimate areas. This was because he had yet to see a woman speak so courageously to a man whom she was beneath in so many other ways; and it was this very detail that intrigued him. 

“I can recite the entire script from memory….” Serena spoke aloud. “I used to pace my bedroom and shed my true name and act as though I was on this stage…” She paused in her speech for a moment before reciting some of the famed lines from her supposed treasured film. 

“I would not have you speak of her reputation as if she was-” She began before looking to Paolo to see him watching her with uncertainty. 

“Apologies…” She commented sheepishly as he shook his head in disagreement to her words. A slight pause remained between them as it seemed as though they were analyzing each other with deep focus until now; as if waiting for the other to make a move or a remark to then act on. But instead, his eyes seemed to sparkle with a sense of excitement for how she continued to surprise him. 

“No need for it...I expected you to act as Vanessa...not Gertrude…” Her lips curved into a self assured smile as he teased her momentarily with a long glance that made her cheeks illuminate with a blush from having harbored all of his attention. Of all of the gazes that she had managed to hold on this night, this had been the first set of eyes that she did not mind being observed by. 

“Everyone would aspire to be Vanessa for the fact she is the ‘lead’...but Gertrude always appeared to me as...more enjoyable...It is not always the lead role one should be after when it will not be the one remembered…You should find passion in your work...not obligation...”

“Tell me, then Gertrude...What should she be called if not a chippy? The foolish girl was found with not one, not two, but three men in the span of a night! You do not see your other dear sister throwing herself to caution!” Now it was Serena who was surprised as she looked at Paolo with a wide smirk, finding him stoic or abrasive until now.

“Color me surprised!” She teased as they continued this banter back and forth until the finalization of the scene would be met and the detail of her acting ability had been made known. But as the final words that had come from such a ‘classic’ film among the black and white ‘talkies’, the sudden sound of applause could be heard echoing throughout the otherwise silent sound stage. Immediately, Paolo hung his head in shame as it was clear he was not permitted on the grounds of the premises during this time, but the eyes of the man who came upon them had not focused upon this fact-and instead focused on Serena. 

“And how is it we have yet to meet?” The man questioned and he descended the steps with a single patch of hair wrapped around the base of his scalp but missing upon the top and a look of mischief behind his otherwise soulless eyes. But the second this man made his presence known, there was a sudden shift in Paolo that Serena noticed immediately. It was as if he was intimidated and even frightened by this man; simply waiting for a sentencing even for his silent sin committed by bringing her to sacred grounds of Hollywood’s premiere shooting location. However, she would not be allowed to ask a single question; and instead, would be pulled into a forced handshake until the man rested his weight on the couch that overlooked the entirety of the remaining sets left out beneath the stars as the ‘forgotten’ and ‘disposable’ sets.

“I only arrived in California yesterday...My fiance’s uncle is a producer-” As she explained how she came to Los Angeles on the behalf of her fiance’s uncle’s wish to introduce her to TInseltown’s brightest, Paolo had only come to learn a detail he found both aggravating and deterring; the fact she was spoken for. He suddenly felt embarrassed from his flirtatious gazes and childish banter as he understood now that her betrothal had been the reason she rejected the idea of the man he felt he had rescued her from. And he now came to understand that whatever he began to feel a spark between them would need to be extinguished immediately; if not for the fact she was betrothed, then for the way Charles Burke eyed Serena as the undiscovered star he witnessed first hand. 

“Do you wish to have a role upon the screen?” This question seemed rather idiotic to ask as the subject to fame and fortune would be appealing to anyone; especially in times as trying as these with possibilities as scarce as rain in a drought. “Of course, there will be details to read over...changes that would need to be made...But I have witnessed your talent and I do believe that you carried the role of Gertrude far better than Vivica Leigh herself….But you are much more of a Vanessa.” This complement having left the lips of one of Hollywood’s founding fathers had given her a confidence she had never been aware could exist in her midwestern mind and heart. But there it was, growing and being groomed by the second. 

“Come back tomorrow...at one...I have the perfect part for you...after we sign contracts, of course…” These words had left her in awe as she turned back to Paolo in disbelief, but he could not share her excitement. “I would embrace these last moments with care...You are about to be a star…” The thought, no matter how nauseating or tiring it seemed prior to now, appeared to be an answer to her prayers as she realized she was only resentful of the role as she never believed it could happen to her. But now, there she was, on the first step to stardom-rising by the second. 

“Is this a dream?”

“No…It should be safe enough now to get you home...I am sure your fiance is expecting you...” Paolo moved beyond her, seemingly irritated at the moment as she believed this had been from the ignorance in his role having been unseen. But as he left her on the lot, she was unaware his need to be away from her was from the fact that he did not doubt that Serena could become a grand star-it was because he knew all too well that the brightest stars were the ones that burned out the swiftest….