Uncovering Kaitlyn (2 page)

“It’s a
sentence from the book I’m still writing” he explained before coming back to
sit with me.

A few people
started to complain that this girl was getting unfair treatment, but Jamie
waved them down.

“This girl
deserves my shirt. She’s a survivor.”

“7/7” was
all the girl said. She moved her hair back and revealed the scars across her
face. I subconsciously adjusted my scarf and wiped my eyes.

Jamie gave
her a hug and the shirt and made his way back down to the stage. He sat next to
me, and waited for Howard to continue the interview. A board was held up next
to the camera instructing us to continue as we were before.

“So Kaitlyn,
eighteen years old and already on your way to winning awards. Must be pretty
cool, huh?” Howard started.

“Yes, it’s a
bit overwhelming at times to be honest. I mean three weeks ago I wasn’t
recognised in Tesco, so now people taking pictures of me shopping are quite
surreal.” I felt Jamie touch me out of site of the camera. It was shockingly
comforting.

“So how is
everyone else finding it, I bet your fiancé finds men drooling over you a
pain.” Howard laughed. I took a few deep breaths and didn’t relax again until I
saw Jake walk back into the studio. Jamie took his hand off my lower back and
moved away slightly.

“I’m sorry
but I don’t have a fiancé. I don’t even have a boyfriend” I finally managed to
say, with yet another false laugh.

“Oh, I just
assumed, because of these photos.” Howard indicated to the TV screen in between
us. A photo appeared of me and Jake arm in arm at a jewellers, a man was
holding a ring box and me and Jake were grinning.

“Oh, no you
have that all wrong. That is me and my best friend. We are definitely ring
shopping but the ring is in no way for me. I think his long term girlfriend may
have a word or two to say about that. I think she might have something to say
anyway, he hasn’t had chance to ask yet.” Jake was going to kill me. He had
been planning this for three months and had every tiniest detail sorted. His
girlfriend was just twelve hours away from the most romantic proposal I had
ever heard of. Now the surprise was ruined.

“Surely
there must be someone in your life? What about the people in ‘
Daddy, Don’t
cry’?”

“They’re
just my closest friends. I would die without them.”

Jamie

Graham is
going to go ballistic. I had a strict script for the show so there would be no
problems with the paps and my lovable reputation would stay just that. Now some
poor girl was running around like the plague and had to find me a half decent
shirt to leave in. Graham was shouting that I not only ruined, but gave away a
£750 shirt. I mean who pays that? It was a plain white tee. Honestly that guy
is messed up. If he wasn’t the best in the business I would have got rid years
ago, but that guy gave me Hollywood.

Walking into
the crew room to grab a beer, everyone was talking crap, either about Kaitlyn
Fox or the poor girl in the audience. If it wasn’t about them it was who in
Hollywood did what to whom. This is why I hate being famous. Does anybody
really think I give a shit about what the press prints. So what if there’s a
knocked up celeb, or some douche cheated on his girlfriend. He deserves the
harassment and gossip if he committed to his girl and he couldn’t keep it in
his pants. That’s why I don’t bother with girlfriends. Too much trouble to stay
focused when the world throws themselves at you. Like that model that Howard
damn well knew wasn’t my girlfriend. I didn’t even sleep with her; she tried to
put her claws in before the introductions were finished.

That poor
girl deserved my shirt though. I noticed her in the audience while Kaitlyn was
singing. She barely looked at the stage; she was too busy making sure the
camera never caught her. It made me curious and didn’t take me long to put two
and two together when her friend signed something to her. I only know the
basics, enough to get by this charity thing I go to each summer, but it was
enough to know that the girl had a problem with her face. I got a brilliant
buzz when she showed her face to the camera. Girls shouldn’t have to hide. She
was sexy as hell even with the scars. I would have got her number if I thought
she wouldn’t run away. She needs to see the world, show it whose boss. When she
said 7/7, I couldn’t believe my ears. No one thinks about those who were in it.
Everyone has near enough forgotten about that, I know I did. I might see if
there’s some sort of fund for the victims, or some charity thing. Graham would
be pleased according to him charity work makes me more appealing. Reminds
people I’m human. Bastard, if he let me be me for a change they’d already know
that.

“
A shirt for you sir” The assistant
was back and she wasn’t hiding her excitement well enough for my liking. People
here should treat me like I’m normal, a bit of a God, yeah, but normal. I hate
it when they hire fans. It’s bad enough outside and in the studio but back
stage is my place. I wonder what Kaitlyn did to get a dressing room. Everyone
is complaining about her being a diva, but I don’t blame her. I would kill for
some privacy sometimes and she clearly needed it. When I saw her on stage, I
honestly thought she was going to hurl or something. I knew it’d wind her up to
make that comment about Howard but I couldn’t resist. She flinched when he
kissed her! Howard wouldn’t hurt her and I’m sure she realised that. I’ve had
to sit through enough uncomfortable moments to realise that why he didn’t stop
me running through the crowd. I was killing him with my bare chest out there.
It was kind of hard to pretend I didn’t notice, especially when I shook his
hand at the end of the show. Most embarrassing moment of my life and Kaitlyn
witnessed it. For some reason that made it even worse.

The
assistant hadn’t moved, I’d already thanked her for the shirt and put it on but
she still stood there staring at me.

“Are you
ok?” I asked her.

“Can I ask
you a question?”

“Sure”

“Why
that
girl?” I flinched at the way she said ‘that’ like the girl was diseased or
something.

“She looked
like she needed it. Sorry, Could you find out where my driver is?” I hate
ordering people around but I hate her type even more, like she’s better than
anyone else because she’s not had a hard life. I know I haven’t either, but I
like to think I appreciate how lucky I am. As the girl walked away I noticed
the guy who Kaitlyn was with head in my direction. I didn’t buy for a second
that they were not together. For one thing, she couldn’t keep her eyes off him.

“Hey, Jamie
Stark, right? Sorry that’s obvious. I’m Jake, Kaitlyn’s friend. I’m sorry to
disturb you, I’m sure you get this all the time, but could I have your
autograph?”

The guy
seemed upset. Shit. He totally caught me checking Kaitlyn out. I’m not that
kind of guy though. I moved away as soon as I noticed him. The question is why
didn’t Kaitlyn?

“No problem,
though I never got to keep Kaitlyn’s.”

“She’ll sign
again. Just ask her when she gets back. Thanks man.”

I handed him
a crumbled autograph and shook his hand.

“Where’d she
go?”

“It’s kind
of embarrassing for her. She’s still nervous and the interviews over. Last time
I saw her she was chucking up in the ladies. I tried to follow her but this
chick freaked out. Aaron had to explain to security and I think he’s with her
now.”

“Aaron?”

“Manager. He
retired from this record company a few years back but decided to help Kaitlyn
when he saw her video. He lives in the next village over from us.”

I tried not
to focus on how he said ‘us’. That obviously meant he lived with Kaitlyn. I
never got hung up on a girl, especially one that was taken.

“She’ll get
used to the nerves. My first interview I threw up on my mates shoes. He had to
sit there for four hours.”

“Oh my God,
Jake. You told him!”

I never
noticed Kaitlyn come in. I assumed she’d stay in her dressing room. She still
looked hot, even with panda eyes from her mascara and crumpled clothes. I
turned back to Jake to stop myself from checking her out again.

“He asked”
Jake said, holding his arms up in mock horror.

“Hey, I
asked where she went. You’re the one who told me she was chucking up” I
chuckled.

Kaitlyn
blushed and hit Jake affectionately on his arm.

“You’re a
traitor, you know I could replace you, and there are plenty of crazy men outside
waiting. Though they might be here for Jamie, I’m really not sure.” She winked
at me.

Damn, she
must have noticed Howard. I’m sure Graham would say it is bad press but I would
happily hit Howard right now. I mentally reminded myself that it didn’t matter
anyway, because Kaitlyn was taken. I don’t chase taken women, despite many
people’s misconceptions.

“Oi, no
crazy men.” Jake glared at Kaitlyn. “Or women” he added as an afterthought.

“I know
Jakey boy, I couldn’t replace you if I tried.” Kaitlyn gave him a hug, and then
turned back to me. “Thanks for today, Jamie. You’re honestly a life saver.”

“What do you
mean? What happened?” Jake looked agitated.

“What
happened? You left me. That’s what happened. I nearly had a panic attack on TV!
Jamie seemed to notice and went crazy for the audience. Stripped and
everything.”

“No trouble,
everyone seemed to enjoy the show.” I laughed, grabbing another beer from the
table.

I turned
back to see Jake whisper something in Kaitlyn’s ear. Kaitlyn muttered something
back before slapping Jake across the face. So hard, I’m sure even the crazy men
outside heard it too. Poor guy. Though Kaitlyn doesn’t seem like the sort to
hand out that sort of thing out undeserving. She left the room and Jake stood
there, hurt and shocked.

“Sorry about
that. It’s been one of those days. She’ll come around, she always does.” With
that Jake left to follow her, and I braced myself for Graham’s lecture. He
always lectured me when I didn’t follow his rules but it was because of him I
was cast in several major roles. He was the best agent in Britain and although
I am awesome at what I do, you need someone to do the politics. Nobody will
hire an actor who can’t do the schmoozing to get the film to sell.

“James the
car’s here.” Graham always refused to call me Jamie. He believes that People
should only be called be their proper names. He only lets the world call me
Jamie because when I was sixteen he thought it had a sweetheart ring to it.
Sweetheart? What sixteen year old in their right mind wants to be a sweetheart?
I wanted to be a stud, a player or a sex god. Now I’m considered to be all of
those and Graham can’t get anyone to call me James. It took five years but I
guess I won the battle.

“Are you
going to explain to me what was going through that thick skull of yours tonight
James?”

I didn’t
answer for a moment, knowing that in a few moments I would be hounded by my
fans. Don’t get me wrong, I love that they love me, but it’s draining. I have
to smile at all of them and wave and pretend that I wish I could spend my life
with only them, when really I want peace and quiet for a bit. The shows are
always loud and you have to be prepped for hours, people prompt you what to say
and talk about. Like most normal guys after work I like to chill out with a
pint not continue working because some teenage girl wants to drop her knickers.
That’s one rule that Graham and I agree on; No teenage girls. If I can’t prove
their age, I won’t go near them. Kaitlyn is still a teenager, eighteen I think.
That can go onto the list of many reasons why I should stay away from her, like
the boyfriend and my player status.

A shiny
black car pulled up as a bulky security guard opened the door. I stepped into
the wintery air and headed to the car, pausing for a minute to have my photo
taken with a few fans. When I got into the car Graham looked at me expectantly.

“The girl
was all nervous and shy, I couldn’t help myself” I shrugged.

“And you
felt the need to remove your clothing on TV because…?”

“Kaitlyn was
actually shaking and Howard wouldn’t help. You remember me on my first
interview, somebody had to do something. It was naturally the first thing I
could think of.” I laughed at Graham sighing.

“Partying
tonight?”

“Yeah, Ryan
is going to Zinc. Won’t be a late night though, he has a meeting in the
afternoon that he needs to prepare for.”

“Good. I’ll
meet you at the hotel at one.”

Since I
spent the majority of my time in LA, I sold my London home last year to move
out there permanently. I could afford to buy a house in LA without selling but
it was easier to sell as I spent most my time in the UK travelling or staying
with my family anyway. Plus living in a hotel was pretty cool. I like the way I
can call room service at three in the morning because I fancy a pizza or breakfast.
You can’t do that in a house, the neighbours would think you were crazy. I’m
also one of those guys that can burn toast. I’m not sexist or anything but my
mum can definitely do a better job in the kitchen than me or my dad.