We Don't Have To Dance

(Andy's P.O.V) The twinkling of the bright and brilliant stars in the September night sky were blocked by the thick smog and the glowing neon lights of Hollywood, where everyone still thinks is a star-making town. Me? I consider it a modern tech wasteland where once young and naturally talented hopefuls go and once the greedy and manipulating agents get a hold of them, they're turned into entertaining prostitutes for the media circus.
I sighed. Maybe being in Hollywood for so long has made me bitter and cynical but it's the way I feel. When my parents allowed me to be in that AT&T commercial when I was sixteen, my career took off from there. Now six years later, I have a very successful career, lots of famous "friends", and I'm miserable.
I'm dressed in my black suit and driving to yet another party in North Hollywood. I hate parties. It's always the same. Driving for miles for the excitement and then find out that it's full of people with tattooed necks and hands talking to each other with fake smiles and confidence, drinking the poison known as wine before smashing the bottle and listening to scratched records and there's at least one guy reeking of vodka sweat with a guitar playing 'The Joker' by The Steve Miller Band. Ugh.
Once, just once, I'd like for something to happen at the party. Something different than acting polite and fighting off would-be starlet bimbos who want to sleep with me. But I know my wish won't be granted and I'll spend the night in complete and literal hell.
I arrived at my distination and parked my car across the street. I got out and shivered a little. God, it's getting colder at night. I took a deep breath, and walk up the steps of my hostess's large mansion. I approach the door and rang the door bell.
Three seconds later, the hostess, a TV actress named Janice, opened the door and smiled at me, "Andy, darling! It's sooo good to see you!"
I gave her a small smile, "Nice to see you too, Janice."
"Come in, come in!" She shooed me inside and escorted into the foyer. Several people dressed in trendy suits and gowns holding champagne glasses were scattered around the room, laughing and talking bullshit about the other person from some corner of the room.
I shoved my hands into my pockets and walk around the room. A couple of my so-called friends see me and say hello. A pretty blonde sees me and gives me a sexy grin. Not interested. I pass by the bathroom and I hear some disgusting noises. I can either assume that's someone getting sick or someone getting laid. I look in and I see Phoebe, a swimsuit model known to have a bitchy attitude, sitting on the toilet and her entire front is covered in vomit. Drank too much, I'm guessing.
"Phoebe?" I call out. "Phoebe!"
She lifted her head and said, "I'm up..."
She stands up and I noticed that her panties are around her legs and they're covered with...you know. She then pulls them up and sits back down. Holy shit! I quickly leave, feeling a little queasy but the feeling fades away once I'm back in the foyer. Janice sees me and asked me if I'm all right.
"I'm fine," I told her. "But Phoebe just threw up in your bathroom."
"Oh, poor dear," said Janice. "I'll go check up on her."
"She'll need a change of clothes," I said.
She nodded and walked off. I go to a nearby corner and let out an exhausted breath. Unfortunately, that happens a lot at parties. Getting sick at parties, I mean. This time was grossly new.
I start to people-watch. I practically do this at every party until it reaches its sweet end. After twenty minutes, I'm about to leave my spot and make my usual excuse for leaving the party early. But then I see something that stops me dead from my tracks.
I see two people enter the room and look NOTHING like everyone else at the party. A guy with a pair of black frame glasses and half of his bleach blonde hair shaved was wearing a red pinstripe suit and a pair of black loafers. He looked around the room excitingly.
The person next to him was a twenty-something girl who looked around with an uneasy look in her eyes. She looks incredible. She has long silky brown black hair with two sparkling jeweled barrettes on each side of her head. She was wearing dangling diamond earrings and silver cuff bracelets. She was wearing a black and silver Latin dress with a short ruffle skirt, black floral fishnet stockings, and black cage platform stiletto high heels. Her face was a masterpiece. Her chocolate brown eyes were made up with some awesome violet smokey eye shadow, her cheeks were lightly dusted with outlaw rose blush, and her lips were painted in a rich dark red lipstick.
I never saw someone so innocent yet so sexy in my entire life. But let's be realistic here. Obviously they're a couple and this is their first night in Hollywood. He, a wannabe actor or screen director and she's his devoted girlfriend who followed him here to support him.
Someone has turned on music and people start to dance. I never dance and I have no need to. The guy starts dancing around a little. The girl stands perfectly still. Hmm. She's got the right idea. Just because it's a party does not mean we have to dance like everyone else. We don't have to dance.
Janice saw them and hurried over to greet them. I see her and the guy talking nonsense while the girl wonders around the room. I roll my eyes and prepared to leave until I see this guy, a extremely lame longtime extra actor by the name of Nathan Morrison, heading straight towards the girl. He's a pathetic actor who weights about 300 pounds and stars as a "before" person in weight loss commercials.
He gets right next to her and starts blabbing about his "star status". Another thing about him was he thinks he's a babe magnet since he's an actor. She smiles and nods to his words but her eyes are screaming for someone to get her away from him.
I should leave. Her boyfriend would rescue her in a minute. I glanced over and the guy and Janice were still chewing the fat. Really? Your girl is dying here and you're busy making chit-chat.
I should go. It's none of my business...but I don't. For some reason, I can't leave her alone here.
I stroll over towards them. I tapped on Nathan's shoulder. He turned to me and frowned. He and I don't get along so well because I have more star power than he does.
"Hey, Nate," I said. "Great party, huh?" I peeked over him and smiled at her, "Hi, I'm Andy."
She smiles back, "I'm Emilia."
"Yeah, yeah, nice to see you, Andy," said Nathan, trying to shoo me away. "If you don't mind, the lady and I are having a conversation."
I shrugged a little, "Well, all right. I'll just see if Phoebe's okay."
Nathan's ears prick up when I mentioned Phoebe's name. He has the screaming thigh sweats for her, "Phoebe?"
I nodded, "She's in the bathroom. She got a little sick. Janice is helping her get cleaned up and calling a taxi for her."
"Um, you know," Nathan said. "I don't think Phoebe should be alone while she's sick. I'll go tell Phoebe that I can take her home and take care of her."
"Would you? That'll be great," I said.
"Please excuse me," Nathan said to Emilia and waddled over to Phoebe as soon as she came out to the hall in a clean dress. He quickly escorted Phoebe out the door.
I smirk at this. From what I've heard from everyone, he hasn't gotten laid in five years and I'm betting after tonight, it'll be another five years until he gets laid again. I turn my attention to the lovely Emilia.
She smiled sweetly, "Thank you. I didn't' know to get away from him without trying being rude." "I figured if your boyfriend wasn't going to help you, I might as well," I said.
She gave me a confused look, "What boyfriend?"
I raised an eyebrow and pointed at the guy. Then she laughed. It's nice, her laugh. "That's my younger brother Felix," she said. "Well, younger stepbrother but we grew up together. He's an aspiring screen writer whose hoping to talk to a big name producer at this party."
Oh. It's her stepbrother, not her boyfriend. I knew he was just a newbie in Hollywood. Wait, why was I relieved to find out that Emilia is available? Weird.
She continued, "He heard about this party from a stagehand who was at the cafe we were at this morning to get coffee for his boss and associates. So we're kinda...crashing this party. Seems pretty obvious, isn't it?"
I shook my head, "I've seen more outrageous people at parties than you guys. You guys look out of place but not that out of place."
She smiles, "Thanks. Anyway, I didn't even want to come here but there was no way I was going to let my brother go to a party alone. He could get into trouble."
She's a good older stepsister. I like that.
Then I noticed a strange but cool looking ring on her finger. The ring part was dark brown but the stone was big and the inside looked like the ocean floor. I never saw anything like it.
"What kind of ring is that?" I gently lifted her hand to take a closer look at it.
Emilia gazed at her ring, "It's a silver ocean oasis wood ring. It's from a company in Vancouver called Secret Wood jewelry. I bought it at a secondhand store in San Diego."
"It's beautiful," I said to her.
She blushed and took her hand back, "Thank you. Uh, this might be a stupid question, but what do you do exactly?"
"I'm an actor," I answered. "And it's not a stupid question at all. I get asked that all the time...I often ask that question myself."
"What do you mean?" asked Emilia
Usually when I get asked that, I make up some story like because I play a different character everyday or something like that. But this time I don't. I tell her the truth because I want this all to be true to her. She seems like someone I can freely open up to.
I cleared my throat and I was about to speak but then her stepbrother showed up and said to Emilia, "Hey, Em! Guess what? There's a guy at this party for works for a big-name producer and he says that he could introduce me! He's going to drive me to the studio to meet him! But he only has a two-seater car. Could you take a cab back to the hotel?"
Emilia looked a little perturbed but she said, "Sure, Felix."
Felix gave her a double thumbs up and quickly left us. Emilia sighed in annoyance, "Great. Now I have to find a phone to call a cab."
"Actually, I'm planning to leave now. I could give you a lift back to your hotel, if you like," I suggested to her.
Emilia had a hopeful look in her eyes, "Really?"
I smile and nod, "Absolutely. Shall we?"
Emilia nodded her head vigorously. She grabbed her coat and purse and we both headed out. Janice was nowhere in sight. We pass by the blonde who smiled at me earlier and she looks disappointed when she sees me leaving with another girl. Too bad so sad.
We get outside and it's gotten a little colder since then. We get to the car and I opened the passenger door for her. I get in and started the engine. I put the car in drive and we drove off. We drove in silence and I take peeks at her during stop lights. She's staring out the window.
"What's the address?" I asked her.
She turned her head to me, "It's the Holiday Inn Express up the road...but..."
I raised an eyebrow, "But?"
"Could we head to the road that leads to the Griffith Observatory?"
"Uhh...sure. But I'm sure it's closed by now."
"I don't want to go to it. I just want to be on the road to it. To see it on the hillside."
I turn the wheel to that direction, "Sure. It'll take us five minutes. Just tell me where to stop."
We drive down the road until we're away from the flashing lights of the town to the grassy hillside to the observatory. Then she told me to stop the car. I parked it and turned the engine off. Emilia unbuckled her seat beat and got out of the car. I unbuckled and got out as well.
I walk to her side and she's looking up at the dome of the observatory. Once I get right next to her, Emilia turned to me, "What did you mean when you said that you question yourself about being an actor?"
I look at her, "Because I never pictured myself as an actor. I don't hate it but I've been miserable since I started at sixteen. I've always dreamed about being a musician since I was a kid. Writing songs. Be in a band. Singing in front of millions of people."
"So why don't you do it?" Emilia said. "Quit acting, get a band together and start a music career. I'm sure you could make it."
I shook my head, "That's something you could do as a teenager still in school, not as a twenty-two year old who has a career."
"Why not?" Emilia said with slight disbelief. "Who says that just because you're grown up you can't follow through your teenage dreams now? There's no rule or age limit that says you should stop trying, Andy! If you still have the passion and drive from when you were a kid, then I say go and pursue your dream! And if you fail, well at least you tried."
I flinch a little after her speech was done. I'm stunned. A girl I just met at a party was giving me perspective towards my life. Her words echoed in my brain.
Then she adds, "Unless you're a terrible singer then I say stay on your current course and spear us from it".
She cracked a smile after she said that. I start smiling and soon enough we're laughing. After a minute, I told her, "I still write songs."
Emilia smiled warmly at me, "That's wonderful, Andy. You're on your way."
I decided to ask her a question, "Emilia, you told me why your stepbrother came to Hollywood but why did you come?"
Emilia tucked away her hair from her shoulder, "I'm his ride from Reno, Nevada. He wanted to come up here to at least try. I wanted to see Hollywood at least once in my life before we go home."
"And what do you think of it?" I ask her.
"Disappointing," she said. "Call me old fashioned, but I rather be in Hollywood in the thirties than today. Back then, the paparazzi didn't harass the celebrities during their daily routines and respected their privacy. A BARE minimal of celebrities got mad if they were parodied in a cartoon. They laughed at each other and themselves in good humour. The movies they've made were original and amazing. Now, the paparazzi has the entire world watch their every move, movies are glorified no-good remakes of good movies that should be left alone, and if you make a cartoon parody of a celebrity today, they will get pissed and sue the company."
I nodded, "Yeah, I've noticed that."
She sighs, "But I do this for Felix and if he makes it tonight, I have to make he's okay and not fall under the usual influences, like booze and drugs. If that means I have to uproot to here, then okay."
"But what do you want?" I ask her. She's telling me to pursue my music but what is she pursuing?
"I want be an actress," she said. "But not a movie actress. A stage actress. I want to be in front of people and see their reactions about the character I portray. I know stage acting isn't so big here, but in Europe it's revered."
"Are you planning to go to Europe?" I ask, half afraid she'll say yes.
Emilia shrugged, "No harm in trying. I have to take acting classes first and maybe start my stage career in my hometown. Hopefully by then, I might be good enough to join a European acting troupe. But right now, I need to get Felix up and running here. Being either making it or by taking him back home. We'll see by tonight."
I slightly nodded. We were silent for a few minutes until Emilia grabbed my hand and we went to the car. She opened the passenger door and had me sit in the seat. She climbed on top of me and slammed the door. She adjusted the seat to go back as far as it could go. I didn't know what was going on until she leaned in and kissed me softly.
When she pulled away, I had to ask her, "Why did you kiss me?"
She touched my face and stroked my cheek, "Because I like talking to you and I think you're so nice and very attractive. Because it's a beautiful night. Because I don't know if I'll ever see you again after tonight and if I don't, I want something to remember you by. Even if it's only a memory. If you don't this, it's fine."
I didn't answer her. I just pull her to me and kissed her. She put her arms around my neck and I held her waist. The kiss became more passionate and soon enough, I'm unzipping her dress and pulling it off her while she's pushing the jacket off my shoulders and unbuttoning my shirt.
I can't tell you how long we've been in the car but all I can say is that I have never been more
turned on or came harder in my entire life. She definitely gave me a night to remember. Once we finished, she collapses on my chest and I wrap my arms around her. She kissed my neck and soon enough, I drifted to sleep.
I woke up the next morning alone. I was still undressed and parked on the road. I look around the car and found a note on the driver seat. I picked it up and I see Emilia's ocean wood ring underneath it. I read the note.
Good morning, Andy. Sorry to leave but Felix sent me a text to pick him up. Here's something to remember me by. Emilia.
I drop the note and sighed with a smile on my face. I have spent an entire night with a girl I just met and will probably never meet again. But maybe it was better this way. The things we talked about and what we shared was too good to repeat. I pick up the ring. I look at it and admire the small ocean world it had in the stone. Then an idea crashed into my head.
Actually, Emilia was wrong. She gave me something else to remember her by too.
I grab my iPhone and dialed a number I haven't called in years. I wait for six seconds and I hear a guy's tired voice on the other end say "Hello?"
"Ashley?" I said. "It's Andy."
"Andy!" Ashley said, a little more awake now. "How are you? What's up?"
"Good, good. Listen, remember when I told you my childhood dream about starting a band?" I ask. "How would you like to make that happen?" I'll risk my acting career but I have to do it. I want to do it. When I make it and I swear to myself that I will, Emilia will also be remembered as the woman who reignited my dream that fuelled me to make it come true.

Notes

There it is! It took me three days to write it all and edit, but it's ready! Let me know what you think of it.
If you like it, send me a comment and if you must flame it, just go easy and let me what you found wrong with it. It's been a very long time since I've written a one-shot.
Thank you and hope you enjoyed it!