Chapter 2: Disobey
Melinda and Jocelyn spent the next week pooling their money together for the loft and to travel. Although Dina was nice enough to offer, Melinda declined her offer and asked for her help finding good movers instead. Dina politely accepted. Melinda didn’t want to seem ungrateful to her, since it was Dina’s simple suggestion that got her thinking about moving to L.A,she just had to work on leaving her job in a manner that wasn’t going to leave her with regret. All of her actions had to be so she didn’t leave anyone bitter with her decision to move on.
Melinda and Jocelyn headed to the storage place to get more boxes. They had contemplated on getting a storage unit but their dad offered his well kept basement instead. They paid for their boxes and went back home and stuffed them with things they didn’t need and moved them into the bed of Melinda’s pick up. While they drove the couple miles tot heir dad’s place, Jocelyn got a call from Aaron, their half brother. He called to berate them about leaving the family behind for some idiotic “pipe dream.” Jocelyn thanked him sarcastically for his input and hung up on him. The only family member they hated having to leave behind was their grandmother. She had inspired so much of their life, they wanted to bring her, but they knew she’d never agree to leave. She was as stubborn as a mule.
As a girls made it home, Melinda made a few calls to make sure their plane tickets were all set and paid for, and that the realtor showing the loft was available and that there would be a car waiting for them at the car rental agency. They had to make sure they were set before they uprooted their lives. Before they knew it, they were 10,000 miles in the air flying to LAX. Melinda could barely contain her excitement, Jocelyn’s arm still hurt from being dragged by her little sister all the way tot heir gate. All of their household items and furniture was either sold or on a truck being driven from ATL. Dina made sure she was going to be there when the sisters arrived, Although they grew apart when Dina moved to LA, she wanted them to be friends again.
After declining Dina’s offer, Melinda got a message shortly after from her, apologizing endlessly for being so aloof. Saying she needed time to figure out where she wanted her acting career to take her, and that she would have a job waiting for her when she made it to L.A. That’s all Melinda would allow herself to be helped with, she hating feeling like someone’s charity case. She accepted the job offer and wanted to feel like she was at home, the minute she stepped off the plane.
As they landed and grabbed their bags from the luggage carousel, Dina was outside waiting for them, near their rental. She and Melinda squealed like they had whenever they saw each other after a long weekend in high school. There was no off switch to their friendship. They piled the luggage into their rental and stopped off to get some refreshments at the gas station. As much as Jocelyn just wanted to go to the hotel to get some rest, Dina insisted that they make a pit stop at the studio where she and Melinda would be working. Melinda agreed cautiously, she knew how fast her older sister could get irritated and irrational, so they planned to just pop their heads in, say hi to the cast members and get back on the road.
They pulled the car up to the gate and Dina punched in her code and the officer on the other side, let them go in, but not before side eyeing Melinda and Jocelyn. He looked at Jocelyn like a hungry dog sitting in front of a porterhouse. Jocelyn of course, scoffed and turned her head away from him. They parked and Jocelyn elected to stay in the car, and rest her eyes, the amount of noise from other passengers and from the girls, had her feeling like someone was crushing her temples with a vice. Melinda handed her big sister a bottle of water and stepped out of the car, Dina led her by hand to the table reading room, where all the cast met to read their scripts out loud with the director and the producer. Dina opened the door and walked inside, pulling Melinda in behind her.
“Guys, this is Mel. She’s gonna be one of our make up artists. She just moved here from Atlanta. I’ve known her since High School.” Dina said smiling and giggling.
The women in the room smiled and waved, no one got up to shake her hand. No one except the director, who had a weak handshake, which left her feeling disappointed. She didn’t know how to gauge these people, yeah she was a stranger but soon she hoped to be one of them. Then again, they were all Hollywood socialites and she was a country girl, and they all had a good 8 years on her. Some of them in the double digits. She had to stand her ground if she ever planned on getting their respect. At least none of them seemed too preppy or snobby like her old co workers.
The producer looked towards her and rolled his eyes, “We have a table reading to do. Please leave. Dina, you need to be here. Show your guest out.”
Melinda narrowed her eyes at the back of his head and sucked her teeth, “Look, buddy. I’m a person first. Show me some respect and at least look at me when you want to tell me to leave. Show you have some balls, please. You might be high maintenance, but you can’t buy home training or class,” She looked at Dina and took her keys from her hand.
“See you later Dina. Call me.” She said, walking out of the room making sure to slam the door behind her.
It opened back just as quickly as she closed it, a guy came rushing out behind her and he almost tripped over her. He apologized profusely and laughed it off.
“I’m so sorry. I’m Dean. I wanted to catch you before you leave. He’s like that towards everyone at first, but he lightens up when he learns you’re in it for the long haul. He doesn’t like to get attached to people he can’t rely on. You just have to prove you’re one of them. By the way, nice meeting you Mel…which is short for?” He asked holding out his hand.
Melinda took his hand and he squeezed hers, and smiled a smile that could make the sun need sunglasses. She almost melted in her stiletto boots. “Melinda, Melinda Wilson, and you’re Dean?” She asked pausing to see if he’d tell her more.
He smiled coyly and chuckled “You’ll get to know me more, later.”
Melinda raised her eyebrows in delight, she loved the sound of that. A random hot Asian guy who just happened to be a celebrity, she imagined them gallivanting around Hollywood, going into all the little cozy places that offered up great ambiance and atmosphere, gaily skipping around town, trudging through the rain and or whatever other Hollywood would offer her. She was brought out of her day dream when she heard a horn beeping for more than 5 seconds. She had forgotten all about her sister suffering along in the rental car. She yanked her hand away from Dean and started jogging away towards the door to the studio.
“Oh my god, I’m sorry Dean, I have to go! See you later! Nice meeting you!” She said running for the door and pushing it open.
Dean could hear her heels clicking away on the pavement, he chuckled and ran his tongue over his pearly white teeth. A smirk appeared on his face. “Nice to meet you too Mel.” He said a loud before turning to go back into the table reading room.
He knew he’d be seeing her again, sooner than later and outside of work. She had no idea what she had just sighed on to. Especially with the way she challenged the Producer, and in front of the cast. He knew she’d be around for a long time, and he was eager to be apart of the adventure.
Velveteen Wabbitt 