The Other Side - Chapter 29

"The Other Side - Chapter 28" 

Karlee closed her cell phone, deftly cutting off the reporter's voice with a snap. She heaved a sigh, blowing her thin, brown bangs away from her eyes.

All in all, it was turning out to be a good day. She knew just what publicity she wanted Jacob to have. This meant she had no trouble deciding which reporters to hang up on. Of course, she seemed like the only one in the entire building having a good day. The producer was a penny-pinching perfectionist who didn't hire enough workers at the beginning but was now complaining about the time it was taking to get each scene changed and perfect.

Karlee cast her eyes to the other side of the room; the extra down time was no skin off her brother's nose. He was chatting with a short actress who was playing a 'good cop.' He had one arm slung casually around Melissa's waist. Karlee could practically feel the happy energy flowing off Lissa from where she was standing.

A small smile broke onto Karlee's lips. She could never say that she liked that Ettison girl but, she had to admit, seeing her back in Jacob's arms looked comfortingly familiar. Maybe it had something to do with all the photos of them together. Or maybe it just the feeling she had that the world was a better place when her brother was happy.

And her brother was happy. Karlee could tell. He had returned to his old self before Africa. The casual joking, the obvious public displays of affection, and that sly grin he was constantly shooting her way. It was the good times everyone was hoping for again. Karlee liked to believe it was some of her words that finally pulled Jacob's heart away from that Becky girl.

Karlee was about to flip open her phone and start working again when she hesitated. I wonder whatever happened to that girl. Karlee bit her lip. She wasn't sure how, but from all the beautiful words Jacob had used for her she got the feeling she really was a nice girl. Nice - but not the love of Jake's life.

Suddenly, Karlee felt a presense next to her. She blinked and found Melissa standing near her, hands on her hips.

"Hello? Karlee?"

Karlee shook her head and put her hand on her face. "Holy cow - I was completely spaced out. I didn't even see you move, Melissa."

"Obviously not - I mean you were staring hard enough." Melissa tossed her hair. "I don't suppose you heard my question."

Karlee decided to ignore the tone of Melissa's voice. Although Karlee was one of the few people in the studio who wasn't afraid of Melissa, she still didn't want to set her off. "No, I didn't hear you and I'm sorry, I didn't mean to stare. I was just watching you and Jake; he sure does seem happy."

Melissa's face instantly brightened. "I'm so glad you think so! I feel really good about it."

Karlee warmed to the excitement in Melissa's voice. Sure, Ettison has a mean streak, but you can't deny her love. "I want you to know, I think he made a really good decision, giving you another shot."

Melissa's eyes softened. "Thank you, Karlee. I wasn't sure he was going to - he's just so stubborn."

Karlee smirked, "No kidding, it sure took him long enough to get his act together."

"Ugh, tell me about it!" Melissa gushed. "Don't tell him I said this, but I thought I was going to hear about Becky forever. It was like he ran into some voo-doo magic or something in Afirca. I mean she wasn't even that pretty." Her lips turned down into a frown.

Karlee jolted slightly at the sound of Becky's name. "Wait - he told you about Becky?" She looked at Melissa in a new light. Jacob really must trust her to tell her all of that. "And he showed you a picture? He hasn't even shown me one!"

Much to Karlee's surprise, Melissa's face reddened with embrassment. The normally poised woman was suddenly stammering. "Uhm, well yes, he told me about Becky but I don't think he showed me a picture -"

Karlee's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "But you just said you didn't think she was that pretty. I know Jacob said she was absolutely gorgeous."

Melissa's body tensed. "Well, she's not." She huffed. "I actually met her, okay? It was completely random. Remember that 'day with a fan' we did in Pennsylvania? Well Becky happened to be one of the fans I was with."

Karlee's mouth dropped. "You have got to be kidding me. What did Jake say about that?"

Melissa pursed her mouth. "Jacob doesn't know - and I don't think you should tell him."

Karlee felt the warm, fuzzy feeling that she had for Melissa just seconds before diminish. "How could you not tell him that you ran into Becky? You know he would want to know."

"Do you want Jacob to go through all that again?" Melissa's dark eyes flashed. "You were just telling me how happy you were for him to get over her - and now you want me to bring it up? I took care of it, okay? Becky won't be looking for him and, as long as he's with me, he won't be looking for her either." With that, Melissa turned to walk away.

"Melissa?"

She turned around and stood with one hip jutted out, an eyebrow raised.

"Didn't you say you had a question for me?"

Melissa smiled thinly. "You know what, not a problem. I'll just ask Bernice."

Karlee watched as she walked away from her. Karlee put her hand to her forehead - it was suddenly pounding. Talking with Melissa was a game of chance. One minute she was sweet and beautiful, the next dangerously scary. Karlee had a bad taste in her mouth. Melissa had met Becky? She couldn't imagine what the scene had been like when Melissa realized who it was. How cruel had she been?

A crazy idea popped into Karlee's mind. Jacob had been pretty wrecked over the fling that ended so horribly in Africa. She could only imagine that Becky had been going through. Jacob Jones had told her that he loved her and then kissed another woman - or so it seemed. Not only had she been shunned, but she had been shunned by the most popular movie star in Hollywood. And then if she had met Melissa....?

A twinge of guilt shot through Karlee. Did this Becky girl have any real friends? Did she have anyone to turn to when her heart was torn out? Then another thought, much more alarming than the first, crossed her mind. How bitter was this girl? If she put her mind to it, she could do some real damage.

Karlee searched her mind, piecing together the gibberish Jacob had babbled when he was trying to convince Karlee that Becky was the one. Something about college... Melissa said she saw her in Pennsylvania. A cousin named Jim? And Delia? And her last name was something like Ettison...Madison? Edgewise?

Karlee chewed on the end of her pen. With a sudden flash of decision she flipped open her phone and pressed speed dial two.

"Patty? Listen, I need you to find me a name and phone number. Rebecca E something, she's going to college in Pennsylvania. Just get me a list of names of college students in the dorms and resident housing in Harrisburg. She might be living with a Jim or Delia." She paused. "Yes, I know there's security on getting those numbers, but I also know you can get around that. Please, Patty? Do this for me."

The call ended abruptly and immediately after Karlee was glad she decided to take the step. When she was a teenager she had her heart broken so hard she thought she would never get back up. She didn't want to believe that her brother could have caused something as horrible as that.

Not to mention that fact that they had a little business to take care of...

---

Jim tapped through the television stations impatiently, not even registering what the show was before he changed it. Delany was going to kill him. His parents were going to kill him. Even he wasn't too happy with himself right now.

What am I doing here? He sighed and furiously clicked off the television, relishing the silence. Becky was off at some movie with her new man, whom Jim couldn't help being wary of, and Delany had hooked up with an old friend who happened to be in one of her classes. He was blissfully alone. Now was the perfect time to work up a plan for breaking the news.

"What news?" Jim asked himself aloud, shrugging down into the couch cushion. He had talked with an advisor all day today and didn't seem to be any closer. All he knew was that all the classes he had originally signed up for were now off his schedule and he was only barely still enrolled with the school.

Jim groaned. This Mr. Simmons guy said that he was going to look into opportunities that might pique his interest. There was still time to apply to some of them and then he could spend most of his time there and maybe take complimentary classes back on campus. But Jim really knew what would happen - he would have to ship himself off to a different school with the lowest of the low classes and work toward an opportunity for the spring semester. It wasn't so bad, but he still knew everyone who loved him was going to throttle him.

He was about to go into another session of self-pity when the telephone broke the silence with a shrill ring. Jim instantly dove for the receiver, welcoming the telemarketer it would surely be.

"Greetings! You have reached Jim's Gourmet Bakery, where the buns are always hot and buttery! How may I help you?"

Silence. Then a voice, much calmer than Jim had anticipated, came across the line. "Well, this is obviously the wrong number..."

Jim laughed. "No, you probably have the right place. Who are you looking for?"

"Becky?"

Jim raised an eyebrow at the obvious question in the caller's voice. "Becky Edwards?"

Triumph sounded through the other end. "That's it! Yes, Edwards. Is she home? Actually...to whom am I speaking? Is this her cousin?"

The suspicion grew strong in Jim's mind. "Close enough. Who is this?"

The voice hesitated. "Maybe then...maybe I can just ask you. How is Becky? Is she doing all right?"

"She's peachy. Who the hell is this?"

The voice on the other end hardened along with Jim's. "Look. I'm serious, I want to know if Becky is doing all right. Jacob really pulled a number on her, whether he meant to or -"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Jim held up the one hand not on the receiver in alarm. "What do you know about Becky and Jacob?"

The voice heaved a heavy sigh. "Ok, listen, Jim. This is Jim, isn't it?"

"Yes." Jim wondered vaguely if he was speaking to a psychic. Wasn't he supposed to call them? Was this costing him 99 cents a minute?

"This is Karlee Kilmer. I'm Jacob Jones' sister."

Jim was silenced from shock. Jacob's sister? Calling here? His heart doubled its speed from anxiety. What could she want? He thought about the way Becky was just starting to come out of her shell. Was it possible that Jacob wanted her back?

"Why are you calling here?"

Karlee had no problem catching the harsh tone. "Hey, now. I don't want any trouble. I just need to make sure we are on the same level, and know that Becky is doing okay. I'm sure she's been through a lot."

Something inside of Jim flared. He knew Jacob had never meant to hurt Becky, but he also knew it was pretty cheap to hire his own sister to do your dirty work for him. "Well that's certainly no exaggeration. Where do you get off? Listen, if Jacob wants to find out how Becky is doing then why doesn't he call here himself? I had hoped he would have a little more chivalry in him than to hire his sister to play messenger."

Now it was Karlee's turn to get fired up. "Do not assume things, Mr. Jim. For your information, Jacob has no idea I am speaking to you right now. I am calling because I was worried about a young girl's heart - and her mouth."

Karlee's firm voice was enough to cool Jim down a bit. "What do you mean by her mouth?"

"I mean that if Becky decides to share some of the intimate details of Africa, Jacob could be in some real trouble."

Jim nodded with the phone firmly on his ear. He understood fully now. "Ok, easy enough. Why didn't you just come out and ask it? I would have had more respect for you that way instead of pretending that you actually cared about Becky. And you don't have to worry; she's not going to mouth off to the press. Jacob chose a girl with class."

Karlee's voice came over clear and understanding. "I'm glad to hear that - about her mouth and about her personality." She took a deep breath. "I'm sorry if I offended you, I know it must have been pretty crazy when a movie star decided to walk in and out of a life of someone you care about."

Jim's anger melted away. The voice on the other end of the phone was sincere and blunt. "Well, you certainly got that right. Frankly, he walked into all of our lives. But I accent your apology... I have to apologize as well. Just because you're the sister to a movie star doesn't necessarily mean you have the black soul of one."

Karlee chuckled heartily at his comment. "Now see, there's where you have it all wrong. The movie stars are the nice ones; it's the agents you have to watch out for."

Jim felt a grin crawl over his lips. "And let me guess, you are an agent to a certain Mr. Jones we all know and love."

Karlee's laughter traveled purely through the phone lines. "You catch on quickly! I'm very impressed. It seems Jacob really did pick quite the family to get involved with."

"Well, see that's where you're a little mixed up. I'm not really related to Becky, I just happen to be in love with her cousin. But she is like a sister to me."

"Sounds like one heck of a confusing situation."

Jim smirked. "I guess you could say that." His attitude sobered. "But we keep each other together. I'm proud to say that Becky really is doing well...but only recently. Whether you actually do want to know or now, Becky was pretty rocky for quite some time. She just now is getting back on her feet."

Karlee took a few moments to answer. "I'm happy to hear that. Can I ask how she dealt with seeing Melissa?"

"Seeing who?"

"Melissa Ettingson - Jacob's ex, or I guess renewed, girlfriend."

Jim stared at the phone in disbelief. "Becky met Melissa Ettingson?"

Now the voice on the other end of the phone was confused. "Becky didn't mention it to you? I only just learned about it myself. She apparenly won the opportunity to meet her on a radio stint."

Jim thought back briefly to a conversation that had occurred on evening in the living room. Lynn, Becky, Delany and himself were in the midst of a game of Apples to Apples when Lynn started talking about their raio winnings. Becky must have asked Lynn not to tell. "Well, that's surprising. Becky isn't one to keep secrets - especially not from me."

"Hmm - that doesn't make me feel any better. I just learned about it myself. Apparenly Jake doesn't know either. My guess is something rather... unpleasant went down if both Melissa and Becky are keeping the encounter under wraps."

Jim's voice was hard. "Do you think Melissa hurt Becky?"

"Not physically. But Lissa definitely has a way with words." Karlee sighed. "But you haven't noticed a change since then? Becky is doing okay?"

Jim thought for a second and then nodded as he spoke. "Yeah, she seems fine. Maybe Melissa just... confirmed some things for Becky."

"I guess it doesn't matter, so long as Becky is okay. Hopefully she'll stay on the upward spiral and soon forget about poor Jacob. He has some new...and old...problems here in New York."

Jim furrowed his brow. "New York?"

"Mmm hmm. That's where Never Get Caught is being filmed, or at least attempting to be filmed. The place is practically falling apart as we speak."

A red flag shot up in Jim's mind. The conversation with Jacob's sister had started out confusing, turned to infuriating, and now seemed casual. Somehow amid their few words they had come to an understanding of each other and their love for those near them. It was only until she mentioned the movie that he realized he was talking with someone on a real, live film set. She was Jacob Jones' agent; surely she had connections to everything...

"Really? How so?"

"Oh, it has nothing to do with the actors, they're all fine. It's the rest of this place. They tried to stay under budget and have totally skimped out on the necessities. Like extra parts, and extra extras. People are constantly running around trying to get things and then there aren't enough people left to run what we do have." Karlee heaved a sigh. She apparently treasured the opportunity to complain to someone who hadn't already heard it. "Granted, this has nothing to do with Jacob and me, but if the movie isn't released on time we will be the ones taking the blame."

This was so perfect, Jim could barely control himself. Jim arranged his words carefully. He wanted to sound casual and only slightly interested. He didn't want to outright pry. If he could just ask the right thing to make her spill...

"What do you think about getting me a job there?" ...ok, so being subtle was never his specialty.

There was silence on the other side of the connection. "I beg your pardon?"

Jim's cheeks flared. "Just hear me out. I've been interested in filming my entire life but have never pursued anything. Now I'm in college and I realize that all the classes I've been taking are leading me nowhere. I want to try and get some sort of internship, but it's so late in the year no one is going to take me - no one worthwhile anyway. But now you're sitting there telling me that this set doesn't have nearly enough people working. I could work there, I could do anything. Sure, they'd have to teach me but until they had the time I could be a gopher - anything."

Jim took a deep breath, his heart pumping a mile a minute. He ran a hand through his short, brown hair. His brain barely comprehended what he was thinking even as he spilled the words out of his mouth.

"This is the perfect opportunity for me - a big name set, full of big name-names, and a whole lot of work to do. And I'm speaking with the one person who I'm sure has amazing connections and amazing persuasion skills."

Jim's blue eyes glowed. "Think about it, Karlee! Helping me would only be helping you."

Karlee's voice was silent for a moment. Jim felt every hope upon hope within him. She had to at least consider it, and if she didn't he would persuade her again. And if she hung up, he would search for her number and call her himself. She was not going to get away.

"Ok."

"But, don't you see?! I - oh." Jim blinked, staring at the small lamp on the stand next to the telephone. His voice was small, barely audible. "Really?"

Jim could practically hear the smile on Karlee's voice. "Yes, really. I think that's a great idea. We really do need the people, you're obviously ready to work for it, and frankly, I like you. We've only talked for moments but when a guy is ready to verbally attack a stranger on the phone for his girlfriend's cousin that means something."

"Wow!" Jim could barely talk through his smile. "That's - amazing! Thank you! Thank you so much, Karlee! I - when do I start?!"

Karlee laughed aloud. "Whoa, slow down there tiger. I still have some strings to pull. It shouldn't be hard though, I hear the set coordinator has a thing for me." She gave a low, evil chuckle.

"Right, ok." Jim put his hand to his forehead, unable to comprehend what was really happening. "How about..." He thought about his meeting the next day with Mr. Simmons. "...can I give you a call tomorrow around noon?"

Karlee agreed and riled off her number. "But, Jim, this isn't going to be hard for Jake, is it? Whe he sees you on set?"

Jim paused. "I don't think so, Karlee. Jake and I got to be buddies in Sulima and we were on good terms when he left. He might not like that I remind him of Becky but other than that -"

"Fair enough, I trust you. I'm glad to have done business with you, Mr. Jim. This has really turned out to be a beneficial phone call."

Jim chuckled. "It's Dyer, Jim Dyer. And it sure has. I can't thank you enough; you have truly saved my life."

They exchanged good-byes and a resounding click echoed through the apartment. Jim blinked rapidly, slumping against the wall. Had he seriously just landed a job on the set for the biggest blockbuster of the season?

Jim leapt to his feet as the door handle jiggled, ready to shout his good news to whichever little lady rolled through the door. Suddenly though, his heart stopped. He couldn't tell Delany - not yet. And he certainly couldn't tell Becky. If she knew he was going to be working right next to Jacob...

Jim ducked behind the wall dividing the kitchen and living room. He heard keys being thrown into the little clay pot next to the door which was a tell-tale sign that it was Becky. Delany never put her keys down in the same place twice.

"Hello? Is anyone home?"

Jim came out of kitchen, biting his lower lip. Becky's face was flushed and her eyelids were only half open. She gave Jim a goofy smile.

"I...had a wonderful night." Her smile expanded and she looked up expectantly into Jim's face. Her honey brown hair hung in her face but she didn't seem to have any energy to move it. He struggled to give her a smile in return, reaching out his hand to tuck the hair behind her ear.

"Come on sweetie, why the long face?" She gave him a light punch on the shoulder and stifled a yawn.

Jim sighed. "Nothing, I just got the best news in my life."

"That's good." Becky yawned again, not even bothering to cover it this time, as she turned and shuffled her way to her bedroom. "I'm going to bed, good-night..."

"The Other Side - Chapter 30"