the center of the room that had no other visible furniture. Soft music was piped through hidden speakers as Jake closed his eyes “So now what?” The thought crept into his head as he opened his eyes and fanned the pages of the latest script of a romantic comedy. Lately, those had become the roles he was more prone to accept as well as be offered. Life had become extremely routine.
Every sunrise he took his morning jog and was inevitably stopped by someone who knew who he was. He was invited to talk shows to promote the films that he starred in. He read movie scripts, and when offered a part, he flew to a new location to become another person in another life for a few months. He had an interesting routine but a routine nonetheless.
His last girlfriend had been a co-star just like the one before her. They met on the set where they spent days together rehearsing lines, practicing kisses, and socializing during breaks. After a while they were dating. His latest break-up was so expected, it had not made one headline on any tabloid. It was however, mentioned in a social section followed by a list of all the other actresses he had relationships with in the past.
Jake turned to the chair next to him and stared. There was a certain comfort dating a fellow celebrity. They were already used to the paparazzi, they usually had their own money, and they could converse about the trade. There were conversations about roles, choices, travel plans, career moves, and gossip. He smiled to himself remembering some of the good times. There had been some but few and far between because the two of them were so busy. At least there had been some. When they broke up neither was heartbroken. Soon a new movie would go into production, a new leading lady or man would be picked, and there would be another possibility of finding Mr. or Mrs. Right. At the very least there would be a new personality to offer some variation on the typical conversation.
He rubbed the frown line that had formed on his forehead. While remembering the good times other memories had crept into his head. What had unnerved him about his latest girlfriend was how she moved herself into his life so quickly. She was a take-charge person, always on her cell phone telling someone to do this or that. In fact, the chair he was currently staring at had just appeared one day in his quiet room. She never asked if he had wanted a second chair. She never sat in that chair. No one ever has. He was amused by it. It seemed that she simply always wanted him to remember that he was in a relationship. It annoyed her that he didn’t say much in interviews about it while she went on about how much they were in love. She was a brilliant actress and stunningly beautiful. Yet, sometimes he found it difficult to tell when she was acting and when she was being herself. He wasn’t even sure if she knew anymore.
It began to bother him particularly when they had sex. Every time was the hottest steamiest love scene you had ever witnessed. At first, he thought she was so passionate that her passion was channeled through her sexual energy. Then to his surprise he began to crave just regular run of the mill sex. The kind where you roll over because you can’t sleep, poke your partner and say “Can we have sex? I can’t sleep.” They sleepily nod in agreement. You both quietly do your business and go to sleep.
He stared at the fish. An eerie feeling came over him. The world watches me like a fish in an aquarium. I swim back and forth for their amusement and when I try to break free, I bump my nose on the glass. “So now what?”
Chapter 3
Music streamed through the room. Sam was standing near a handsome man who was pulling her tightly against him. She couldn’t see his face, but she felt warm and safe. He gently licked her face and the music took on an unsettling quality. She tried to bury her face in his chest, but his arms seemed to be letting go. Sam felt a gentle pull on her hair and a sharp bark in her ear which tore her away from her dreamy state. Spot, her Jack Russell Terrier, had a mouthful of her hair again.
“Uhhh…” Sam groaned as she finally took her face out of the pillow that just seconds ago had been the man of her dreams. She squinted trying to see the clock. It was set on the other side of the room to break her from the habit of hitting the snooze button repeatedly before actually getting up. The only thing that had happened was she had learned to sleepwalk. The dog on the other hand had no snooze button and if she didn’t get up she’d have a mess to clean up.
Spot whined and licked her bare feet. “Fine.” Sam grumbled as she desperately tried to find the pair of rimless glasses that she had fallen asleep wearing. The problem with having poor eyesight was not being able to find her glasses when she wasn’t wearing them. After patting the bed over and under, Sam gave up on finding the transparent pair. Instead, she got the leash and stepped outside of her Miami apartment and into the bright sunlight. Dressed in her oversized T-shirt and flannel shorts, Sam wished she had not opened her front door.
“Good Morning, Sweetie!” The shrill voice of her neighbor Patsy cut through the quiet morning air.
Even though it was Saturday morning, Sam didn’t appreciated Patsy seeing her without make-up, her hair undoubtedly out of control, and no bra, not that anyone could tell with her tiny boobs. Sam had simply assumed it was early enough to venture out without being seen, but the bright sunlight hinted that it was more likely mid morning.
Oh Lord, Sam thought with a moment of hesitation as she saw Patsy walking towards her. Her elderly neighbor was always concerned about Sam’s status as a single mother. Supposedly, she had a nephew who was also single. However, she suggested that Sam would need a make over before she could introduce them because “he was used to girls who took better care of themselves.” Even though Patsy could be overbearing at times, she was also very sweet. She often cooked dinners that she would give to Sam the minute she would hear Sam’s car pull up. “Your girls are growing, they need nutritious meals,” she would tell Sam frowning at the empty fast food bags that Sam was generally cleaning out of her car. Sam couldn’t accept the food without inviting Patsy over to have dinner with them. Patsy would then come in and criticize the cleanliness of the apartment, the study habits of the children, and the long hours Sam worked. The lecture would always end with a debate over why a man was or was not necessary in Sam’s life. Patsy would reminisce about her late husband and the wonderful times they had shared. Sam would listen to Patsy and secretly hope that one of her ex-husbands could be called her late husband.
“Oh! Wait just a minute, I have something for you.” Patsy squealed as she dashed back into her apartment.
“Stupid mutt.” Sam whispered as she tugged on Spot’s leash to remind the dog to sniff the grass and go potty. Spot looked up and wagged his tail. A grasshopper had now claimed the dog’s attention. He wasn’t the brightest dog, but at least he was loveable and loving.
“Here you go.” Patsy came back waving something in the air. “My nephew always sends tickets to the football games. He’s done it for years now. Of course, ever since Albert died I haven’t gone, but maybe you should go.” Sam looked down at the tickets as Patsy handed them to her, Miami Dolphins vs. Chicago Bears. “There are four tickets for tomorrow’s game. Perhaps you could invite a male friend to join you and the girls, or you could go with just the girls, a football game is a great way to meet some eligible bachelors,” Patsy paused a moment as if she was lost in thought, “My nephew has the adjoining seats. He’s so busy lately; I don’t think he’s been to one of the home games in a while.” Sam attempted a polite smile as her elderly neighbor rambled on. “Albert and I would have loved to have children, but Albert couldn’t. Back in those days you didn’t do that en..in.. viltro or whatever that’s called that all these women do now and end up with six kids at a time. My goodness we weren’t built to have litters you know.”
Sam thanked Patsy for the tickets and tried to retreat back into her apartment, but Patsy had one more statement to make while taking another look at Sam. “You may want to get your hair done before the game tomorrow. Just in case my nephew comes without a friend. He’s quite the catch.” Sam blinked not sure how to respond. It was a good thing she wasn’t
