The Moonstone Starlet

Chapter 12

The night before the game against the Kings Jonathan wanted everyone in their own rooms, no partying. Like usual, Elia was in Kane and Toews’ room instead of her own. She was sitting up in Jonny’s bed watching some game clips Toews had bookmarked for her on his laptop. Jon was reading through the script. They would pause to discuss with each other. Every video she watched Jonny had wanted her to be analyzing the play for some reason.

“Right here, this defenseman is out of position. He should have been over here--” she pointed to the screen, “But he wasn’t, so the other team was able to pass through this lane,” she pointed again, “and take a shot.” Jonathan smiled and high fived her.

“I really like the way you changed this scene with Tom Buchanan. In the book he talks a lot about race, but you took that out of it and focused on the socio-economic aspect. But I think the way it is written now, the parts about education and income don’t really fit. It seems stretched and awkward.”

“I’m trying to point out the hypocrisy of the upper class thinking they are getting the same education as schools in poor neighborhoods when taxes are--”
“El, I know why and what you are saying, don’t think I’m criticizing that, I think you can find a way to make it sound more conversational.”

Elia had been truly reluctant to let anyone, especially Jonathan, read the draft, but he was such a huge help. Not only had he come up with really great insights and thought-provoking notes, but he was coming in from a completely different angle as Elia. She was able to get a glimpse of how viewers would interpret the words.

They continued for a couple hours, until Elia had fallen asleep and sat slouched leaning on Jonathan. He nudged her a few times trying to wake her up but she just made a whiny noise and snuggled up against his arm with her face between his arm and the pillow. Jon looked across the room at Kane, who just shrugged, and accepted he was just sleeping in that position now.

“You drool so much in your sleep.” Elia opened her eyes and looked up to see Jonathan staring at her. She wiped her face with her sleeve.
“What time is it?”
“8:00 a.m.”
She sat up quickly, apologizing for falling asleep on him. She started wiping some drool off Jonathan’s arm with her sleeve, but he laughed and told her to stop spreading it around. She stopped for a second, and waited until Jon turned away from her. Leaning forward she started trying to smear her mouth all over his face. He yelled and jumped out of bed.
“I’m not sleeping on this side of the room anymore, Kaner loves my morning drool face!” Elia yelled at him. He picked a pillow off the floor and threw it at her.
“That’s because you and Kaner are gross. I’ve seen you share a mouth guard.”

Elia didn’t see what was so gross about that, Kaner didn’t even put his mouth guard in his mouth. The trio got dressed and headed to West Hollywood for brunch at Fig and Olive. As soon as their car pulled up next to the restaurant several photographers started pushing up to take pictures. Toews got out first, and took Elia’s hand lightly as he pushed through the small crowd. Patrick followed behind, cameras snapping in his face, even though the photographers weren’t sure who he was. Once in the restaurant they were immediately escorted to a back atrium separate from the large dining room. The room had high ceilings in the center, with balcony seating that wrapped around the walls. The center of the room was lined with plants that bordered several tables made of lounge seating with pillows and chairs. A tree grew in the very center. As they were being seated somebody called Elia’s name from across the room. A tiny blonde haired hazel eyed girl walked over.

“Oh hey!” Elia said as she hugged her, “What are you up to?”
“I’m just getting lunch with Mike, I didn’t know you came here?”
“I love the food here but it’s like a paparazzi wet dream outside, I can’t handle it.”
“Are you dating Jonathan Toews?!” She asked, motioning to Jonny.
“Oh my God, no, I, wow, I totally forgot you are dating one of these hockey people, do you want to join us?”

In a few minutes Hilary Duff and her boyfriend Mike Comrie joined them at the table. Hilary and Elia met during the filming of Elia’s second movie, “Speak”. Although they had taken very different paths in life they remained friends since. Hilary had thought she saw Elia at the Oilers game the previous week but assumed it must have been someone else, because why would she be at a hockey game? Elia apologized for not calling her and they planned to meet up the next time the teams played each other.

Throughout brunch a procession of visitors stopped by to talk to Elia. Matt Damon, Luciana Barosso, George Clooney and his girlfriend Elisabetta stopped for a few moments. Matt told Elia he’s been hearing non stop from Ben Affleck what a pain in the ass Jeremy Renner has been on set since breaking up with Elia. Clooney wanted to know why she wasn’t at the “Up in The Air” showing at Telluride and made her promise to be at the premiere in December. She invited them out to the game but they said they already had reservations at Nobu. It was like every celebrity in Los Angeles was eating at the same restaurant. Elia remarked that Los Angeles was very incestuous. Everyone ran in the same small clique, dated all the same people and went to all the same places. Hilary seconded that and said that’s why she was dating a hockey player.

That night the Blackhawks and Kings went into overtime. The game was decided in a shootout, and the Blackhawks lost. Instead of sitting in the Blackhawks suite with Burish like usual, Elia had watched the game with Kristin Bell and Dax Shepard. For the first time, she decided to declare publicly for the team and wore a Kane jersey. There was nothing worse than your team losing while sitting with opposing fans. Especially when one was Dax and many beers had been drank. Kristin had to stop them from fighting at the end when Elia started screaming that he should be a Redwings fan anyways since he was from Detroit. Elia was yelling “Original Six!” and Dax was yelling back “Wayne Gretzky!”. After Dax and Kristin left Elia found her way to the visitors locker room. She wanted to make sure the guys rallied to go out on the town.

A lot of the team wanted to go back to the hotel, but she was able to get a group of guys to go out. They hit up Alibi Room for some food before heading to Greystone Manor. From the outside, Greystone Manor was mostly a white box. A wrought iron fence and topiary hedge separated it from the street. Inside was a large open dance floor. Half a dozen chandeliers hung from the ceiling, which was made up of gold ceiling tiles. The only seating was lush purple velvet couches lined with gold trim against the wall, and a few VIP couches of metallic silver velvet along the dance floor. It was dark and loud, with purple spotlights shooting out from the far end of the room where a DJ was spinning. They were led upstairs to the balcony and seated at a private table. Down a ways from them a young black girl with a pompadour wearing a maroon peplum skirt and gold shirt stood up and motioned them to come over.

Forgoing their own table they made their way over to Rihanna’s party. The music was pounding, as the DJ remixed Kid Cudi’s Day n Night. After introductions and some shots Rihanna, some of her girl friends, Elia, Versteeg, Burish, Kane and Toews went down to the dance floor. Sharp, Seabrook and Niemi stayed at the table and hung out with Rihanna’s entourage, mostly big guys who didn’t talk much.

Elia refused to dance with Burish, who pretended not to care. Maybe he really didn’t care. They were in Los Angeles surrounded by glamorous women. Versteeg and Kane danced with Elia like nobody was watching. But people were, taking pictures and video. A beautiful brunette with amber eyes walked up and hugged Elia. Elia yelled into Kane and Steegers ears, introducing them to Camilla Belle. The four of them continued dancing, until Camilla and Kris went up to the bar together. Elia noticed that Toews had been standing by himself awkwardly. She grabbed Kane and Toews and asked them if they wanted to go back upstairs. They nodded, and the trio walked back towards the stairs. Just as they reached the table a voice called to Elia from behind.
“Elia Downs. In all the clubs in Hollywood you walk into mine.”

She turned and smiled as she caught two narrow blue eyes looking at her.

“Hey Leo.” They hugged and kissed cheeks, “What are you doing out, you’re never out!” She asked.
“Don’t get any ideas, I’m here with Bar.”
Elia started to introduce the guys but Leo interrupted. He didn’t care to meet anyone.
“You’re going to hate me.” Dicaprio always looked like he was smiling. Elia thought he looked like a fox, always smiling about something only he knew. This could be going anywhere.
“Why is that love?”
“I just signed on to play Jay Gatsby. For Baz Luhrmann.”
“Wow…” Elia was taken aback, and a little drunk. “I mean...I’ve always thought you’d be a perfect Gatsby. I struggled a lot in my decision not to take you...I...You know, Baz has such a different approach than me. I’m not mad, I wouldn’t want you to pass that up.”

She had heard that Baz Luhrmann was doing a Gatsby adaptation. After “Australia” flopped she didn’t really think he’d be back doing such a big production anytime soon but apparently she was wrong.

“Who else has signed on?” She asked, trying to sound neutral.
“Carrie Mulligan as Daisy.”
“I hate her face. That’s a terrible choice. You are like 40 and she looks like she’s 12.”
“I just turned 35.”
“Whatever. Who else?”
“I did a reading yesterday with Tobey McGuire for Nick Carraway.”
Elia’s face turned to stone.
“That’s impossible, he’s my Nick Carraway.”

Leo shrugged and took a sip of his bourbon. A sick feeling of dread started creeping into Elia’s stomach. The beat of the music washed over her like a tidal wave. The spotlights criss crossing back and forth over her face made her feel like the walls were closing in on her and the world was spinning. She prodded Leo for more information. He didn’t know much, just that Tobey had been reading for the part and they wanted to see how he and Leo fit together. The music kept pounding but all Elia could hear was the sound of her own breathe and the heart beating in her chest. She took her phone out of her pocket and started scrolling through to find Tobey. She excused herself, saying she needed to get some air, and headed outside.

Stepping out of the front doors was a mistake. The flash of cameras hit her like a strobe light. Ignoring them she walked down the sidewalk, dialing Tobey’s number and lighting a cigarette. He answered and sounded like he had been sleeping. It was almost two in the morning. He was surprised she was calling him, as he had been released by the Weinstein company a week earlier. They had told his agent they were moving in a different direction. Her hand fell to her side as her mind reeled. How could this be true? She ended the call not sure if Tobey was still talking and started dialing Harvey. She kept calling, dialing five times before he picked up. It was true. He had fired Tobey. Harvey didn’t want Tobey McGuire, he wanted rising star Zac Efron. They had signed his contract two days ago. Elia didn’t listen anymore, she threw her phone against the wall of the Greystone. She felt a hand on her shoulder. Jonathan had come out to find her. He asked what happened, but she said nothing. She could hear Jonathan trying to comfort her. She could feel his arms trying to wrap around her.

She pushed him away and headed back into the club. He followed her back inside, up the stairs to the table. She grabbed the bottle of Grey Goose off the table and started drinking it straight from the bottle. Staggering back she started walking back down the hall and to the stairs with the bottle. Jonny and Kane ran after her. Security tried to stop her from bringing the bottle outside but she held onto it like a football tight end and burst through the doors. Kane grabbed her arm and asked her where she was going. Pulling away she hailed a cab. She told Kane she would find them in the morning, got into the cab and left.

Notes