If you've ever lived in Southern California, you're probably aware that most people are only one or two degrees of separation from the entertainment industry. Of course, the actual level of connection varies. Personally, I have a few connections. A co-worker of mine worked as a grip on a couple television series in the early 80s, and even had a couple lines on one show. I dated a girl who went to UCLA who is good friends with a talented, but largely unknown actress who has had a few small roles here and there. However, my closest connection is through my friend Gwen, whose younger sister had a starring role in a short lived teen series on cable a few years ago. She's definitely got some connections to "young Hollywood", although she's far from "A-List" herself.
Said sister, "Jenny", is a charming, attractive, poised, and articulate young woman whose body I would love to explore, given the opportunity. She, however, really only dates within the industry, and tends to go for sickeningly gorgeous men. Now, I'm no troll, but women tend to like me for my wit and charm rather than solely for my appearance.
Still, Jenny is a fun girl and genuinely sweet, which is part of the reason she is so well liked. We got along great the first couple times she came to visit Gwen. So well, in fact, that she specifically suggested Gwen bring me along to the party Jenny organized at her pad one weekend. Gwen's fiancé is a friend of mine who hated Jenny's last party, and he gave his blessing for me to go with Gwen as her "date", relieved that he wouldn't have to go.
Gwen and I dressed far more formally than we normally might have for a party at a friend's house. Gwen wore a sleek, basic "little black dress". I went with black slacks and a blue dress shirt. Nothing too fancy, but hardly what I'd call "hanging out clothes".
The party itself was stuffy and had a surprisingly older crowd. Gwen had warned me that there would be a lot of "industry types" there; agents, lackeys and hangers-on. Still, the food was great and the drinks were free, so I could hardly complain. I stuck close to Gwen, who knew enough people there to keep us from getting bored.
"Have you seen Jenny?" I asked Gwen after an hour. "I'd think you'd want to say hi to your sister."
"I saw her across the room a while ago talking to some guy who looked like an agent. Honestly she throws these to work the room more than actually have a good time. We'll say hi later," Gwen told me.
The conversation in the room suddenly became more animated, and I noticed the majority of the people looking in the direction of the front door. Being taller than most, I was able to look over the crowd and see an extremely pretty blond woman had entered, trailed by a very large, intimidating looking man.
"Is that Kate Bosworth?" I asked Gwen following a moment of sudden recognition. I knew I wasn't the only person asking that question. The party's attendees could practically smell the fame and success coming from the young actress.
"Yeah, it is," Gwen replied without emotion, and resumed the story she had been telling before I interrupted. I stared at the famous young actress for a moment, but she was quickly mobbed, and I politely turned my attention back to my friend.
A while later I felt a strong urge to pee. "You know of any secret bathrooms here?" I asked Gwen. "I don't really want to wait in line."
Gwen nodded. "Follow me," she said, leading me to the quieter upstairs part of the house. She opened a bedroom door and pointed inside. "There's a bathroom in there," she said. "I'm going back to the party, I'm sure you can pee by yourself," she said smiling.
"You're a lifesaver Gwen!" I replied.
"And don't you forget it, bitch!" Gwen replied with a wink and a smile.
I was momentarily distracted by the new issue of Cosmo sitting in the bathroom's magazine rack. Like most issues, the inside failed to follow through on the seductive promise of the cover, and I put the magazine down and resumed the task at hand.
Halfway through relieving myself, I was surprised to hear the handle of the bathroom open, and realized I'd forgotten to lock the door.
"Oh my God, I'm sorry!" I heard behind me. I quickly zipped up and turned around only to see a blushing Kate Bosworth!
"It's ok!" I blurted out. "I mean, I should have locked it, I guess it's broken or something. I'm done anyway, if you need to..." I quickly flushed the toilet, somewhat embarrassed to have been interrupted peeing by a well known movie star.
"Oh, ok. Thanks," she said. Her voice truly was beautiful, yet there was a friendly quality to it. I thought about making a quick exit, but didn't want to appear non-hygienic, so I started washing my hands while Kate waited patiently.
"I'm James, by the way," I said while scrubbing my hands. "I'm a friend of Jenny's sister."
"I'm Kate," Kate replied, extending her hand to shake mine once I'd dried it.
"I know," I said awkwardly.
She giggled nervously in reply. "I still haven't gotten used to how to introduce myself. It seems so arrogant just to assume they know who I am, but it's kinda silly when they do."
"I can imagine," I said. "It must get weird too, people knowing things about you, but you knowing nothing about them."
"You get used to it. It helps if you keep a lot of your life private." She then looked at me silently, as if expecting something.
"Oh, I should probably... well it was nice to meet you, Kate," I stammered.
"You too, James. It's always nice to meet guys who can talk to me like a normal human being," Kate said.
"Cool. Well, bye," I said, stepping out the door into the hallway, my heart racing from my almost surreal encounter.
When I found Gwen downstairs I told her about my little brush with fame.
"Katie's a sweetheart, isn't she?" Gwen replied. "She can sometimes seem snobbish and stuck up at first, but really it's just she can be a little shy."
I grunted non-comittally, my story having been completely trumped by Gwen's apparent familiarity with the young starlet.
It was half an hour later that I saw Jenny approaching me like a homing missile. "James and I have to talk," she informed her sister, pulling me aside.
"What's up?" I asked.
"I just spoke to Kate, you know Kate Bosworth? She asked me about my sister's friend. Asked if you're her boyfriend," Jenny said, waiting for me to respond.
"And?" I asked.
"Are you stupid? What do you think it means when a girl asks her friend about a guy, and if he's single?" she asked in a condescending tone.
A little light turned on in my head, but I chose not to acknowledge it. "That she has an inquisitive mind?" I asked weakly.
"You're not getting it. Let me explain something to you. Being famous and single can be surprisingly lonely. You know all the complaints beautiful women have, about how it's only jerks that have the gall to come talk to them? Well that's almost double when you're rich and famous. Couple that with the fact that you're never sure who's just trying to use you, and it can be rough to get to know anyone."
"Ok... so?" I asked.
"All I'm saying is if you play your cards right you might have a shot. I won't lie, I want her to stay longer and have a good time, it will look good for my party, but I can tell she's getting a little bored. Go ask her if she wants to go get some fresh air with you," Jenny instructed me.
