When I got to Gabe, he wrapped me in a bear hug and slapped my back. He seemed as excited by my win as I was.
“David, on behalf of everyone at the studio, thank you. Thank you for the hell you went through, and thank you for showing such surprising maturity and professionalism for someone so young.”
“I appreciate that you believed in me and gave me a chance,” I responded.
“I never had any doubts. You were my pick from the get-go, and you proved me right.”
“It wasn’t me alone,” I said and pointed to people in the crowd. “You all had a hand in this.”
Gabe introduced me to his wife and then let me go talk to the other cast and crew from the movie. Many of them I hadn’t seen since Cuba. Halle accompanied me, and my two helpers, Lexi and Scarlet, tagged along. I made it a point to spend a few minutes with everyone.
Gabe had a photographer following me around, documenting the evening as I met the team. I would ask Lexi to get me copies so I could remember this evening.
Once we finally finished making the rounds, Scarlet shook her head.
“How did you learn all their names?”
“David taught me that if you got to know the crew and made friends with them, it would pay off. They generally would want to get the little things right that would make you look good in the movie,” Halle said. “Besides, that’s just him. If you haven’t noticed, he’s never met a stranger.”
“I thought I saw food,” I said to head off this conversation.
While I loved to be the center of attention, we were at a party. I wanted to eat and then drag someone out on the dance floor. I planned to experience the whole Hollywood rooftop party experience. It fit my life goal of ‘no regrets.’
◊◊◊
If I thought the rooftop party was cool, what Paul Andon had organized was maybe even better. His studio held their after-party at the Hollywood Museum, located in the historic Max Factor building.
The museum mostly focused on older cinema, with exhibits on Marilyn Monroe, Lucille Ball, Jean Harlow, and movies from that era, though they did have some more modern displays. And they had some even older ones, going back to silent films. They had a lot of memorabilia, including costumes and props, from some of the classic movies in Rita’s collection of DVDs she’d given me.
I realized that some of my friends wouldn’t be too excited about this place. But for any sort of movie buff, it was both educational and entertaining.
We’d barely begun to get the lay of the land when Bree Steno and Elizabeth Paul, two of my costars in the
“Congratulations,” Bree said as she gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek. “It didn’t take you long to let your award go to your head.”
The cast of
Elizabeth handed me her phone to show me that Amelia Coe had posted something on her social media site.
‘Just banged the sexiest actor in the bathroom at the Academy Awards. David A. Dawson is even hotter with his clothes off!’
I showed Lexi.
“On it,” she said, and instantly had her phone plastered to her ear, calling Frank.
“What is she thinking?” I asked.
“She either is looking to up her Q-score or isn’t thinking,” Bree said.
“Did you really?” Elizabeth asked.
I glanced over, and both Halle and Scarlet had unreadable looks on their faces. Crud!
My expression must have told on me because Halle threw a face.
“I need a drink,” she said, and left me to talk to my castmates.
“Sorry. I didn’t realize you were a ‘real’ couple, or I wouldn’t have said anything in front of her,” Bree said.
I shrugged.
“Honestly, to the best of my knowledge, we’re still just good friends. We dated for a while, and I believe if we lived in the same town, it might be more,” I admitted.
“‘Stupid boy,’ you should go after her,” Scarlet prompted.
“I’d better …” I started, and both Bree and Elizabeth waved me off.
I spotted Halle as she entered the women’s room. Letting out a disgusted sigh, I hurried to follow her in. What was it with me and bathrooms tonight?
I found her looking into the mirror.
“I’m sorry,” I blurted out.
She looked at me sadly and shook her head.
“No. I’m sorry,” she said as a woman came out of a stall and gave me a dirty look.
That was until she recognized me. Frick! Even when it was apparent that you were having an intense moment, people felt the need to get their picture taken with you. Frank would have a cow when she posted a bathroom photo of me with her. I guess Halle must have found it funny because she volunteered to snap the shot.
When I finally got rid of my ‘biggest fan,’ I grabbed Halle and pulled her out of the bathroom. We found a quiet little alcove in which to talk without interruption for a moment.
“I knew better. I’m afraid I made this weekend more than it was,” Halle said.
“Halle, I feel awful. You must know that I care for you,” I said.
