Chapter 33. Juliet, the Model
Juliet, the Model
PRESENT DAY
The lights were coming down at the Chinese Theatre, the tuxedo-clad attendants were rolling up the red carpet, and still Scout was nowhere to be found. Whispers buzzed outside the theater as Scout’s crisis comms team covertly interrogated guests before security got a chance to hustle them inside.
Haley, Scout’s agent, seized Juliet by the arm, long fingernails digging into her bicep. “Has she texted you?” she whispered. Her blue eyes jumped to Juliet’s date. “Do I know you?”
“No, Haley, I haven’t heard from her.” It was a sunny afternoon, and Juliet squinted, wishing she’d brought sunglasses. “And this is Luca Clearwater. She runs an advocacy group called the Green Lions. You might’ve seen her on CNN.” Juliet couldn’t keep the pride from her voice.
“It’s nice—” Luca started to say, but Haley interrupted.
“Have you heard from Scout?”
Luca gave her a small smile. “I’m afraid I haven’t met Scout yet. That’s why I’m here, actually. To meet her.”
“Shit.” Haley chewed her fingernail, a nervous habit Juliet never would’ve suspected of the steel-nerved agent.
“Well, if she contacts either of you, tell her she’s the one who’s been begging me for years to get her songs on a movie soundtrack.
Now I have, and she gets invited to the goddamn premiere, and she doesn’t show up.
Tell her she’s making a lot of people very angry. ”
Luca’s poise didn’t falter. “Is it unusual for Scout to go dark?”
“I’d love to say yes. But lately, it’s par for the course.
” Haley exhaled. “I don’t know whether to be scared she’s gotten herself into trouble or worried she’s out there—” She caught herself.
“Never mind. If your Hot Girl Murder Club, or whatever you call yourselves, gets to her first, tell her criminal charges are one thing, but breaking her word to me is another.” Haley strode off.
“That’s not what we’re called,” Juliet yelled to her back. She grimaced at Luca. “I’m sorry. Agents, you know?”
Luca smiled like she found the whole thing amusing.
“I used to think Congress was the country’s biggest shark tank, but Hollywood might give them a run for their money.
” Her gaze fell on the Chinese Theatre’s uniformed attendants, who were pulling down the step-and-repeat and dismantling the lights, deconstructing the glamorous world of the movie premiere.
What lay behind it was Hollywood Boulevard, a congested drag of fast-food chains and souvenir shops.
“Fascinating how easily it can all come down,” Luca mused.
“It’s just smoke and mirrors. Like the Wizard of Oz behind his curtain. ”
“I’m sorry Scout’s not here,” Juliet said. “I really wanted you to talk.”
“Juliet! Who are you wearing?”
Juliet twirled and found one of the paparazzi Cybele had introduced her to. “It’s vintage Miranda Preston,” she said, feeling a warm flush as she struck a pose, loving that Luca was witnessing this moment.
“I’m switching to video,” warned the photog. “I know the carpet’s winding down, but I’d love a quick clip about why you’re excited for the movie.”
A speaking role! Maybe Juliet would end up on Access Hollywood—maybe her family would see it in Mississippi. “Scout Sage wrote half the songs on the Infinite Hearts soundtrack,” she gushed, “so you know it’s going to be good.”
Luca stepped closer to Juliet, entering the shot. “What we’re really excited about is Scout’s support for a rally my organization is hosting to say no to Gabriel Knox for president.”
Juliet’s cheeks flamed. She hadn’t thought to mention the rally—truthfully, she hadn’t known whether talking politics on the red carpet was allowed.
Eager to correct her mistake, she added, “That’s right—Knox will be terrible for women, and the working class, and anyone who cares about the planet.
” The words rolled off her tongue, lifted from the Green Lions website.
“Exactly.” Luca’s expression was urgent. “Everyone should come show up next Thursday, in front of the Los Angeles City Hall. Who knows?” Luca winked. “You might even see Scout there.”
“Wow.” The photographer’s eyes were wide as he shouldered his camera. “I had no idea Scout was getting into the election. Thanks for the scoop. Expect to see this air.”
He hurried away, revealing Miranda and Cybele standing a foot behind him in stunning floor-length gowns, frozen as wax figurines. Miranda’s mouth was open. Cybele looked furious.
“What the hell was that?” The model stalked toward Luca. “You can’t commit Scout to your protest. She doesn’t even know you.”
“Juliet?” Miranda’s eyes flashed with betrayal. She didn’t seem to notice that Juliet was wearing one of her dresses, that she’d spent her hard-earned money buying it as a gesture of love. “We have your back and this is how you repay us?”
For a moment, Juliet couldn’t breathe. Luckily Luca stepped in, meeting Cybele’s gaze with her own. “I’m sure Scout will support the rally once we get a chance to talk. And if she doesn’t, what’s the harm? Maybe some young women show up looking for her and become politically engaged instead.”
“The harm is, you’re using us.” Cybele’s gaze flicked to Juliet. “And you’re letting her.”
“Oh, come on.” Luca was using the tone she normally reserved for people like Knox.
She lifted an elegant hand to the disassembled red carpet.
“What, you want to protect the sanctity of this self-congratulatory circle jerk? There are people dying because they can’t afford medical care, and you’re all walking around in ten-thousand-dollar dresses.
It’s immoral. People are starving, and inside there’s a spread of hors d’oeuvres they’re about to throw untouched into the trash. ”
“Don’t worry about us,” Cybele said. “We do our part. Isn’t that right, Juliet?”
Juliet knew Cybele was reminding her of the debt she owed them.
But she wasn’t grateful, she was angry. “I won’t apologize for wanting to do something that matters,” she said stiffly.
“I thought you guys cared about people. Does the care end at your circle of friends?” She pointed at the busy street, at the tourists in cringey jean shorts and Crocs, women who would never be invited to a movie premiere, who didn’t have trust funds or interesting bone structure. “What about them?”
Miranda lifted her chin higher. “I think you should leave.”
It was like being punched in the gut. But Juliet did as she asked, following Luca out past the tall metal gates that cordoned off the premiere, back to the other side of the proverbial velvet rope.
Luca said nothing as they pushed their way through foot traffic.
Hollywood Boulevard was full of spectacles, Judy Garland and Clark Gable impersonators walking around in costume, guitarists strumming for change, a man wearing a sign scribbled with Bible verses.
It wasn’t until they came upon a wig store that Luca stopped, turned to Juliet, and said, “You have a braver soul than your friends give you credit for.”
The praise was so unexpected that Juliet felt the tears she’d been keeping at bay well in her eyes. She wiped them furiously. “You think?”
“Come here.” Luca yanked her into the alley next to the shop. “Let me level with you. I only came to the premiere because I’m worried our protest isn’t going to make enough noise to kneecap Knox. If we don’t have enough people, it will fizzle.”
Juliet nodded gravely. “I get it.”
Luca lowered her voice, gripping Juliet’s wrist. “I’m telling you, you have no idea the things Knox is capable of. We can’t leave this election to chance. We need a guarantee.”
“I’ve seen things.” The words tumbled out of Juliet. “On shoots, I mean. When I was younger…” She was rambling, trying to show Luca that she might be only eighteen, and naive, but she understood what was at stake. Luca squeezed her wrist tighter in response.
“We have an idea, Juliet. It’s a bit radical. And we need your help.”