Chapter 22

" He didn't ask you to marry him yet and you already concluded? Why not give the both of you a chance. Let him know how far you would want a relationship with him to go. Wait, you two didn't even officially date, did you?"
Kim rolled her eyes. She turned around and grabbed the dish towel and began to wipe the dishes before replacing them one after the other in the cupboard. Tessy waited patiently, her hands folded across her chest. Kim felt jittery under her probing gaze. She wanted to bare her mind on this,she wanted to talk to someone and she wasn't backing out. Not with Tessy.
"Tessy, I took an instant likeness to the man and we had sex a few times but we didn't have anything official. I had a fair share of his good body. I'm done, I don't want to let myself give in__"
Tessy laughed out loud and for an instant, it occurred to Kim that she could hit Tessy in the mouth to keep her from laughing but she dismissed the thought the moment it clicked.
"You're not done. You like being around the man, much more than you want to admit"
" It doesn't matter Tessy".
" It does,. Sweetheart. I'm sure he feels the same way about you. Did you ever see the affection in his eyes each time he touched you? Uhn?"
Tessy was grinning mischievously now and it annoyed Kim, yet, she didn't want to stop talking with Tessy. She finished arranging the dishes and wiped her hands thoroughly with the dish towel before saying
"I felt it, Tess. But guess what"
"What?"
" He doesn't seem to be interested in me anymore. Just two days ago, I was upstairs to see the man and he was way too formal"
Tessy rolled her eyes.
" Being formal to someone you desire is a message. He wants to see if you'd be comfortable having him that way and look at you baby girl, you don't want that, you want the damn man!"
Tessy was both excited and amused. Kim tried to figure out what amused her so much but couldn't, so she began to walk out of the kitchen. Tessy followed behind immediately.
"You like the man, more than you'd ever admit. Give him a damn chance, tell him how you feel, if he's willing to rock n roll with you, that's fine. Have a good time with him while it lasts, buddy!"
Kim let the words of a twenty three year old gregarious lady roll in her head for seconds. She wasn't the type that enjoyed the moment and forget what was to come next. Her Copulations with Lennox had been almost like she couldn't resist but now she couldn't get the man out of her system. She wanted to have a piece of him and go away, sated but now she wanted, needed more. She wouldn't be selfish enough to want someone who'd make sacrifices for her. She wanted to be the one who made the sacrifices but she wasn't ready yet .
"There's no chance for him, Tess. I won't let him know how I feel whatsoever".
" You're being hard on yourself"
Tessy said thoughtfully. The amusement had left her eyes and In them, Kim saw an understanding, passionate friend who truly cared.
"I'm going to leave south Florida for good".
Tessy gasped. This time not in mock horror but from sincere surprise .
"Why?"
She asked, palely. She'd walked over to Kim's side by the window and they both stood, watching the street below them. It was already past seven in the evening and it was dark.
"I'm not running away. I just feel South Florida doesn't give me the exposure I want, the opportunities. . everything".
" Where are you going to live then?".
"New York. I'll get a house there".
Tessy opened her mouth In a small O and then her face contorted into a panicked concern.
"Kim, getting a comfortable house In New York or even Queens is not cheap and __"
Kim took Tessy by the hands and said
" I'll take care of it. There's going to be a way"
She was optimistic. Even if it cost her very last dollar, she would make sure she had a good apartment to live in New York and decent meals on her table everyday while she worked, made herself available for all the big auditions in new York.
Tessy was going to nod and say ' I believe you, Kim' when her telephone started ringing.
"It's Blakes, Tess" she said and she picked up the receiver
"Hello, Blakes".
"Kimberly Foster! Our movie is officially out on the big platform and you won't believe the ratings we're getting. We're going to be nominated for several awards this year, I'm sure. Oh, dear, Everyone's talking about it. It's the latest trend!"
" Blakes, I want to believe this ".
" Of course you should, you little star!"
Blakes was unusually loud and cheerful and Kimberly could not keep the pleasure creeping up her face from doing so.
"You're going to be getting different casting calls soon. I already called Joe and a few others, you all, prepare, I'll call Tess and let her know since you all never seem to be engaged in the trends!"
He hung up.
" CRADLE is going to take us places!!"
She exclaimed as she set down the receiver. Tessy looked like she already knew and she was going to say so when her cell phone rang in her pocket.
"Hello, Blakes"
Kim watched her listen interestedly, rolling her eyes often before saying
"Thanks, Blakes. I know".
They both looked at each other and jumped.
"We put in so much for CRADLE, all that emotion and weight watching!"
Tessy said. Even though it had only been Kim who at a point had to appear sickly and malnourished. She'd lost so much weight at the beginning of the shoot but she'd recovered very fast after the first month and she was in good shape when she met Lennox. If not, would the man had found his way back to her apartment after she'd delivered his pizza and parted ways with him?.
"We all did good. I'm happy about this".
She said under her breath.
Kim didn't count on being so lucky and popular in a few days. Apparently, CRADLE had opened doors for all the movies she'd been a part of to come into limelight. There were tweets about her and Joe. Mostly about her . There'd also been speculations that she dated her co star, Joe on set which to her was one risible tale.
She heard more of her self everywhere now. The bus they'd taken to new York was in an excited chaos. Everyone recognized her as Juliet on the film CRADLE and equally recognized Tessy as the sister. They took selfies with more people than they could count and signed more autographs than they could remember for young people but suddenly, none of them wanted to be on a soap opera. They wanted more. Even as they sat across each other in an assorted but secluded coffee shop around times square, they decided that they wanted more. Much more than a role in a soap opera.
A gentleman recognized them as the stars on CRADLE and paid for their coffee, commending their good work and excellence.
"Blakes must be the proudest man in the universe".
Tessy mused.
" He deserves to be. He's been in the industry for years and this is his limelight. I'm shining right at the same time with him ".
Tessy watched her lovingly.
" We're shining"
"Yes, we are, Tess".
They both beamed. Kim was certain she was going to get an apartment in New York and she'd began to make mental notes of the places she'd like to have an apartment. She was going to leave the sandy beautiful Florida to New York and she absolutely loved it.
"Still want to move here?"
Tessy asked, startling her out of her wandering thoughts.
"Absolutely. I really want to. I didn't realize how long ago it's been since I stepped into this town and how much I miss the hustle and bustle until a few minutes ago, I love this place. Way more than South Florida, I guess".
" I see. How soon do you intend to move here?"
" Tessy, for now, I don't know yet".
A man and his wife walked in. They took a booth close to the door and settled in. The wife was scanning the place, running her eyes around the place when her gaze landed on Kimberly's.
"That's Kimberly Foster! She's juliet!!."
She was on her feet the next moment, making her way excitedly to where Kim and Tessy where seated, Tessy turned around to see the woman and she screamed with delight.
"Tessy Brooks!! I can't believe I'm in the same place as these wonderful women! I'm so fortunate"
The lady's husband came behind her and said Hello to the ladies.
"My wife's so into you. She's practically searching the internet for every single movie you did. Including the ones you did in your kindergarten for your school drama team!"
The man said to Kimberly particularly. Kimberly was touched. She took photos with couples and so did Tessy. They thanked the couple for being fans and they left the premises.
"We're going to lodge somewhere in town, right?"
Tessy was asking and Kim Nodded her head.
"Tomorrow, we head back to South Florida."
The receptionist at the hotel recognized them and was extremely delighted to have them lodge in their hotel for the night. The waitress that delivered their meal from the room service department recognized them and was delighted. Much as Kim liked the attention and recognition, she wanted some time alone and so they were in their hotel room till early the next morning when they checked out and took a bus back to South Florida. The audition at New York totally forgotten. Kimberly went home alone and Tessy went her way.
Kimberly was high on her relocation plans and her growing fame as she punched her floor on the elevator. She stood Inside day dreaming about life in a crowded town like New York and it thrilled her. She didn't notice the figure lurking around the hallway. She opened her door and was going to step in when a feminine voice called.
"Kimberly Foster. Good evening".