The First Rule Read online

  The First Rule

  by

  Kate Stone

  The First Rule

  Copyright 2019, Kate Stone

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, transmitted or distributed in any printed or electronic form by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of Yasmin Adler, except in the case of brief quotations embodied within reviews and other non-commercial uses allowed by copyright law.

  For permission requests, email [email protected].

  www.AuthorKateStone.com

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  For Mr. Stone, who makes all my dreams come true.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  More books by Kate Stone

  About the Author

  Chapter 1

  “I need a favor.”

  Ashley’s words echoed in Meghan’s head, not for the first time, as she mounted the stairs to the Theater department conference room and wondered if any of this would end up being worth dragging herself out of bed on a Saturday morning. They had been in the USC cafeteria that Monday morning when Ashley first suggested this crazy idea, and Meghan was starting to think the lack of coffee had made her more susceptible to her friend’s requests.

  “What kind of a favor?” Meghan asked, eying the congealed lump of scrambled eggs on her plate.

  “Do you remember Derek?”

  “Your brother? Of course. Why?”

  “He’s back. The 9 to 5 working life didn’t sit him.”

  Meghan nodded. “He was in business before, right? Now he’s doing - wait, don’t tell me- film.”

  “Film studies, yeah,” replied Ashley. “How the hell did you remember that?”

  She shrugged and confessed, “One thing I remember about him is his love of movies and filmmaking. I don’t think I’ve seen him since high school.”

  “Thank the divorce for that,” said Ashley, opening another packet of brown sugar and dumping it over her oatmeal. “It sucks, too, because I guess I thought,” she trailed off, making eye contact with Meghan and then breaking it. “I don’t know. Anyway, he’s working on his first short film and he needs actors.”

  Meghan laughed. “At this school he must have better options than me.”

  “You’re a drama major,” retorted Ashley, grinning. “Besides, after your blowup with Professor McGowan in your last studio class I figured you could use new material for your reel.”

  “Is this a favor for him or for me?”

  “Maybe both,” said Ashley with a small smile.

  This could help her, too, she thought as she rounded a corner and started down the hallway. She’d never thought she would end up needing to rely on friends for gigs after her first year studying acting, but Ashley had been right. Ever since the evisceration Professor McGowan had given her in front of the entire Drama III class last year, it seemed like the film students suddenly had other go-to performers. Gossip ran rampant in the Theater department, and it didn’t take long for everyone to hear how badly she had behaved. Meghan still found herself cringing when she thought about it. You should have kept your mouth shut, piped up a voice in her head. What did you expect to happen when you talked back to the guy?

  Enough. She had to stop revisiting that ugly final performance. This film could resurrect her reputation, at least among her peers, and if she got something useful out of it for her reel, all the better. Besides, who in the entertainment industry hadn't relied on nepotism at some point? She took a moment to steel herself when she reached the conference room, smoothing her shirt and tucking her curly hair behind her ears, before pushing the door open.

  Derek had moved the table and chairs out of the way as much as possible, and when she first entered the room he was fiddling with a camera on a tripod. It wasn't until the door swung shut that he seemed to realize she was there, and when he glanced up, she was taken aback.

  Derek was different. She supposed that made sense - she hadn't seen him for seven years, after all - but she hadn't expected him to have changed this much. Gone was the acne, he'd let blond his hair grow down to his neck, and he finally appeared to have filled out a frame that had been gangly and uncoordinated the last time she'd seen him. Are you so surprised? She thought. Nobody looked their best as high school freshmen. You included.

  He was staring at her, and with a jolt she realized he was waiting for a response but she had no idea what he said. "I'm so sorry," she said, taking a step toward him. "I was completely zoned out there." Not off to a great start, considering this was the only part she had been invited to try out for this semester. Even though she and Ashley lived together, that was no guarantee she’d get the part, especially considering what a lousy actor Professor McGowan thought she was.

  Derek smiled a wide, genuine smile. "It's okay," he said. "I was just saying it's good to see you again."

  "Likewise," Meghan said. She extended her hand and he gave it an enthusiastic shake. "How have you been?"

  “Oh, you know,” he said, smirking slightly, “dropped out, had an epiphany, came back, and now I’m about a hundred credits behind. The usual college experience. If it doesn’t work out this time, I may throw in the towel and start my own landscaping business.”

  There was a brief pause, and then Meghan burst out laughing. “Nice try. You always hated yard work!”

  A grin spread across his face. “You remember that?”

  “I remember you always carrying on about chores,” Meghan responded. “You and your folks were in the middle of some argument or another most of the times I saw you.” She meant it teasingly, as a joke, but seeing his gaze fall she realized she had made a mistake. “Not that I can judge,” she added hastily. “I only started getting along with my parents once I left for school.”

  He chuckled. “I guess that’s how it goes. Well,” he said, clapping his hands together. “Shall we?”

  “Sure,” said Meghan, relieved to be past that moment. She didn’t usually put her foot in her mouth like this during auditions. She supposed it had something to do with him being a family friend. Or maybe that he's suddenly such a stud? that little voice whispered, but she silenced it. Now was not the time. "So I'm reading for Erica, right?" she asked as she pulled the crumpled script out of her bag.

  Derek nodded. "I'll read for Scott." He grabbed a second script, switched on the video camera and adjusted the focus before taking a step closer to Meghan. "Whenever you're ready."

  Meghan cleared her throat and nodded, squaring her shoulders.

  "And action."

  She met his gaze, centering herself, before beginning her line: "Look, I get that you don't want to see me right now. I probably wouldn't want to see me either. But I couldn't go back to Pasadena without at least telling you I'm sorry."

  His eyes narrowed as he looked up from his copy of the script. "Why?"

  "Because I love you," she said, "and because I needed to say it at least once. I know this isn't the time or the place, and I know I made a mistake with Molly, but that's the truth. I love you. I love you, and I'm an idiot for not realizing it sooner."

  He glanced at the page again and then met her gaze. His eyes were green and wide and
bright. Had she known that before and just forgotten?

  "I love you too," he said, "and Molly won't change that. God, I waited so long for this moment," he trailed off, looking away from her, and in spite of the melodrama in his voice, a clear mark of a non-actor, there was something earnest in the way he said the line. "Erica, it's too late."

  "Is it?" she recited quietly, slowly raising her hand to his cheek and wishing she could get another look at those green eyes. The scene went as far as the big kiss, and despite her tendency to be reserved when she performed material for the first time, she found herself to be not entirely turned off by the idea of kissing her best friend’s brother.

  It was just a scene, after all.

  Her heart pounding, she began to lean in, feeling stupid but excited at the idea of his lips on hers. She felt his skin under her hand. Their faces were within inches of each other.

  ”And cut,” said Derek, taking a step back.

  She dropped her hand and watched, stomach still in knots, as he shut off the video camera. He turned back to Meghan and eyed her for a moment, head cocked to one side.

  "What?" she asked.

  "You're good," he said at last, making her stomach do a wild dip.

  “I loved the way you said that last line. So,” he continued, crossing his arms, "do you want to be in my movie?"

  "Just like that?"

  "Just like that. I said you were good - besides, all the other drama students are busy with the fall show."

  "Ouch," she said. Ouch, indeed. They were doing Pygmalion this semester. He must have heard the talk about her, so why did he want to cast her?

  "Shit," he said, eyes widening. "I, uh... I didn't mean it like that."

  "Don't worry about it," she responded with a sheepish smile. "I guess we're both putting our feet in our mouths today."

  Derek chuckled and ran a hand through his hair. "Well, hey, at least you'll get to be in my midterm. And after that performance, I know I'm making the right call." He threw her an over-the-top wink and she laughed again, tossing her hair over her shoulder like a haughty starlet.

  "I'm sure you say that to all your leading ladies," she said, flapping her hand at him.

  He shrugged. "I don't know. You're my first." Their eyes met, and there was a moment of silence, during which she found herself scrambling to think of something else to say. Say something, you idiot!

  The moment had slipped away. She never had problems making small talk with guys. What had gotten into her? "Well," she said awkwardly, bending to pick up her backpack and cursing herself for being so tongue-tied, "I guess I should take off. You've probably got more people to audition."

  He looked like he was debating something as she hoisted her bag onto her back, and before she could turn to go, Derek asked, "Have you had breakfast yet?" Meghan shook her head. "Me neither," he said, "and I don't have to meet anyone else until ten. If you're free, do you want to go get a bite to eat?"

  "I, uh, yeah," said Meghan, feeling a surge of excitement. Studying for her Spanish midterm could wait a couple hours, right? "Do you want to head over to the cafeteria?"

  "I can't subject us to that," said Derek, laughing. "How about we go to my dorm?" Meghan raised her eyebrows. "Just to hang out," he said, raising his hands. "Honest. I can cook. And I guarantee it'll be better than what they serve in the dining hall."

  Her mind already revisiting the almost-kiss, Meghan nodded.

  Chapter 2

  "You live in a double?" she asked as they stepped out of the Hillside dorm's elevator and crossed the hall to the small door on the other side.

  Derek fumbled for his keys. "Yeah," he said. "I think I got lucky. They usually stick transfers in whatever place is free."

  "Well, it must be nice to have a bit more privacy," commented Meghan. She wondered if he ever brought guests over - female guests, to be specific - and again had to remind herself not to make it weird. He was Ashley's brother.

  The room was small, but Derek and his roommate made the most of what they had. Both occupants had raised their beds, loft-style, which left them space for a table, a small fridge, a microwave and two hot plates. Did the RAs never inspect this room, she wondered. She took a seat at the table jammed up next to the refrigerator and hoped she wouldn't be in the way. Derek produced a box of pancake mix, and began to clatter around.

  "You know, I'm kind of surprised you said yes," he said. "You've probably got better things to do than cozy up to an amateur filmmaker."

  "Well, you're not just any amateur filmmaker," Meghan reminded him. "Besides, you must be good if you got into the program."

  He turned away from the stove and smiled. "Yeah, I guess so. We'll see, won't we?"

  She laughed. "I guess we will."

  It wasn't long before the pancakes were done and he set them down on the table. "Courtesy of Aunt Jemima," he said. "Bon appetit."

  "So tell me," said Meghan as she began to eat, "what made you decide to start doing film?"

  "Business school wasn't for me," he answered. “And somewhere deep down I always wanted to make movies. Not blockbusters. It doesn’t matter if they make money. What matters is that they’re telling important stories, right?” Meghan nodded, enraptured. “It took me a long time to realize that - maybe too long - but I'm glad I did in the end. As cliche as it sounds, I'd rather be broke doing something I love than successful doing something I hate.”

  "I feel the same way," she said.

  "That said," he joked, sitting up in his chair, "I wouldn't say no to being a part of the Hollywood elite. Would you?"

  Meghan laughed. "That wouldn't be so bad, I guess.” She waited a moment and then added, “But I feel the same way. What I want is to make art."

  He nodded thoughtfully. "I guess acting is art, when you think about it," he said. Then, chuckling, “Why is it we never talked about important things before?”

  “I don’t know,” she replied honestly, “but I’m glad we are now.”

  His voice uncharacteristically shy, Derek said, "I had a feeling you'd end up on stage."

  She smiled. "Really?"

  "Of course. You were always doing shows back in high school. It's awesome that you kept pursuing it. I could never do that."

  "What? Act?" asked Meghan. Derek nodded. "You were doing okay back when we were reading that scene," she protested.

  "Well, yeah, but that's just reading," he said. "Acting's about movement, you know? That's the part I could never understand - the physicality of it."

  "I think that's hard for everyone at first," said Meghan. "I mean, that's the first thing they teach all the freshmen here. They had us doing all these stupid exercises in Drama I. It was weird, doing that stuff in front of everyone else, but there's something beautiful in it once you get used to the movement."

  "Damn," he said, looking back at his food. “That's cool."

  In the silence that followed, she felt an urge. Take the chance, she thought, his connection to Ashley forgotten. Before she could talk herself out of it, she found herself saying, "Want to try?"

  Derek raised his eyebrows. "What? An exercise?"

  Meghan nodded, putting down her fork. "I mean, if that's too weird... I know we haven't seen each other in a while-"

  He shook his head, smiling that broad smile again. "Nah, let's do it. We've got privacy, after all." He laughed. "Besides, it would be good for me to know more about how you do it. So," he said, wiping his hands and standing up, "what do we do?"

  Meghan got to her feet. "Okay, so this is a simple one. Come over here," she said, taking him by the shoulders and moving him into the middle of the room. He went easily, chuckling at her assertiveness. She could feel the sinewy muscles moving under his T-shirt, warm and sturdy, and caught herself wondering what those arms would feel like wrapped around her. She could never have imagined thinking these things about the defiant guy she knew back in high school.

  "Now," she said, squaring her shoulders and facing him, "all you have to do is mirror my movement
s."

  "That's it? Just mirror you?"

  She nodded. "The key is to try to connect with each other without using words. It's about feeling each other in the space, you know? Relax, follow my movements, and try to get on my wavelength."

  "I'm pretty sure I already am," said Derek, a gleam in his eyes. Meghan stared at him for a moment, shook herself, and then slowly began to raise her right hand. He raised his left, mirroring the movement as she angled her head before bringing her other hand up to the side of her face. She met his gaze, mesmerized again like she had been during the audition. He didn't look away even as she continued to move her arms, taking half a step closer to him. She could feel his body heat, and realized that he smelled vaguely like linen behind the pancakes. His laundry detergent, maybe?

  Derek followed her lead, moving closer and she watched as a strand of honey-colored hair came untucked from behind his ear and fell in front of his face.

  Suddenly he dropped his arms. "What are you doing?" asked Meghan, smiling.

  "Mirror this," he said, and then the space between their lips was gone. Meghan felt her arms drop from where they had been hanging in the air, and let them come to rest on his shoulders. She felt his arm wrap around her waist as he brought his hand up to her cheek, his thumb grazing delicately over her skin. Her fingers played with the ends of his hair as she opened her mouth, allowing her tongue to brush his lips. Derek reciprocated, his lips parting and his tongue meeting hers. The arm around her pulled her closer, and as she felt their bodies press together she felt a wave of desire surge through her.

  His hand moved lower when they heard the sound of a key in the front door. They jumped apart as another guy, this one shorter and brown-haired, entered the dorm. "Hey, Derek," he said, tossing his book bag to the side as he moseyed to the fridge. He didn't even register Meghan's presence until he was halfway to them. "Oh, hey!" he said, raising a hand to Meghan. "I'm Greg. I'm Derek's roommate."