Part 349
As Kevin talked to the director about what he wanted in the video, the other three were with Sarah in makeup talking.
"Have any idea what happened with Kevin and Vanessa?" asked Brian.
Howie was watching the girl apply Sarah’s make-up as he said, "I expect they broke up."
"Then why would he buy her flowers?" asked AJ.
"Not sure."
"’Tigger’, you need to soothe the savage beast."
"Just leave him alone," said Sarah. "He doesn’t need me, or you clowns for that matter, interfering with his love life."
Howie smiled at her as he squeezed her hand. "Sarah’s right. We need to just back off."
"So how do we get through today?" asked Brian.
Sarah looked at Howie as she said, "We let him be in charge…have what he wants without arguing with him."
"Are you okay with that, Angel?" asked Howie softly.
"I’ll have to be, won’t I?"
"I’ll try talking to him, if you want me to," he offered.
"No, let it go. I’ll just do what you told me to do. Now, go on out there and try to keep anyone else from pissing him off."
Howie gave Sarah a quick kiss and the three headed out to wait for her with Kevin. As they were headed out, they passed the actor who was to play Sarah’s boyfriend in the video and overheard him talking to his manager.
"So, where is this Britney Spears wanna-be? I’ve been here for two freakin’ hours. Looks like she’d be on time."
"Just calm down, Jaime. You ought to be grateful for this job. You haven’t worked in four months and if they like your work, you might be able to get them to finance your movie. Not to mention, they requested you."
Jaime rolled his eyes, "So, some teeny-bopper wants to play house with
me. Would I get arrested for statutory rape if this wasn’t a video?"
His manager shook his head. "She’ll be ready in a few minutes. Relax and try to adjust your attitude."
AJ snickered as they went on, "Sarah’s gonna have him for lunch."
"If he doesn’t piss Kevin off first," said Brian.
"I just hope Sarah doesn’t get hurt by his nasty attitude. She really likes him as an actor and was looking forward to working with him, sorta," said Howie shaking his head.
Walking through the studio, Brian asked, "What do you mean, sorta?"
"She’s looking forward to meeting him but this morning, she asked me why I couldn’t be in the video with her. She doesn’t like the idea of hugging and kissing on someone else, especially a stranger."
"You explained it was business, right?" asked AJ. "That it’s not being unfaithful and that you’re okay with it?"
"Yeah, I did and I think she’ll be okay."
The three found Kevin on the phone in an even fouler mood than before. "NO, DAMNIT! I want that single done before we leave tomorrow morning. It HAS GOT to be ready for release on the first."
As Kevin slammed the phone shut, Howie asked, "What’s up?"
"Time! We don’t have enough of it to get this out by the first," growled Kevin.
"Then push it back, Kevin. There’s nothing set in stone to get the single and video out that quick," said AJ.
"I promised Sarah we’d get it out."
"Sarah will understand," said Howie. "Don’t push it or it’s not going to be what we want for her first video."
Kevin looked at Howie and knew he was right. "Is she almost ready?"
"They’re doing her make-up now," said Brian.
"What about Gomez?"
"Oh, he’s here," smirked AJ. "Been here for two hours."
Kevin looked at AJ. "What’s THAT suppose to mean?"
"Don’t worry about that," said Howie trying to avoid an argument. Fortunately, Sarah came out at the same time and he smiled, "Here comes our Pop Princess now."
Sarah joined the guys and Howie took her hand in his. Giggling like a teenager, Sarah said, "He’s here."
All four laughed and Kevin asked, "You ready to get started?"
"I guess so," answered Sarah nervously.
"It’ll be fine, baby," said Kevin to soothe her nerves. "Once you get started, you’ll be fine. You’ve watched us do videos before and you know what to do. You’ll have the pre-recorded stuff and you just have to do what you and Howie do all the time."
The director joined the group along with Jaime and Kevin explained what he was looking for in the video. Sarah had already heard all this so she watched Jaime as Kevin talked. He was cute but there was something about him that bothered Sarah. She knew it was going to be a long day and she was beginning to regret not letting Howie talk to Kevin.
Taking their places on the set, Jaime and Sarah waited for everyone else to get into place.
"So you requested to work with me?" asked Jaime smugly.
Sarah looked at him and decided to ignore the attitude. "Not directly. Kevin…."
"The one with the long hair?"
"Yeah. Kevin knew that…uh…he knew that I…anyway, he’s the one who requested you…for me."
Jaime got a kick out of Sarah’s uneasiness but asked, "What’s Kevin
and the other three have to do with all this?"
"They’re producing this. I’m signed to their recording label."
"Okay, so. I’m your boyfriend in this. How do you like being kissed?"
Sarah thought about how Howie kissed her but how was she going to explain it to Jaime. "I don’t know. Never really gave it much thought."
Kevin called, "Okay, baby. Let’s go. We need to get this done today."
It had been small talk and Sarah knew it. His attitude from earlier had been clearly evident to her and she wondered how in the hell she’d get through this video shoot. He was definitely nice to look at but it stopped there. Sarah looked wistfully at Howie who stood just off-camera with AJ and smiled when he winked at her.
The next two hours were pure hell. The chemistry between Jaime and Sarah was all wrong and it was coming through on camera. Sarah was trying really hard to make it work and her timing was perfect.
After one particular angle where Jaime was suppose to be kissing Sarah, she stopped and shoved him back. "Get off me, you jerk!" she snapped.
Looking at her incredulously, "What’s YOUR problem? I was doing what I was told to do!"
"You didn’t have to move your hand THERE!"
The director called, "Cut! You two take a break."
Jaime stormed off and Howie moved quickly to Sarah with AJ, Kevin, and Brian behind them.
"Angel, what’s wrong?" asked Howie taking her in his arms.
"This is NOT working," moaned Sarah. "I can’t get past him touching me."
"Just relax, Sarah," said Kevin. "I’ll talk to him and tell him to tone it down."
"God…he’s a JERK!"
Brian asked, "Are you gonna be okay?"
Sarah looked at the four men standing with her. "Yeah, I’ll be fine.
How much more do we have to do?"
"Not much more with the two of you together," said Kevin. "Why don’t you and Howie spend a few minutes alone and I’ll talk to Jaime?"
"Thanks, Kevin."
The three left Howie and Sarah alone and Howie asked, "Are you gonna make it, Angel?"
Playing with his necklace that she’d given him for his birthday, Sarah pouted, "Yeah, but I still want you in this with me."
Howie brushed her hair back. "I know, Angel. What did he do that upset you?"
"Just the way he touched me. It was like Russell use to touch me."
The music was still playing as Howie stood talking to Sarah trying to calm her down. As they stood there, the whole video played out as Kevin and the director had explained it and how Sarah had envisioned it as well.
The director whispered, "This is what you wanted, Kevin. The chemistry between them is awesome."
Kevin smiled, "She wanted Howie but we all agreed it wasn’t a good idea." Seeing Jaime returning, Kevin said, "I need to talk to Jaime before we finish today."
"Why not just let him go? Her husband would be so much better in this and it’s just NOT working with Jaime."
Kevin watched Howie and Sarah with Brian and AJ listening. "I don’t know. She doesn’t need him overshadowing her in her first video."
Overhearing Kevin, Jaime said, "FIRST video! No fucking wonder. She’s such an amateur and naïve to think that something like this can be done without some touching."
Kevin spun on him, "She doesn’t need you touching her inappropriately either. I don’t know what you’re use to with love scenes but what you did a minute ago was TOTALLY uncalled for."
"I don’t need some Prima Donna pop star telling ME how to do a love scene!"
"And how many jobs have you had lately?" questioned Kevin getting in Jaime’s face. "Let me tell you something. I’m footing the bill for this damn video and if I say you aren’t gonna touch her like that, then you’d damn well better keep your hands to yourself."
Jaime went back at Kevin, "I don’t need this fucking job with a Britney Spears wanna-be who thinks that just because some pop star is funding her delusional dream she’s gonna be famous! And talk about me touching her inappropriately! What about that guy on the set with her now?"
"That guy on the set with her is her HUSBAND!! I think the best thing is for you to get the hell out of here."
Jaime laughed in Kevin’s face. "That suits me just fine because without me, you can’t get this video done and you’ll lose money on it."
Jaime spun away from Kevin storming out of the studio slamming the door to his dressing room behind him.
"Oh wonderful!" said Sarah from the set. "Now what?"
"Don’t worry about it," said the director. "We’ve got someone better to take his place and the video will be MUCH better."
"Who?" asked Howie.
"You," growled Kevin. "Howie…go to make-up and get ready. You’re gonna do this with her."
The director said, "We’ll work it so you never see Howie’s face, just Sarah’s. That way, no one will ever be positive that it’s him."
Sarah was ecstatic about the change and she hugged Kevin. "Thank you, Boo."
Kevin smiled, "You knew what was gonna work in the first place."
The video was done within two hours of Howie taking Jaime’s place and it was awesome. Howie and Sarah worked it all out exactly like Kevin had described it and when the director called a wrap, there was no doubt that this was going to be a hot video.