When I'm With You
It was an ordinary weekend night for Jacob. Fancy cars, big
parties, and lots of girls. The American dream, in Hollywood.
Well it was Beverly Hills anyway, where his best friend Casey
lived. Casey was having his monthly recruiting party. The
basic, a party to look for new talent. Really a prospect for the
night, that's how the girls got the job anyhow. Jacob never
minded, hey he was a casting-director. If someone gave him a
good time, he let Casey have them. They could audition for the
one who counted. Tonight the evening was still young. Jacob had
spotted his prey, yet something about the whole ritual made his
stomach suddenly feel queazy.
"You know, Casey, I really think this girl is different."
"Yeah, well what makes her so special?"
"I don't know? Just look at her!"
"Yeah, so she's pretty! Big deal!"
"No! It's much more than that, she's beautiful, and she has
this appeal, I can't explain it, some attractive quality you
don't just see every day." Jacob replied impatiently.
"I don't know what your talking about, she's the same as
every other model and actress here tonight. Eager and glitzy."
"No you see you haven't noticed. She is not wearing a
stitch of make-up, and I don't think she is an actress or model.
I have never seen her before."
"Well who did she come with tonight?"
"I don't know.. No one I think."
"Yeah, and from the looks of it she's going home alone to."
"What do you mean?" Jacob said startled.
"Look." answered Casey with a tone of annoyance.
"Oh, I've gotta catch up with her."
"Come on Jacob, let it go." Casey replied.
"Hey, I'll be right back." Jacob jogged across the party
after the mystery girl and found himself outside on the front
lawn of Casey rather large house. Just as a taxi pulled up he
reaches her and puts his hand on her shoulder. She smells like
flowers, yet he doesn't seem to recognize the fragrance, and
doubts she is wearing one.
"Hello. My name is Jacob," he says as he opens the door for
her "And you are?" She smiles, her teeth and perfectly straight
and sparkle in the moonlight, almost in a shy whisper she says,
"It's Mary Jane, My name is Mary Jane," and sits down in the
cab.
"It's a delight to meet you. Here is my card, to ensure I
will see you again." She smiles and takes his card, while he
closes the door to the taxi.
"It was nice to meet you to." Mary Jane answered. Again
she smiles more shyly and puts the card in her bag as the taxi
pulls away.
It's Tuesday. Not a word from Mary Jane. Jacob can't seem
to figure it out. It was a tough day at work, not that
interviewing young beautiful women is tough. Jacob just keeps
wishing each new girl would turn out to be the one from the
party. Finally with a fit of frustration, he decides to meet
Casey at the country club for a match of tennis, and maybe some
lunch.
"That was a pretty sluggish game pal. Have some time for a
drink?" Casey asks Jacob as they walk into the locker room.
Casey has just won three matches to his usual loses and is a bit
surprised.
"Sure Casey, I always have time for a drink."
"What's been up with you lately, you haven't been your
regular self?" asks Casey with teasing concern.
"Well remember that girl, from the party?"
"Yeah, what about her?" Casey answers annoyed.
"Oh, I don't know, I guess I've just been thinking about her
a lot." Jacob reveals.
"Little obsessed are we?" Casey snaps back.
"No. It seems almost like an addiction. I just wish she
would call me so I can find out just who she is."
"Jacob, let it go! Their are a lot of woman out there that
would do anything just to meet you. This girl isn't worth a
second thought." Casey answers, hoping Jacob will take his
friendly advice.
"Yeah your right, how about that drink."
"Now you're talking, I'll meet you at the bar." Jacob
slowly finishes getting dressed. He thinks of Mary Jane, though
denying it to himself. While walking to the bar he sees the club
newsletter and grabs a copy, something to keep himself busy.
"It's about time, your drinks getting warm." Casey jokes
"Yeah, sure Casey." Jacob replies sarcastically.
"What's that?"
"Oh, just the newsletter, you read through it yet?"
"Yeah, my boss wants me to go to some charity function,
represent the company donation, want to go?"
"Oh I don't know, you know how I am with the black tie
thing." Jacob tries to be persuasive.
"Come on it will be fun" As Jacob drank another he finally
agreed.
A few days later at about 7:30 PM Casey's Car pulls up in
the front of Jacob's building. The driver calls up to the room
but gets no answer. Then he sees Jacob coming out of the front
entrance. Jacob gets into the back, and Casey tells the driver
to go ahead and go to the charity ball. Casey asks the driver to
stop at the liquor store to refill the supply after he drops them
off. Then to Jacob,
"Looking good."
"Thanks Casey, you too."
"So What's this dinner for anyway?" asks Jacob.
"I don't even know. As long as I'm on the guest list it
doesn't matter to me." Casey answers with a laugh.
"Yeah your right all these charities are the same." They
pull up to the Hollywood Bowl, The sigh on the street told them
why they were there, but by then they had a few to many drinks to
bother to read it. Rumor had it that the Governor would be there,
so it was best behavior. Everyone seemed so stuffy to Jacob, Yet
he and Casey fit snugly in. The Governor gave a speech, already
he was beginning to campaign, the elections were more than a year
away.
"Of course his platform are going to conform to this
charities beliefs" Jacob whispers to Casey.
"Well a few weeks ago, I was at the Convention Center and
his speech sounded like it could be tonight's opposition" They
both chuckled. After the dinner was a dance and it was customary
to stay at least an hour or two out of politeness. They were
lucky that it would be acceptable for them to leave when the
night would still be young.
"Hey, Jacob you look a little out there?"
"What Casey?" Jacob looks up.
"I was wondering if you wanted to head to The Boutique after
this?" Casey asks.
"Oh, sure I guess. I'll want to change"
"No problem Jacob, by the way, let the girl go." He walks
away mingling with the crowd. Jacob sits at the bar and orders
another drink. He turns and watches Casey trying to find a date
for the evening, some eager and glitzy young girl ready to hear
all of his promises. He turns and looks up at the entrance.
First he seest he soft white shoes and then her smooth
unstockinged legs, Her dress went just to her knee. It was
white, and off the shoulder, not cut to low, but just right.
Jacob gulped the rest of his drink and started to walk towards
her. Her dress was snug down past her breasts and her belly. It
fit perfectly around her waist and hips then flared out
elegantly. Her long blonde hair was pulled back and placed upon
her head, arranged like flowers. One tiny piece fell over her
eye. Her lips were red, yet she still had on no makeup. Around
her neck was a small black rope necklace with a charm. Jacob and
Mary Jane reached the bottom of the steps in unison.
"Would you like to dance?" Jacob asks.
"Why thank you, I would" Mary Jane says with a smile.
Jacob, almost afraid to look her in the eye, stared at the charm
against her skin. It was an antique looking oval locket. It
wasn't obvious that the charm opened but Jacob studied it so
carefully he noticed the clasp. He looked up into her smile.
"I am glad you were here tonight. I was afraid I wouldn't
know anyone." Mary Jane's voice seemed foreign to Jacob, like
enchanted music to his ears, hypnotizing. He felt free and out
of himself. He didn't think about the dance steps as he
ordinarily would have. The two of them just glided across the
dance floor song after song. He did not notice the stares. Yet
he was a very image conscious man. Finally he looked deep into
her eyes and saw refections of himself and deeper yet the
reflection of Mary Jane in his own eyes, he thought she was so
beautiful. Her lips smelled of cherry, and her skin of flowers,
her eyes the deepest emerald green he had ever seen and her skin
the color of snow, made the dress look as if it were cream.
"That is a very interesting locket you are wearing."
"Locket? Oh that, Thank you. It was once my great
grandmothers." That was intriguing to Jacob, he didn't even know
his grandparents. "Mr. Radcliff you dance wonderfully."
"No, Mary Jane, you must call me Jacob."
"Okay then it's Jacob." They sat down near the bar and Mary
Jane ordered a water to Jacob's Vodka on Ice. Casey walked up to
the table.
"Jacob, we are all ready to go to The Boutique, are you
still joining us?"
"umm hmm" Jacob responds not paying any attention to Casey.
"Jacob, aren't you going to introduce me to your friend?"
"Oh Casey, I'm sorry, I didn't even see you walk up, uh,
Casey this is Mary Jane and Mary Jane this is.."
"Casey Jorden of Paramount studios, it is very nice to meet
you Mary" Casey interrupts.
"It's Mary Jane, and it's very nice to meet you also." Casey
kisses her hand and slips her his business card.
"Well, shall we all go?" Looking at Jacob, Casey asks.
"I am sorry, but I will have to pass, till we meet again.
Good night Sir." Mary Jane answers. She was gone and up the
stairs before Jacob could call out. Mary Jane had left Casey's
card on the table. He picked it up and put it in his jacket.
"Come on Jacob lets get out of here." Casey had two girls
with him when he met Jacob at the car. They all drank. The girls
were more then eager to share themselves with both men. This was
the life Jacob adored, Yet a that particular moment he felt
terribly out of place and decided to stay at home. Casey
disappointed dropped him off at his building.
"Are you sure you will be okay tonight? You've had a lot to
drink?" Casey mocks concern.
"I will be fine." Jacob walks into his building, and to the
elevator. In the reflective paneling he stares at himself as if
he were a stranger. Something inside didn't feel quite right.
He took off the tie and unbuttoned his shirt.
"I feel so free when I am with you" Jacob thinks aloud, he
could see Mary Jane's image in his mind and forgot everything
else, even to get off at his own floor. When he finally made it
home he changed into the only pair of jeans he still owned.
Jacob thought back to when he first moved to L.A., from New York.
"Same people, different line of work" he thought. He started by
building sets and sweeping stages. That was eight years ago.
now he was a casting director. He met all the right people and
went to all the right parties. Yet some how tonight, he only
really felt like himself when he was with Mary Jane. "Actually,"
he thought, talking to the empty room, "I've felt a little out
of place since I've met her." Jacob put on the jeans they were
worn with a few rips and tears here and there but the fit, so
comfortable. He sat on the couch and starred of into space,
until he fell asleep a few hours later. The next morning Jacob
woke up late and missed an important meeting. At work he felt
out of place, almost intoxicated. He decided to skip lunch with
Casey and take a walk.
Jacob walked about five blocks, and came to a cafe. He had
never noticed it before. Oddly enough, it reminded him of Mary
Jane. An aroma, much like the fragrance she wore. Jacob decide
to stop in for a cappuccino. Their was a little stage in one
corner. The place looked bleak and everyone starred at him.
Most of the patrons were wearing jeans, a few of the girls had
on long skirts. Jacob sat down at the nearest table. The guy on
stage was reciting something, but Jacob paid little attention to
him. The place was full of smoke, and thick with smells. He
recognized Marboro, and even cloves. He assumed the other
fragrance, the once he linked with Mary Jane to be coming from
the numerous incense holders throughout the room. The waitress
came to his table. She was dressed like everyone else, rather
then in a uniform that might distinguish her from one of her
customers.
"What can I get for you, sir?"
"Coffee please."
"What kind of coffee, sir?"
"Oh, um... Black."
"We have Columbian, Brazilian, Mocha, or house brew."
"Oh." Confused, he replied, "Mocha."
"Be right up." Jacob looked around. The place was rather
colorful, although very smoky. Some of the walls had murals
painted right on them. Their was a sunrise and a sunset,
flowers, birds, and fish. On the other two walls were individual
painting. Jacob did not recognize any of the work. Somehow he
knew that they must be local artists.
"That will be $2.75 Sir." The waitress startled him.
"Oh um just a sec. Well I don't have any cash.. Uh do you
take plastic?"
"Not for $2.75." She responded with annoyance.
"Well do you have a lunch menu?"
"Sure, you have to order at least a total of $10.00, to use
a credit card." and she handed him a menu.
"Thank you." Jacob looked through the menu, and much of
what he saw was unfamiliar. There were no meat dishes as far as
he could tell. He thought, one of the dishes might have been
fish. He decided on a salad.
"Are you ready Sir?"
"Yes I will have a number eight."
"Dressing?"
"Um yeah ranch."
"Would you like some bread?"
"Okay."
"Be back in a few." Jacob drifted off. Starring at the
table cloth. The intricate design. He took his jacket off, and
his tie. He felt a little better. Glancing back at the stage he
saw a girl wearing jean shorts, she was reading a poem.
"Red dawn, a star lit night.
Distant sunrises, a cloudy morn.
Blue skies, a flaming dove.
Evening mist, sprinkles of light.
Full moon, a howling cry."
"Wow" Jacob thought, "that was good." The waitress came
with his food and he stared down at his plate. Then he felt
something coming over him, almost hypnotizing. He looked up and
Mary Jane was sitting on the stool preparing to read next. She
was wearing a brown tank top. Her Blonde hair was split down the
middle. On one side was a long braid of hair, pulled behind her
ear. She was barefoot. Her legs were covered by a tan and green
and brown printed skirt. It looked see through from the lighting
angle. Her belly button stuck out just over the skirt waist and
she had a little tattoo, Jacob couldn't make out the picture.
She began:
"Ancient corridors of sand
tanned skin, bronzed hair
men who travel across the land
searching for an empty care
caravans with gypsy spirit lore
desperate souls, lost along the way
longing for what they find, wanting more
dying on the road, the end of a day
sunset cools the scorched land
traveling to find
ancient corridors of sand.
Truckin' 4000 BC"
Jacob was mesmerized. She finished and walked to his table,
then sat down. To the waitress she said, "Eve, I'll have my
regular," Then to Jacob, "So, Jacob, what are you doing in a
place like this?"
"Well I really don't know. I've been feeling kind of weird.
I took a walk, and I just felt drawn inside."
"I thought that might be the case." she smiled.
"You don't think that's weird?"
"No.. I thought, hoped something like this would happen."
Eve came and put Mary Jane's food down in front of her. Mary Jane
whispered something into Eve's ear. They giggled and Eve walked
away.
"Jacob, do you like it here?"
"Well, yes I guess. I just feel a little uncomfortable.
Like I don't fit in. I don't seem to fit in anywhere anymore,
since I met you that is."
"Do you really think I'm the cause of all this?" she asked.
"Well, no I guess not. I feel, I don't know. I feel like
I'm okay when I'm with you."
"And did you have fun with your friends last night at the
Boutique?"
"Oh, no, I mean I didn't go." he answered.
"I'm sorry to hear that. Why did you change your mind?"
"I guess I'm just getting tired of it all, everything"
"And Casey, isn't he you friend, your best friend."
"I don't even want to think of him.."
"Does he remind you of you?"
"Well, that's the problem. His behavior. It disgusts me.
It is me, I don't like it. I feel so trapped"
"I see.."
"They're just not real, those people I mean. I could never
tell Casey something like this. He would think I was drunk and
tell me to come back in the morning. Mary Jane, you are the
realist thing I've met."
"Jacob, You have introduced me to your world," she took his
hand in her's for a moment, then she continued, "let me introduce
you to mine." He looked confused, but didn't say anything. She
reached behind the chair, to a hand bag and pulled out a
cigarette case. She pulled out one, it seemed to be hand rolled.
She lit it, and he smelled the intoxicating smell that brought
her image to his mind. She passed it to him. Jacob took it,
smoked it and felt very uncomfortable. Two more people sat down
and they passed it around. One of them handed him their vest.
He put it on, and it felt right.
"Thanks, man!" Jacob took another drag, he felt relaxed.
He felt as if he belonged. She reached over and kissed him
lightly on the lips. He smiled, and knew that everything would
be alright.