Page 64 of Heavy Shot

Even Rhiannon laughed at the joke, equally amused at the delivery and grateful that her name had not actually been mentioned. Thompson moved on to a few other nominees and laughter filled the auditorium as the awards got underway. There were more stops and starts as commercial breaks were inserted and conversation resumed around them whenever there was a lull between sets. Kline was in his element and his mood elevated with each passing moment. He kept making little asides to Jill and then they'd both laugh at whatever it was he was saying.

For her part, Rhiannon did her best to keep a smile on her face and ignore them.

It was some salve that Jill and August held hands constantly. When they weren't, August had an arm around her shoulders, or his fingertips were grazing her knee. There was no question that August was there with Jill, although, at points it did look like Jill was there with two men.

Rhiannon watched the monitor more than the stage, seeing whom the cameras chose to focus in on, and how.Twice already they had claimed Kline and Jill in a single frame. Once while Kline was whispering something to her, and once when she was laughing. Rhiannon found herself making small talk with Rick at the first break. He’d walked over to crouch down beside her seat and speak to her while Kline gabbed with Jon Hamm a row in front of them.

Rick was trying to get Thad a reading for a film he was doing.An artsy, independent thing. He was producing it and funding it, so he had a fair amount of pull in casting, but the director and writers wanted to see a screen test first. "You see him everyday," Rick laughed, "Make him do it!"

"Is it for a lead? I can't see him doing a supporting role, not even for an indie cred," she said, seriously.

"You don't think so? It's more of an ensemble piece, but the part I'm trying to get him into is rather sizeable and vital. He just won't consider a screen test."

She nodded. "Can you blame him, though? He has his own show. What do they need to see that they can't see any given Thursday night?"

“It's a dramatic role," Rick said seriously. "No one's ever seen Thad do drama. I mean, aside from the occasional 'very special episode'. No offense. He's done comedy for all these years--and situation comedy. They want him to read so they can see if he can pull it off. I know he can."

She laughed at the comment about the shows. "I didn't write those 'very special episodes', so no offense taken. As for Thad and drama, I'm sure he could do it. On the other hand, I'm also sure he could carry a feature. It will just take some convincing all around."

"Thad doesn't have the kind of following Kline did.I think an ensemble piece with an edgy character is the way to start." He shrugged."But I'm glad he's got an ally."

"Quit flirting with my date, Rick," Kline grinned. "She's mine!"

"For now," Rick teased. "Go back to preening, Scott.It suits you better than thinking."

Music queued up again and Rick slipped away as the director started counting down to live. Kline laughed, and slipped an arm along the back of Rhiannon's chair as the announcement that they were back on air came and the show continued. Just before lights, Kline was pulled by a runner and a seat filler took his place. The cue for silence came before Rhiannon could even say hello.

She glanced around and noticed August whispering to Jill, the two of them huddled over his phone, and Jill gasped, her hand going up to her mouth then she leaned and whispered something to the seat filler, who rose and shifted positions with the actress.

“Rhi,” Jill hissed quietly. “You need to see something.”

“What? What’s wrong?”

“The lights. Listen, I don’t want to upset you. The dress– Your dress–it’s gorgeous on you. You look smashing. Some photos from the red carpet are going up online, though, and the lights from the flash– They don’t reflect on the fabric. The lights made it a bit see-through.”

“What?”

“Some fabrics–the lights make them see-through. Your dress is one of them.” She held August’s phone with her hand covering the top of it, allowing Rhiannon a look. She may as well have been wearing nothing at all other than her thong. The dress photographed so sheer that she could clearly see the difference between the buds of her nipples and her areolas.

“Oh my god.”

“Be prepared. They’re going to be lined up outside to shoot you for more of that.”

“You can see everything.”

“It’s okay. You can see that you are perfect. Just be prepared and hold your head up high when you leave.”

All Rhiannon could do was stare straight ahead, and she didn’t even have Kline’s presence for reassurance. Jill reached for her hand and squeezed it, but she was the last person she wanted touching her, so Rhiannon shook off the grip. “I’m fine.”

At the next commercial break, Jill slipped out for the ladies room and before the seat filler switched again, Rhiannon spoke to August. It was the first chance she'd had to say more than hello, and she directed her smile at him."You two look happy," she said, "I love the dress."

"I'm very happy," August smiled back at her."I think the dress turned out well. Plenty of media interest, and that was the idea.That and I'm trying to pull out Jill's dark side."

“Does she have a dark side? Or just dark roots?”

Before August had a chance to respond, the music swelled, and the next two presenters were introduced. The next few categories passed in a blur before Kline's name was announced and he walked out, looking as relaxed and debonair as Rhiannon had ever seen him, to take his place at the microphone at the center of the stage.

He was polished and perfect, and you could almost hear the blood rushing in the ballroom. A fan from the back screamed, "I love you, Kline!"

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