Chapter 215: Scarlett (Again)

I was calling Scarlett.

“Hey Jake, what’s up?” she answered the phone.

“Hi Scarlett. Are you gonna go to the Oscars with anyone?” I asked.

“Are you asking me out?” she asked with a mischievous tone.

“I am. Would you accept?” I asked without hesitation.

“You know, I’m flying to LA tomorrow. I’ll be there until the end of April.”

“For Freaky Friday, right?”

“So you knew it,” she said over the phone.

“Yeah, Pepper told me.”

She talked to me yesterday after dealing with some Oscar stuff. Maybe she felt guilty for making me go to the Oscars, or maybe she wants me to hook up with Scarlett to ensure I attend...

“Now I understand why you called so early even though the Oscars are only at the end of March...” Scarlett pointed out.

“Hey!!” I feigned outrage.

We both laughed.

“I’ll go with Bill to the Oscars,” Scarlett said.

“Oh...” I murmured. “Ha! He’s the lead in Lost in Translation. You didn’t get me.”

“Damn it!” she joked. “And how do you talk so proudly about something that should be obvious to you?” she asked. “You did watch the movie you’re nominated for Best Original Screenplay, right?” she added suspiciously.

“Of course I did!” I said indignantly. (Well, I watched it in my past life – how else would I remember the script?)

She stayed silent for a moment, probably still suspicious.

“Don’t try to deflect, Miss Johansson. I asked you out,” I returned to the original topic before she got the brilliant idea to quiz me about scenes.

She paused for a moment but then answered, “My answer is yes,” and continued dramatically, “And here I thought I’d enjoy Los Angeles single.”

“You’ll be with the best of L.A. You just got the jackpot,” I said pompously.

“Okay, hotshot.”

“Hey, and tomorrow’s Valentine’s Day. Good way to start it,” I reminded her.

“Please don’t do something like a sea of roses or anything like that.”

I gasped. “Do I look like a guy who’d do that?”

“Romantically, no. To annoy me? Yes.”

“Yet you said yes. My charm is amazing,” I said smugly.

“Okay, big head. See you tomorrow,” Scarlett said more affectionately. “Kisses.”

“You bet I will! Love your kisses,” I joked, receiving a snort from the other side. “Bye, Scarlett.”

---

The next day, I was having breakfast in Malibu.

“So, what’s the plan for Valentine’s?” I asked, looking at Charlie and Alan.

“I’m going out with Cynthia,” Dad replied. “Taking her to a nice dinner in Sherman Oaks,” he smirked.

“A girl will come here tonight,” Charlie commented as he sipped his coffee.

“Good Lord, Uncle Charlie, this is just lazy...” I shook my head.

“At least you know her name, Charlie?” Alan asked dryly.

“Of course I know her name, Alan,” Charlie said indignantly. “It’s Cole—ny, Collin...” he tried to remember.

Dad just gave him a reproachful look. I was unfazed (nothing new here...)

“And you, smarty?” Charlie asked me.

“I’m going to watch a movie and then have a nice dinner with Scarlett,” I replied.

“The lead actress from the movie you were nominated for, right?” Alan asked rhetorically.

“Yes, her. I’ve been with her a couple of times before. She’ll be living here until April to film a movie, and after that, she has to move to Europe for another film this year,” I explained.

“So don’t worry, Uncle Charlie, I won’t be coming back to Malibu tonight.” I nodded at him, and he nodded back with his famous smirk.

“You really got the best of the three of us. You already have a set ending date and don’t have to break her heart. Even better, you can come back later,” Charlie said.

“Charlie!” Alan snapped at him, not fond of his so-called 'wisdom.'

“Anyway, back to the Oscars, you better not embarrass us, Dad,” I warned him. Yesterday, while talking to Pepper, I asked for two extra tickets to the Oscars.

Even though I don’t care much about the ceremony, I realized it wouldn’t feel right if Dad and Uncle Charlie didn’t go. Mom and Grandma are attending, and Pepper confirmed (after a few contacts) that I have a strong chance of winning. So I changed my mind.

“I will not,” Alan said confidently.

“Don’t jinx it, Alan.”

“Charlie, you shouldn’t say anything either. You need to keep your penis under control there!” Alan retorted.

“Dad is not wrong, Uncle Charlie. There are some MF there we better not provoke (for now),” I said seriously.

“Don’t worry, I’ve been in the jingle world for years. Even if it’s a lower tier, I knew who I should or shouldn’t mess with,” Charlie replied.

Then, a woman knocked on the deck door and waved at us. Rose.

Uncle Charlie gestured for her to come in.

“Morning guys,” Rose greeted us.

“Morning, Rose,” we responded.

“Rose, what are your plans with Timberlake today?” I asked her.

Yeah. Late last year, after Justin Timberlake broke up with Britney, someone introduced him to Rose.

“We’re going to a romantic concert,” Rose replied. “I came to say goodbye since I’m moving in with him to Orlando. So we won’t see each other much.”

“Goodbye, Rose, good to meet you,” Charlie said while hugging her. Alan and I did the same.

After she left, Uncle Charlie muttered, “Good God, we dodged a bomb. That chick is nuts!”

“Charlie! Rose is a nice girl,” Alan argued. “Just a little bit different.”

I snorted. Rose seemed more normal when I first met her than in the show. But late last year, she started showing strange tendencies again (I increased security around Uncle Charlie without him knowing).

But now her obsession had shifted completely to someone else.

“Timberlake, hope you don’t use thick microphones...” I murmured. “Her obsession with gluing and melting things is terrifying,” I finished.

And about badmouthing Britney, JDS has strict clauses about that. He better not cross the line...