Perfect Imperfections

By Kat Halstead

Melanie Huber and Blake Vitale are best friends trying to make it in Hollywood. As one star rises, the other falls, not only in their careers but their love lives as well. Can their friendship survive the ups and downs of fame, and is their more to their relationship than either one realizes.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kat Halstead
• Release date: Apr 7, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215770689

Kat Halstead

Kat Halstead writes engaging romances that will keep you turning the page. She started writing at the age of fifteen and hasn’t stopped yet. She brings you on a roller coaster of emotions that you’ll want to ride again and again. She is also the co-host of A Very Special Podcast where she and Patrick M. Dunn discuss your favorite classic TV shows. She currently lives in Colorado with her boyfriend, and fur-baby Sophia Pawtrillo. Pick up her latest book Alone Inside the Night now.

Book preview

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CHAPTER 1

Everything looks amazing Melanie; you’ve really outdone yourself once again. Whatever would Blake do without you? Elle Fontane asked as she looked around the living room of her co-star Blake Vitale.

That means something very special coming from you Elle. Help yourself to a cocktail; I have to get something from the kitchen. Melanie plastered a smile on her face before retreating to her sanctuary, stopping for a moment at the large granite island to have a sip of her own drink.

She hated viewing party nights; she always had to pretend to like certain co-stars of Blake’s, who treated her like some poor little assistant he found off the street. Sure, she was his assistant, but she was more than that. She was an actress herself; she’d had several roles, including one on Prescott High.

Elle being a bitch already huh? Blake sat his beer on the countertop as he escaped into the kitchen after her.

Always Melanie tried to shrug it off, I’m just thankful that this is the last one of these.

So am I. He confessed as he reached towards the cooling rack of cookies only to feel the slap on his hand. What?

Those aren’t cool yet. Go mingle, take selfies for Instagram or snapchat, or whatever. Let me handle this, the show starts soon and then you have your big announcement.

Blake smiled before kissing Melanie on the forehead. You’re the best Melly, I hope you know that.

Well, it helps that you love to remind me, now go. She shooed him out before plating the cookies, she could already hear the TV blaring at the start of the episode.

She stood in the archway, watching as Elle continued to flirt with Blake and he flirted back just enough to be polite, he was sending her no real message, just being Blake. Elle had been trying for years to get him into bed and it just hadn’t happened yet. When was she going to give up? Probably when she moved onto a new project and had a whole new set of co-stars to seduce.

Melanie had to give Blake a round of applause after working on Prescott High for five years he hadn’t given into her advances, not that Blake hadn’t had girlfriends over the years, there had been the surfer girl when they first moved out from Minnesota, but that ended almost as quickly as it had started, he’d dated an aspiring actress they’d met at an acting class, but she quickly gave up and moved back to Nebraska.

In high school Blake always had a girlfriend, he’d dated a few different girls throughout, and again in college, though it seemed to be that somewhere around sophomore year, he only ever seemed to date someone steadily if Melanie was with someone. Why hadn’t she realized that until now? When was the last time she even had a date let alone a boyfriend?

Melanie? Hello? Blake waved his hand in front of her eyes, You there?

What? Sorry, I think I spaced out. She smiled up at him.

Are the cookies cool yet?

Yeah, let me get those. She went to plate the cookies, her mind filled with trying to recall the last time she did something for herself, and not for Blake.

She brought the two large plates into the living room, setting them down at various parts of the room. As she stood back to look around she began to play with her ash brown hair, feeling the ends and realizing she should probably get a trim before her Audition in the morning.

Another delightful spread Melanie. Elle had joined her, though her eyes stayed focused on Blake across the room.

Thank you, Elle, I learned from the best women in the world, my Mother, and Mrs. Vitale. She smiled the sweet one she’d learned from years of watching her mother at PTA gatherings, Have a tart, one won’t kill you.

I couldn’t, my personal trainer Kona told me to keep away from excessive sweets.

Melanie fought the urge to roll her green eyes, Such a shame to live such a bitter life without the indulgence of something sweet every now and then.

A Cheshire grin spread from Elle’s lips, You crave one kind of sweet, I’ll crave another.

It’s been five years Elle, you haven’t climbed that mountain yet, what makes you think you’ll reach the peak?

I’m Elle Fontaine; I get any and every man I want. The fact that Blake is playing hard to get makes it all the much sweeter. This is Hollywood Mel, not whatever artic hell you come from.

Pro tip, in speaking to Blake don’t insult Minnesota. It’s his home—and mine. Melanie started to step away.

Honey, you can’t protect and take care of him forever. Elle sputtered.

As long as Blake and I are friends, I will do anything I can to keep bitter bitches like you from turning him into an empty shell of a used and abused Hollywood man. She walked away picking up a few empty platters on her way back into the kitchen.

Blake followed her, What was that about?

Melanie rinsed the platters in the sink, Oh Elle was telling me how she is still desperate to drop her panties to bed you since you’re the only guy on the show who hasn’t give her pleasure.

He shook his head, his black hair free from product that kept it slicked down on the show, now it was floppy, falling over his hazel eyes, I have one more episode to film this week, I think once she gets on a new project she’ll work on a new goal and forget all about trying to ride my dick.

Melanie couldn’t suppress the giggle, Fingers crossed. Go out and mingle, before you know it, all of this will be over.

Yeah, it’ll just be in New York with a different group of people. Are you ready for a summer in the Big Apple, while I try not to embarrass myself on the Big White Way?

I am, go tell everyone. She threw a dry dishtowel at him to encourage him to get out of the kitchen.

As you wish He looked at the dishtowel confused for a moment before dropping it on the island before retreating into the living room.

Hey, guys! Could I have your attention for just a moment? He used a knife to tap his glass. A lot of you know that my official training is in Musical Theatre, well this summer I will be in the short run Broadway revival of South Pacific, as Lieutenant Cable. I leave to start rehearsal’s just a few days after we finish filming.

The room filled with cheers of congratulations and applause. Melanie looked around at the merriment just in time to see Elle plant her lips firmly on Blake’s. A knot in her stomach tightened as she took a breath to steady herself; it’s just for show, he’ll never sleep with her.

Why did it matter to her if Blake slept with Elle? Why was she just now starting to wonder about these things?

While Blake was on set filming one of the top-secret scenes for the series finale, Melanie worked in his trailer; taking calls, making lists, packing his personal items to bring home.

Her phone kept her company with music as she prepped a grocery list for later that day, putting a star next to coconut so she could his favorite cowboy cookies.

On the table sat her phone and both of Blake’s. He had his official phone he called the Hollywood Hotline; it was how he connected with agents, managers, and anyone in the business. The other was personal, how he kept in touch with family and friends from Minnesota, in a way it was his lifeline that kept him grounded. Also, a thick black Sharpie sat with a stack of colorful postcards featuring his headshot, waiting for his John Hancock, along with the names of who they would go to.

Melanie leaned against the frosted window, gazing at the distorted view of the studio lot, her mind on her most recent audition. If she got it, she would be the lead on a TV series. When she did the most recent call back it had felt great, everything seemed to click for her. Having been the fifth call back she had a good feeling, but she hadn’t heard back yet, had she been wrong?

She stood up, stretching as she paced around what could be considered a living room. She hadn’t come to Hollywood to be Blake’s assistant, though she knew some people seemed to believe that. He made it big first and she would’ve helped him out anyway so he put her on the payroll, so she could still work to pursue her own dream.

She auditioned aggressively, and she had almost two dozen roles listed on her imdb.com page already. She’d done several small roles on primetime shows, and a thirteen-week stint on a soap opera before becoming the victim of a serial killer—a fate she knew about going into the role. She’d had a supporting role on a YouTube series adapted from a classic novel. She had a nice social media following from those, but would that with her talent be enough to get her a role, a lead role?

The music from her phone stopped; the trailer was silent for a moment before her ringtone split the air. She was paralyzed with fear, she didn’t want to face another rejection, she didn’t want to sit in Blake’s trailer and cry when she didn’t get it.

Her fingers shook as she picked up the phone and she slides the button to answer the call, Hello, Melanie Huber speaking.

Melanie, its Trick Roberts, but I bet you already knew that from the caller ID.

Yes Trick, I knew. So what’s up? Her heart was beating like a drum in her chest as she leaned against the wall, waiting to hear that she didn’t get the role.

"Don’t sound so glum Melanie. I have great news; I just got off the phone with the people from Rose Investigations, as you could guess they loved you."

But wait, they’re going in a different direction and I didn’t get the role. She sighed; maybe it was time to realize her life was taking care of Blake.

No, that’s not it at all. You are going to play Callie Rose, the lead. I’ll messenger over the details this afternoon to the house. You go it, Melanie. You must leave in a few days to shoot the pilot in Hawaii. So, find someone else to make Blake go through his fan mail because you just go your big break.

I got it? disbelief was the only reaction she could have at this point; she had read for so many roles she couldn’t even process it. I really got it?

Yes, you did. Trust me when you hold the script in your hands tonight you will believe it. Trick chuckled, Call me when you get the paperwork.

Of course, I’ll talk to you later. Before she could say anything else she knew Trick had hung up to deal with another client.

Everything had just changed. She wouldn’t be going to New York with Blake after all; she would be in Hawaii … filming a pilot.

What did she need to do, what did she need to prepare? What was she going to tell Blake?

The trailer shook just a little as the door clicked open; Blake bounced up the steps with two salads as he watched Melanie stiffen, You okay? Tell me Trick didn’t call with unwelcome news again.

No, no, that’s not it. I just realized as I empty this place of all your wacky knick-knacks that it’s almost over. She watched as he sat across from her, sliding a salad towards her.

Well, well look who has a heart. Who knew? He teased as he poked at the lettuce and spinach with a plastic fork.

Shut up, you know I have a heart. She flipped to a new page of her yellow pad and picked up her pencil, Anything else you need from the grocery store?

I don’t think much, we’re only in town for a few more days. We’ll be in the Big Apple soon. He smiled, thinking about the adventure ahead of them.

Yeah, good thinking I’ll just make sure we’re set for the next couple of days.

Blake looked at his watch for a quick moment, Crap, I got to get back to set for a costume change. Are you going to be here, or are you off to run errands?

I only have a few to run, I’m going to do those but be back in a few hours, long before you’re done for the day.

Awesome, I will see you then, I will sign those when I come back. I promise you that.

You better, I want to get those sent out tomorrow! She called out as he bounced out of the trailer. Reality was starting to creep in on her, things were going to change, just not the way he or she anticipated at this point, she just didn’t know how to tell him that what he was expecting to happen, wouldn’t.

Melanie wondered how much longer she could hide the fact that she was packing her things up and moving out from Blake. So far she just didn’t have the courage to tell him. Every time she tried the words just couldn’t come out.

When she finally gathered the courage she walked out from her room into the living room, Blake was sitting at the piano playing something she didn’t recognize. She sat down on the bench next to him and began to play Heart and Soul, Blake quickly joined her.

What’s up? He asked when they finished, noticing how nervous she looked. Something wrong?

No, um, I can’t go to New York with you. The words rushed out of her like a deflating balloon.

Why not?

Melanie bit her lip for just a moment, I got the lead in a pilot, and I have to go to Hawaii to shoot it.

Blake reached out to hug her, That’s amazing, that’ll take what two weeks? You can come to New York when you’re done.

I could, but I’m not going to Blake. She stood up, taking a few steps back, We’ve been best friends since college, right? We came out here together to make it, and I’ve done a lot of thinking.

Melly, what are you saying?

She looked down at her nails, picking at the polish, I um, I think it’s time I move out. I got a place, it’s really nice, and um I’m moving my things this weekend before I go to Hawaii.

You’re moving out?

Yeah, this will be good for both of us. Besides, I feel like I’m cramping your style. None of your girlfriends you’ve had the last few years like having me around, down the hall. I mean you and I know nothing is ever going to happen, but they don’t believe it.

Blake was silent as he processed what she was saying before he finally confessed, But Melly, I need you.

I’m still going to be your best friend, that won’t change. Nothing is ever going to change that Blake. I’m just not going to run your errands anymore, or organize your fan mail, or live in the room down the hall. She gave him a smile, This will be good.

I think you’re making a mistake. He rose from the bench taking a step towards her; could she really leave him, would she?

You won’t notice I’m gone. You’ll be busy in a new city anyways.

A city I was dying to explore with you. Didn’t Melanie get it; he wanted her in his life. Why didn’t she understand this?

Oh Blake, you’ll probably fall for a co-star and forget all about me.

I could never forget about you, Melly. He stepped towards her, this was the moment, this was it, and everything he’d held back for years came down to this.

I have to finish packing, you should finish playing whatever you were playing, it was beautiful. She quickly turned and vanished into the hallway.

Blake was frozen in place, why didn’t he stop her? Why didn’t he kiss her? Why didn’t he tell her? Would that have changed anything? He turned to the piano, closing the lid over the keys, he couldn’t think about playing right now. Not when he felt a piece of his heart being chipped away.

Melly, let me help you with that. Blake tossed his keys on the counter, the metallic thud echoed against the bright white walls of his kitchen.

Blake, I’ve got it. I don’t need you to help me.

Of course, you don’t. Did I upset you? Did I do something to hurt you? If I did I’m sorry Melly, I really am. Just tell me and I can fix it. His voice cracked with fear as he watched her walk towards the door.

Her hand hovered over the doorknob, knowing she couldn’t stay. Things were going to change no matter what, and holding on to whatever this was, wasn’t going to help either of them. She turned to him, those puppy dog hazel eyes of his yanking at her heartstrings the way they had for far too many years already. It’s so much and it’s so little. It’s not one big thing or a bunch of little things Blake. We came out here to be stars, and you became one first, and I am so fucking proud of you. But now, I have a chance of maybe making it. I need to take that leap. I have to live my life for me, not for you.

Did I ask too much of you? Worry lines creased his perfect forehead.

Melanie stepped towards him in a comforting gallop and stopped herself, No, you never asked too much of me. Blake, you are my best friend, I want us to always be friends.

He reached for her. His fingers desperately clinging to the ends of her ash brown hair. I don’t know if I can do this without you, Melly. Tears in his eyes as his voice choked.

She reached up to his hands, You can you need to. I need to Blake.

Kissing her hand as he clutched it in his, Good luck Melly.

I’ll call you when I get back from Hawaii, okay Blake? She slowly pulled her hand away from him and moved towards the door.

Blake was frozen in place as he watched her move back towards the door. He was torn, part of him understood he had to let her walk away, but this other part of him wanted to push her up against the Spanish carved wooden door and kiss her, never let her walk away.

You’ll be fine Blake, I promise. Melanie took a deep breath before opening the large front door, the bright California sun a contrast of the gloom she felt saying goodbye to Blake. It wouldn’t be forever, but it sure as hell felt like it now.

Don’t forget about me. He gave her a smile, trying to hold himself together until the door closed behind her.

Blake sat on the floor where he’d been standing. Trying to figure out what exactly he was feeling. His stomach tightened, and he felt like another piece of his heart was chipping away.

Would she have stayed if he kissed her? Is that all he had to do to keep her from leaving him?

He forced himself up off the ground and practically flew towards the door just in time to watch as her car vanished down the driveway.

CHAPTER 2

Blake leaned casually, at least tried to against the piano while he took notes on his song and his character so far. He nodded along, soaking in the words, while also trying to decode a way to input the advice into his performance.

Let’s try it again shall we. The director nodded to the pianist before returning to his seat across the room.

Blake closed his eyes for a moment as he took a deep breath before he tried to channel what the director was after, You’ve got to be taught . . .

His voice filled the rehearsal space, and while he sang Blake lost himself in the moment as he punctuated the song with the self-disgust Lt. Cable would