So what had Jack been on yesterday? And was it the first time?

Hi, naive? I think someone’s on the phone . . . something about a bridge for sale?

This explained a lot. But I was more concerned that there was a side to Jack I had no clue about, and no clue how to help.

The phone rang as I was locked inside my own After School Special. “He’s taking drugs, Holly,” I said as my greeting.

“Did I call a hotline?”

I smiled in spite of myself. “Jack. He’s taking drugs.”

She swore into the phone. “I’m on my way over there. I’m gonna kick his ass.”

“You’ll have to drive a little farther than Laurel Canyon. He left for the desert last night.” I sighed.

“What? After we left?”

“About fifteen minutes after you left, yes. The fucking Mabel theme song was playing during our Come to Jesus meeting.”

“Ah, shit. I’m on my way. How many bagels do you want?”

“No bagels, but I wouldn’t say no to egg rolls later.”

“Done. And can we also talk about how fucking huge your show was last night?”

“I love you.”

“I love you too, fruitcake. I’m on my way.”

I got out of bed, made it, and headed for the shower. By the time Holly arrived, I had on a dress, had curled my hair, and had my lips glossed. In the past, egg rolls would have been the beginning of a spiral, the way to cope with anything tough that came my way. Egg rolls would have morphed into pans of fried noodles, fried wontons, fried anything. Couple that with my couch, a sloppy ponytail that hadn’t seen shampoo in days, and a marathon of My So-Called Life, and I could turn any crisis into an excuse to cocoon.

Drugs? Pfft. Egg rolls were my gateway. But now I could have my egg rolls with a side of yoga and solve my problems with a clear head. And a hit TV show . . .

Holly stayed for the better part of the afternoon, during which I told her everything that happened the night before. She kicked herself as well. Working in Hollywood as long as she had, she was convinced she should have seen this coming. It was so ridiculously clear, it was like missing the forest for the cocaine. Addict? Probably not. That couldn’t have gotten past me for too long. But the partying had certainly progressed. But while we, of course, spent time talking about the Brit, we also talked about the redhead.

We planned another round of interviews—lots of women’s magazines had contacted Holly about doing photo shoots and feature stories on me, something that boggled my mind but pleased me to no end. I’d not planned this, couldn’t have planned this, but I wasn’t going to say no to a dialogue that was so important and needed to happen. So photo shoot? Hells yes.

I was still riding high, enjoying this ray of sunshine when I finally heard from the person I’d been waiting to hear from. But no call. I got a text.

Saw the headlines today, looks like you’re a hit.

Now, there was nothing mean-spirited about this text, not at all. And there was nothing about it that should have antagonized me so. But when I read it, it pissed me off.

It would appear so, yes.

I pressed SEND, then waited to see his response. I’m sure this was his way of testing the waters, seeing what kind of a mood I was in after leaving me the night before. The waters were decidedly cool. He responded right away.

Is this how it’s going to be now?

Good question. I wondered if I was right to push him this way. There was no right answer here. I just knew how I felt, and how I felt was sad but also a little betrayed. We’d come so far this past year, shared so much, and gone through it all together. Did I really miss all those signs?

The truth was no. I saw them all and talked to him about everything I was worried about. But should I have pushed harder? Sooner? I wanted to help him. Christ, I wanted to help him. But he not only didn’t want my help, he didn’t even want to be around me right now. Aaaand back to pissed.

It’s this way because you wanted it this way, Jack. You left. So go, live it up, go bananas. But like I told you last night, I’m not gonna watch.

He didn’t respond. And I didn’t text him again. And even though no one ever plans it, that was the beginning of the end.

seventeen

ENT

On a break from shooting Soldier Boy, Jack Hamilton and company spilled into the lobby of the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas late Friday night after reportedly losing more than $50,000 at the poker tables. Hamilton was in good spirits, however, something you’d think losing all that money would dampen. But he seemed to be flying high, disappearing into a black Suburban with several other actors from the set, including Adam Kasen. Kasen, who has been a fixture on the Hollywood party scene for a few years now, has been inseparable from his castmate Hamilton since the two met in preproduction. Hamilton stopped to sign a few autographs, laughing and chatting with fans, although he beat a hasty retreat when our reporter asked him about the latest details of his never-confirmed and often-denied relationship with actress Grace Sheridan. Just before Kasen got into the car, our reporter asked him the same question, to which he replied, “Grace who?”

Grace who indeed, if the number of ladies who followed Kasen into the car have anything to say about it.

TVRatings.com

Mabel’s Unstable?, written and created by Michael O’Connell, directed by David Lancaster, and starring the actress everyone is talking about these days, Grace Sheridan, premiered recently to rave reviews and huge ratings! The preshow gossip focused on who was dating who and which actress wasn’t getting along with her director, but Mabel’s Unstable? has proved to everyone that sex + singing + Beverly Hills is a mix that can’t miss. Who knew? Well, Venue knew, and the cable channel is reportedly in talks with the creative team behind Mabel’s Unstable? to order a full season.

Hamiltoned.com

Thanks to all of you who have been out watching for our guy, we can now report that yes, it’s true. Jack Hamilton was thrown out of Chuckles comedy club by security when he became disruptive to the comedians onstage. We’d heard reports from several eyewitnesses, but the incident was finally confirmed this morning by a representative from the club. Jack! Shame on you.

Entertainment Tonight

Grace Sheridan is mad as hell, and she’s not gonna take it anymore! When pictures appeared of the actress in a recent photo spread for Southern California Style, a fashion magazine about exactly that, the curvy actress was decidedly uncurvy, something that was immediately noticeable. Sheridan has been very vocal about her past struggles with her weight and the difficulties she had losing a few pounds for her role on Mabel’s Unstable? In fact, it was these very struggles that brought attention to her beyond her alleged relationship with Jack Hamilton. When the magazine was published, her manager Holly Newman responded to criticism that her pictures were more than retouched. “Like any actress, Grace understands that with photo shoots comes retouching, but not reconstruction. Grace is proud of her body, she’s worked hard for it, and she has asked the magazine to publish the photos as they were taken. For God’s sake, people, she’s got a butt. Get over it.”

We at ET have obtained the original photos, and you can see that extensive work was done to reduce the size of not only her hips but also her thighs, arms, and stomach. Once it was clear that the photos had been doctored, a swell of support, which started online, flooded the office of Southern California Style with letters, e-mails, and phone calls speaking out in favor of Sheridan. Whether the magazine will reprint the pictures is not clear, but what is clear is that this actress has kick-started a conversation that will continue.