Gazelle (15 page)

“
Okay, buddy. 
I’
ll let you know in a few days
.
”
“
Okay.  Take care
.
”
“
You, too
.
”
              He hangs up and squints at window, shifting back and forth between the city and his image, struggling to see the dolphin.

              Julian moves through the crowd, no different than any one else.  Teeth brighter than the sun, tan skin and carefully manicured hair, endless designer suits and dresses swaying against one another, the smell of expensive alcohol and gardenias bouncing off the soft, dim lighting from crystal chandeliers above their perfect heads.  He realized, as he flipped through the even
t’
s details on the plane, that it was a date situation.  And he definitely had none.  In a last minute effort, deciding it was better to show up with
someone
rather than no one, he called Scott.  Scott was an old friend who housesat Julia
n’
s apartment.  He was typically unpredictable and completely unreliable, except when it came to parties.  But the parties were never quite as classy as this one.  Scott was much more comfortable in a warehouse, high out of his mind, dancing and singing and fucking the entire night.  He insisted they split a glass flask and a blunt on their way to the event, despite Julia
n’
s resistance.  He insisted Julian promise to drink nothing but hard alcohol the entire evening like
a‘
real man
.
’
 
And then, once Julian was finally feeling the weight of his inebriation, Scott disappeared, leaving him to mingle in a crowd of perpetual strangers.  After about an hour, feeling completely self-conscious and paranoid, he found himself searching desperately for his friend.  He catches sight of Scott at last at the end of the enormous ice sculpture of a small, Sudanese child, tucked against the darker part of the room.  Scott is a tall, baby-faced blonde, who looked like a skinny boy in one of Julia
n’
s suits as he chats with a waitress and sips his cocktail.  Despite the obvious class difference and the baggy clothes, Scot
t’
s charisma and charm made him appear casual, unaffected in a way Julian strived to imitate since they were kids.  Very nonchalantly, Julian moves to his side and sips his drink.  The waitres
s’
s eyes move over him, her attention drawn completely from Scott, her cheeks flushing as her smile widens.  Scott, realizing he was no longer her focus, turns to see what could possibly distract her from him.

“
Oh, of course
!
” he sighs, extending his hand to Julian.
 “
It could only be the
man
himself
.
”

              Julian grins and takes his hand.
 “
Wh
o’
s your new friend
?
”
“
This is Amanda
,
” Scott says, making way for them to shake hands.
 “
Amand
a’
s studying at NYC.  Poli Sci, right
?
”
“
Yes, tha
t’
s right.  I
t’
s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Russell
,
” she blushes but does not break eye contact.

“
Call hi
m‘
Julian
.
’
 
He ca
n’
t risk a bigger ego in those tight Versac
e’
s, right
?
”

              Julian nods and swirls the ice in his cup.
 “
What were you talking about
?
”
“
We were talking about how this foundation is helping the Sudanese rebuild their lives after they claimed independence
,
” Scott replies.
 “
Did you know that that was what this is for
?
”
“
Of course
,
” Julian answers, ignoring the adoring gaze of the young girl.
 “I’
ve been an advocate of the Lost Boys since the beginning of my career.  I
t’
s what drew me to this
.
”

“
I
t’
s super important to have high profile support like yourself.  So many people are completely unaware of the struggles and turmoil war torn natives of regions like Sudan face these days
,
” Amanda says.  Scott rolls his eyes and signals to a waiter moving through the crowd with wine.

“
Amanda volunteered to help out tonight.  She wanted to be
a‘
part of history
,
’ right
?
”
“
Oh yeah, i
t’
s true.  This foundation has been very successful the past three years in building homes and supplying aide.  I was super stoked to be a part of it
.
”

“
Super
,
” Scott says, his tone mocking.

              Julian nods his appreciation, his eyes moving quickly across the crowd as he realizes he has encroached on Scott.  He swirls his ice again and clears his throat, meshing the words together above the haze.
 “
Well, I know
I’
m very appreciative of all the people involved in making these types of events happen.  It feels sort of like an oxymoron, getting dressed up, hanging out in wealth and style to feed the starving.  But it is necessary, in the end.  You have to go to where the money is, it does
n’
t come to you
.
“
“
Do
n’
t kid yourself, Julian
,
” Scott says.
 “
Lots of things come to you.

“
Yea
h…
and on that note
,
” Julian says, taking the hint
,“
if yo
u’
ll excuse me,
I’
m gonnaget another drink.  Nice meeting you, Amanda
.
”
              He starts to move, Scott vigorously nodding his appreciation.

“
Oh, no
!
” she says
,“I’
ve got it.  What would you like
?
”
“
No, i
t’
s-I can do it.  Thanks, though
.
”
“
No, I insist!  It would be my pleasure
.
”

              Scott smiles angrily at his obnoxiously intrusive friend who licks his lips and reluctantly hands her his empty glass.
 “
Jack and diet coke
?
”
“
Sure! 
I’
ll be right back
!
”

              She beams and takes the cup, grazing her fingers over his, before rushing gleefully away to the bar.  The two stand and watch her disappear into the sea of people.

“
Thanks
,
” Scott grumbles.

“I’
m sorry!  I just came over to hang out
.
”
“
You are a total cock block just standing ten feet away.  But up close, i
t’
s like I just evaporate into thin air.  Like vapor, a big, steaming pile of vapor.  And
I’
m not an ugly man, Julian,
I’
m not
.
”

“
I was bored!  Nobody would talk to me
.
”
“
Aw, poor
baby
!  All alone in a great big room of pretty people just likehimself and nobody to play with
!
”

              Julian laughs, throwing his head back and feeling the dizzying buzz of his drink settling in.  The crowd around him glances in their direction, whispering to one another as they realize who he is. 

“
See?  Yo
u’
re making friends already.  You just have to smile more and show them yo
u’
re a nice boy.  They all think yo
u’
re a prick because of that cover
.
”
“
No, they do
n’
t
.
”

“
Oh, yes, they do!  Everybody does
.
”
“
Who
?
”
“
Everybody.  Everyone I talk to about it.  They all say that you look like a total hard-ass, prick
.
”
“
Name one person
.
”
“
Lisa
.
”
“
Lisa said that before the cover.  Name another one, one that does
n’
t already hate me
.
”
“
’
ka
y…
My mom
.
”
              Julian blinks, imagining Scot
t’
s sweet mom, the same mom that picked them up from soccer practice every day and made them chicken nuggets while they played video games, calling him
a‘
prick
.
’ 
“
She did?  Really
?
”
“
Yup
.
”
“
N
o….
”

“
I swear
!
”
“
…
Wha
t’
d she sa
y…
exactly
?
”
“
I said
,‘
Mom, did
n’
t Julian look like a total prick in GQ
?
’ And she said
,‘
He does look a little grumpy
.
’”

“
Tha
t’
s not-yo
u’
re the one who called me
a‘
prick
,
’ not your mom
!
”
“
To my
mom
,‘
grump
y
’ is as close she gets to usingthe wor
d‘
prick
!
’
 
She was basically calling you an asshole
.
”
“
Yo
u’
re mom would never call me that, she loves me.  Yo
u’
re just being a total hater right now
.
”
“
I
t’
s true,she does love you, yes.  I showed her the picture of you with your shirt off and she said
,‘
Oh my goodness!  Julia
n’
s really grown up, has
n’
t he
?
’
 
Which, unfortunately for me, is her way of saying sh
e’
d do you, by the way
.
”

“
Tha
t’
s so, so wrong on so many levels, Scott
.
”
“
Yo
u’
re telling me!  Your half naked body is plastered everywhere, all over the fucking internet, and now when I see it, all I can picture is you doing my mom!  I mean, what kind of shit is that?
!
”

              A waiter walks by with a tray of wine, stopping in front of Julian with a glossy smile.  Scott takes a glass absently and waves him away.

“
So wha
t’
s the plan
?
” he asks, ignoring the waite
r’
s annoyance.

“
What do you mean
?
”

“
Well, I got Amand
a’
s number, no thanks to you, and I plan on spending the rest of the night with her after this lovel
y‘
part
y
’ is finally done.  What are you going to do
?
”
“
I do
n’
t kno
w…
go back home
?
”
“
To-our home?  Really
?
”
“
Yea
h…
why
?
”
              Scotts sighs, sipping the wine and scowling at the taste.
 “
God, I want a beer
.
”