Gazelle (23 page)

“
I really like her
.
”
“
Dors
.
”
“
Yeah
.
”

“
Yea
h…
well, follow your gut.  And if she fucks with you, i
t’
s different this time
.
”
“
…
Is it? You think so
?
”
“
Yeah, it is!  You got me, holmes! 
I’
ll make those pretty green eyes black and blue if I have to
.
”

              He laughs and scratches his head.
 “
Yeah, you would, would
n’
t you
?
”
“
Fuck yeah, I would.  Nobody messes with my boy
,
” she yawns, stretching and shrinking out of her coat like a tiny cat.

“
Can I crash here?  I do
n’
t want to make you drive
.
”
“
Sure.  You can take the couch with o
l
’ Dirty.  We can carpool to work tomorrow
.
”

“
Are you really gonnamake me sleep on the couch
?
” he whines, stifling his yawn.

              She rolls her eyes and turns, taking his limp hand in hers and leading him in.
 “
Of course not, dummy
.
”

             
They spoon one another, him still fully dressed in his suit, wrapped around her, his arms heavy logs squeezing in a firm, relentless grip, snoring softly into her hair, burning with the heat of a sun, her in her pajamas, her hands gently, absently stroking his arms, wide awake staring at the slivers of sun poking through the blinds.

4. 

“
Hello
?
”
“
Hi, is this Scott
?
”
“
Yep.  Wh
o’
s this
?
”
“
This is Alice, Julia
n’
s assistant
.
”

“
Oh, yeah!  He told me about you!  Wha
t’
s going on, Alice
?
”
“
Nothing, really. 
I’
m just calling to confirm yo
u’
ll be in town for his Christmas party.  He said to make sure you were here
,
” she says, tapping the button to the elevator and checking her watch.
“
Oh, definitely! 
I’
m set to go.  I got your ticket confirmation last week.  Hey, am I staying at his place or a hotel
?
”
“
His place.   I mean, you can stay at a hotel, if you want, but he said to make sure a room was ready for you
,
” she says.

              The gold doors of the luxury apartments spread quietly for her.  She steps in and hits th
e‘
P10
1
’ button, followed by a swipe of Julia
n’
s keycard.  The light flashes green, the doors slide shut and the elevator bolts upwards.

“
Cool, no! 
I’
m down to stay at his place.  I ca
n’
t wait
.
”
“
Great!  Then w
e’
ll see you there
.
”
“
Look forward to meeting you.  You sound hot
,
” he smiles into the phone.

              She smirks.
 “
What doe
s‘
ho
t
’ sound like
?
”
“
You tell me.  What do I sound like
?
”
“I’
d say cheesy but i
t’
s more of a smell than a sound, I think
.
”
“
Ouch!  I definitely ca
n’
t wait to meet you.  Yo
u’
re gonnabe a handful, are
n’
t you
?
”
“
Depends on the hands.  See you later, Scott
.
”
 
She hit
s‘
en
d
’ before he can respond.

              The elevator moves quickly, barreling towards the penthouse as the soft sounds of jazz filter through its speakers.  Alice licks her lips and drops her eyes to her own reflection.  Smart, black, 8
0’
s preppie Ralph Lauren blazer with the sleeves rolled up, exposing her tattoos, slacks, gold necklace over a New Order tank top and designer jeans that hug her curves down to a black pair ofMadden boot wedge heels.  She tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear, runs a finger across the corners of her mouth and checks her teeth.  Sh
e’
s as professional as she gets, Alice thinks as the elevator stops and the doors slide open.

              The apartment is completely minimal.  Everything is white, from the hard, cold tile to the sprinkling of knickknacks on the white shelves.  She steps down into the sunken living room.  To her right, a sprawl of plush, white carpet beneath an enormous, cream leather couch that curves around a fireplace carved out of the wall.  To her left, a full-length bar, stocked with expensive alcohol in crystal canters, lit from a row of track lighting beneath the glass shelves.  In front of her, a floor to ceiling window displays the city stretching into oblivion.  There are no paintings, no pictures, nothing that would suggest organic life forms.  She frowns.

“
God, how pretentious
,
” she mutters. 

“
Alice? 
I’
m in here. 
I’
ll be out in a sec.  Have a seat
.
”
              Alice does not answer.  She does not sit.  She clutches the manila envelope and shifts her weight back and forth, waiting, as usual, for the princess.

              Sharleen comes from behind a door that is blended into the wall.  Her dress is simple, airy, flowing around her in a creamsicle swirl that accentuates her breasts and hips as she moves.  The clicking of her heels reminds Alice of CeCe but this woman could not be more different.  Her head tilts as she checks Alice, flashing momentarily on the band shirt before her thick mouth spreads into a condescending smile she learned from Mike.

“
You look cute!  Wha
t’s‘
New Order
?
’
 
Is that a designer
?
”

“
No, i
t’
s a band.  From the 8
0’
s
.
”
“
The 8
0’
s?Yo
u’
re
that
old?  You do
n’
t look that old.  Jesus, I was
n’
t even born yet
,
” Sharleen laughs.

“
Yep.  That old.  Here you go
,
” Alice says, through gritted teeth, not bothering to remind her, again, she is only five years older.

“
Oh my god, thank you soooomuch!  I ca
n’
t believe I left this at his place.  What a dummy.  My rep was so pissed. Do you want something to drink
?
”

              She takes the folder and tosses it on the bar, pulling a club soda from beneath the counter.

“
No thanks.  I gottaget going. I have a million things to do
.
”

“
Are you sure?  I
t’
s no trouble
.
”

“
No,
I’
m fine
.
”
“
Oka
y…
well, thanks again
.
”
“
Anytime
.
” She turns and starts to head out.

“
Hey, Alice
?
”
              Alice stops and closes her eyes.  I knew it was too easy.
 “
Yeah
?
”
“
CeCetold me about the party.  The Christmas/Good Luck party
?
”
“
Oh, yeah
?
”
“
I would love to help.  I know i
t’
d mean a lot to him if I did.  I mean,
I’
m going to be there, naturally, but I want to do more, you know?  Help out
?
”
              Take the credit, you mean, Alice thinks.
 “
Help how, exactly
?
”
              Sharleensmiles, her hands dangling delicately as she moves towards Alice in the most feminine, most annoying way Alice has ever seen anyone move.
 “
You tell me! Yo
u’
re the party expert
.
”
“
Not really. 
I’
ve never thrown a party before in my life
.
”

“
Really? He told me yo
u’
re taking him to a party tonight, right?  Did
n’
t you arrange that one, too
?
”
              Here it is, this is why sh
e‘
forgo
t
’ the folder.
 “
Um, no.  I
t’
s a friend of mine.  His mothe
r’
s birthday.  I
t’
s not really a party, just a bar-b-q.    I honestly do
n’
t know what CeCeis arranging for his party.  I think i
t’
s going to be low ke
y…
his family, some of his friends from around here and New Yor
k…
yo
u….
”
“
Oh!  That sounds perfect!  H
e’
s a little on the hermit side, does
n’
t really like big things much, right?  So, thi
s‘
frien
d
’ of your
s…
is he your boyfriend
?
” She winks and smiles, her teeth blending into the room around her.

“
N
o…
h
e’
s just a friend.  I do
n’
t have a boyfriend.  Not since the last time you asked m
e…
two days ago
.
”
“
Well, you never know.  Yo
u’
re kind of a mystery, Alice.  So quiet and shy.  I
t’
s hard to imagine some of the stories Julian tells me about you
.
”
“
What stories?  What does he say
?
”

“
Oh, nothing bad!  Just that yo
u’
re, you know, pretty outspoken.  Sort of tough.  Do
n’
t take this the wrong way but, I was convinced you were a lesbian when we first met
.
”

              Alice laughs a hard laugh of contempt and shakes her head.

“
Not that ther
e’
s anything wrong with that
,
” Sharleenadds quickly.
 “
And it was solely based on some of the stories he told me
.
”
“
S
o…
he described me as a tough bitch, and you deduce
d‘
lesbian
.
’
 
How ver
y‘
P
C
’ of you
.
”

“
No!  Not just that, I mean, you do
n’
t really dress in skirts or dresse
s…I’
ve never seen you in anything but sneakers until today.  Those are cute, by the way
.
”

“
Oh, ug,thanks.  I better get going
,
” Alicegrowls, shaking her head and turning to leave
.“I’
ll let you know if ther
e’
s anything you can do
.
”
“I’
m sorr
y…
I offended you, did
n’
t I?  I totally did
n’
t mean anything bad.  It just came out all wrong.
I’
m such a dummy
!
”
“
Oh, no, I doubt that very much
,
” Alice calls from the elevator, studying the look of triumph on Sharlee
n’
s face as the doors close.

“
Hi, Nathan.  Ho
w’
s it going
?
”
“
Good.  Good, really good. 
I’
m calling to check in with you.  Are you ready
?
”
“I’
m getting there.  Are you
?
”
“
I could
n’
t be more fucking excited, friend.  We still on for breakfast tomorrow?  We can go over last minute script shit then
.
”
“
Yeah, yes.  Definitely. 
I’
m uh,
I’
m feeling pretty positive about the talk we had.  I
t’
s really helped out
.
”
              There is a brief pause.  Julian winces, feeling as if Nathan has and always will see through him.
 “
Tha
t’
s good. 
I’
m glad.  I know this has been a real challenge for you, man.  I want you to know that when it comes down to it, I trust you.  This-this film means everything to me.  And I know it means everything to you, too.  Yo
u’
ve been working right alongside m
e…
i
t’
s
both
of us, okay?  Remember that.  I trust you with it, you hear me
?
”
“
I know.  Thank you, man
.
”
“
No problem, no problem.  Get some proper rest and
I’
ll see you tomorrow
.
”