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Authors: Dana Aynn Levin

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BOOK: Hollywood Princess
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CHAPTER 4 - ELIZABETH

Chloe was
spending an inordinate amount of time primping for our first big social event, the Freshman Fete. I was summer tan. A little mascara and pale pink lip-gloss were all that I required. I doubted Rachel every primped for anything, but she was on the phone.             

So I sat on the edge of my bed dressed a
nd waiting.

“Let’s go!” Chloe called out as though we had been keeping her.

“Wait! I almost forgot.”

I smiled provocatively while I scampered back to my room and removed a folder from the top drawer of my desk.

“Don’t tell anyone where you got these,” I warned. “Promise? I’ll be in so much trouble. My parents don’t know.”

“Promise!” they both swore though without knowing what they were swearing to.

I opened the folder and removed two drivers’ licenses, one from New York and one from Connecticut. The girls scrutinized them.

“These say we’re twenty-one!” Chloe gasped.

“How did you…?” Rachel was stunned.

“A prop master friend; she can get anything,” I replied smugly.

Shortly before ten we arrived at the second floor of century-old Daughtry Hall dormitory. Decked out with balloons and posters, a table manned by two upperclassmen blocked the entrance to the party. IDs would be checked and purses searched for alcohol. From their stares, it was clear the students used their jobs to check out the freshman girls.

Before Rachel, Chloe and I got that f
ar, Danny accosted us. He guided us to where Cam and their other roommate, Shane, were lurking, in an alcove down the hall. Shane Mills’ angular pale face, with straight blonde hair and deep brown eyes, was a sharp contrast to Cameron’s softer features.

“Here.” Danny grabbed a glass bottle from Shane and pressed it
to my lips. “Drink.”

I had no cho
ice but to take a gulp. Otherwise the liquid would have spilled down the front of my dress.             

“What was that?” An unfamiliar rasp
came from my throat as Danny passed the bottle to Rachel who took a quick swig before passing it to Chloe.

“Vodka,” he smirked.
“I thought you might need something to take the edge off.”

Admittedly shy,
I did not like large parties, but Cam had promised me a dance. I wouldn’t be stuck alone on the sidelines. And if nothing else, Danny was good for at least one dance out of obligation.

The
bottle had quickly made its round and Danny took a long pull before passing it back to me. I took another sip, a small one this time, before handing it off. With my low alcohol tolerance, I already felt the buzz.

Danny took my elbow and escorted me into the party, already in full swing, wall-to-wall with freshmen.

“Do you mind?
” I groused, “I’m not your date,” and I pulled my arm free.

“Aha!  So you do want to meet someone,“ he teased.

“I don’t know. Maybe. It could be nice. I know I don’t want you.”

Thankfully Cam
appeared. “Is my roommate bothering you?” 

“Yes,” I
answered, and I flashed Danny a victorious smile. 

“Then let’s have that dance you prom
ised me.” I stuck my tongue out at Danny as Cam led me to the dance floor. So mature.

Cam was an excellent
dancer, and we enjoyed dancing to several songs before breaking for a cold drink. While I waited for Cam’s return, I observed Danny through the corner of my eye. He danced with several different girls, none of whom kept his interest. I sighed. Danny was an excellent dancer, effortless in his movements.

After Cam and I finished our drinks we danced a
few more dances. Then a slow song played. Out of nowhere Danny approached. 

“M
ay I cut in?”  He asked, all polite good manners.

Cam had no choice
. He handed me to Danny as though I was chattel.

Danny reached for my hand and held me close. Our feet went gliding across the floor as he masterfully led. The hand Danny
had positioned on the small of my back sent unwanted shivers up my spine. I hoped he didn’t notice. 

When the music ended I smugly curtseyed.
Before I could take my leave, a skinny blonde preppy approached us. There was something about him. I couldn’t put a finger on it, but my reaction was visceral. The little hairs on my neck prickled. We’d never met, but intuitively I knew this guy was bad news. 

He must have had a similar affect on Danny
, for he instinctively wrapped his arm across my shoulders. Did Danny want him to think I was his date?

“Hey
, Newman,” he said, lasciviously eyeing every inch of me. I cringed.  “Who’s your babe?” His voice was soft, a muted southern drawl. Usually I found this somewhat sexy, but not this time.

“Duncan,
meet Elizabeth,” Danny responded stiffly.

Danny
calling me Elizabeth confirmed that for me, Duncan was to be avoided.

“Elizabeth.  Lovely,”
he said with sarcastic bite. “I’m Duncan Lebeau.”

“Charmed, I’m sure,” I replied
tersely, but with a sweet forced smile.

A barely visible tattoo on Duncan’s collarbone appeared to be a dark-hued snake. A goth preppy. That was interesting. Or was it a warning?

“The after party’s at my suite. Be there.” Duncan said.

“I wouldn’t miss it,” Danny answered.

“And bring your babe.” Duncan aimed his devious smile at me. “Pretty girls are always welcomed.”

“Elizabeth
won’t be coming,” Danny responded definitively. 

Duncan shrugged
indifferently and left us. I deliberately removed Danny’s arm from my shoulder and indignantly turned to face him.

“Why won’t I be going?“

“You wouldn’t have a good time,” he answered flatly.

“I make my own decisions
. I’m not a kid, Daniel.” How dare he. 

Danny put his hands
square on my shoulders and met my gaze with an intensity I had previously not experienced.

“You
will not be going to Duncan’s. I will not permit it.”

“Permit
!” Who was Danny to give me orders?

“Danny
, why are you all over my date?” Cam’s laughter interrupted us. 

Da
nny quickly dropped his hands. His usual laid-back demeanor replaced the intensity of a moment earlier.

“Your date? Eli your Cam’s date?” Danny was surprised.

“I guess I am now,” I answered. “Cam, let’s dance.” I sarcastically blew Danny a kiss as I walked away with Cam. Let Danny stew.

Midnight found me cozy in pajamas, attempting to read for political s
cience. Distracted, I kept replaying the exchange between Danny and Duncan. There was something off-putting about Duncan. Recalling his tattoo made me shiver. I clutched my pillow.

Chloe staggered in with Rachel in tow
. I wasn’t sleeping anyway.

“How was the party?” I
asked.

“Be glad you didn’t go
,” a sober Rachel answered. Chloe was grasping the walls to stay upright. “I got her out just in time.”

Chloe stumbled
toward my bed. One whiff and I understood. She reeked.

“I thought
Chloe didn’t smoke,” I said to Rachel. Chloe giggled. Rachel glared.

“Every
one was wasted,” Rachel explained. “I would have left as soon as I arrived but Chloe wanted to stay and I thought I might be needed.”

“Looks like you were.”

“Danny’s so hot. And he’s such a good guitarist,” Chloe sighed. “And his voice… Can he play for us?” Chloe giggled.


Sure. I’ll call his agent tomorrow and book him,” I said sarcastically.


Would you?” She sighed again. “Then he can kiss me again.” 

I sat bolt upright. “What! Rachel, what went on
there!?”

“Let’s get
Chloe to bed and we’ll talk.”

We
dragged Chloe to her bed, removed her shoes, and covered her with a blanket.  She fell right to sleep. Now Rachel could fill me in.

“Everyone at
Duncan’s was getting wasted, including Chloe. Then she jumped on Danny and started kissing him.” Rachel rolled her eyes in disgust. 

How awkward
! Danny didn’t like Chloe that way. And I didn’t want to feel self-conscious if Danny showed me attention like at the dance. Had Chloe noticed? Is that why she had gloated about kissing Danny? What a mess! Why couldn’t she like Shane? 

CHAPTER 5 - ELIZABETH

The next evening I met Danny, and we headed to the library. What an incredible week it had been. The trepidations I’d felt before arriving at Donnelly were laid to rest.  I was enjoying my classes, dorm life was fun, and I had made several good friends.

Then there was Danny. What an amazing reunion.
We had picked up right where we had left off five years earlier including the comfort we felt with each other.

When Danny and I arrived, we found t
he library was relatively empty. It was early in the term and we were able to snag a soundproofed study room that by next month would require a reservation.

Danny and I settled in to review
political science. We both had extensive outlines. While I impressed Danny with my mastery of the material, he overwhelmed me with his.

“How do you know all this?
” I asked. “You spent half the weekend wasted.”

“It’s the other half that matters,”
Danny shot back arrogantly. “Where were you at ten o’clock this morning? This is what I was doing.” Danny held up his book.

To say that I was shocked was an understatement.

“How were you up at ten? I know what went on at Duncan’s.”

Danny smirked. “Well, a
fter Chloe was forcibly removed from me… It could have been sweet except she’s your roommate.”

“I’m so glad there’s a code
,” I replied sarcastically which he ignored.


I stayed a while longer and was snug in my bed asleep by two. I got my eight hours and hit the books. No way was I showing up tonight with less than my A game.”


You’re so competitive.”


Same as you. Admit it, Eli. You want to show me up just as much as I want to show you up.” I flushed, deep red. Danny laughed. “I’m right, aren’t I?”

I launched the rubber
band I’d been wearing on my wrist at Danny’s head. As it bounced off his shoulder, Danny laughed. I sneered and returned to my book.

After a time
I caught Danny stifling a yawn, and I raised an eyebrow. Aha!

Caught, he glared at me.
“Let’s see how the coffee is.” 

Danny
guided me out of the room. After several wrong turns we found the lounge where vending machines sold coffee, cold drinks and snacks. Danny grabbed a cup of coffee and bought me a bottle of water. 

Pressed
against the side of one tall machine, I tilted my chin toward Danny, maintaining eye-contract while we chatted. Towering over me, his height apparent, Danny leaned, supporting his hand against the metal machine.

An
average looking blonde passed by, glancing at Danny, offering a plastic smile. She failed to get his attention that was riveted to me. How could Danny not notice her? The girl was boring into me with a deathly stare. 

After
she paused on her return, I whispered to Danny, “What’s with the blonde giving me the death stare?”

D
anny brushed it off. “She’s nobody.” 

“Let’s get back to our books. ’
Nobody’ is giving me the creeps.”

In
our study room, I gave Danny my own version of death stare.

“Who is that blonde
, Daniel?” I asked sternly.

“I don’t know,
” he answered uncomfortably.

“You don’t?
Why would someone I don’t know, if you don’t know them either, be giving me death stare?”

“I met her at Duncan’s,” he replied sheepishly. “
I didn’t catch her name.”

“Great.”
I rolled my eyes.

“S
he’s an upperclassman, and they have singles.”

“Do I really
care?”

“You asked,” he shrugged shamelessly.

“A simple she’s a girl I met at Duncan’s would have sufficed.  No need to get graphic,” I said indignantly.

“I didn’t get graphic
. I could if you really want me to, but you wouldn’t understand.”  I rolled my eyes again. Danny was infuriating.


The girl is stalking us! It must have been quite memorable evening.”

“I guess
so.  For her,” Danny laughed.


What a cad!”

“No, I’m just having fun, Eli.
A girl that wasted understands things can happen that do not mean anything. She has to deal with it.”

“That’s
why you wouldn’t let me attend that party.”


I wanted to protect you from a room of wasted people behaving badly.”


Yourself included?”


Yes. Especially myself. Despite where you grew up you’re still naïve. I want to keep you that way. It looks right on you. It’s charming. I don’t want you to change.”

BOOK: Hollywood Princess
10.37Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
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