Hollywood Princess (4 page)

CHAPTER 6 - ELIZABETH

After a busy morning, my ire softened. It was difficult to reconcile Danny’s reckless behavior with the deference and kindness he bestowed upon me. Then again, they often said that about gangsters and their treatment of female relatives. The Godfather’s Don Vito Corleone was a wonderful husband, once you got past the fact that he murdered for a living.

Like it or not, I was more or less Danny’s female relative, and I didn’t like it.

Cam waited for me after French class.
“Le dejeuner, mademoiselle?”
he asked.

“Oui, monsieur,”
I replied. So this was to be the new routine; lunch with the guys after French class. Works for me!

Danny approached as I was deciding what to eat and
he planted a yogurt cup on my plate.  He flashed that boyish grin, the one that most women, okay I, found irresistible.  The accompanying twinkly sapphire eyes were what really killed.

“What’s up buttercup?” he smiled at me.

“Is this a peace offering?”

“Are you still angry
?”

“No,” I answered truthfully.
“I can never stay angry for long.”

Danny
followed me to the salad/sandwich bar line. “I’m glad. I would hate if you stayed angry.” 

Danny lingered, watching me
assemble turkey with lettuce and tomato, a dollop of mayo on whole wheat. I gave him a questioning look that surprisingly puzzled him. Sandwich making was really not that interesting. Why was he so intent on watching me?

Later, Danny and I strode triumphantly out of Political Science. Proud of having tackled several complicated questions posed by the professor, we were giddy with success.

“Let’s hang out
. We’ve earned it,” Danny suggested. “I’ll buy you ice cream.”

When Danny and I arrived
at the Café in the Student Center, we found an unoccupied round table on the patio. Despite being designed for five, Danny sat as close to me as possible, while we enjoyed our snacks and spent the afternoon talking. 

Later,
Danny opened his iPad to Notes, a serious expression on his face. What the?

“I’m m
aking a list. Eli. You need a boyfriend and if you tell me what qualities are important I can find him.”

“Are you serious?
” I asked angrily. “I don’t need your assistance. I’ll find my own boyfriend when I want one!” Should I be embarrassed, humiliated or just plain furious? How dare he!

Danny looked at me with concer
n. “I doubt it. You haven’t had any success to date, Eli.” 

I felt as though I’d been slapped in the face.

“What do
you
suggest I do? Place an ad? Eligible bachelors please respond to P.O. Box Danny Newman,” I blasted him. “Why do you even care?”

“I’m
your friend. I want you happy.” 

“I am happy. I have friends.
And I’d rather hang out with them than date anyone you’d fix me up with. Do you know how bizarre this is?”

“He’s got to be f
rom a prominent family so you can trust him,” Danny continued while ignoring me. “That’s the big one, trust. Intelligence – no problem if he’s a Donnelly student. What else? Looks? Does he need rock star glam, or do you like to be the one who shines? Help me here, Eli.”

“You really
are nuts.”

“Blonde or brunet?”

“You’ve lost it, Daniel.” I scolded while trying to keep my voice from carrying.

“You’re
eighteen years old, Eli.”

“That’s what this is about.
You’re hung up on me being a virgin. My sex life is none of your concern, Daniel.”

“It is my concern. I’m your big brother.”

“You are not my brother,” I snapped.

“I’ve got a better idea. Remember our agreement?
If you haven’t found someone by winter break I’ll take you out to Malibu. Nobody’s ever at the house.”

My blood was boiling. White heat. I couldn’t believe Danny remembered, nonetheless intended to hold me to a deal made when I was thirteen.

“Go die in a hole, Newman!” I jumped up from the table, picked up my books, and turned to leave. Danny grabbed my wrist.

“Don’t go
, Eli. Stay.” He looked at me with sad, sapphire eyes. “I’m sorry.  I won’t ever bring it up again.

Those damned
eyes were impossible to resist, and he knew it. 

Exasperated with mysel
f for giving in, I sat down. Danny grinned triumphantly. Some things never changed.

CHAPTER 7 - ELIZABETH

Danny’s interest in my love life became apparent the following evening at dinner. Danny was absent. This bothered me more than I wanted to admit. I was distracted. An uncomfortable emptiness filled me. 

As I toyed with my salad, every new male voice garnered my hopeful attention. My eyes darted around the dining hall seeking Danny’s. Where was he?

“Hey, guys!” Danny breezed in and greeted us, startling me as I was glancing in the other direction. “This is Juliette.”

My eyes popped open. My stomach sank. The loud metal clank of my fork hitting the floor as it slipped through my fingers brought unwanted attention from my tablemates. I forced composure. They shouldn’t see my queasiness. 

Beside Danny stood a tall, waif-like girl with waist-long, stick-straight hair the color of ice and her face had the palest complexion. Coal black eyes were all that kept her from looking albino. I couldn’t decide if she was attractive. Maybe I didn’t want to.

There was something ethereal about her. Juliette wore a long gauzy dress of pale yellow and flat tan sandals. A lack of makeup and nail polish only accentuated her blandness. She seemed frail while she had the overall appearance of a sixties’ hippy. I was certain if I bumped into her she would fall over.

Who was this Juliette? Why was Danny bringing her to dinner? There could be only one reason and that conclusion made me ill.

“If Rachel moves down there’s room for you by Elizabeth,” Cam volunteered.

“Thank you, Cameron,” Juliette answered. She had a soft, almost musical southern accent. Ethereal.

She had met Cam! Danny had previously introduced her to his roommates while I was blind-sided? Why?

Rachel complied and moved. Juliette took the now vacant seat beside me. Great! Just what I wanted; this strange girl sitting next to me. 

I did not want this girl joining our table. I was perfectly happy with my friends as they were. Thank you very much.

“Juliette,” Danny said, bubbling with enthusiasm, “This is Eli, my oldest and dearest friend.”

Oh, joy! So I’m the ‘oldest and dearest friend’ tonight.

My heart sank. It was too obvious to ignore. Somehow, Danny had acquired a girlfriend. When had this happened? He always spent his time with me!

Danny could do so much better than Juliette the washed-out waif. He could have a tanned, auburn-haired girl. I silently brooded. I needed a Tony Award quality performance to make it through this meal, my pride intact.

I pasted on my brightest smile and vowed to be as charming as possible. 

What claim did she think she had on Danny?  Juliette had to be supremely confident not to be bothered by seeing that his ‘oldest and dearest friend’ was me.

“Eli,” she purred, “So pleased to meet you.”

“My name is Elizabeth,” I answered with emphasis. 

“My mistake. I thought Dan called you…” her voice tailed off. Dan?

“Eli. He did. Only Daniel calls me Eli,” I answered in a voice as icy as Juliette’s coloring.

Danny squeezed Juliette’s bony shoulders. “Once you and Eli get better acquainted, you’re going to be great friends,” he said with confidence.

Chloe shot me a sideward’s glance of support. I felt Rachel’s eyes rolling. No way on earth was I ever going to be “great friends” with Juliette.

“Dan, don’t eat that,” Juliette gently admonished Danny as he stuck his knife into Chicken Parmesan.

“Juliette’s vegan,” Danny boasted. Of course she was.

Juliette stared at him with wide, pleading eyes. Danny received her message and forced a smile. It was not the carefree smile he reserved for me.

“Who wants my chicken?” he relented.

Cam and Shane looked at each other. “We’ll split it,” Shane said. 

Danny lifted the piece of chicken and placed it on Shane’s plate. Shane cut it in half and gave one section to Cam. Danny dug into his spaghetti marinara.

Amazing! Burgers and steaks had always been Danny’s go to staples. 

I wanted to laugh, but at the same time I wanted to cry. What was this girl doing to him?  I wanted the real Danny back! I wanted my Danny back.

“How did you meet Juliette?” I asked Danny.

“After I left the library Sunday, I went to The Cellar. Juliette works there on Sundays.”  Danny grinned, pleased with himself.

“Sunday? Like two days ago?” The rapidity! I pushed the disappointment from my voice. 

Danny shrugged. “Sometimes things happen fast,” he answered, reading my mind. 

I wanted to wipe the grin off his face. Danny had to realize how hurt I was.

“I live in the Exchange. We do our own cooking,” Juliette volunteered. “I’m only here tonight because Dan wanted me to meet his friends. I could never live on this stuff, and I don’t want you to either, Dan,” she purred. Purred?

Should I smack her or kill myself? I deferred making a decision, hoping my carnivorous boy would soon come to his senses.

Trying to be pleasant, I asked, “Where are you from, Juliette?”

“Atlanta,” she answered. “If you’re Dan’s oldest friend, does that mean you’re from Los Angeles?”

“Yes. I live around the corner from Danny.” He let my exaggeration slide. 

“How nice,” Juliette responded.

I looked directly into Danny’s amused eyes and targeted him with my brightest smile.  “Yes,” I said, “It is nice. It’s very nice.”

I caught Rachel’s smirk. She knew exactly what I was doing. I was rather transparent.

“What do your parents do?” There! I sounded both polite and interested. See, I’m not a jealous bitch.

“He’s an executive at Coca-Cola and my mother teaches autistic children,” Juliette bragged.

“That’s terrific,” I said sincerely. “I have a lot of respect for her.” 

I hated admitting that, but anyone who would devote themselves to a career of helping the disabled was a hero. I couldn’t compete against that. My mother’s career was far from saintly.

“Thank you,” Juliette answered, taken aback by my sincerity.

“Does your father send you freebies?” Shane asked. This levity cut through the tension, if only for a moment.

Juliette smiled. “I can get you coupons.” Juliette turned back to me. “What do your parents do, Elizabeth?”

I smiled at Danny with a look of defiance. Well, she’d asked.

“Dad’s a movie producer and Mom’s an actress,” I answered nonchalantly.

Shocked, Danny gave me a hard stare. Accustomed to my usual evasive answers, telling Juliette the truth was in sharp contrast. 

My friends wondered where this would go. They were sworn not to disclose my parents’ identities, but, hey, they were
my
parents. I could do whatever.

“Who are your parents?” Juliette asked playing into my hand.

“Michael Jacobs and Miranda Jordan,” I answered, filled with pride.

Well, she had asked a direct question. I couldn’t help it if my parents were recognized world-wide, and hers weren’t.

These thoughts were distasteful even to me. I was angry with Danny and envious of Juliette. And for once I didn’t care. This girl had come out of nowhere and stolen my man! So what if Danny wasn’t really mine for her to steal. If Juliette hadn’t appeared, perhaps Romeo would have become mine.

“I’m sorry, I don’t know who they are.”

How did she not know who my parents were! Had she never heard of IMDb?

“I only go to foreign films,” Juliette explained.

I was dumbfounded. “Shame,” I answered, filled with contempt. “Danny spent last year working on his dad’s latest film. They were all over Europe and even spent a month in Africa,” I bragged. “I’m sorry you won’t see it. Steven only directs blockbusters. I’ll gladly report back to you when I return from the premiere.”

Danny’s fork crashed against his ceramic plate. All eyes turned his way. His glare directed at me made me spasm. Shit! He was pissed.

Much to everyone’s relief, dinner finally ended. I left with Chloe, relieved to leave Danny and Juliette behind.

“What was he thinking having that girl dine with us?” Chloe asked as soon as we were far enough down the path that no one could hear us. “She was awful. ‘I only go to foreign films.’  Like she thinks she’s superior to us. You put her in her place.”

“Not really. She didn’t know who I was bragging about.”

“She had to. Your mother’s won two Oscars. Juliette wasn’t born in an art house.”

“Thanks, Chloe. I’m not proud of myself. I’ve never done that before and I didn’t like it.  Danny didn’t either.”

“I’m sorry, Elizabeth. It had to hurt having this girl shoved in your face. What was Danny’s point?”

Tears pricked my eyes. “It’s Danny’s way of telling me that to him I’m his kid sister and always will be.” My voice quivered. The tears I’d kept bottled inside through dinner released in a torrent down my cheeks.

“You want more.” Chloe embraced me. “Oh, Elizabeth. I truly am sorry.”