Gazelle (16 page)

“
Is that not okay?  I do live there, too, sometimes
.
”
“
Yes, I know.  But, like I said, Amanda is coming over
-
”

“
You never said that, you said you were spending the rest of the night with her
.
”
“
And where do you think tha
t’
s happening
?
”
“
I do
n’
t kno
w…
her place
?
”
              He snorts.
 “
Yeah, right.  Some dingy, shithole with her seven stonerroommates and two cats, the place reeking of fucking cat piss and body odor?  Not really my style
.
”
“
…
Well, okay, so, I
should
n’
t
go to my own home
?
”
“
You should, because it is your home, yes, tha
t’
s true.  But it would
suck
for me.  Really suck.  Like, a lot
.
”
“I’
ll be really quiet
.
”
“
Did you not just see what happened in the 2.5 seconds of interaction the two of you had?  Your home, with you in it, is cock kryptonite for anyone who is
n’
t
you
.  Sh
e’
ll smell you through the walls and start clawing at them to get to you like a rabid, horny, little badger in heat, and tha
t’
ll be it, I wo
n’
t stand a fucking chance
.
”
              Julian laughs at this and glances absently over the crowd.  His eye catches the sweeping up do of dark hair and deep tan against a red, satin strapless gown.  She turns, her emerald eyes moving slowly from his waist up to his gaze, and smiles a thick, blood red smile, her tiny chin and cheeks forming a perfect heart.  He sucks in his breath, his hands in his pockets clench as he recognizes her.  She is the first to look away, returning her attention to the conversation she is engrossed in.

“
Tha
t’
s her
,
” he whispers.

“
Who
?
”

“
Sharleen Dors
.
”

              Scott cranes his neck and peers out towards her.  She glances again towards Julian and smiles.
 “
Oh, shit, it is.  Good god, sh
e’
s fucking hot!  Way, way hotter in person.  That does
n’
t usually happen, right?  The
y’
re not usually hotter in person
.
”

“I’
m-I have to talk to her
,
” Julian says, somewhat awkwardly.

“
Yeah, you do.  I mean, no question, you have to
.
”

“
No, I mean, Mike wants u
s
…”
“
What
?
”
“
I
t’
s just-a business thing.  I have to talk to her about business
.
”
“
Righ
t
…” Scott frowns, confused.
 “
Business.  Okay.  Whatever you want to call it.  Well, go do it then
.
”
“
What, go up to her right now
?
”
“
Yeah, why not?  Yo
u’
re not scared, are you
?
”
“
No!  Not at all.  I
t’
s just-weird, is all
.
”
“
Why?  I
t’
s business, right?  This is a business event.  Go do your business
.
”

              Julian frowns at him, noting his frien
d’
s mocking tone.
 “
Can you not be a smart ass right now
?
”
“
What!? 
I’
m not!  You need to talk to her, go do it
!
”
“
I will
!
”
“
Well, go then
!
”
“I’
m-not right no
w
…” he mutters, sneaking another look at her as she laughs with the gentlemen surrounding her.

“
Why not
?
”
“
She looks busy.  Plus,
I’
m a little drunk, I think.  N
o…
I am. 
I’
m too drunk.  You and your fucking glass flask and blunt bomb!  Jesus, why do I listen to you
?
”
“
Hey, do not blame the bombies!  This is all you.  And, you know what? You are completely unbelievable.  Most people get drunk to get up the nerve to
talk
to women like that, you know.  Stop being a pussy and go do it
.
”
“I’
m not most people.  I do
n’
t need to be drunk,in fact, it makes it harder for me.  I feel
-
”

“
Out of control
?
”
“
Yeah, sure, why not.  Out of control
.
”
“
Like yo
u’
re going to make an ass out of yourself
?
”
“
Yep
.
”

“
Well, the great thing about being drunk and hitting on women is that you probably will make an ass out of yourself but it wo
n’
t matter because yo
u’
re a fucking movie star and you probably, if at all, wo
n’
t care until sometime tomorrow afternoon when sh
e’
s long gone and it does
n’
t matter anymore
.
”
“
I told you,
I’
m not hitting on her.  I
t’
s business.  And i
t’
s complicated so I need to focus
,
” he says, shifting his gaze to their feet.
“
What kind of business?  Like, yo
u’
re doing a thing together or something
?
”
“
N
o…
ye
s…
I do
n’
t really want to get into it right now, okay?  Just, trust me when I say i
t’
s better if
I’
m sober when I talk to her. 
I’
ll do it when I get back to L.A.
.
”
“
Too late
.
”
“
No, i
t’
s not.  I
t’
ll be fine.  I can get her number from Mike and set up a nice little lunch date tha
t’
s totally public and harmless.  I wo
n’
t be fucked up, ther
e’
ll be no fancy, fucking suits and ties or sexy, red dresse
s…
who the fuck can wear a dress like that?  I
t’
s like, supernatural, I think.  I feel like my eyes are burning out of my skull every time I look at her
.
”
“
I
t’
s too late, Julian
,
” Scott whispers, leaning in towards him
,“
sh
e’
s here
.
”

              Julian looks up from his shoes and into her seductive smile as she stands before them with a casual arm dangling her wine.   

“
Thanks
,
” she says.
 “
I like this dress, too
.
”
              His mouth opens and closes for a second as he struggles to remember the words he has just said while wondering simultaneously how much of it she heard.

“I’
m Sharleen
,
” she smiles, extending a long, delicate hand.
 “
I
t’
s nice to meet you
.
”

“
Julian
,
” he answers quickly, taking her hand with an equally delicate manner.
 “
This is my friend, Scott
.
”
“
Best friend
,
” Scott answers, shaking her hand with more charm than Julian.
 “
W
e’
ve been friends since we were kids.  Nothing gay, just friends, although I am his date tonight so, I do feel the pressure to give it up, especially after seeing him in this suit
.
”

              She laughs as Julian scowls in embarrassment.
 “
I would
n’
t blame you, either.  It is a very nice suit
.
”

“
Thank you
,
” Julian smiles, recovering quickly.  His mind buzzes, he concentrates on trying to look sober and charming beneath her mesmerizing scrutiny.  Amanda returns with the drink, immediately switching into a servant demeanor at the sight of the goddess in their midst.

“
Here you are, sir
,
” she says as she carefully hands him the drink. 

“
Thanks
.
”
“
Hey, Amanda, why do
n’
t you show me the rest of this dump?  Let these old friends catch up.  It was nice meeting you
,
” Scott grins, draping a casual, triumphant arm around Amanda and leading her away.

“
You, too
.
”

              They stand in awkward silence, he drinking his cocktail much too quickly and she scanning the crowd for familiar faces.  They both look at one another and laugh at their sudden bashfulness.

“
This is ridiculous
,
” she says.

“
Yea
h…I’
m sorry.  I-
I’
mnot usually so weird, I promise
.
”

“
Really?  Mike said you were a little bi
t‘
reclusive
.
’”

“
He did?  Reclusive?  What, like a hermit
?
”
“
No, I think more like a shy guy.  I have to admit,I found it pretty hard to believe until now.  You do
n’
t seem the type
.
”
“
Ah, well,
I’
m not, usually.  Ther
e’
s a difference between reserved and shy.  Mike thinks anyone wh
o’
s not continuously rambling is an idiot
.
”
“
Oh, I know, I totally get that from him.  He overloads you with information, does
n’
t he? Like, tell me where and when to be and tha
t’
s it, I do
n’
t need to know what kind of car the executive drives or where his kid goes to school
.
”
              She laughs, her smile a smooth, white shell against her plush lips.  He looks into her eyes and feels himself settling down, preparing to strike.  His posture shifts and he relaxes, drawing the subconscious attention of everyone around him.  She shifts into him and runs a slow hand around the dangling tendril of rich, brown hair that falls over her left eye as she lowers her head. 

“
How long have you been with Mike
?
” she asks.

“
Oh, I do
n’
t kno
w…
a few years.  You
?
”
“
Less than six months.  H
e’
s great, is
n’
t he? 
I’
m so impressed with what h
e’
s brought to the table so far.  I know I made the right choice
.
”
“
Yeah, well, he is the man you want on your side.  Did he get you into this foundation
?
”
“
Oh, no.  My dad co-founded it. 
I’
m representing him tonight
.
”
“
Yeah, tha
t’
s right.  Your dad is Richard Walkins.  I forgot about that
.
”
              She giggles and nods with exaggerated modesty.
 “
Yep.  The one and only
.
”
“
Is it true h
e’
s doing anothe
r‘
Decadence
?
’
 
Wha
t’
s that, like, the third or fourth
?
”
“
The third!  I know, I ca
n’
t believe it, either.  I told him h
e’
s too old but he wo
n’
t give up.  Most of it is stunt doubles and CGI now, anyways.  H
e’
ll be fine.  I think it makes him feel young to still be making movies
.
”