Gazelle (37 page)

“
‘
Get out of town
?
’
 
That sounds ominous.  Is everything alright
?
” his mother asks.

              He looks back at her and touches her elbow.
 “
Everythin
g’
s fine.  Just work stuff
.
”
“
When do you start shooting the movie
?
” Emily asks as they move back through the living room. 

“
The week after next.  Well, we start prepping next week, but, really, it starts the week after next
.
”
“
The week before Christmas?  Really?  Tha
t’
s odd
,
” his mother frowns.

“
Yea
h…
i
t’
s part of the film.  Tha
t’
s why I wanted to celebrate early this year.  I know i
t’
s inconvenient, thank you for coming
,
” he answers.

“
Of course w
e’
d come, honey!  We would
n’
t dare miss it
!
”

“
I appreciate that.  Do you all want wine?  Le
t’
s have some wine.  CeCe
?
”

              Cececomes into the room, smiling warmly
.“
Hi, everyone
!
”
“
Mom, guys, this is CeCe, my assistant.  CeCe, this is my mom, Patricia, James and his wife, Sarah
.
”
“
I
t’
s so good to finally meet all of you,
I’
ve heard so much
,
” she says as she politely shakes their hands.

“
Yo
u’
re the assistant I spoke with?  The one who helped make our arrangements?  Thank you so much
,
” James answers, studying the beautiful woman.

“
Oh, no, that was Alice.  Sh
e’
ll be here any moment.  I handle the more structural aspects of Julia
n’
s career.  His schedule, bookings and whatnots
.
”

“
Wow, Julian, two assistants.  I did
n’
t realize you were so busy
,
” James laughs in a condescending tone.

              Julian smiles tightly, his eyes flashing over his brother for a moment.
 “
CeCe, can you tell the caterers to get us some wine, please?  And come join us when yo
u’
re done, I think i
t’
s time we start this party
.
”

              They sit outside of In
n
’ Out, eating cheeseburgers and watching the people around them.  The sun has set, the party is about to start.  Alice feels her phone vibrate and glances at it.

“
Is that Julian
?
”
 
Scott asks, dipping his fries in her ketchup.

“
No.  CeCe.  Sh
e’
s probably freaking out. 
I’
m very late
,
” she sighs.

“
On a scale of one to ten, how late are you
?
”
“
Ten being the latest
?
”
“
Yeah
.
”
“
Twelve
.
”
“
Whoops
!
” Scott grins
.“
If yo
u’
re late,
I’
m late, too
.
”
              She giggles and tosses her phone down.
 “
Yeah,
I’
m pretty much the worst chauffeur ever, I think
.
”
“
I
t’
s true.   Tha
t’
s what
I’
m going to tell them when we finally get there, too
.
”
“
Really?  Yo
u’
re just gonnathrow me under the bus like that?  Yo
u’
d do me like that
?
”
“
Oh, absolutely.  In a heart beat, baby
.
”
“
I thought we were so much mor
e
…”
“
What can I say?  You fed me, I have no more need for you
.
”
              She laughs and sips her shake, batting her eyes at him.
 “
I have to say, this side of you is intriguing.  Take what you want, fuck everyone else.  I feel like yo
u’
ve developed into a real ma
n’
s man at last
.
”
“
Well
,
” he sighs, sitting back and scrutinizing his meal
,“
you took me to a place
I’
ve never heard of before, did
n’
t know existed.  And, after eating that burger, my eyes are wide open.  I feel free, you know?  Like,
I’
ve really lived for the first time in my life.  I do
n’
t have time for petty little concerns like the time constraints of others or protecting the innocent
.
”
“
S
o…
yo
u’
re blaming the burger
?
”
“
I am.  Yes.  I blame the burger.  And yo
u…
mostly, the burge
r…
.butmostly you, too
.
”
              She laughs and throws a fry at him.  He scoops it up and eats it, making a sour face.
 “
The fries are so gross.  They completely ruin the whole meal for me, really.  What a downer
.
”
“
Wha
t’
s New York like
?
”
“
Oh, man, wher
e’
d that come from?  Small big talk!  We really are just progressing, are
n’
t we
?
”
“I’
m not making small talk. 
I’
m trying to get to know you
,
” she smiles.

              He leans forward with a wicked, seductive grin.
 “
Is that so?  Then ask me something interesting, really interesting.  Dig deep.  Come on
.
”
              She studies him.  Her mind turns with the challenge, her eyes narrow.
 “
Oka
y…
have you ever been in love
?
”
              He frowns and leans back.
 “
Still on the small talk level.  Try again
.
”
“
What?  Are you kidding?  Tha
t’
s the quintessential, deep conversation question
!
”
“
Yeah, if you were in some cheese ball, shit tits, romance movie.  But, since we are sitting in the very real, very dirty and raw atmosphere of a fast food restaurant, surrounded by real people who you disrespect with such an attempt, yo
u’
re gonnahave to try a little harder, I think
.
”

“
Oka
y…
have you ever murdered anyone
?
”
              He throws his head back and laughs.
 “
Good!  I like that!  Yo
u’
re sharp
!
”
“
Do
n’
t avoid the question
,
” she smiles.

“
Okay, oka
y…
le
t’
s se
e…
no.  Wait, does character assassination count
?
”

“
Definitely.  Characters are as close to being people as some people get
.
”

“
Oh, my goodness.  Someon
e’
s been watching way too much Pulp Fiction.  Okay, fine, then, yes, I have, in fact,murdered someone
.
”
“
Who? How? And why
?
”
“
My ex.  I told everyone she had chlamydia because she was a slut.  And I did it because she dumped me for my roommate
.
”
“
Wow, tha
t’s…
pretty bad
,
” Alicelaughs in disbelief.
 “
Did she actually have chlamydia
?
”
“
No idea.  She was
n’
t a slut, though.  I should have never said that.  She was a sweet girl.  Just in love with my roommate.  It happens. 
I’
m not proud of i
t…
but not ashamed, either.  Everyone fucks up
,
” he sighs.
 “
What about you?  Killed anyone lately
?
”
              She smiles and twists her cold fries in her ketchup.
 “
N
o…
but I come close every time Sharleenopens her stupid mouth
.
”
“
Oh, Jesus!  I forgot about her!  Sh
e’
s awful
!
” Scott laughs.

“
No, sh
e’
s not just awful, sh
e’
s the epitome of stupidity
.
”
“
No doubt.  I remember sitting at dinner with them
,
” he says
,“
and the entire time, she talked about her outfit for some shitty premiere party she was going to the next day.  She just would
n’
t stop.  And the more we drank, the worst she got.  Would
n’
t let the conversation steer towards anything remotely interesting.   Oh, god, it was so bad.  Every word was about that outfit and what part of her it accentuated, and what designer influenced it.  I wanted to rip out my eardrums and beat her on the head with them
.
”

              Alice tilts her head mockingly and opens her eyes really wide.
 
“
‘
What do you mean? 
I’
m like, totally fascinating, though.  Everything I say is gold.  Tha
t’
s why people love me so much and
I’
m so famous because I was in a vampire blockbuster that was everyone loved
!
’”

              He laughs and nods vigorously.
 “
Yep.  Exactly.  I do
n’
t blame you for killing her, based solely on the fact that she starred in that horrible movie.  In fact, i
t’
s doing everyone who paid money to see it justice. I totally support it.  I will procure us some duct tape and shovels tonight, okay?  We will handle this proper at last!  Christmas is coming early tonight, baby
!
”
“
Seriously
.
”
“
Do you have a boyfriend
?
” he asks, biting into his burger.

“
Tha
t’
s a little small talky, is
n’
t it
?
” she frowns.
“
No, not at all
.
”
“
Really
.
”
“
Yeah, seriously
.
”
“
How is it not
?
”

“
Because my intentions are not to continue in the small talk genre with this conversation.  I
t’
s strictly sexual
.
”
              She blinks at his bluntness.  He smiles, much more charmingly than sh
e’
d ever seen on a man before.  She is at a loss for words, and feels very much out of her league.
 “
I see
.
”
“
Yo
u’
re blushing
.
”
“I’
m not
.
”
“
You are
.
”
“
I just ate a big meal. 
I’
m digesting
.
”
“
Oh, I see, okay.  Your intestinal workings aside, do you have a boyfriend
?
”
“
…
No, no I do not
.
”