Innocent Little Crimes (28 page)

Suddenly she gasped. His face
was
in front of hers. Pushing
through the front door, with the rest of the Thespian gang behind
him. Millie trailed behind, clinging to Dick’s arm.

She had no place to hide; her boss was
watching her out of the corner of his eye. Lila gathered up glasses
and set a water pitcher on a large tray. Balancing carefully, she
walked as calmly as possible to the large corner booth. Millie
greeted Lila while scooting in next to Dick.

“Hey, Li. I told you I’d drop by later. Seems
everyone else had the same idea.”

A flurry of voices drowned out Lila’s reply.
She noticed that Millie’s relaxed and easy manner with the group
she so desperately wanted to be part of. More than ever, Lila felt
like an outsider. She didn’t want to admit how much she yearned for
acceptance, too. Maybe she was just jealous of Millie.

Suddenly Lila felt terrifically lonely.
Millie was the only friend she had—and she was losing her to Dick
and his circle of classmates. Lila knew she should branch out, meet
other students, but the thought of the effort and the potential
rejection terrified her. How could she avoid the perpetual replay
from her childhood? Any friend she got close to, she lost. Her life
was one desperate attempt to entertain and amuse people to hold
their interest. Nobody
really
wanted to be close to her. As soon as the laughs died down,
the audience always disappeared. Now, she wished she could
disappear.

Lila placed the glasses on the table and
passed out menus. Della eyed Lila with interest.

“Don’t you get sick of pizza, Lila?”

Lila shrugged at her question. As usual, she
sensed Della wasn’t inquiring to make friendly conversation.
Inadvertently, Lila caught Davis’s eye, and he smiled with those
beautiful, gleaming teeth.

“How ’bout a pitcher of Oly dark,
darling?” He patted Lila’s hand. Backing up abruptly, she collided
into a man getting out of the booth behind her and nearly knocked
him over. Della’s expression of amusement made Lila
cringe
.

“Sorry . . .” Lila muttered to the
customer.

Davis turned to Della. “So, Del, what’ll it
be? The usual?”

Della stroked his hair. “Whatever you guys
want is fine by me.” Jon caught her gesture out of the corner of
his eye and smirked.

Lila pulled out the order pad from her
pocket, looking more composed. While the group argued over the
menu, Lila went to the counter and filled a pitcher with beer. She
placed it on the table and avoided Davis’s gaze.

Dick rattled off the order, giving Lila the
opportunity she needed to hide in the kitchen and calm her thumping
heart.

Davis turned to Della. “Are you really going
to ditch us? How can we do ‘Picnic’ without you?”

“You’ll manage,” Della said.

Dick reached over and grabbed the pitcher. He
poured himself a glass, then filled Millie’s. “We should all walk.
Throw a mutiny.”

Jon shook his head. “What’ll that prove?
There’re enough students in Theater Arts to fill the parts. We’re
not indispensable, you know. Besides, I need this play on his
résumé for USC.”

Della poured herself a beer and lit a
cigarette. “So who’re you going to get to play Madge?”

“Who knows? Maybe Nancy. She did a good job
in Major Barbara,” said Davis.

“She’s interning in D.C. this semester,” Dick
said.

“Besides, it can’t be anyone in Thespians,”
Jon added.

Della watched Lila climb the stairs with a
tray of salads. She smiled thoughtfully, then poked Davis in the
shoulder. “What about your girlfriend, there?”

“Huh?” Davis said. Della pointed at Lila’s
backside as it jiggled up the stairs.

“Who, Lila?” Jonathan chuckled in
delight.

“Oh, please,” moaned Davis.

Millie held her breath. She couldn’t bear to
hear what they might say.

Della lowered her voice to a whisper. “You
know she has the hots for you.”

Dick laughed. “Yeah, and so does every other
girl at Evergreen.”

Della continued, “. . . and Millie says it’s
her dream to be a star on the stage. She’s already memorized the
whole play—she’s a natural. Why don’t we put a word in to cast
her?”

Millie cringed. Why did she reveal Lila’s
dream to Della? If Lila found out, she would never forgive her. She
felt like a rat.

“What a great idea,” Jonathan said amid
groans. “No listen! It would be great. A way to get Administration
off our backs.”

“She’d have to pass the audition first.”

“No sweat,” said Della. “I volunteer to coach
her.”

Millie forced out the words. “She’d never
audition.”

Dick thumped his glass on the table. “Sure
she would, Mil. You got her into stagecraft, didn’t you? You can
get her to try out, for fun.”

“I couldn’t . . .”

Dick dared her with his eyes. “Oh, come on.
You know she really wants a chance to act. This is her golden
opportunity. She’ll listen to you.”

Everyone around the table joined in, urging
Millie. Her stomach tied in knots. Dick poured her another glass of
beer. She felt like she was slipping into a crevice.

“
Shh, here she comes,” Dick
said.

The students at the table grew quiet. Lila
approached and eyed them with suspicion.

“Here’s a large veggie with sprouts. You guys
need anything else?” Lila looked at Millie, who shrugged, then
lowered her eyes.

Jonathan suppressed a laugh. “Just more beer,
darling,” he said, imitating Davis.

Davis punched Jon’s shoulder. “We’re fine,
thanks.”

Lila blushed and turned away. Laughter
exploded at the table as Lila left the room. Millie ached to say
something. How could they be so rude? And Dick sure found this
funny. As far as Millie knew, Lila had no interest in Davis. They
just didn’t understand Lila. How she suffocated from attention,
especially harmless flirting. Millie alone knew about Lila’s strict
parents and what effort it took Lila to appear relaxed around other
people.

On the way back to campus, Dick pressured her
even more about Lila. In vain, she tried to explain to him about
Lila’s sensitive personality, but he cut her down. Desperate to
have his approval, she acquiesced; she promised she’d try to get
Lila to try out for the lead role of Madge.

Dick kissed her. “Save Friday night, babe.
I’m arranging for a room for us.” He dropped her off at the dorm,
unaware of the maelstrom brewing in her heart.

As she watched Lila studying on the bed next
to hers, she chickened out. She couldn’t be a part of that joke.
She would have to lie to Dick and say she tried and failed.

Lila looked up at Millie. “What gives, Mil?
You’re awfully quiet tonight.”

“Just thinking about the play.” She fell back
on the bed and kicked off her shoes.

“You want to run your lines with me?” Millie
shook her head.

“You know,” Lila added, “I’ve been thinking.
I’m going to try out for ‘Picnic.’ ”

Millie nearly fell off her bed. “Uh, that’s
great, Li.” A flood of relief washed over her. “Then we can do it
together.”

“What makes you think I’ll get a part? I bet
there’s a ton of students trying out.”

Millie shrugged. “Not as talented as you.
What about trying out for Madge?”

Lila burst into laughter. “Yeah, right.
Me—the beautiful girl. I think the sarcastic school teacher would
be more my style. I can really characterize her.”

“Good choice.”
Whew.
Now the group would stay off her
back.

Two days later, Lila found herself under the
work lights, performing for the instructor and the handful of
faculty and students milling around the stage. She read for various
parts, recited the lines she knew by heart, then apologized for her
inadequate performance. When the audition ended, she raced for the
exit before Millie could stop her, not even hearing the words of
praise that wafted behind her.

The members of Thespians were impressed. When
the instructor asked for recommendations for parts, Dick, Della and
Jon, as a bloc, enthusiastically touted Lila’s talent. They
unanimously agreed Lila should play the lead role. With little
persuasion, they convinced the faculty a new star was in the
making.

Millie sat quietly while the comments flew
around her. Lila’s audition merited their praise, but she guessed
Lila would turn down the lead. And Millie hoped with all her heart
she would, for her classmates, with their condescending contempt,
would surely find ways to torment Lila.

Della announced she would play Rosemary after
all. No way was she was going to miss supporting Lila in the lead
role. What a joke to have homely Lila play the love interest. And
Davis would have to pretend he was in love with her. What an acting
challenge that would be.

After the audition, Della joined Davis at his
house. She planned to tease him about his new co-star. But as she
peeled Davis’s clothes off, he deflated her excitement.

“I’ve made my decision. I’m joining my
father’s firm. And don’t whine to me, Della. My mind is made up.”
He gathered her into his arms, but she pushed him off.

“Damn you!” She spoke to his back as she
stormed out of the house.

To hell with
him
. She headed straight for Jon’s place. Jon was
surprised to see her, but voiced no objection.

As they lay in each other’s arms, Della
realized Jon gloated over her like a prize. He clearly got a kick
out of stealing Della away from Davis. He never really talked to
her, never asked her how she felt. Nor did he ever ask her what she
wanted or needed in bed. Always his needs, his desires. Such a
selfish bastard. Wondering how Davis would react to their affair
when he found out. But at least Jon was going to Hollywood, and she
planned to go with him, even if it meant screwing him every night
until graduation.

Predictably, Jon brought up his favorite
subject. “Do you think Davis suspects?”

“No way.” Della rubbed Jon’s chest.

“So, how do I compare?”

“To what?” She knew what was
coming.
What a jerk.

“Davis. Is he good in bed?”

Della forced the words out. “No comparison,
stud. The guy was a real bore. I just liked his down
comforter.”

Jon chuckled. Della slid down under the
covers. “I find you much more exciting.” She started to explore his
body with her tongue. “Just promise me one thing.”

Jonathan moaned. “Anything, anything.”

“Keep him real busy rehearsing with Lila, so
we can do more of this.” Della moved lower and Jonathan moaned
louder.

“I’m your slave. Your wish is my
command.”

Della smiled under the covers. Gotcha: hook,
line, and sinker.

Chapter 26

“Just hold it right there, Gregory.”

Jonathan screamed over the roar of the surf,
but Davis had his back to him, standing at the water’s edge
scanning the dark horizon.

Davis turned to find Jonathan tugging on his
coat. Dick and Della were stumbling toward him, fighting the force
of the wind. And farther back, he could make out Millie dragging
her feet through the sand. Davis pushed Jonathan away and trotted
along the beach as quickly as his injured ankle allowed.

“Dammit, Davis, wait up.”

Davis pressed on. “What do you want with me?
You’re crazy to be running around this time of night.”

Dick caught up. “Yeah, well, what about you?
What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

Davis stopped to catch his breath. “None of
your business. Did Lila send you to bring me back?” The pain in his
leg throbbed. He would never be able to outrun these guys.

Jonathan softened his voice. “Listen, Davis,
we need to talk.”

“So talk.”

Della panted up to the group with Millie
trailing at her heels. The rain poured down in a steady patter.
Millie shouted over the din, wiping the soggy hair from her face.
“Guys, can’t we go find some shelter? This is ridiculous. We’ll all
die of pneumonia.”

“Quit whining, Millie,” Dick said.

Davis turned to face his pursuers. “Spit it
out. Say what you came to say, then leave me alone.”

Della leaned into Davis’s face. “And where do
you think you’re going? There’s no way off this island. You’ll have
to come back with us to Lila’s.”

“Like hell I do. Who made you my boss? All
you’ve done the last two days is get stoned and drunk. Get out of
my face.” He forced himself to walk, one faltering step after
another. Della yanked on his coat and Davis lurched to the
ground.

“Dammit, Della.” Davis swung at her,
intending to push her away; instead, his hand swiped the side of
her head.

“You prick! How dare you?” She jumped on his
back and punched him.

“Who the hell do you think you are, Gregory?”
Dick said. “I can’t believe you hit her.”

Davis managed to get back on his feet. “It
was an accident.”

“Yeah, sure,” Della said. “You have nothing
but contempt for me. You always had.”

“Oh, Della, get off it.” His fingers were
freezing; he could barely make a fist. “Look, why don’t you guys
leave me alone, okay? If you want to come with me and find a way
out of here, then fine. Otherwise, get lost.”

“Even if you find a way off the island, you
won’t get away from Lila,” Millie said. “Please, let’s all go back
to the house and get warm.”

Jonathan glared at Davis. “Gladly, but only
if Davis comes, too.”

“No way.”

Della groaned. “Davis, come on. Millie’s
right. You’re going to have to talk to Lila.”

Davis laughed with a tinge of hysteria. “Oh,
that’ll do a lot of good. You think she’s some reasonable person
you can have a friendly chat with? You’ve seen how crazy she is. We
should all run for our lives.” Davis’s teeth chattered and his head
burned like a furnace. He squinted his eyes from the pain and fell
to his knees.