Saved by the Celebutante (26 page)

“Thanks again!” I call out to him. He looks over and waves. Matt and I stumble back to the camper, tripping over tent pegs and stopping to make out against the walls of modern art structures.

I’m not sure where this is heading, but I think I like it.

THIRTY-TWO

When we finally reach our site, Matt inhales sharply.

“What?” I ask.

He points to the camper. The light is on inside.

“Oh.” I feel a stab of disappointment. I may not have had an exact idea what I wanted to happen, but I do know it didn’t involve Matt’s brother.

“Do you still want to go in?” he asks.

“Uh, yeah, I guess.” How else could I answer?
Actually no, Matt. How about we head off to the Love Zone and have a night of crazy, passionate sex?

I’m not
that
drunk. And I’m definitely not uninhibited enough to perform any sort of physical act in front of other people. Plus, there’s still a tiny part of me that understands I need to be sensible. Just because I’m out here in the desert doesn’t make my heart immune from being broken again.

Matt trudges into the van. He looks like he wants to punch something. Hopefully not his brother.

Oli is completely oblivious to the angst he’s causing. “Hey guys! I’m just making grilled cheese. Would you like some?”

Damn Oli. Why does he have to be so nice?

“That would be awesome. Thank you. Do you need any help?”

“Nah, I can handle it. Matt? You want some?”

Matt sighs. “Yeah. Thanks, buddy.”

Oli spreads butter on four more slices of bread. “So what have you two kids been up to?”

“Drinking,” I say.

“Oh yeah? That’s cool.”

Oli finishes making our sandwiches, cooking them over a tiny gas burner. We all sit around the table in the van.

Matt is quiet.

“Am I missing something here?” Oli asks, looking from me to Matt and back again.

“No. What makes you say that?” I ask.

“It just feels weird. Awkward.”

“Oh. Sorry.”

“Nah, I’m cool. As long as you guys are.”

“We are.”

Matt shoots me a loaded look but doesn’t say anything.

I quickly finish my sandwich and get out my toothbrush. Matt goes outside to look at the stars. Oli starts brushing his teeth too, so we take turns spitting out our toothpaste.

“I might head out for one more look around before I turn in,” Oli says.

“Please don’t feel like you have to do that.”

“What do you mean? Why wouldn’t I want to?”

“Oh. I thought maybe you thought Matt and I wanted privacy or something.”

He laughs. “Believe me, I would not be that considerate. I’m all for my brother getting laid if that’s what he wants, but I’m not going to go out of my way to help him.”

I laugh. “Well, at least you’re honest. But I don’t think we would have…you know…”

“Hey, it’s okay. I was only messing with you earlier. You can do whatever you like. Just don’t get the sheets dirty.”

“Ew. No! Well, it’s not going to happen now, so feel free to come and go as you please.”

Matt rejoins us. “What are you two talking about?”

“I’ll leave that for Chrissie to explain,” Oli says. “I’m just going to do one last loop around the village before bed. See you soon!”

He skips off. Matt shakes his head.

“My brother is nuts.”

“He’s pretty cool, though.”

“Yes, he is. Probably too cool for his own good.”

“I forgot to ask, what does he offer to the festival?”

“Oh, didn’t he show you? He draws portraits of people.”

“Like caricatures?”

“No. Actual portraits.” He retrieves a folder from on top of a cupboard and opens it up. It’s full of Oli’s artwork. Incredibly lifelike portraits, but also some other cool ones, like a sketch of Matt made up to look like a superhero in tights and a cape.

“Wow! These are amazing!” I point at the superhero one. “This is my favorite.”

He covers his eyes with his hands. “It’s embarrassing.”

“No, it shows that Oli looks up to you.”

“If you say so.” Matt doesn’t seem to take compliments very well.

“So, are you tired?” he asks, yawning.

“Um, I’m not sure. I guess so.”

“You happy to go to bed now?”

“What should we do about the sleeping situation?”

“I say just use the bed until Oli gets back. He might be a while.”

“Okay. Thank you. I don’t want to take anything for granted.”

“I’m starting to learn that about you.”

I change back into the shirt I slept in last night and lie down, wondering if Matt expects anything. I’m not really sure how to act.

He turns off the light and climbs in beside me.

“Goodnight,” he whispers.

“Goodnight,” I whisper back. Ha. This is like Groundhog Day.

I feel him staring at me in the dark.

“Is everything okay?” I ask.

“Yes. How about you?”

“I’m good.”

“Good.”

I close my eyes. Agh! I feel even less comfortable than last night. But this time it’s because I know what I’m missing out on. Every single nerve in my body is on edge, wanting Matt to roll over and touch me. But what if Oli comes back early?

I start sliding my hand over towards his body. Where is he?

And then I hear snoring.

Seriously? He can NOT be sleeping, can he? Had he been waiting for me to make a move and I took so long that he just passed out? Or was he worried about Oli interrupting too?

Oh well. That’s my dilemma solved. It’s probably a good thing seeing as I’m probably leaving tomorrow. I’m already in way deeper than I should be.

I am officially going to sleep.

***

The next morning is interesting, because I find myself jammed between Matt on one side and Oli on the other. I’m sure a lot of women would be in heaven if they found themselves in this predicament, but I’m feeling a bit sleazy, having first stripped naked with a boy fifteen years my junior and then making out with his brother. Where have my morals gone?

But I have more pressing matters to attend to first. Like going to the bathroom.

I climb out of bed as quietly as possible and lace up my boots before trekking over to the port-a-potties halfway around the other side of the camp. At least that’s one convenience I don’t have to live without while I’m here.

I make use of the facilities and then squirt some hand sanitizer on my hands. Back outside, I pause to admire the sunrise. There is a soft haze on the horizon.

A woman races over. She looks vaguely familiar.

“Hey! You’re one of the festival organizers, aren’t you?” she asks frantically.

“Uh, no. Sorry.”

“But didn’t you sort out that stuff for The Revelations yesterday? You got me to help redirect the crowd.”

“Oh, right.” Now I remember her. I just didn’t recognize her without the Harajuku costume and pink wig. “Actually, I was just doing a favor for the band. I’m not really anyone.”

“Well, you did a great job of sorting that out, so can you come and help now? My boyfriend is stuck in one of the port-a-potties over there.” She grabs my arm and drags me over to the last one in the line.

“Jim!” The girl calls out. “I brought someone who can help!”

“Good! Get me the fuck out of here!”

I blink. What do they expect me to do? “Can you slide the latch on the door?” I ask tentatively.

“No, you idiot! Don’t you think I’ve tried that?”

I pull on the door anyway, but nothing happens.

The cubicle starts rocking from side to side.

“Uh, sir, that’s probably not a good idea.”

“I can’t handle it!” he screeches. “It’s hot and it stinks!”

“Just wait a second. I’ll call emergency services,” I say firmly.

“No!” he yells. “I need to get out of here now!”

The rocking gets more violent. I look at the girl next to me. I wonder if one of us could keep him calm while the other went to get someone with tools to open the door.

But it’s too late. I watch in horror as the cubicle swings right over, tipping on its side. The door flies open and a man rolls out, covered in muck. A puddle of horrible smelling ooze washes over my feet, but I ignore it and reach down to help the man. He stands up and shakes himself like a dog.

“Are you one of the festival organizers?” he spits.

The girlfriend cuts in. “Uh, no, honey. I thought she was, but it turns out she’s just one of us.”

“I can go see if I can find one if you like?” I offer.

“Good. You do that. I’m going to fucking sue those pricks for every last dime they have.”

I scan the nearby area, but I’m not really sure where the organizers would camp out. I’m also not sure I want to help them get sued, but I need to do something.

“Hang on, I’ll be back in a second.”

I race off, heading towards the entrance where a very tired looking security guard is leaning against a wall.

“Hey, a guy was just injured in a port-a-potty incident. Is there anyone who can come and help?”

He reaches over to a radio on his shoulder and speaks into it.

“Paramedic to the port-a-potties,” he says dully.

A crackly reply confirms that someone is on the way.

“Thank you!” I call as I run back to Jim.

“They’re sending a paramedic,” I tell him.

“And what the fuck are they going to do? Do I look sick to you? I want to talk to one of the organizers so I can tell my lawyer who to call.”

“Hey, hey. Come on. Is it really their fault that the door latch broke?”

“What the hell is wrong with you? Can you not see what happened here?” He motions to his clothes, just in case I forgot. And then he starts gagging. “Fuck! I have to get this smell off me!”

The paramedic arrives, holding a first aid kit. He takes one look at Jim and balks.

“Uh, sir, are you all right?”

He glowers. “What do you think? I’m covered in shit and stuck in the middle of the desert. Do I
look
all right to you?”

“Hang on! Wait here a second!” I pipe up. I run off again, this time back to the camper. I wrench open the door and call out to Matt and Oli. “Guys! I need your help!”

Both boys open their eyes and comically rub their faces at the same time. “What are you talking about?” Matt says.

“A guy needs our assistance!” I try to relay the urgency of the situation in my tone.

“Ungh…” Oli rolls over and goes back to sleep, but Matt stands up groggily. “Um, what do you want me to do?”

“Can you get my water container?”

“Why?”

“There’s no time to explain. Come on!”

I grab one of my t-shirts and my toiletries case while Matt retrieves the water. I figure I’m probably not going to need all of it myself.

I lead him back over to where the guy is standing, still ranting at the paramedic.

“How can you not have an emergency shower? Isn’t that the law?”

I try to catch his attention. “Hey, we’re back and we’ve brought cleaning stuff.”

Matt does a double take when he sees Jim. “What the fuck?” he mutters under his breath.

Jim looks at us skeptically.

“Jim, Matt and I are going to clean you up.” I open my toiletries case and hold up a fancy bottle of shower gel.

A brief glimpse of surprise flashes across Jim’s face before it disappears again.

Matt unscrews the lid on the water container. I wet the shirt I brought and pour a liberal amount of the gel on top.

“You want to take off those clothes?” I say to Jim. He’s wearing a pair of tight black jeans and a gray t-shirt.

He looks like he’s about to argue, but then exhales in defeat. He pulls off his jeans and lifts the shirt over his head, pulling the neck wide to avoid getting raw sewage near his face.

I approach him as if dealing with a wounded bear, gently rubbing the shirt over his body. He stands there, seemingly unsure how to act.

“So, Jim, how’s your festival experience been so far? I mean, apart from this?” I ask cheerfully.

“Um, okay, I suppose.”

“What would you say has been the highlight?”

“Well, actually I quite enjoyed The Revelations’ set yesterday. Grace here was lucky enough to score a meet-and-greet after.”

“Actually, that was because of Chrissie,” Grace explains.

Jim looks impressed. “You organized that?”

“Sort of.”

“Well, I guess I owe you an apology for being such an asshole just now.”

“It’s all right.” I smile to myself and pour more water on the shirt. Matt just stands there amused, watching the two of us. The paramedic is radioing something to someone.