Page 32 of Footlights and Forever

“Well, god is a nice new name but let’s stick with Hailey.” Tears immediately sprang to my eyes as I walked into Hailey’s outstretched arms.

After about ten minutes of sobbing and bawling, I finally returned to some semblance of normality as I pulled Hailey down to sit next to me on the bed. I looked at her with a sort of wonder, as if someone had known what I needed, right when I needed her the most.

“So are you two going to make out or just go straight to fucking?”

Hailey barked out a harsh laugh, choking on a mouthful of water she had just sipped from the bottle between her fingers.

I rolled my eyes and gestured towards Natalie, “Hailey this is Natalie, she’s my New York Hailey.”

“Uh excuse me,” Natalie coughed, “I am very much my own person. I think you will find that she is High School Natalie, I assume you’re a high school friend. I’m his only friend in New York so I’m guessing you’re from back home.”

Hailey laughed, punching me lightly on the shoulder. “Oh my god you haven’t changed even a little bit, have you?”

“No?” I ventured, shrugging sheepishly.

“I’m so glad,” she gushed, pulling me back to her.

We spent the next half an hour catching up about Hailey’s life at college and the development of her relationship with Todd. It turned out they’d both gotten very drunk one night at a mixer and he’d thought it would be super romantic and movie-like to serenade her and propose. Unfortunately he’d sangLady Marmaladefrom Moulin Rouge as that was the only song he knew all the way through, before getting down on one knee. Hailey had turned him down flat and said she’d spend each and every day torturing him for it. She was sure, however, that one day she would tell him yes.

Natalie didn’t take no for an answer as she dragged Hailey along us with the party with the Satan twins. We stood together in a line outside the four-story brownstone on W 120th street. Each of the houses on the block seemed fairly similar, withvarying shades of the same color with stone steps and stoops outside. The only difference was that the frat house seemed to be vibrating with a deep heavy bass that emanated from somewhere inside. In any other neighborhood, the police would have already been called, I guess the megarich residents either didn’t mind or were too high on the Percocet to even care.

“So what’s the plan?” Hailey rested a hand on the small of my back.

“The plan is to get in there and locate Rina.” Natalie clasped her hands and rubbed them together like a supervillain.

“Who’s Rina?” Hailey asked.

I turned and pointed an accusing finger at Natalie. “Rina is in a sorority that’s co-sponsoring this party.” I glared at Natalie who visibly shrank. “This was never about getting me to come out, was it? This was about getting you into Rina’s pants.”

“Pants, bra, shirt or shorts.” She shrugged, winking at Hailey. “I’ll take whatever I can get. Rina is so fucking hot. She won’t give me the time of day in class. I’m hoping that I can work my charms at the party and convince her how much of a good lay I’ll be.”

“I think you mean ask her out on a date don’t you?” Hailey laughed.

“Sure?” Natalie pumped her eyebrows. “Now let’s get in there before that bitch Michelle Chlumsky makes a move on her.” She jogged up the few stairs and rang the bell.

“Unto the breach?” Hailey smirked, pulling me up the steps after her.

A few moments later the door was pulled open, and Kevin stood in the entryway in all his horrific gorgeous glory. His dark hair was perfectly styled, his eyes popping against his tan skin. A light blue t-shirt was stretched taut across his large chest muscles and was tucked into a dark pair of chinos. On his chestrested a thick gold chain that draped across his pecs. The smile on his face evaporated as he finally noticed me between the girls.

“Oh, Derek right?” His barely contained sneer was only just masked behind a thin, unfriendly smile.

“Dylan.” I bit through clenched teeth. It had already begun.

“How can I help you?” He pulls the door against himself, his whole frame blocking the entryway.

“I was invited.” Natalie stepped forward. “The sorority who is paying for this thing has been trying to get me to join for a while. Step aside, D-bag.”

“You’re more than welcome to come in,” he smiled, “but it’s invite only unfortunately.”

Natalie looked back helplessly at me. “I’m not leaving my friends.”

“Suit yourself,” Kevin drawled, throwing out a last comment before shutting the door. “Don’t worry, I’ll look after Austin for you.”

I slumped down on the stoop, my feet facing out into the street as I looked helplessly at the passing cabs and pedestrians. I felt a warm hand between my shoulder blades as Hailey sat next to me. “What an absolute dick.”

“We can’t just take that from him, right?” I looked back as Natalie waved her arm at the door. “I mean, he can’t just keep us out.”

I shook my head slowly, letting it dip. “It’s private housing, he can do what he wants.”

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