BOOK ONE: DECEPTIONS
Chapters One to Twenty Six
Vignettes 1 - 140

BOOK TWO: YESTERDAY ECHOES
Chapters 27 to
Vignettes 141 -

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Vignette #53: Cinderella

She watched the cameras fighting to get another shot, the best shot, any shot. “I don’t understand, why her?” She said to the women she half had her back to. “She lost.”

“Ursella dear, not her…them.” She looked over her shoulder at her. “She’s Cinderella and that definitely is the Handsome Prince.”

“I thought he was straight.”

“You know her track record. He won’t be when she gets finished with him.” They both tittered in their drinks. She waved and put on a big Hollywood smile at the director she knew was casting a part she wanted who was coming in the door. She could almost swear he had been avoiding her all night.

Ursella watched as the couple stepped away and into the crowd. “There they go. I just don’t understand it. Him yes, her no.”

“She won’t last.” She sipped her drink. “Him, I’d like to wear out myself.”

“Maybe we’re just jealous.”

“Of what?”

“Well…” She put her empty glass down and snatched another off the waiter’s tray as he whisked by. “She’s young and beautiful and hot, and face it, we aren’t anymore.”

“Speak for yourself, bitch.” She moved toward the man with the part. “Kisses, dear.”

“Same. Lunch?”

“Call me.” She stopped the couple walking past her. “Susan, darling, you look divine.”

“Thank you, Ursella.” Susan stopped, but kept her arm wrapped in her husbands. “And you…who are you wearing?”

“Vera Wang, of course. I live and die by Vera Wang.”

“It’s beautiful, my dear.” Jeremy took her hand and kissed it. “You, like fine wine, just get better with age.”

She put her hand to her heart and feigned swooning. “Charmer. I don’t know how she keeps a tiger like you tamed.” She smiled at him although in her head she was seething that the son of a bitch had made a crack about her age.

“Chains…lots of whips and chains.” Jeremy Tyson smiled, and his wife blushed.

“Jeremy!” Susan said, hand to mouth. “Will you excuse us, Ursella?”

“Of course. Kisses.” She watched them fold into the crowd. As soon as she was sure they couldn’t see, she shot them the bird. She looked up and saw someone watching. “Lucifer! Darling! Just the man I wanted to see!” She waltzed right over, before he could run away.

Her now empty space cleared the line of vision for the couple standing behind her. The young man spotted someone and grabbed his wife’s hand. “Look, there stands Scott Barlow.”

“Who’s that?” She crinkled her nose.

“The producer who said I couldn’t act my way out of a jock strap.” He clutched his freshly won Oscar. “Come on, let’s go shove this up his ass!”

Off they headed, revealing Trampus Scott, knocking back another in all the hubbub. He barley noticed the classic blond come up and give him a kiss on the cheek. He turned to look at her and smiled.

“Hello, Saxon. Come to join me in the loser’s club?”

“So we lost. Big deal.” She slipped her arm around him. “Our time will come.”

“Yeah, yeah.” He put his empty glass on the bar. “Another. You’ve only lost once. I’m a three time loser.”

“Stop.” She straightened his tie for him. “You look dashing as usual.”

“And where’s your date?”

“Trying to find the little boy’s room.”

“So what’s he got that I don’t got, beautiful?”

“He’s an old friend I made a promise to, and you’re an old hound who just opens up his front door, points and grunts ‘You!’.”

“Oh, yeah. I keep forgetting.” He reached up and whisked a small stray hair from her forehead. “So is this the start of something big, or do I still have a chance?”

Saxon threw back her head and laughed. “Trampus. Ian and I, well it’s a long story, we’ll just say there were too many chances we both let pass by until we both just know it would never ever be.”

“So I do still have a chance.” He whisked her up in his arms making her laugh some more.

“Oh hell no.”

“Why not?”

“You can’t keep it in your pants.”

“I just need the right woman to tame me.”

She playfully slapped his chest. “You just need the right vet to neuter you. You know that’s what it would feel like.” He smiled. She made him smile. She liked that. “I know you like the back of my hand Trampus Scott, and you know I will always love you, but…”

“I’m never getting in your pants…”

“Not in a million years.” She kissed him on the lips. “Now let’s go find the other man whose never getting in my pants.”

Saxon pulled away, but Trampus grabbed her back and whispered in her ear. “I know you like the back of my hand, Saxon Allen. Don’t bullshit a bullshiter.” He kissed her forehead and let her go.

Ian had teased Saxon all night about her bladder. The tables had turned, and if he didn’t find the bathroom soon he’d never get the deposit back on the stupid tux. This was the third party they’d made an appearance at. Almost all the same faces at every one. A few drinks, some mingling and pictures, pictures and more pictures.

It wasn’t that he wasn’t having fun. He and Saxon always made everything fun. It was nice to see her just be the perky little blond he’d met in that acting seminar and not the savvy industry professional that had gotten her so far.

He heard a little music from his breast pocket. He pulled it out and hit the little button.

“WHERE RU?” She texted.

“F IF I NO, TRYING TO FIND PLACE TO P.” Ian fumbled to text back.

“RESQ ME SOON”

“P FIRST, U NEXT.” He started to slip it back in his pocket.

“What is that?” A familiar voice asked.

“Susan.” Ian smiled and kissed her cheek.

“Am chopped liver?” Jeremy asked.

“What you wanna kiss, too?”

“Well, maybe not in public.” He winked.

Ian wanted to crawl under the closest table.

“Don’t act like my youngest, trying to hide something, Ian. Tell Mommy want you have in your hand.”

“It’s a blackberry.” He held it up for her to see.

“I thought you hated those things.”

“Saxon sent it to me as a joke.”

“Interesting color.” Jeremy said as Ian tucked it in his pocket.

“Raspberry.” They looked at Ian with blank faces. “Inside joke, you really had to be there.”

“You two make a beautiful couple.” Susan smiled. “Everyone’s talking.”

“Well, we’ve known each other for several years, dear friends.”

“People are making assumptions.”

“That’s not our problem.” Ian said not meaning to be short, but if he had to stand here and make small talk much longer, people would no longer have to make any assumptions about the puddle he’d be standing in.

“I signed El Toro to a record deal.” Susan put her hand on his chest.

“That’s wonderful. They deserve it. I wish them the best.” Ian smiled.

“And I bought their songbook.”

“Oh.”

“I didn’t realize that you had written so many of their songs.”

“That was a long time ago.”

She smiled. “Why don’t you come to dinner, Wednesday night?”

Jeremy leaned over and whispered in his ear. “We’ll send the boys to spend the night at the grandparents.”

“Thank you, but I can’t.” Ian looked at the floor.

“Another time, then?” She asked so, so sweetly.

“Uh, no. I’m sorry.” Ian didn’t want to lie. He couldn’t, he wouldn’t do that again.

“Oh…” Susan took her hand off his chest.

“Look, call the office. I’d be more than happy to take a meeting with you. In fact, I think we can be of mutual benefit to each other professionally and I hope we can be friends.”

“Absolutely.” Jeremy said, but Ian couldn’t help but see the disappointment in both their eyes.

“Good. Now if you’ll excuse me.”

“Yes, of course.” Susan said.

Ian turned to go and Jeremy grabbed his arm and leaned in to whisper in his ear. “The bathroom is to your right in the corner.” Jeremy’s eyes gleamed.

“Thank you. You don’t know how much I thank you.” Ian had never meant anything so much.

Ian was thanking God, Jesus, Buddha, Good Karma, Mrs. Butterworth and Sookie Stackhouse that there was no line. He tried very nonchalantly not to slam the door open and head for the closest urinal, starting to unzip his trousers before the door was even shut. He closed his eyes in relief the moment he was home free.

As the desperation eased, he opened his eyes and saw his own reflection staring back at him. He could also see a familiar sight of that night at the sinks behind him, some dude bent over with a rolled up dollar sniffing white powder up his nose. Ian leaned in a little closer to assuredly recognize the familiar hair cut attached this particular nose.

The bleach tipped Mohawk straightened up, rubbed his nostrils and breathed in the stubborn powder that hadn’t gone up with the first good snort. He shook his head and tucked the bill back in his tux then licked the fat of his hand after he wiped the marble. Ian saw him look at the mirror above his own head.

“So the legendary Ian Justyn” the Brit smiled. “We meet at last.” He came sauntering over to the next urinal.

“We’ve met before.” Ian cursed his bladder for being so full.

“Sorry, I don’t remember.”

“I’m not surprised.”

Chamberlain shook his head. “So are you enjoying the big night?”

“I apologize Mr. Chamberlain, but I am very uncomfortable having any sort of conversation with another man when we are both holding our penises.”

“We didn’t have sex then.” The man said and zipped up. Ian didn’t hear the bathroom door open, he just tried to hurry up and get out of there.

London leaned against the wall as Ian tried to turn his back to him and quickly finish. London rubbed his belly, this time covered in a surprisingly stylish tux. “So the rumors are true…” he leered.

Ian was finally able to zip up and flush. “You were being so nice…please; I don’t even know how to respond to a comment like that.” He walked over to the sink and turned on the tap. Soaping his hands and washing up.

“Easy, mate.” London smiled. “Why don’t you come in one of the stalls and suck me off?”

Ian smiled back. “Why don’t you go fuck yourself?”

“No need to be rude…”

Ian balled up the paper towel he’d dried his hands on and pitched it at the Brit, hard. It bounced off his shoulder, smacked against the matching marble wall and nailed him in the left temple. “You’re making an unsolicited pass and I’m rude?”

“You're the one wagging that big willy and battling those deep sexy blue eyes at me.”

“Look, I am pretty sick and tired of everyone saying…yeah, compared to yours it’s humongous, and it’s attached to a guy who doesn’t appreciate getting hit on by some drug soaked washed up boy band reject who hasn’t shown any potential of his talent on his last three albums. Check into rehab London, get off your knees, get off your back and get your act together. When you are sober and thinking with your heart and not your testicles maybe then you can make some real art instead of some self gratifying expensive farts that don’t even resemble music.”

Chamberlain stood there crossing his arms and glaring at Ian.

“One more thing…” Ian was on a roll and he wasn’t going to stop now. “Just a question actually…do you seriously think that Mohawk thing is attractive or is it just another ploy to get attention, because if it is, I have to tell you…it’s working. Everyone who sees it points and says ‘who the fuck is that moron?’”

Ian heard applause from behind him, and Chamberlain stood there refaced. Ian turned his back on him, picked up the towel wad and put it in the trash.

“Don’t you walk away from me,” Chamberlain shouted behind him. “Nobody walks away from me!” Ian kept walking, not even pausing as he shot him the bird.

“God damn it! Get back here!” He heard the man screaming as Ian pushed open the door and let it slam behind him.

Ian heard the door open and shut as he walked to find Saxon. A man he didn’t know walked by, patted him on the shoulder and said “Way to go.”

A second put his hand on his shoulder and stopped him. “You okay?” Trampus Scott asked.

Ian nodded. “You were in there?”

“Stall next to the wall, ready to jump in if the fists started flying.”

Ian smiled. “Actually that felt pretty good.” Trampus laughed. “I’ll have to do that more often…uh, don’t tell my staff though.”

Trampus put his fingers to his lips. “Our secret. Come with me, I left your date waiting for you over this way.”

A few steps and there she was, chatting with someone he was sure was famous, but he was sure he didn’t care. He just wanted to see the smile, the one that ever since he was a backward 19 year old filled his heart and said “You’re just fine, hay seed.”

Saxon saw him coming her way. There she was and there it was. Ian smiled back. She simply held out one arm and allowed him to slip right into her, like a warm, safe place he belonged. She put her head on his shoulder and sighed as she chatted up who ever it was she was chatting up. She softly rubbed her hand up and down is back gently until the trembling in his legs stopped.

When the chatty person holding the Oscar shook his hand, said good evening and walked off, Ian kissed the top of her head. “There that wasn’t so bad was it?”

She wrapped her other arm around him, lay her cheek tenderly on his chest. “Thank you, Ian. I have had such a good time.” She sighed.

“That’s what you’re paying me for.” He pushed her back and looked in her eyes. “We did discuss my bill, didn’t we?”

She giggled. “Stop. You’ll make me snort again. You have made this night absolutely wonderful. I’ve not had this much fun since we jumped the fence and peed in all the kegs at the Delta Phi Sorority Homecoming.”

“Shhh.” He said. “You made me promise not to discuss your weak bladder…again…tonight.” He kissed her on the cheek. “But just tonight. Tomorrow is another day.”

“So, this is the last one. Shall we call it a night?” She smiled at him.

“Sure. But I think we should take the limo somewhere and get a chili dog, we’re dressed for it. Might as well make the most of it.”

“And chocolate shakes?” She looked hopefully.

“Who’d eat a chili dog without washing it down with a chocolate shake? That’s just uncouth.”

She took his hand. “You’re on.” She started to head to the door.

“Wait. Wait!” He gently stopped her. “We’ve done what you wanted all night. Now it’s my turn.”

“What?” She cocked her head and grinned. She lowered her voice. “You wanna pee in the champagne fountain?”

“Oh, if you’d only suggested that five minutes ago.”

Saxon so daintily snorted. Ian took her hand and put it to his heart. “Listen…”

“What?”

“Shh…shhh…listen.” He pulled her in close. “Hear the music?”

“Music?”

Ian pulled her close and whispered in her ear. “Dance with me, Saxon. Fulfill the promise you made to my heart a long time ago and let it dance with the most beautiful girl in the world.”

Saxon sighed. She leaned against him and began to sway gently. The music swelled and they began to glide softly and surely to the music that beat through the night.

Everyone in the room watched them, sighed with them and envied them. They all sat back in awe and watched Prince Charming finally get his dance with Cinderella.

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