When It Drops

by Alex Dyson

  Rachel pulled a card out of her bra and handed it to the woman, and within a few seconds, she was also brandishing a dazzling gold wristband.

  ‘And you, sir?’

  ‘Um, one sec.’ Caleb pulled out his wallet. The Velcro scrunched as he opened it. CHRRRRRRT. Caleb handed his card over.

  ‘I’m sorry, sir, but we don’t accept student library cards as valid identification. And even if we did – this says you are sixteen.’

  She reached into a second box and placed a wristband on Caleb’s left arm; it was a matte baby blue colour, with the word CHILD printed across it in block letters.

  Great. Just what a person needs to make a credible entrance to a party.

  ‘Just soft drinks tonight, please,’ she said firmly to him as she bustled them into the elevator and hit the button for the top floor.

  ‘Caleb!’ Miralee blurted as soon as the doors closed. ‘Why didn’t you bring a fake ID?’

  ‘I didn’t know I had to!’ he protested, looking at Rachel, who shrugged innocently. ‘I wouldn’t even know how to get a fake ID.’

  ‘Mine’s from my older sister. She’s nineteen, but she looks just like me, only shorter.’

  Rachel chuckled. ‘You’d have to dye your hair blue to have any chance of borrowing my ID.’

  Caleb barely had time to imagine himself leaning out of a limo sunroof, blue locks fluttering in the air, when the elevator doors opened.

  Woah.

  Caleb wasn’t sure what hit him harder: the cool night air of the open rooftop; the loud house music emanating from the DJ booth; the bright pink-and-blue lights that washed over them as they stepped from the lift; or Miralee’s punches on his upper arm as she freaked out.

  ‘Oh.’ *slap* ‘My.’ *slap* ‘God.’ *slap* ‘How.’ *slap* ‘Cool.’ *slap* ‘Is.’ *slap* ‘THIS!’

  They slowly took in the whole venue. Along with the fairy lights at the bar and the infinity pool that ran the length of the back wall, the rooftop also had the highest proportion of attractive people gathered in one space that Caleb had ever seen. In the distance, the city skyline shimmered with the backdrop of daylight’s final breath.

  Caleb rubbed his slapped arm. He was glad Miralee was excited and seemingly not thinking about her ‘break’, but he still couldn’t help wondering what Ella would have thought about this. She would have fit in with the beautiful people, that’s for sure.

  ‘Shall we?’ Rachel said.

  They started towards the bar, but a different girl with a clipboard materialised in front of them. ‘Actually guys, could you step this way? Thanks!’

  They followed the order because, well, she had a clipboard, and allowed themselves to be guided over to a brightly lit area with a river of red carpet. Caleb wondered vaguely how they picked red as the colour that all important carpet should be. Was it because it was the colour of love? Or because people kept spilling red wine, so they just gave up and made the carpet red? Or did some ancient king hold an awards ceremony for the best jesters, where the losers were beheaded, which in turn made the carpet red? Or maybe –

  ‘Look how high that girl’s heels are!’ said Miralee, interrupting Caleb’s thoughts. His attention snapped back to the scene. There were people in suits and fancy dresses, plus one dude in a cowboy hat, all of them illuminated by the intermittent staccato clicking of cameras jostling for position.

  ‘This way,’ the clipboard woman said, shepherding them to the front of the carpet. ‘Wait here, please. You’re up next.’

  Rachel went to speak, but was interrupted by another girl carrying a metal platter thing with a silver dome over it, the kind Caleb associated with food in cartoon feasts.

  ‘Hey guys!’ she said enthusiastically. ‘You’ll be needing a pair of these!’

  Caleb was expecting a pig’s head with an apple in its mouth, but beneath the lid was a tray full of sunglasses.

  ‘What – we can just take them?’ asked Miralee, clearly shocked by the all-you-can-wear glasses buffet.

  ‘Of course! You’ll need them for the photo.’

  Rachel picked up some gold-framed shades, and a bald man with a beard suddenly appeared, holding a mirror in front of her. These people really had thought of everything.

  Miralee took some small ones with perfectly circular frames. ‘Oh my god, I’ve always wanted a pair of these! Whaddya think?’ she said to Caleb, pointing finger-guns at imaginary acquaintances, then cupping her chin in an attempt to look thoughtful.

  ‘You look like you own a yoga studio,’ Caleb told her honestly.

  Miralee slapped his arm again with a grin.

  ‘Very trendy, Miralee,’ Rachel added. ‘Come on, Button, pick one!’

  Caleb’s hand hovered over the tray.

  ‘Okay guys, you’re on,’ said the clipboard woman.

  Caleb grabbed the closest pair and the three of them were steered onto the carpet before a taller woman with an even bigger clipboard stopped them. It was like clipboard-woman babushka dolls up in here.

  ‘Excuse me, would you mind stepping back for a second?’ she said, politely but firmly. Caleb certainly wasn’t going to argue with someone carrying a clipboard of that size.

  From behind her, a tall man in a suit emerged. He looked around fifty, but like he was trying to appear thirty-five. Or maybe he was seventy-five, but had done a really good job of making himself look fifty? Either way, the golden-haired gentleman already had his sunglasses on, and was accompanied by one of those people that you just knew did some sort of yodelling.7

  Whatever age he was, it was clear to Caleb that this wasn’t the new attendees’ first red carpet. He, Miralee and Rachel got shoved aside so the interlopers could walk first. The flashes went off immediately.

  ‘Oh my god, it’s Tony Priestly!’ Miralee shrieked at a pitch so high, Caleb wondered if the lenses in his new sunnies would shatter.

  ‘Who’s Tony Priestly?

  ‘He’s an entertainment reporter. He’s interviewed everyone. EVERYONE.’

  Clipboard woman no.3 finally seemed satisfied that Tony had enough distance between him and the nobodies, so she waved Caleb’s shambolic crew onto the carpet.

  Caleb looked around nervously. The group of photographers gathered in front of them suddenly all needed to change film at the same time, which was weird because they were using digital cameras. The music from the dance floor floated over as the three of them hovered awkwardly. It made Caleb conscious of how strange they probably looked: a couple of teenagers and a blue-haired girl who was not much older. Luckily, one young man with a lanyard was nice enough to take a quick picture, which gave them an excuse to leave.

  ‘Let’s go find Jai,’ said Rachel. Caleb couldn’t agree more. They needed a captain to help them navigate this night.

  ‘Ayyyeee!’ They bumped into Jai near the bar, standing with Luke Dubz. Jai gave Caleb and Rachel a big embrace. ‘How was the limo?’

  ‘Oh my god, so good, Jai, thank you so much!’ said Rachel.

  ‘Yeah amazing, thanks man,’ Caleb added.

  ‘No worries, mate. I thought it was only fitting you came to your first industry party in style.’

  ‘Um, this is my friend, Miralee,’ said Caleb.

  ‘Hey, Miralee. Nice shades, very on point.’ Miralee blushed. ‘And hey, your shades are interesting too, Caleb. Went with the women’s frames, hey? Bold choice!’

  Caleb took the glasses off and looked at them. Inside the arm was scrawled Isabella Manfredi Collection. He put them in his pocket.

  ‘And how are you, missy?’ Jai said to Rachel.

  She smiled. ‘Fine, thank you. I just did my first red carpet and didn’t trip.’

  ‘Well, you look beautiful. Can I get everyone a drink? Champagne?’

  ‘Okay, thanks!’ Miralee said eagerly.

  ‘Sorry, not me.’ Caleb held up his wrist. The big CHILD sat right in the middle.

  ‘Oh, come on, hide it under your sleeve. I’ll go and grab you something.’

  Caleb
wasn’t so sure. For one – he had an official wristband. A wristband! And two, it was against the law. The law! While Caleb wrangled his thoughts, Jai wrangled a platter of drinks.

  ‘Here we are, crew.’

  Miralee and Rachel accepted glasses graciously.

  ‘Caleb?’ Jai said.

  ‘No, really, I think I’ll be okay.’

  ‘Come on! We’re celebrating you tonight!’

  ‘Just a Coke or something is good for me.’

  Jai rolled his eyes. ‘Fair enough.’

  Luke produced a Coke bottle and a straw and handed them to Caleb. Now that everyone had a drink in hand, Jai held his in the middle of the circle.

  ‘Here’s to Caleb! The only Spotify artist who is currently grounded!’ He shot Caleb a devious grin. Everyone laughed and clinked their glasses. Caleb didn’t find it as funny as the rest of them, but sipped his Coke regardless. Jai whispered something in Rachel’s ear and she giggled.

  ‘Well, should we have a look around?’ asked Miralee. Caleb watched Jai laugh at something Rachel said and put his arm around her.

  Caleb turned back to Miralee. ‘Let’s go.’

  And so, after the slightly weird and very clipboard-heavy start, amazingly, Caleb Clifford began to enjoy himself.

  The rooftop was awesome. He and Miralee found a spot next to the barrier where they could watch the lights from the cars twinkle as they drove along the road that hugged the river. The sound of traffic wafted upwards, combining with conversations around them and music from the dance floor, which was beginning to fill up. (He could definitely picture Roger Clifford doing his best moves to the throwback that was currently playing.)

  Miralee and Caleb talked about everything: Miralee’s classes, her relationship troubles, what she wanted to do in the future. As usual, she did most of the talking, but Caleb didn’t mind one bit. In fact, he was enjoying listening. The melting pot of noise on the rooftop was intoxicating. He felt lost in it. Embraced by it. Each sound was fighting the next, sometimes harmonising, sometimes clashing. Miralee’s voice sat atop them like a melody, with her lyrics speaking directly to Caleb about life, heartache, and the fact that panty liner wrapping often had trivia questions on it, which Caleb found foreign but absolutely intriguing. The happiness he was feeling was a beautiful change from the year he’d endured since pancreatic cancer had left a dad-shaped hole in his life. And while he was the last person who should be attending one of these parties, here he was, on a trendy rooftop, free Coke in hand, starting to feel at home.

  Oh, and starting to feel like he was going to pee his pants as well.

  ‘I’m just going to find the bathroom,’ he said.

  ‘Cool,’ said Miralee. ‘I’m going to find another Champagne. That stuff is YUMMY.’

  ‘Meet you back here?’

  ‘Deal!’

  Caleb pushed his way through the dancing crowd and found the toilets, grabbing his fourth bottle of Coke off a passing tray as he went. Free stuff was the best.

  He opened the door to the men’s room and gasped in astonishment. It was more packed than the dance floor! Bodies in suits shuffled around Caleb as he tried to find an empty urinal. There was a big line, even for the cubicles. Caleb supposed it made sense with all the drinks that were happening. The liquid had to go somewhere, after all. Finally, Caleb saw a clear space and pounced. A feeling of relief washed over him as he finished and made his way to the sinks.

  A particularly loud voice called out from behind him, ‘Yo, any of you lads got some spare coke?’

  Feeling sorry for him, Caleb turned around. ‘Here you are, man.’ He held his untouched bottle out to the man, who seemed a little drunk. Probably why he needed a break from the hard stuff. The guy, who was in a blue, shimmery suit, took the bottle, but gave Caleb a strange look.

  Caleb laughed. ‘It’s okay, I haven’t drunk any yet. I’ll get another one – they’re giving them out for free!’

  Content with his good deed, Caleb left the bathroom and headed back to find Miralee.

  But she wasn’t there.

  Not at their meeting spot. Not anywhere. Caleb waited, but five, then ten, then fifteen minutes went by, and Miralee didn’t turn up. The party, on the other hand, was beginning to turn up. People were definitely louder. Dresses were swooshing more. There was lots more laughter and backslapping. Someone saw Caleb hovering near the barrier and said, ‘Yo, someone forgot to call a babysitter!’ And the group they were with laughed. He decided to give up on Miralee and find Rachel instead.

  Caleb carved his way through the crowd like a river through rock. It took a long time, but he was able to erode the wall of drunk dancers and make his way to the other side of the rooftop, where there were a bunch of booths.

  He spotted Rachel and Jai sitting next to each other. Their faces were close, Jai’s hand playing with a loose strand of Rachel’s hair. Across the table, Luke Dubz was chatting to a girl who was sitting on his lap. He was the one who saw Caleb first.

  ‘Caleb, my man!’ said Luke.

  Rachel and Jai straightened up.

  ‘Oh hey. What’s, um … how’s it going?’ asked Rachel.

  ‘Fine. I was just looking for Miralee.’

  ‘Come and join us!’ said Jai, beckoning Caleb over to the booth.

  Since it was either this or more loneliness, Caleb sat down next to his sister.

  ‘How you going, mate? Having fun?’ Jai seemed more expressive than usual.

  ‘Um, yeah. The party’s cool.’

  ‘Great, man, great. I was telling Rachel I was worried because, y’know, you’re shy and all that, you might think it sucks, but I’m glad to hear that, man.’ Jai waved at a waiter for another drink.

  ‘So, where’s Miralee?’ Rachel asked. Caleb was pretty sure she was avoiding eye contact with him.

  ‘I dunno. We got separated.’

  ‘Is she your, like, girlfriend?’ Jai asked.

  ‘No! Just a friend.’

  ‘Cool, man, cool. So … you don’t have someone at the moment?’

  Caleb thought of Ella, but shook his head.

  ‘Nice. That’s the best way to be in your situation. Rock star and all.’

  Caleb doubted rock stars felt as out of place as he did.

  ‘So anyway, there’s a great studio not far from here – I thought we could organise a rehearsal for you soon so you’re good to go for the Phresh Finds gig,’ Jai said.

  ‘Um …’ The feeling of ‘fun’ that Caleb had been swimming in for most of the night quickly evaporated. Caleb wanted to protest – to ask if the gig could be delayed or something. But Rachel got in first.

  ‘There’s Miralee!’

  Caleb turned. Miralee was indeed there. Well, physically there, tucked among the gyrating bodies on the dance floor. But by the way she was swaying and laughing, it looked like, mentally, she was in a whole other place.

  Crap.

  ‘I’ll be back in a sec.’

  ‘No worries dude, we’ll be here!’

  Caleb made his way over to his swaying friend. Miralee wasn’t actually dancing with anyone but, nonetheless, seemed to be having the best time ever.

  Caleb touched her arm. She looked down at Caleb’s hand, then slowly followed his forearm with her eyes, up to his shoulder, before finally landing on his face.

  ‘Caalleeeeebb!’ Caleb received what he was sure must have been the largest hug in the southern hemisphere. ‘How’s it going? I’m having the BEST time.’

  ‘Where have you been? Are you okay?’ he asked.

  ‘Oh my GOD, I couldn’t find you when you went to the toilet, and so I – what’s this on my arm? Glitter – anyway, yeah, I met some people, and we did some shotssss!’

  If ‘shots’ were an outfit, and Miralee came out of a dressing room and asked Caleb how she looked with them on, Caleb would have said, It doesn’t suit you.

  ‘Where have YOU been anyway, Mr Famous Man?’ she continued. ‘You been dancing or what?’

  ‘No,’ said
Caleb.

  ‘Why not? You should, like, totally ask someone to dance!’

  Caleb sighed. ‘No thank you.’

  ‘Why? Why not?’

  Caleb glared at her.

  Miralee held Caleb’s eye before presenting him with her conclusion. ‘Ohhh, ’cos you like Ella? Of courrrrse. Well, frick, why didn’t you bring her tonight?’

  Caleb sighed, slightly stung by having his own idea thrown back at him. ‘Well, I was thinking about it.’

  ‘Really? You should have!’ Miralee said, the hanging lights flashing over her wide, slightly out-of-focus eyes. ‘This party would have been perfect for a date. She totally would have been all over you!’

  ‘Well y’know, you were sad, so I brought you …’ Caleb was expecting a thanks from Miralee. Maybe a hug of appreciation.

  ‘Oh my god, Caleb, you idiot! No no no no no no,’ she said, pinching his cheek. ‘Always bring the person you like. Gosh, if I’d known that, I never would have come. Damn, I bet she would have totally fricking made out with you too!’

  A sick feeling grumbled in Caleb’s stomach. ‘Well, I wasn’t regretting it until now. So, thanks,’ he said icily.

  ‘Oh, come on,’ Miralee said, her smile fading. ‘Don’t be like that. I’m just “hashtag-just-saying” … Come onnn.’

  ‘I know what you’re saying. You think I’m an idiot.’

  ‘Well yeah, but, like, a good idiot. ’Cos it means I got to come. And if I didn’t come then I wouldn’t have got to do SHOTS! Wooo!’ Miralee looked around for people to back up her wooo, but no-one did.

  ‘I’m glad I could be of service.’

  ‘Look, if you didn’t want to bring me then you shouldn’t have,’ Miralee snapped. ‘I’m not a fricking – one of those, what are they called – a charity thing. A charity case!’

  ‘Yeah, well, you acted like one,’ Caleb whipped back. ‘You basically invited yourself.’

  Miralee scoffed and said something under her breath.

  ‘What’s that?’ Caleb prodded.