Slumber

by Tamara Blake

  “This is so amazing,” Ruby said, taking it in. She paused in front of a large mural painted with calligraphy and a geisha in a woodcut-style technique. The geisha’s face, though, was Marilyn Monroe’s. “Look at this, Tam. The detail is stunning.”

  “Uh, yeah. Let’s make the rounds first, and then you can give me a lesson in art appreciation.”

  Tam guided her upstairs to a huge open space crowded with more glamorous guests. Fairy lights twinkled everywhere. A buffet table with a huge ice sculpture in the middle was loaded with delicious and exotic foods—caviar, tapenades, sushi, intricate desserts. Tam plucked a glass of champagne off a passing tray and handed it to her before taking one for himself. “Nice, huh,” he remarked. “Kentaro always knows how to throw a good party.”

  “It’s wonderful,” Ruby answered honestly. This party was the complete opposite of an off-the-chain Cottingley rager with its ridiculous wanton destruction. Here, everything was civilized, upscale. Thoughtful, even. The kind of party Ruby always secretly dreamed of attending.

  A couple detached from the group of people surrounding an electric fire-pit and approached them. The girl wore a wispy purple dress that seemed to float over her graceful figure, a cascade of mahogany curls framing her heart-shaped face. Her date was a black-haired hottie with chiseled features and a body in incredible shape. With a start, Ruby realized they were the couple from Cottingley who’d been looking at the video of the girl “flying” on the smartphone.

  “Hello, Tam,” the girl said. Ruby tensed. There was something feline in her manner that put her in mind of Violet. A cat eyeing a mouse, perhaps.

  Tam nodded. “Cosette, Ash. I didn’t know you’d be here.”

  “I wouldn’t miss one of Kentaro’s parties, mon chéri,” the girl answered. She patted her date’s muscled bicep before wrapping her arm around his. “Ash has a taste for Kentaro’s…art.”

  “I have a taste for his open bar, you mean.” Ash flashed a grin, blazingly white in his tanned face.

  “I do like getting you out of the house now and again, Ash darling. You’re so amusing when you’re off your leash.” Cosette’s bright gaze flicked to Ruby, who flushed under her frank appraisal. “Who’s this pretty thing, Tam? Have you, ah, known her long?”

  “Not yet,” Tam answered. “Let me get you a fresh drink, Ruby.”

  “Ruby, is it? Pretty name for a pretty girl. Enjoy the party, chérie. We’ll see you back at the house later, yes?”

  “I sort of doubt that,” Ruby said, but Tam was pulling her away. Cosette’s laugh followed them.

  When they were out of earshot, Ruby asked, “What was that all about?”

  “Ignore her. Cosette likes to tease, that’s all. It’s kind of annoying, actually, I don’t know how Ash puts up with her. Ah, here’s a person I really want you to meet. Kentaro, let me introduce you to my friend Ruby Benson.”

  Instantly, Ruby forgot the weirdness with Cosette and Ash. She could hardly believe it. Kentaro himself, his black hair pulled back in a severe ponytail, and wearing an intricate designer shirt that seemed to have origami folds all over it, was shaking her hand.

  “This is such a huge, huge honor,” Ruby said. She hoped she didn’t sound like a gushing fangirl, but holy crap, Kentaro was standing in front of her!

  “Ruby is an admirer of yours, obviously.” Tam gave his friend a smirk, but it was a friendly one. “She’s even tried to cram some art appreciation into my thick skull because of you.”

  Kentaro gave her a warm smile. “I’m flattered, Ruby.”

  “Thanks,” was all she could manage before being overcome with shyness.

  Tam gave her an encouraging look. “Ruby wrote a paper about your art.”

  “A paper on my work? Really?”

  Kentaro seemed genuinely interested, so she said, “Well, we were given a choice of subjects for art appreciation, and I chose to focus on contemporary Japanese art. So of course I had to cover your work, I mean, it’s a huge part of the scene. The way you combine traditional ukiyo-e woodblock techniques with Western pop art…”

  Kentaro raised a brow at Tam, who laughed. “I usually don’t hang out with girls who even know what art is, let alone uki-whatever.”

  “Indeed you don’t,” Kentaro said. “I can see that Ruby is different.”

  Oh yeah, Ruby was pretty sure she was different from Tam’s usual hookup. “Your Genji series is my favorite,” Ruby continued, addressing Kentaro. “Hip hop Genji is a masterwork.”

  “The Genji series is my favorite, too. I find that celebrity and the fascination with supernatural beings spring from the same place in the human psyche. At least, that was my intention with the work.”

  “That’s so true. The different layers of composition are stunning!”

  Kentaro took Ruby’s hand in both of his. “I see that you have an artistic soul inside of you waiting to be free.”

  Flustered, she pulled her hand away. “Well, I’m applying to the drama program at NYU. But we’ll see. I don’t think I have the strongest application.”

  “I know the dean of the department,” Kentaro said. “I’d be happy to make a call on your behalf.”

  “You would?” To have a world-famous artist put in a good word for her at NYU would make her application instantly stronger—maybe even strong enough to overcome her terrible grades. Ruby felt the temptation pulling at her like a treacherous undercurrent, but she fought back. She wanted to get in to NYU on her own merits. Anything else would be dishonest. Still, having someone like Kentaro vouch for her would undoubtedly push her application to the top of the pile. Would that be so terrible?

  “Kentaro, buddy, you’re making me look bad,” Tam said while she hesitated. “How am I supposed to impress Ruby now?”

  “Not my problem,” Kentaro bantered back. “Maybe you should exert yourself to do more than dazzle a girl with your money, charm, and good looks. Tam’s a lazy bastard sometimes, but I bet you already knew that, Ruby.”

  Tam doubled over on a laugh and even Ruby giggled. The other guests at the party glanced at their way, and Ruby caught the envious glances of other guests thrown at her.

  “How about I ask you to dance with me?” Tam said. “Let’s start there.”

  “That might work,” Ruby admitted.

  Kentaro slapped Tam on the shoulder. “You’re a quick learner, my friend.”

  “I have to be. Ruby keeps me on my toes.”

  Tam placed his hand on the small of Ruby’s back once more and drew her out to the deserted balcony. It glowed with sparkling fairy lights that were twisted around potted topiary plants and illuminated lanterns. Ruby sighed with delight. The night air held a hint of fall crispness; the Manhattan skyline was spectacular. The honks and bustle of the city below sounded muffled, but music from the gallery was piped in from hidden speakers. The atmosphere was magical. In fact, the whole evening had been wonderful so far.

  Tam pulled Ruby close and began to dance with her in a slow sway. “Are you having fun?” he murmured against her temple.

  She felt herself go a little boneless in his arms. God, it felt amazing to be held. It had been a long time since she’d even let anyone under her guard, let alone danced with a guy. But Tam…he was getting under her skin. “Actually, I am. A lot of fun.”

  “You sound surprised.”

  “It’s just that didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t really care for your other parties.”

  “You’re a good girl, aren’t you?”

  “I know you think being good is sort of an insult, but yeah. I’m a good girl.”

  “Ruby,” he murmured, nuzzling her ear. “I know about the necklace.”

  Chapter Nine

  She wanted to die.

  “No, don’t pull away,” Tam said when she jerked in his arms.

  “What are you going to do?” she asked in a stifled voice. How long had he known? Ever since they ran into each other at the megamart? The en
tire time he was at her house, being nice to her family? “Are you going to call the cops?”

  She’d won a little space between them, but Tam’s arms kept her from going far. “Call the cops?” he echoed in bewilderment. “Why would I do that?”

  Oh, thank God. She found herself babbling in relief. “My mom, she’s so sick. And we’re so, so broke. You saw how we live, Tam. We’re barely making it. Taking the necklace…it was like it was happening in a dream. I was on my hands and knees cleaning up Violet’s mess for a couple of bucks so we could survive, you know? Suddenly, a necklace with a big ruby pendant was in my hands. I put it on, I admit it. And then Violet came in, and we fought—she was being so hateful to me, and I couldn’t do a thing about it except take her shit. I got so mad at her!”

  “So you took the necklace to spite her?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe. It’s a valuable piece of jewelry—it could solve all my family’s money problems. But in the end, why I took it doesn’t change the fact that I stole it.”

  Her voice broke on the last word. She’d never felt so ashamed in her life.

  But Tam held her steady. “Ruby, look at me. Don’t you get it? I don’t care about the necklace. I only care about you. You stole it under duress or whatever. So what? Violet is so spoiled and selfish, she won’t even miss it.”

  “I want to give it back, Tam. I really do. I’m not a thief. It was…temporary insanity, or PTSD from living such a shitty life, I don’t know. But now I can’t get it off! You have to believe me!”

  She slipped a hand beneath the fabric of her dress and tugged on the chain. Tam quickly took her hands in his.

  “Hey, shhh. Don’t do that, you’ll make it worse. Don’t touch it, don’t even think about it. You understand what I’m saying? It’s really important, Ruby.”

  She blinked back tears, but now that they’d started flowing they wouldn’t stop.

  “Sometimes I forget I’m even wearing it,” she gulped. “Then I remember, and getting rid of it is all I can think about.”

  He cupped her face with his hand. Brushing a tear away with his thumb, he looked at the moisture wonderingly. “Don’t cry, Ruby,” he said, and his voice was also upset. “Please.”

  Of course, that made it even harder to control the tears. “Why are you being so nice to me?” she gulped. “I don’t deserve it.”

  “Yes, you do. You’re one of the most amazing girls I’ve ever met.”

  “You haven’t met many girls, then.”

  “Trust me, I have. Ruby —”

  He wiped her streaming tears with a gentle finger before brushing his lips against her damp cheek.

  “Tam…”

  He lowered his mouth to hers.

  Ruby melted into the kiss. It was every bit as good as the one in her dream. No, it was even better, Tam holding her like she was precious, the scent of his cologne filling her senses while the darkness behind her closed lids changed to warm red.

  A peppy jangle from the cell phone in her evening bag gradually broke into her awareness—her mom’s ringtone. Reluctantly, she pulled her lips away from Tam’s. “I’ve got to get that,” she murmured.

  Tam’s forehead was against hers, and he was breathing hard. “Don’t.”

  “I have to. It’s from home.”

  She fumbled for her phone.

  “Ruby?” Shelley’s voice quavered in the earpiece.

  The dreaminess from Tam’s kiss disappeared in a flash. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

  “Mom fell down. I can’t wake her up.”

  Ruby froze while she absorbed Shelley’s words. No. Please God, no —

  “I’m really, really scared, Ruby.” Shelley gave a little sob while Ruby grabbed hold of the panic beating at her. “I don’t know what to do.”

  “It’s gonna be alright,” Ruby told her automatically. Calm. Stay calm. If you freak out, she’ll freak out. “I’m going to hang up and call 911. When the ambulance gets there, let the EMTs in, okay? Do you think you can do that?”

  “Yes. Can you come home now?” Shelley’s voice was thin and wobbly.

  “I’ll meet you at the hospital, Shells. Hold tight and be brave.”

  “What’s going on?” Tam asked when she ended the call.

  Ruby barely heard him, just jabbed at her phone’s keypad with shaking fingers. 911. “Hello, yes, it’s an emergency—” Quickly Ruby blurted out the situation. “Hurry, please. My little sister is there all alone with her, and she’s scared.”

  “Ambulance is on the way,” the operator replied in a professional monotone.

  “Hey,” said Tam, as she hung up. “I said, what’s going on?” His hands gripped the balcony’s high railing behind him, the panorama of the city spread out beyond. In the light thrown by the nearby Chinese lantern, he was frowning, his whole body tense.

  “I have to call Shelley back. Then I’ve got to go to the hospital. It’s my Mom—she’s collapsed.”

  “Fucking Violet,” muttered Tam.

  Ruby looked up at him sharply. “What did you say?”

  “Nothing. Look, I’m so sorry. I was afraid something like this might happen. But I need you to understand something.” He stepped forward, put his hands on her shoulders. “You can’t leave, okay? There’s nothing you can do for her.”

  Ruby recoiled. Was he serious? Her mom had collapsed and her little sister was on her own with her, and he wanted her to… What? Do nothing?

  “You have to be kidding. And what the hell does this have to do with Violet?”

  Tam bit his lip, as though he was trying to figure something out. At last he said, “It’s kind of complicated. But trust me on this. The best thing you can do is stay with me. You’ll be safe here. We’ll sort this out, but you mustn’t —”

  “If you think I’m going to stay at this party with you while my mother could be dying, you are delusional.”

  Anger flashed across his face for just a moment. “I’m trying to help you, Ruby.”

  “No, you’re not. You’d rather keep me here partying with your friends than let me go to my sick Mom. You know, I thought you actually cared about me. And my family.”

  “You’re not listening, Ruby.”

  “Yeah, well, I’m getting the message loud and clear. You don’t give a damn about us. You don’t give a damn about me. You just wanted to get laid.” She yanked the silk rose from the collar of her dress so hard that some of the petals tore. “Go to hell.”

  She flung the rose at his feet. Immediately, the balmy air turned colder, and the city’s sirens could be heard wailing from below. The twinkling lights now seemed garish, the paper lanterns tacky and cheap.

  “Ruby,” cried Tam. He sounded wounded, as if the rose had actually been a part of him. He fell to his knees, snatching up the silk flower. For a moment the sight twisted Ruby’s heart. But no. She’d been right to be suspicious of him. He was just another of those rich Cottingley assholes, who only cared about themselves.

  She was done with him.

  She stormed back to the party, leaving him there on the balcony with barely a glance back. As she pushed her way through the guests, she realized that while she was out on the balcony with Tam, the party’s atmosphere had totally changed. The music, which had been sophisticated and classical, now throbbed with a jungle beat. The smell of sweat hung in the humid air while the whole place seemed to have turned into a rave, dancers grinding up against each other, dresses hiked, collars torn open, bodies pressed so close she couldn’t tell if they were dancing or…

  She averted her eyes from a couple clearly getting it on right in the middle of the throng, and her gaze landed on Kentaro sitting by the indoor fire-pit, surrounded by a posse of half-dressed women. Gone was his suave, wise demeanor. Now he was sweaty and manic, snorting a line of coke on a mirror held by a laughing girl whose breasts were spilling out of her torn cocktail dress. He passed the straw to the next girl, who stuck it in her nose.

&nbs
p; Ruby turned away in disgust, intent on getting out of there as quickly as possible, but her escape was blocked by a guy with his dress shirt unbuttoned to his navel, his breath rancid with beer. “Hey, mama, come dance with me, I’ll show you a good time.”

  “Get off.” She shoved at the guy, who laughed and fell back easily.

  She hurried past the trashed buffet table, once so elegant, downstairs into the crammed gallery, full of partiers weaving clumsily to the pounding music like they were drunk or high. Someone had thrown a glass of red wine onto Kentaro’s beautiful masterpiece, the geisha with Marilyn Monroe’s face. Red streaks tracked down the canvas like tears, utterly ruining it. Ruby shook her head in anger and turned away only to catch a glimpse of someone in a gallery mirror, staring back at her with haunted eyes burning in a gaunt face. It took her a second to realize she was staring at herself.

  She backed away from the reflection, stomach churning. Was she in some sort of nightmare? Wildly she looked around. Over the packed bodies and smoky haze she spotted a red exit sign. Uncaring now, she shoved past anyone in her way until she made it to the door and stumbled through. It snapped closed behind her, sealing in the din from the party.

  On the sidewalk, Ruby heaved in big gulps of air and savored the ordinary noises of the city at night: traffic, horns, people. She cast a look behind her at the gallery. The façade looked tasteful and refined, just as it had when she arrived earlier with Tam. Anybody walking past would have no idea of the bacchanalia raging inside.

  Her stomach knotted. Now she was stranded in the city with no ride home and only $20 in her purse.

  And Tam? She gave a mirthless half-laugh. That little fantasy was over.

  She dug her phone out of her evening bag as she started out for the nearest subway station. “Shelley? The ambulance is there? Good. I’ll be there as soon as I can. I have to catch the train first…”