Saved by the Celebutante

by Kirsty McManus

  After a while, the wind picks up, blowing the rain sideways. I can no longer sit outside without getting wetter and freezing to death, so I migrate back into the camper, and lie down on the bed.

  Where the fuck is Matt? What is he thinking? I knew I shouldn’t have slept with him.

  I wish I had brought a book to read. Or some music to listen to. I don’t have anything to distract me. I guess I could try meditating. I sit up, cross my legs and close my eyes.

  After a few calming breaths, I enter a state not unlike the one I experienced with Arcadia the other day, only this time it’s even more vivid.

  I’m back in my childhood, sitting on the front step of our porch and excitedly waiting for my dad to get home from work. When he finally does, he absentmindedly ruffles my hair and heads on in without saying anything.

  The memory fades and another surfaces. I’m in the third grade trying to catch the attention of Alex, a cute blond boy I really like. He pretends he can’t see me and continues to talk to his friends. This morphs into a scene of me in high school where I discover my current boyfriend Jesse kissing my best friend Tahlia behind the restrooms after class.

  More and more memories flash past, all blurring into each other, but the pattern is obvious: I have spent my whole life trying to get the attention of men who are not interested in me.

  Dean from college makes an appearance, followed by Carl, who I dated twice and then who told me he was moving away – but then I saw him a few weeks later at the supermarket and he claimed his plans fell through. Although, for some reason he didn’t seem interested in a future catch-up.

  The last flash is Corey. I see how we met. And now that I know the truth, I can see the little signs telling me that we were never meant to be together forever. I see the love, but not the passion or romance. I see the way we were constantly interacting on a superficial level, our careers and social circle keeping us from spending quality time together.

  I had never realized it until now, but I did see signs of who he truly was. The dance parties where he got just a little too close to one of our male friends, or the way he seemed to act with the girls in such a way that I was never jealous, even with the super-hot ones. Because THEY all seemed to know on some level that he wasn’t interested in them that way. And not just because he was married.

  I open my eyes. I think the desert is trying to tell me something. Stop chasing the wrong guys.

  I look over and see my paper nurse’s hat from yesterday. I unfold it, grab a pen and scrawl down all the things I’m feeling. Thanks to Matt’s disappearing act, I’m thinking he isn’t someone I should be wasting any more energy on either.

  I finish off my note, stick it somewhere he’ll see it when he gets back and then leave the camper, once and for all.

  The bus is now empty and closed up. My suitcase and cooler are on the ground under the security guard’s office awning, and the security guard is sitting inside drinking a coffee.

  “What’s happening with the bus?” I ask.

  “Nothing. The flooding is getting worse. We’ve just had word that no one should attempt to leave at least until tomorrow. And that’s only if the rain lets up in the next couple of hours.”

  I almost fall in a heap on the ground.

  “Seriously?”

  “Afraid so.”

  “So what do I now?”

  “I don’t know. Go enjoy the festival?”

  I snatch up my suitcase and cooler and stomp off. “Easier said than done.”

  I stumble through the increasingly muddy grounds, the rain lashing my skin. I can barely see where I’m going.

  But I know where I’m headed.

  I just hope he doesn’t think I’m a weirdo stalker.

  THIRTY-FIVE

  I knock on the door, staring straight ahead. I’m not even nervous, which shows how much my anger at the whole situation is affecting my brain.

  The door opens. A young woman peers down at me.

  “Can I help you?”

  “Uh, is Peter available?” My resolve starts to fade. What am I doing?

  “Sorry, who are you?”

  “Oh. Chrissie. Lambert.

  She turns her head and calls back into the trailer. “Peter? Do you want to talk to a Chrissie Lambert?”

  There’s shuffling for a moment and then Peter appears.

  “Jesus. You look like a drowned rat. Why are you still here? I thought you were leaving on Saturday.”

  “I was going to, but I had a few issues.”

  “You want to come in?”

  “Would that be okay?”

  “Sure.” He steps aside so I can enter. I leave my suitcase and cooler out under the awning.

  The interior of Peter Carson’s bus is jaw dropping. I always expected it to be impressive, but this is like being in a five-star hotel. There are marble counters and solid oak cupboards everywhere, and a massive flat screen television is embedded in the far wall. The carpet is a plush deep pile, making me feel guilty about dripping all over it. I quickly step back onto the entry mat.

  I don’t say anything for a full minute as I look around in awe. Peter grabs a towel from a nearby shelf and tosses it to me before retrieving two cans of beer from a full-sized fridge.

  “You want a drink?” he asks, holding one up.

  “Uh, yeah. Thanks.”

  Well, this is surreal. Who ever thought I’d be hanging out with Peter Carson in his mega-bus?

  He sits down at the dining table – which could comfortably seat eight people – and encourages me to join him.

  “What’s up?”

  “My van got towed, I missed the bus yesterday and today I’m flooded in.”

  “So you haven’t spoken to Gia yet?”

  “No.”

  “You want to use my phone?”

  My mouth falls open. “But I didn’t think there was any coverage out here.”

  “There is if you have a satellite phone. I just don’t tell the studio, otherwise they’d be calling me day and night with stupid questions they can figure out for themselves.”

  “You’d let me call out on it?”

  “I offered, didn’t I?”

  “Is it expensive?”

  “Not as much as you’d expect.”

  “Okay. Wow. Yes! Thank you!”

  “It’s right behind you.”

  I turn around and see something that looks like a cell phone from the late nineties mounted in a cradle on the wall.

  I pick it up and call Gia’s number. Finally! Something is going my way.

  Except the phone doesn’t ring. It goes straight to a message saying that Gia’s voicemail is full.

  Of course it is. I should never expect anything to be easy.

  Peter casually sips his beer and reads something on an iPad in front of him.

  “I can’t get through,” I say, disappointed.

  Peter shrugs. “Oh well. Is there anyone else you want to call?”

  “I guess I could phone my sister and ask her to pass on a message.”

  “If you think that would work, go for it.”

  I call Penny’s number. Please pick up. Please pick up.

  “Hello?”

  “Penny!”

  “Chrissie? Is that you?”

  “Yes!”

  “Where are you?”

  “At Earth & Fire!”

  “Still? Why?”

  “Long story. But listen, I’ll be leaving tomorrow, hopefully. In the meantime, can you contact Gia for me and let her know I found Peter Carson and everything’s back on track with the audition? I think her number is written on a post-it on your kitchen counter somewhere.”

  “Sure. But Chrissie, are you all right? I’ve been worried about you.”

  “I’m fine. I can’t talk now, though. I’ll fill you in when I’m back in civilization.”

  “As long as you’re okay.”

  “I am.”

  “Then take care, and I’ll see you soon.”

  “You wi
ll.” I hang up.

  “All good?” Peter asks without looking up.

  “Yes. Thank you so much. I owe you big time.”

  “Forget it. So what now?”

  “Um, honestly, I don’t know. I would leave if I could, but I guess I have to wait until the flooding stops.”

  Peter glances out the window.

  “That could take a while.”

  “You really think so?”

  “I’ve seen it like this before and because the land is so flat, the water has nowhere to go.”

  “What’s the worst case scenario?”

  “Well, I remember back maybe ten years ago, it was similar to this and people were stuck out here for an extra three days. And I mean three days after the rain stopped.”

  I shudder. It’s funny how only last night I would have given anything to stay for the whole week, but now I’d consider trading a body part to go home.

  “Of course, if this weather keeps up, I won’t be able to film anything else, so I’ll probably just head back to LA,” he muses. “I’ve got a million other things I could be doing right now. If I need to, I’ll call a friend I know who owns a helicopter.”

  “Oh. Right.” I have no idea why he’s telling me this. Is he trying to make me jealous?

  “I could ask him to take an additional passenger if necessary,” he adds.

  Does he mean me?

  “I’m talking about you, Chrissie. You know, I’m starting to wonder if you have any self-worth at all. Be a bit more assertive, okay?”

  I nod, not trusting myself to say anything else.

  “Now, do you have somewhere to sleep tonight? I noticed your stuff outside.”

  I shake my head.

  “Then you’re staying here. There’s a spare bunk in the crew’s quarters. Go and introduce yourself. Just stay out of my room upstairs.”

  “Wow! Thank you! Peter, you’re a lifesaver.”

  He waves a dismissive hand in my direction and then disappears up a spiral staircase at the back.

  I sit there, dazed. Did that really just happen? Is it possible I really could be going home tomorrow?

  I suppose only time will tell.

  ***

  I spend the rest of the day hanging out with Peter’s crew. They consist of three men and two women, and they are all obviously feeling the effects of being stuck inside. After a couple of hours, two of the guys wander out to attend a workshop. The others sit around playing cards or sleeping. I try to minimize my presence. I’m not really in the mood to be social anyway.

  I hope Matt is having a crappy time. I hope he’s stuck out in the rain and getting all muddy. And I hope he feels guilty when he gets back to his camper and sees my note.

  From now on, I’m over men. Maybe not forever, but at least for a while. They’re too much trouble and I clearly have terrible taste. Sure, I had a lovely few days with Matt, and yes, the sex was pretty damn good, but I can’t help feel that it’s all tainted now.

  When I get back to San Francisco, I’m going to put all my energy into my job and get my life back on track. Corey has moved on. It looks like Matt has too.

  Now it’s my turn.

  THIRTY-SIX

  The rain is still heavy the next day, so Peter stays true to his word and calls his helicopter friend to fly us out of the desert.

  I carry my stuff out to the waiting chopper, feeling numb. This is my first ride in one, so I should be excited, but instead I just want to get out of the desert and as far away from the festival as possible.

  Peter and I sit side by side behind the pilot. The crew have been left behind to drive the trailer back to LA at the end of the festival. I feel kind of bad for them for a minute, until Peter points out that they’re basically getting paid to do nothing for the next few days.

  Once we’re in the air, Peter gets out his laptop and starts working. I look down on the washed out plains and huge sculptures. I was right about the campsites looking like crop circles.

  I’m a bit disappointed at how the whole Earth & Fire experience turned out. I guess I did achieve my objective of finding Peter, and I’ve found some closure with Corey and Brad, but all my angst has just transferred to Matt. At least I won’t have to see him again. That’s got to count for something.

  When we arrive in Reno, Peter insists on paying for the towing company to take my van back to Paulie in LA so I don’t have to drive it myself. After being reminded of his no hugging rule, he directs me to a nearby car hire place and takes off again. Everything happens so fast, it takes a moment for me to process that I’ll be home in just over four hours.

  I switch on my phone and impatiently wait for the reception bars to reappear. I immediately call Gia, but it rings out and goes to messages.

  “Hey! Oh my God! What a ridiculous week! I tried to call you yesterday but your voicemail was full. I have so much to tell you! Call me when you get this! I’m coming home today!”

  I hang up, feeling like a load has been lifted off my shoulders. I can finally tell Gia the good news and help get her ready for the movie audition.

  I wait in line at the car hire place, my mood swinging back and forth like a pendulum every time I think of Matt. I still can’t believe he just abandoned me. He should have said something, rather than disappearing like a coward. I wouldn’t have been mad if he admitted that our hook-up was a mistake, but now I’m just frustrated and confused.

  Finally a booking agent organizes a little Chevy Spark for me. Once I have the keys, I take off down Route 80, barely stopping on the way. I can’t wait to get home. I wouldn’t say I’m excited exactly, more that I’ll be relieved.

  Gia calls back while I’m on a stretch of road where I can’t safely stop. Part of me wants to answer anyway, but the other part doesn’t want to risk a cop seeing me and giving me a ticket.

  I let it ring out and pull over as soon as I can. She got my message! And she wants me to meet her at a coffee shop near her place tomorrow morning to catch up. Yay! Everything is returning to normal! Well, as normal as it can be, considering I don’t really have a permanent residence.

  I drive over to Penny’s and let myself in. No one is home, which is a bit of a relief. I can have a shower and nap before facing any interrogations.

  I dump all my clothes in the laundry and then launch myself into the bathroom, ready to indulge in a long hot shower. I have never appreciated water as much as I do right now. I find it strangely satisfying watching the residual dirt on my skin and hair wash down the drain.

  I almost feel human again by the time I step out and wrap myself in a clean fluffy towel. My next stop is the kitchen, where I chop up some vegetables, grill some chicken and make myself a proper meal. I’m tired, but my craving for wholesome food is stronger than my desire to sleep.

  I sit down at the dining table to eat and decide not to turn on the TV or browse the internet on my phone. I just enjoy the warm, dry quiet of an inner-city apartment. It’s funny how only being away from civilization for a few days can make you appreciate it so much more when you get back.

  I don’t have time to nap, because Penny and Michelle get home soon after. I spend at least an hour regaling them with stories of Earth & Fire and then convincing them I’m all right. I don’t tell them the extent of my relationship with Matt because I don’t want them to worry any more than they already do.

  Just after eight, I excuse myself and lock myself in the spare room.

  The bed feels amazingly soft compared to the one in the camper. My mind inevitably makes the connection between beds and Matt, and I experience a flash of anger again.

  Thankfully I am exhausted, so I feel my brain slowing down the second my head hits the pillow.

  I don’t even have to…

  ***

  My alarm wakes me at 8.30 the next morning. I can’t believe I slept for more than twelve hours! Gia said to meet her at ten, so I quickly eat breakfast, get dressed and leave in order to get there a bit early. I’m really excited to see her. I’ve alre
ady worked out how to approach our meet-up. First, I’ll fill her in on why I got delayed at the festival, and then I’ll casually mention the audition. And then I’m going to tell her the truth about the phone and beg forgiveness. I think she’ll be fine with it seeing as we managed to track down Peter in the end.

  Gia is only ten minutes late, which is pretty good for her. Although when I see her, I notice she’s slipped back into her old style, wearing a pair of tiny denim shorts and a tight white t-shirt. Oh well. I’m not going to be judgy. I’m just glad to see her.

  She doesn’t smile when she sees me, which instantly raises a red flag. Something is wrong.

  She sits down, a strange expression on her face.

  “Hey. Is everything okay?” I ask tentatively.

  She starts tearing apart a serviette in front of her.

  “I know,” she says softly.

  My face crumples. That stupid phone.

  “I’m so sorry, Gia. It was a really dumb thing to do and I regretted it as soon as it happened, and I was doing everything I could to fix it, and…”

  She cuts me off.

  “I’m just so disappointed in you. First there was the phone, and now this…”

  “Wait. Hang on, I thought we were talking about the phone.”

  “Well, obviously I was pissed that you lied to me about that, but I was even more upset that you felt like you had to steal from me and didn’t just ask if you needed the money.”

  My eyes widen. “What are you talking about?”

  “Please, Chrissie. Do I really have to spell it out?”

  She pulls a folded sheet of paper out of her pocket and slides it across the table.

  I unfold it and read it, taking a minute to process what I’m looking at.

  It’s a print-out of a credit card statement with several charges for over $100 each circled in red.

  “What is this?”

  “Is that how you’re going to play it? Even when I show you proof?”

  I look at her, bewildered. “I don’t understand.”

  She sighs. “These charges are from the credit card I gave you to pay for work stuff. And unless I’m mistaken, Darla’s Beauty Salon is not a work related expense. Neither is GAP clothing or dinner at Saison.”