Hollywood Princess (19 page)
Read Hollywood Princess Online
Authors: Dana Aynn Levin
It was a
fter nine by the time we arrived at my parent’s house for me to change into a denim miniskirt and Danny’s favorite silk blouse. With the drawstrings open, my Peretti heart rested perfectly on my chest for all to see.
Indeed, w
e made a very handsome couple as we skipped down the stairs holding hands, smiling and laughing.
“Have a good time kids,” Dad said as he and Mom bade us good-night.
“I can’t wait to see everybody,” I lied.
“I’ll bring Eli back tomorrow
,” Danny told them. “We’ll spend the night at the beach.”
Danny quickly ushered me out the door before my parents could react.
“I can’t believe you,” I scolded Danny as soon as we were in the car.
“Elizabeth, y
ou’re an adult.” Danny laughed.
I smacked h
is arm with my fists and he kept laughing. Danny could hardly speak.
“Oh hell, Liz! Enjoy! W
here’s your party face?”
After parking, we
followed the path behind the Hayes’ spacious home to the pool house where the party was in full swing. Music pulsated through the open doors.
Danny
smiled, and he squeezed my hand. Then he kissed my cheek. I smiled back. It was expected.
“Danny!”
Ali exclaimed, ignoring me as we entered. Her face lit with joy.
Ali reached for
Danny’s hands and deliberately kissed his lips. If Ali’s goal was to make me uncomfortable, she had more than succeeded. I hoped I hid it well.
For Ali,
an ordinary looking girl, despite a nose-job and chin implant courtesy of Beverly Hills’ finest cosmetic surgeon, she looked good tonight, as good as Ali could ever hope for. Her hair and make-up were professionally done, and she was wearing a very short fashionable dress that clung to all the right places on her slender frame.
“
Elizabeth?” Ali greeted me with a sneer. “I don’t remember inviting you.”
“You didn’t,” I replied with confidence.
Ali looked down her sculpted nose with disdain.
Meanwhile,
Danny’s hand settled possessively on my waist.
“Elizabeth’s with me. Ali, you don’t mind me bringing my girlfriend, do you?” Danny asked in a voice that challenged our hostess.
“Your what?” Ali asked, taken aback by the news.
“My girlfriend,” Danny answered, grinning.
“Right,” Ali answered dismissively, and she left to greet other guests.
Danny
whispered in my ear, “Our hostess is not happy.”
“
Ali should have invited me.”
Danny nuzzled my neck, and I squirmed. “Today was great,” he whispered.
“Elizabeth!” Shrieks interrupted us. Danny and I snapped apart, and there they were.
“Emma! Steff!” I
squealed in response.
M
y two closest friends embraced and kissed me, our first time since August.
“Steff, your hair!” Her long blonde hair now barely grazed her shoulders, and she wore bangs for the first time. “I love it!”
“I got it cut this afternoon. Bobs are more D.C.,” Steff, a student at The George Washington University, explained. “What about you? Au naturel, I see.”
“I don’t have time in the morning to fuss.” Danny’s closeness made me blush.
“I like it,” said Emma, a student at Duke.
“I do too,” Danny chimed in. “Hey Steff, Emma.”
“Danny Newman? Oh my god! It is you!” Steff exclaimed, and they embraced.
“Did you come together?”
Emma asked as she embraced Danny.
“
Eli’s my designated driver.”
“Danny’s my bodyguard,” I added.
“I’m guarding her body from Ali.”
Steff and Emma looked at us with questioning eyes.
“Ali didn’t invite me, so I’m Danny’s date.”
“How convenient,” Emma laughed. “Just like you both ending up at Donnelly.”
“Have you been keeping Danny out of trouble, Elizabeth?” Steff teased.
“Actually, I’ve been too busy getting
Eli into trouble, so I haven’t had time to get myself into any,” Danny responded.
“Yeah right,” Steff said
, “Elizabeth in trouble. That’s a good one.”
“Why does everyone think I never do anything?”
“Because you don’t,” Steff immediately answered.
“Elizabeth might have changed,” Danny suggested.
“Yeah, right.”
“Has anyone seen the white lace yet?” Emma whispered to me. “You’ve been off the grid for so long, Steff and I thought maybe…”
Why must she ask this in front of Danny? Of course she didn’t know, but was the thought of us together so preposterous it never entered her mind?
Thankfully Steff was distracting Danny. Or was she? Danny turned to Emma and whispered, “I’ve seen it. Good choice.”
I frowned. This was not how I wanted to break our news to my friends.
“I understand you picked out the lovely ensemble, Em.”
I wanted to sink through the ground and disappear but I couldn’t. Danny had wrapped his arms around my shoulders and was grinning.
“Elizabeth is breathtaking in them.”
“What!” Steff gasped.
“Eli’s modeled for me.” Danny said nonchalantly.
I stared at Danny not knowing what he was going to say next. Instead, Danny took my stunned face in his hands.
“Of course they didn’t stay on for long, did they baby?” Danny brought his lips to mine and kissed me, pushing his tongue into my mouth. I was in shock, unable to resist him. My tongue joined with his. Electricity fused us together.
When we parted, Danny’s arms remained around my shoulders. Steff and Emma stood glued in place, gaping.
“How long have you been together?” Emma
stammered.
“A couple of months,” I answered
with guilty discomfort.
“I can’t believe it. Elizabeth, you never said anything.”
“I thought you wouldn’t approve.”
“Emma and I have always liked Danny. Of course we approve,” Steff said.
“Eli and I figured we knew each other well enough,” Danny said, and we smiled at each other. Then he turned me into his arms. “I love you,” he said, and he tenderly kissed me.
As if on cue, Ali appeared, drinks in hand
, ending our kiss.
“Danny,
Elizabeth, I’ve brought your drinks.” Plastic smile turned to maximum, Ali handed Danny a bottle of Corona beer with a lime in it, and for me a colorful concoction.
“Thanks, Ali,” Danny said.
“What’s in this?” I asked, glad she’d gotten over her earlier snit.
“Rum and fruit juice
. My secret recipe.”
I took a sip
of the cold, fruity beverage. “This is good,” I exclaimed. Then I took a larger sip. Ali walked away. I was thirsty and quickly drank about half.
“Danny, you should try this. It’s really good.”
I held up my cup, and he sipped.
“Do you know what’s in this?” he asked as I gulped
more punch.
“Ali said rum and fruit juice,” I answered, slurring a little.
“Try rum, fruit liqueurs and minimal fruit juice.”
I was confused. I felt buzzed
.
“There’s
less fruit in your drink than in this.” Danny indicated the lime in his beer.
Well, it tastes good
,” I laughed, and I finished it off. Danny rolled his eyes.
“There goes my designated driver,” he groaned.
I leaned into Danny. His shoulder supported my tipsy weight.
“I feel great,” I slurred while smiling dreamily up at him.
“I’m sure you do, baby.” Danny smiled with a twinkle in his eyes.
“
Elizabeth never got drunk when we were at Archer. Does she do this often now?” Emma asked Danny.
“Only when I have
a special evening planned,” Danny answered.
“You have something special planned?” I gushed.
“We were going to the beach,” Danny reminded me.
I sighed. “I love the beach.
Let’s dance.” I grabbed Danny’s hand to lead him to the pool deck where everyone was dancing.
“Later, ladies” he said to Steff and Emma
and bowed.
Danny’s strong grip kept me from falling as I stumbled to the patio.
I kept my hands clasped around his neck and his hands held my hips while we danced. My legs felt like Jell-O as I tried to keep up with the fast-moving music.
“This is awesome!”
I exclaimed and I gave Danny a very affectionate kiss.
“You are a m
ost delightful drunk, Elizabeth.” Danny smirked.
“Danny!” A man’s voice called.
Danny abruptly broke apart from me and I teetered for a moment before regaining my equilibrium.
“Bobby! Hey, how are you?”
Danny embraced his friend, clapping his shoulders.
“Jason!” he greeted the second guy. “I can’t believe how long it’s been.” Danny and Jason embraced. “Where’s Zac?” Danny asked, referring to the fourth member of their tight-knit group who had met in Kindergarten at Crossroads School
“He’s in Europe with Gibby,” Bobby answered.
“Damn! We leave for Aspen on Tuesday. I wanted to catch up with him.”
“We?” Bobby asked.
“You remember, Elizabeth Jacobs.”
Jason and Bobby gave me the once over and exchanged curious glances.
“No,” Jason answered while Bobby nodded his agreement.
“You don’t?” Danny was surprised.
“Danny and I are going to Aspen,” I giggled.
“Is she related to that Leelee Jacobs who used to hang around you?” Bobby asked. I giggled at his ignorance.
Before Danny could answer, Jason added, “She was that kid who followed you around like a poodle. Even looked like one with all that frizzy hair.”
“I remember,” Bobby exclaimed. “Skinny little thing with glasses.”
“Shame she didn’t look like her mother,” Jason added.
“Miranda Jordan. Now that’s one hot babe,” Bobby smirked.
I crinkled my face in confusion. Mom was not a hot babe! She was Mom. I wanted to protest, but my mouth felt glued shut.
“I’ll let her know she’s the object of your wet dreams,” Danny laughed. “Miranda will love that.”
Danny wrapped his arms around me from behind. This was so weird, and he knew it. “Uh, guys, Leelee Jacobs has grown up since you last saw her. And she’s called Elizabeth now.”
I giggled at Danny’s cryptic response as he pointed at me.
Their jaws dropped. Jason was speechless.
“But she’s beautiful!” Bobby stammered.
“And she’s mine,” Danny gloated. “So put your tongues back in your mouths. We’ll catch you later. My lady wants to dance.”
I smiled as Danny led me back to the pool deck.
“I hate when people call me Leelee,” I complained. Then I
wrapped my arms around his neck and Danny kissed my forehead.
“I’m really hot,” I whispered.
“I know,” he smiled. I giggled at the double entendre.
“I mean I’m thirsty.”
“That wasn’t so obvious, baby. I’ll get you a drink.”
Danny took my hand and led me
off the dance floor. Ali approached carrying drinks on a small tray. “Want one?” she asked. Danny reached for a Corona while I took the last cup of punch and quickly gulped down half.
“No more, Elizabeth,” Danny said sternly and
he grabbed the cup.
“T
his punch is so good,” I exclaimed.
“What’s the matter, Dan
?” Ali said emphasizing the diminutive name. “Can’t Elizabeth have a drink?”
“Cut the crap, Ali,” Danny
replied.
“You and Leelee, who’d have thought? My sources were wrong then.”
“What sources?” Danny asked.
“I have friends at Donnelly,” she snapped.
“You have friends?” I giggled.
Danny gripped my shoulder. Ali snarled.
Ignoring me she sneered, “Everyone assumed she was one of your flings.”
Ali’s venom sobered me.
“Ali, you don’t know squat.” Danny said angrily. He protectively reached for my hand. “Is that why you didn’t invite Elizabeth? You wanted on that list?”
“No,” Ali
quivered. “I thought you’d see what you were missing and…”