Her Perfect Gift

I’m glad that he isn’t giving them anything about the pair of us too, because that is ours. Not theirs.

“There, done.” He leans down and kisses me. “Told you it was quick. Now it’s time to party.”

I don’t say anything, but I don’t think that Seth needs me to, because he starts walking us both inside the party room. I’m instantly struck by how fancy it is, much more than any party that I have ever been to before. It’s all purple and gold with waiters carrying flutes of champagne and tiny little appetizers that I don’t think anyone is eating. I thought that my dress was glamorous, but as I look around, I realize that I got the worst dresses sent to me. Not that any of them were bad, but they aren’t anything A list, that’s for sure.

“You want a drink?” Seth grabs two from a tray as the waiter walks by and gives me one. “It’s nice.”

I take a sip but I’m not sure how much I actually like it. I try my hardest not to make a face, but I don’t know if I succeed. It’s a weird bitter taste, I don’t know how everyone else can drink it with such ease. Still, I can’t take this as a sign that I don’t belong here, I need to keep giving it a try.

“Oh look! There are my co stars,” Seth tells me excitedly. “From the new movie that I’m working on. Come on, let me introduce you to everyone. You will love them all, honestly. Especially Winter, wh

o I’m going to be working closely with. She is a real sweetheart. The two of you will get on well.”

Oh God, I don’t know if I am ready to meet anyone. I don’t know if I am used to this room enough yet. But it doesn’t matter, Seth is off, and I don’t want to be left alone without him. It’s probably better for me to jump into the deep end with both feet anyway, to get used to the people here, make some friends because this isn’t just a vacation for me, this is about to become my real life, so I need to become a part of it. I need to embrace all of the people in Seth’s life, even if it scares the living shit out of me, because they are totally out of my league.

If Seth Bishop, the boy from next door can do it, then so can I.

Chapter Nineteen

Seth

December 31st

This party is amazing, one of the best that I have ever been to. Hollywood does party well, I have known that ever since I first moved out here, but there is something extra special about tonight. I can’t explain it, it’s like a buzzing underneath the surface. Perhaps it’s because I have had a time out and now, I’m back. It’s given me the opportunity to miss LA and appreciate what I have here. I do have it good.

“They have really went all out for this, haven’t they?” Winter laughs. “It’s pretty incredible. Last year they didn’t have all the canapes, did they? And I’m pretty sure that the drink wasn’t champagne.”

“You were here last year?” I gasp in shock. “I didn’t see you, and I’m sure that I wouldn’t have missed you.”

Winter Basel is undeniably striking looks wise. She has bright purple hair that can be seen from a mile off and pale gray eyes that seem to be shrouded in mystery. As soon as I saw a picture of her and learned that she will starring in the movie with me, I was pleased because I’m sure she will draw in a huge crowd, a new audience for me. I really want this movie to go well because it will lead to other similar projects in the future. That’s my dream, and since everything else has been going my way at the moment, it’s hard not to think it might happen.

“Oh, I was here but my hair was black then, so I looked totally different. I change how I look a lot.”

“Do you do that because of movie roles or for yourself?” I ask her curiously, because I haven’t ever been asked to do that. I guess that’s something that probably affects women more than men. I know that this world is still very different according to gender in a way that isn’t really fair, so that’s very possible.

“A bit of both.” She shrugs her shoulders. “Sometimes I need to, sometimes I want to. At least for this next movie, the purple will be fine for my character, so it’s going to stay.” She flickers her hair wildly. “I love it.”

“It is nice,” I admit. “And you’re right. After reading the script I think the color is perfect as well.”

We chat for a little while longer, both equally excited about our upcoming project, and I ask her a bit about what she has been in before. I really feel like me and Winter are going to have an awesome friendship out of this. Most people that I have worked with have been my friend during the project but not afterwards, but Winter is on a similar wavelength to me. I think that me and her will be good. I like that. I need LA friends. As much as I like it here, a lot of people are sharks, willing to throw anyone under the bus to make themselves more successful. If I could have someone on my side who isn’t, that would be incredible.

As another waiter passes me and I turn to grab what I think is about to be my forth drink, I suddenly realize that I have been talking about the new movie for such a long time that I haven’t seen Darcy for ages. I have had at least two drinks since she headed off to the bathroom which is strange. I hope that she hasn’t gotten herself lost somewhere. Or got talking to someone awful. My hope is that she’s off selling her makeup line, or making a new friend somewhere, but it could be bad. She could be stuck talking to some arrogant asshole and silently begging for me to come and save her. In my conversation I might have forgotten about her a little bit. But I need to make up for it now. I need to make sure that she’s okay.”

“I will catch up with you in a bit, Winter.” I shoot her a smile. I don’t know if she’s looking disappointed or not, but I can’t be here to make sure that she is okay as well. I have too much else to worry about and obviously Darcy comes first. “Enjoy the party, alright? Hopefully I will see you before the count down.”

I wave goodbye to her and begin circling the party. On the outside, I might look cool and calm, but on the inside, I’m freaking out. Where is Darcy? This might be a big party, but it isn’t massive. I should be able to find her no matter what happens. But there isn’t any sign of her at all. It’s like she’s vanished into thin air.

No way, don’t be crazy, I scold myself. She is here somewhere. Stop being stupid.

She went to the bathroom, that’s the last thing I remember, but that was a while ago now. She can’t possibly still be in there, can she? What if she’s crying or puking or something? Needing me more than I even anticipated. Shit, now I’m really starting to panic. And curse myself, because I shouldn’t have talked to Winter for such a long time, when she is clearly going through something bad. I feel terrible.

I head in the direction of the bathroom, wondering if I should grab Winter to ask her to check inside the bathroom for Darcy because I can’t exactly go in there. But not yet. If I can solve this by myself then I will. I have a funny feeling that Darcy needs me to be alone right now. If she has something that she wants to discuss in private, then Winter isn’t going to be helpful and they’ll both be awkward.

“Seth?” a strange, almost strangled voice grabs my attention. “Seth Bishop, is that you?”

“Erm…” I can immediately tell that this woman isn’t an invited guest. She isn’t in anything designer, and she has a bit of a bedraggled look about her. Press, she has to be. Those vultures find their way to get in any event, however amazing the security is, and it seems today they are after me. “What can I help you with?”

“You are Seth Bishop?” She grabs on to my arm which is very intrusive for someone I don’t know. I snatch back and glare at her. I don’t want to cause a scene because this isn’t uncommon, but it really isn’t the time or place. “Can I talk to you for a moment? I have wanted to talk to you for such a long time…”