Page 115 of Vicious Little Snakes
“That’s all you get. Now go brush your fucking teeth.”
I’m spun around, ass smacked, making me squeal as I look back.
“This is silk, Liam. You’ll wrinkle it.”
I don’t give a fuck about the silk. But I also refuse to melt into a puddle in front of him. Liam sticks his tongue out at me, walking backward before turning around and pointing at the closet as he walks by, yelling, “I love that room.”
My hand covers my mouth, watching him leave and wondering how I’ll survive if we actually make it this time. I’ve never tried on happiness. I always just coveted it on others.
But maybe this time…
* * *
Liam:Did you think of me today?
Me:No
Liam:Lies come with punishments.
“What’s with the smile? You’re doing a great impersonation of someone happy.”
Laura laughs at her own joke, immediately rendering it unfunny, as she flips through a magazine sitting on the couch in my room.
“Shocker,” I answer, tucking my phone away. “I am happy. Hurry, call Page Six.”
The look on her face is priceless; she’s staring at me dumbfounded, so I go back to the subject we were speaking of before Liam’s text came through.
“You were saying? Your interview.”
Her eyes search my face, the lightbulb finally going off.
“Oh yeah, I don’t think I’m getting a ticket. From what my mom says, they go out right after the New Year. But it’s worthless to be hopeful. My mother wasn’t chosen when she was my age, and honestly, I’m not relevant like you.”
Her choice of words assaults my senses. Relevant? I’m staring at her, watching as she eats one of the cookies she brought over.
Perspective and irony are friends with benefits. Sometimes you get fucked, and other times you’re reminded about the things right in front of your face.
I spend all my time repeating back to myself that I’m irrelevant or an imposter in this world of ours. But to someone who really is a void in these social circles, like Laura, my life is enviable. I’m getting perspective fucked, and ironically, by someone I’d never touch.
“I had to apply, too,” I offer as a consolation.
“That’s just a formality—because you’re not a legacy. But Caroline, you’ve always been a shoo-in. I just went along with what you were saying because you seemed to believe that you weren’t. And I’ve learned my lesson on disagreeing with you.”
I don’t answer. Instead, I take a black and white cookie, pondering what else she’s just gone along with. I’m not stupid, I know our “friendship” is transactional, but I’d thought that she was at least partially honest. I take a bite, chewing before I speak.
“I have a plus one for the New Year’s Eve party at the Campbell. Kai’s mom is hosting. It’s a who’s who of celebrity twats, coupled with New York socialite whores. A real orgy of importance.”
She’s staring at me, not connecting the dots.
“If you want the ticket, it’s yours. Consider it a gateway to relevance.”
Laura bounces in her seat, rushing me like she’s going to hug me, but I hold up my hand.
“I do one nice thing a year. It hadn’t been used, so—don’t make me regret being nice to you.”
She nods in rapid succession, scooting back into her seat as I turn away, taking another bite of my cookie and swiping the message open again on my phone.
Me:Stop threatening me with a good time, xx
