Page 67 of 7 Miles High
“Hi!’ she answers, waving to the head of the makeup department dancing toward us.
The last three weeks have been an education for me. Natalie has a way about her that kind of charms people. And when I’m watching, undetected, it charms me too. Men, women, like her in equal measure. She’s made friends with half the crew and I know at least two of the actors asked for her business card.
“I’m going to miss seeing you every day,” Natalie says.
The women hug it out and you’d think they were old friends about to part for the first time. Jenna looks so different in full makeup, which I haven’t seen her wear. Funny because that’s her thing.
She starts dancing with us and it doesn’t take long before the people around us are watching. Not because our skills stand out, but because Jenna makes Elaine fromSeinfeldlook like she wonSo YouThink You Can Dance?It’s brutal. And funny.
It’s weird how bad dancers are rarely aware of their affect. They think they’re good at it in fact. Natalie back away to let her “shine”. Also to distance ourselves from the shitshow. The crowd automatically makes a circle around her gyrations.
“Want to sit this one out?”
The music is loud, but Natalie’s nod and stifled laugh agrees with my take on the scene. We move through the people and take our seats at table thirteen. Only a few seconds pass before I feel someone walk up.
“Hey! Save me a dance!”
When I look back I see Nia. Drunk Nia. Shit.
“Could I borrow your boyfriend for just one dance? Come on.”
“That’s totally up to Parker,” Natalie says coolly.
I make a quick decision. “No thanks, Nia. Please respect my girlfriend. Okay? Why don’t you go ask that grip? He’s good.”
I point to the young guy moving smoothly to the rhythm of the song. But instead of dropping the subject, she doubles down.
“You asshole! Come on. I don’t want to fuck you, I just want to dance.”
The strange thing is I believe her. She loves to dance and we did it often. But all that doesn’t matter to the woman sitting to my right. The one staring daggers.
“Alright. I’m not going to beg,” she says as she walks away slightly off balance.
I look at Natalie. “I can’t control her.”
“Apparently.”
This is understandable, and I’ve got to realize she’s just being introduced to my world. But at some point I need to see she trusts what I say and who I am. We both need to be patient I guess. I take her hand and kiss it.
“Hey, man. I wanted to say goodbye to you and your lady.”
Finn comes behind us and rests his hands on our shoulders.
“You leaving already?”
“I don’t give a shit about wrap parties. Besides, I’ve got a pregnant wife at home and that’s where I want to be. I’m flying out tonight.”
“It was real. Thanks for suggesting me to Steven. I appreciate it.”
“No problem. Let’s have lunch when you get back. And it was a pleasure meeting you, Natalie. I want you to meet Esme. I know you’d hit it off.”
“You too, Finn. And yes, I’d love to meet her. Good luck with the new baby.”
“It’s number two for us, so we’ve got some experience.”
After he leaves we mostly stay at the table, talking with cast and crew members who stop by. The tension passed, and the minor blip on the radar quieted.
It’s fun watching my parents doing the twist next to Bliss and Steven. A dance made popular over a half century ago still has legs. You put it on at a party and everybody wants to get on the dance floor.
