Jillian Dodd - Hate Me

I scan the silver polishes, choosing one that is a soft color but also has an iridescent shimmer to it. “This one.”

“Oh, I like that. My shoes are silver, too.”

We get situated and soak our feet in the warm water.

I turn the massage chair on, lean my head back, and close my eyes.

This feels so good.

“Do you want something to read?” Peyton asks, tossing a paper into my lap before I can respond.

I’m about to throw it back at her when I see a headline at the top with Mom’s photo underneath.

I quickly open the paper to the Entertainment section and scan the article.

The headline reads, Crowds Line Up To See To Maddie, With Love.

I scan the article.

“This is the kind of rare movie that both critics and fans alike will be raving about,” movie critic Tim Steward proclaims.

Fans outside the packed midnight showings were excited to see if Mr. Steward was right. We did our own poll among those exiting the theater, and fans had a lot to say about this film and how Maddie’s story touched them.

“Abby Johnston’s movies usually make me laugh and fall in love,” local resident Alice Truluck said. “This movie made me cry, physically ache, and feel completely uncomfortable. But it still made me fall in love. This is an amazing story of redemption. Abby has to win an Academy award for this.”

Rumors are flying as to why Abby hasn’t attended any of the premieres held around the world this week. Also notably absent from Abby’s life is her long-time beau, Tommy Stevens. Inside sources say a split is imminent.

There’s a photo of Tommy and Bad Kiki getting on a private plane with the caption, He’s moving and taking the dog with him!

Abby left earlier than planned from Vancouver where the movie she and Tommy were filming together has wrapped. Tommy’s publicist said in a statement: “Abby and their adorable children plan to join Tommy in New York, where he will be filming the third movie in the blockbuster Trinity series.”

But a day earlier, Abby’s publicist contradicted that statement. “Like many on the Vancouver movie set, Abby has come down with the flu and won’t be attending the premieres.” And, when pressed further about the health of the couple’s relationship: “Abby will not accompany Tommy to New York. She’s taking some time away from the movie industry.”

Those of us who have seen the frightening photos of a too-skinny Abby hope she’s planning on eating during her break.

“I got accepted to Brown yesterday,” Whitney says happily, causing me to stop reading. “Did you get a letter, Peyton?”

“No, not yet,” she says. “But I don’t care. I applied to some more schools this week.”

Whitney looks surprised by this. “You did? I thought we were going somewhere together? We’ve talked about it since freshman year. We go to the same college. Join the same sorority. Party it up.”

“Yeah, well, I’m not sure the East coast is where I want to be.”

“Where else could you possibly want to go?” Whitney says in a snide voice. Like anything other than an Ivy League college would be unacceptable.

“I applied to a few California schools. I’d like to be closer to home.”

“California? Seriously? I’d hate to live in California. All that blonde hair and sunshine would piss me off.”

I purse my lips in defense of my favorite state and am just about to say something when Whitney turns to me. “No offense.”

“I love the feel of the sun shining on my face,” Peyton says, dreamily. “And I’d like to trade my car in for a convertible. Drive around with the top down all the time. Never have to deal with the snow again.” Peyton sighs. Then she tosses a magazine toward me. This one is rolled open to a certain page.

I flip it over and see a photo of Damian and Troy coming out of a club with a chesty blonde in a tight dress who’s hanging onto Damian’s arm. Could this unidentified blonde be the girl to finally snag Damian Moran, the son of mega-hit director, Matt Moran, and lead singer for the band Twisted Dreams, whose studio was mobbed by tweens earlier this week?

I take my phone out and text her, not wanting to say anything in front of Whitney.

Me: She’s with Troy.

Peyton: I know. I was just showing you the pic.

Me: California, huh?

Peyton: Yes!! We talked about it in St. Croix. I’m so happy!! Stop texting me though. I don’t want Whitney to get suspicious.

“Which colleges did you apply to in California, Peyton?” I ask.

“Pepperdine, USC, UCLA, and Stanford, but I’m leaning toward Pepperdine,” she says with a big smile. “It’s right across from the beach. How awesome would that be?”

“It sounds amazing. They’re all good schools.”

“Stanford is pretty good,” Whitney says. “But it’s the only one I would consider. I’m setting my sights a little higher. Shark already got accepted to Yale. That’s where I’m planning to go as well. Just waiting to hear from them. Then I’ll make my big announcement.”

“What big announcement?”

“Of where I’m going to college,” she says in a tone that is supposed to make me feel stupid for asking.

“How will you announce it?”

She gives me a wide smile. “Well, most people just tell their friends. I was thinking of something a little more grand. Like at Winter Formal.”

“Cool,” Peyton says. “I’m sure the school is on pins and needles waiting to hear your choice.”

“I know I am,” I say quickly, hoping to distract from Peyton’s snotty comment. “How cool to announce it at Winter Formal.”

Peyton rolls her eyes at me while Whitney favors me with a wide smile. “Thank you. I thought it would be very cool, too. And Shark is dying for me to reveal my choice, so it will be fun for him.”

“That’s a really cute way to tell him,” I say.

Most romantic city.

11:40am

When we get back to school, we find that most of the students are out of class, helping their various clubs or dorms.

I’m not really sure if Whitney is trustworthy, but she has been really nice to me, and all of us being friends seems to make Peyton happy, even though I’m not totally convinced that she wants to be friends with Whitney anyway.

And, since it’s my fault she can’t tell anyone about Damian, I figure it’s the least I can do.

Whitney has a long list of things we actually do have to check on for the weekend.

“ Top of the Eiffel Tower, Sunset is going to be even better than Greek weekend!” she exclaims as we tour the campus.

“Let’s go check on the awnings,” Peyton says.

We walk to the front of the social center and watch as an alumni-owned rental company adds pink and black striped awnings to the outside of the building and sets up black iron bistro tables and chairs. They’ve even brought in portable heaters to make sitting outside more comfortable.

“Wow!” I exclaim. “It looks so good! Everyone will love it!”

“You fit right in, too. I love your outfit,” Whitney compliments me.

I love my outfit today, too. In honor of French weekend, I have on Louboutin black fringed ankle boots and am carrying their black spiked tote bag. I’m wearing an Alice + Olivia black leather box pleat skirt, pale gray knee-high socks with kitten faces on them, and a white fleece pullover with Magnifique! scrawled across the front.

“Thanks, Whitney. It’s too bad we couldn’t import some French shopping. Chanel. Dior. Lacroix. Gaultier, Louboutin, Chloe, Laurent. All lined up in a row.”

“That would be amazing. Maybe instead of going to the beach and partying with boring frat boys, the three of us should go to Paris for Spring Break and do nothing but eat croissants, drink café crème , and shop the boutiques and Parisian flea markets,” Whitney suggests.