Her brother, the one who was here and who she knew loved her, dropped his head onto her shoulder. She felt her shirt get wet.
“Matthew,” she said, calm now. “Matty, please do not cry.”
“I think,” he replied with his head still down, “I think we need to make our own hinges now.”
She thought. “Yes. I believe you are right.”
Together they stayed on the floor of her room, both recovering.
Celeste was drained. “I’m sorry I hurt you. I’m sorry that I wrecked everything for you and Julie.”
“You didn’t. I wish you hadn’t heard what I said in San Diego. It wasn’t you, Celeste, it was me. I’m the one who screwed it all up. I used you as an excuse not to go with Julie to California because… I don’t know… because…”
“Because you were afraid it would not last,” she finished. “That she couldn’t possibly love you as much as you loved her.”
“Yeah.”
“But you stayed with me to keep me safe.”
“There’s something wrong with me. It was a horrible thing to put on you. I didn’t mean to.”
She closed her eyes and listened to her own breathing. “You did a wonderful thing for me, Matty, because you were right. I did need you. Very much.” She touched his arm. “I don’t know what would have happened to me if you had left, and that’s the truth.”
“You are much stronger than you think, and you would have found a way to make things work. You always do. Sometimes it’s a little… different…” He ran a hand though the Flat Finn remnants. “But you make it work.”
She couldn’t help but laugh a bit. “So now we need to find hinges for you.”
“And for you.”
“You first. You do still love Julie, do you not? I was right about that.”
Matt sighed. “Yeah. Yeah, I still love Julie. She’s moving to London. This summer. It’s part of the foreign-study travel program at the college where she works. She’s going to be in charge of settling students into campus life, acting as the head rep for the college. I didn’t hear the details of it, but it sounds like a big deal. I don’t think I got the chance to tell you that because of the whole shunning-your-brother thing.”
“I feel terrible about that. About many things. Tell me, Matt, how did your conversation end with her?”
“Oh, I don’t know. It didn’t really go anywhere but in circles. We left soon after you did.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I made this mess, not you.” Matt blew out a chest full of air. “And it hurts like a bitch.”
“I am allowing your use of exceptionally bad language because you and I have faced extraordinary circumstances today, and therefore those sorts of words are appropriate. They capture the strength of our difficulties. And I, too, know that it hurts like that word.”
“I know you do. You’re not talking to Justin, I gather?”
“You gather correctly.” There were tears again, silent this time, and she let them fall. It was nice to finally feel again. She needed that. “Why did you send in the Barton application on my behalf? Was it because you felt that you could pass me off safely into Justin’s hands? Then you would be able to move on?”
“What? No, not at all. You have it all wrong. It didn’t have anything to do with Justin, actually.”
“I am confused.”
“I just thought that… you might like it better at a school where the academic pressure was less strong.”
“Because you do not have confidence that I could keep up?”
“Again, you have it all wrong. Celeste, we all know that you could take those schools by storm, but even for you, it would still be a massive amount of work. And I know you well enough to know you just might take that opportunity to do only that. You’d drown in schoolwork, and there would be nothing else. I think that at a place like Barton you could still get a great education, and you’d know how to push the limits and get all you could out of it, but… I don’t know how to explain it.”
“I think I do. It is your belief that I would then have time for my emotional and social health and development.”
“I think you could stand to give yourself a break. Who cares if you graduate from Yale, or Harvard, or Brown, or wherever if your life is missing important pieces? You could have so many more pieces. Do you get what I’m saying?”
“So your intention was not to pawn off your crazy sister on someone else?”
He hugged her and chuckled. “You’re not crazy. I mean, you made Flat Finn confetti, but that’s okay. Everyone likes confetti.”
“That was quite the outburst I had. And rather embarrassing. I will confess, though, that I feel better after doing so. This needed to happen.” She surveyed the scene before them.“ Although now we find ourselves in a rather extraordinary mess.”
“Sometimes you have to make a mess.”
“And then you clean it up,” she said confidently. “You simply clean it up.”
“I don’t know where to begin.”
“We have cleaned up our relationship. That is a significant start. I love you, Matt. You are an extraordinary big brother.”
“I love you, too. Just don’t ever turn me into confetti.”
“I promise.” Her body relaxed, and her mind eased a bit. And in that state, as the world came back into focus, an idea dawned on her. A question. She lifted from her slumped position in Matt’s arms. Celeste began to brighten, just a touch. “Matthew Watkins,” she said with surprise as an understanding began to seep into her soul.
“What? Why are you looking at me like that?”
“You had been saving your money…” she began.
“I am a big ol’ cheapskate as you so kindly pointed out during what I remember of our cab ride to the airport.”
“No,” she said emphatically. “No, you are not. Not when it matters. I know you, and I know what you were squirreling away for.” Matt looked decidedly uncomfortable, so she knew she was right. And now she had something to be happy about. “I know what you were saving money for.”
“You do, do you?” He pursed his lips, but she could tell that the thought lifted his spirits.
“You have your hinges, don’t you? You just have to use them. Or it, rather. You have one giant hinge! Matthew!” She was giddy now.
He stared at her. She could see a glint in his eye, but he said, “No. That’s insane.”
“It’s not. It’s perfect. It’s the perfect hinge. This is stupendously exciting!”
He started and stopped a few times. “No… It’s too… I couldn’t possibly… Celeste, that’s too risky.” Then he rocked his head from side to side a few times, mulling it over and then finally letting himself smile. “You think?”
“I do.”
Matt looked down, brushed away a bit of Confetti Finn, and then groaned. “I don’t know…” Eventually he looked her in the eyes. “I’m scared to death.”
“I know.”
“And I should do it anyway?”
“Yes, Matt. It’s your moment to fight. To win this war. And I will help you.”
LEVELING UP
THE ANDAZ HOTEL in West Hollywood was suiting Celeste surprisingly well. It was eclectic and historic—so that part easily matched up with who she was—but she even quite liked the rock-and-roll art that hung on the walls. And West Hollywood was undeniably full of characters. Yes, it was showy and she could hardly count the number of spray-tanned bodies that had paraded past her in shocking outfits today, but the truth was that the people were actually quite friendly.
Which was good, because it was giving her the confidence she needed to approach strangers to assist in the plan.
The hotel lounge was buzzing this Friday afternoon, so she had plenty of potential people to target. The ceilings were nice and high, and that helped ease the claustrophobic feeling that her nervousness was bringing on. Celeste took a sip of her ginger ale and then hopped from the bar stool and smoothed down her navy dress. She had to get moving. An hour better be
enough time. She picked up the stack of poster board sheets that were leaning against the stool and tossed her hair back. She could do this.
The couple at the corner table looked friendly enough, although Celeste was hesitant to judge based on looks alone. A young man with long dreadlocks and a sleek, stylish suit sat with a woman whose hearty laugh had been echoing through the room for the past ten minutes. So at least one of them was in a jovial mood. Next to them were two Austalian women, and Celeste had been delighting in their accents since she’d first entered the lounge. She would start with this section of the room.
But her phone rang. “Dallas!”
“Hi! How’s the plan moving along?”
“I am glad you called. I am zeroing in on my first set of candidates. Do you have words of support?”
“Kick. Ass.”
“I do believe you have captured the spirit needed for this endeavor,” Celeste said. “Dallas?”
“Yeah?”
“I apologize again for my sour attitude this past month. You have been patient with me, and you stuck by me when most wouldn’t have. Thank you.”
“We’re friends. Friends go through rough stuff, and they come out better friends.”
“I like that sentiment very much.” Celeste smiled. “Send my greetings to Zeke, and I will report in with the results of today’s event.”
“Check ya’ later, kid. Good luck!”
The poster board sheets were rather awkward to carry, but she did her best to look self-assured. Amusingly ironic, she thought, that she’d just rid herself of one cardboard item only to replace it with this stack. These cardboard pieces were for the future, though, not the past.
Her heels clicked across the wood floor, alerting the hotel guests to her approach. She cleared her throat. “Good afternoon. My apologies for disturbing your evening, but I am in need of cohorts who might wish to join me in a clandestine caper of the most fun sort.”
“A caper!” The woman with the laugh clapped her hands together. “I’m intrigued!”
The man elbowed her. “By ‘intrigued’ she means ‘tipsy.’”
“So then perhaps she’ll be inclined to help?” Celeste asked with hope.
“What sort of caper?” The brunette Australian asked. “Is it illegal?”
“No, no. Nothing like that,” Celeste promised. “It is more of the… fairy tale sort.”
Her girlfriend scooted in closer. “Like Rapunzel?”
“There will be height involved, so you could say that.”
“Well, grab yourself a seat, and do tell us all about this fairytale caper.”
“Oh. Really? Thank you.” She glanced out at bustling Sunset Boulevard. Sunset Boulevard! How could one not be inspired to go after one’s dreams? It was then, as she looked at the wild chaos of honking cars, flamboyant locals, flashing billboard signs, and nightclubs, that she knew the plan was going to work out. Celeste sat on a bench between the two tables. “I will need to gather more volunteers for this to play out perfectly, but here is the story. It all started many years ago…” She detailed the best parts of what she felt to be a true epic saga, thanked her now-enthusiastic assistants, and with their help, found the necessary additional people.
At precisely two o’clock, she moved to the front lobby and took a seat on one of the leather loveseats—very much a fitting place to wait. She crossed her legs and watched her ankle bounce up and down. The minutes ticked by. Celeste frowned and clapped her hand down on her knee. It took a few deep breaths to calm her nerves.
But then the person she was waiting for appeared. The plan was now fully in motion.
She leapt from the cushion. “Julie! You made it!”
Julie was in red heels and a black sheath dress, looking glamorous with her hair and make-up done and a wide silver bracelet around her wrist. She rushed over and embraced Celeste. “You weren’t kidding when you said to get dressed up, were you? Check you out, all glammed up for Los Angeles!”
“And you look stunning, as well. I am so glad you agreed to meet me while I’m here looking at UCLA. After that terrible visit in San Diego, I am pleased to the utmost degree that you are willing to show me around town and allow me to take you dinner.”
Julie squeezed her hard. “I’m so sorry about that day, Celeste. I feel just awful. About so much.” She sat down and patted the spot next to her. “Tell me how the college trip is going. Where are Roger and Erin?”
“Oh, my parents wanted to give us a night alone. You know, just us girls!” Celeste sang out too loudly. “You and me, hitting the town,such as it may be!”
“Well, okay, then…” Julie said with a somewhat worried look on her face. “Should we get going? Where are we eating? I don’t know why you didn’t let me make reservations. I live here after all, silly.”
“I just had a particular spot in mind, and it was fun for me to browse online through all that this city has to offer. Did you know about something called Yelp? Quite useful, that site.”
She laughed. “I do know about Yelp.”
“Do they have Yelp for London?” Celeste asked pointedly.
“Ah. You heard.”
“I think it is wonderful for you.”
Julie paused. “Matt told you.”
“Matt told me a lot of things. Anyhow… I would very much like to show you my room here at the quirky and unique Andaz before we depart. Shall we?”
“Oh. I guess so.” Julie followed Celeste out of the lobby, past the front doors, and to the area in front of the elevators.
Celeste hit the button and looked at the floor numbers as they lit up, as the elevator came to the lobby. She stared straight ahead. “Elevators are always so interesting, are they not?”
“I’m sorry, what?”
“One never knows who one might encounter, what wild adventures might happen.”
Julie bit her lip and looked down, pretending to examine her shoes.
“Huh.” Celeste touched a hand to her cheek. “I do believe that you and Matt had a rather unusual elevator experience, did you not? When you were trapped in a broken one and having a bit of a panic attack. He was pretending to be Finn, for whom you had feelings, and I do believe there was a rather titillating message exchange.”
“Oh God, Celeste. He told you about that?”
“Yes. I gather a thinly veiled skydiving metaphor was used to in an effort to conceal an intense romantic and sexual attraction?”
“Celeste!” But Julie could not help laughing as she pushed the elevator button again. “Come on, come on….”
“How does one begin a conversation like that? Just out of curiosity.”
“Technically, it was two messaging sessions. One then, one a few months later.” Her face sobered a bit now. “But I don’t know how it started… I don’t remember. It was ages ago. It doesn’t matter.”
“You must remember something,” Celeste prompted softly. “A back-and-forth series of progressively heated prose, the outpouring and confessing of love? Those cannot be easily lost, no matter when they took place.”
Julie allowed the hint of a smile to touch her lips. “I was scared. In the elevator, I was scared. Matt tried to reassure me. Distract me. Make me feel safe.”
“And did he?”
“Yes. He asked… “ Julie took a breath and then her eyes focused from the memory. “He asked if I’d forgotten that he was a superhero.”
“How fascinating. Well, that situation is all dead and buried now, isn’t it? And lucky for you, you won’t have to see Matthew ever again. I know how you are thoroughly finished with all of that nonsense. Delightful! Our elevator has arrived.” Celeste gestured for Julie to go ahead and then followed. Celeste swiped her room key to activate the elevator and then punched a bunch of floor level buttons. “There. Look at all those pretty lights. Like a Christmas tree.”
“What the hell, Celeste? Why are we stopping on so many floors?”
“Because this is a wonderful hotel, and we must appreciate what it is that va
rious floors have to offer.”
Julie was sullen as they rode to the third floor. “You know, I never said that I couldn’t stand ever to see Matt again,” she said without hiding her irritation.
“Whatever. Cool beans and all.” When the doors opened, she pushed the button to hold them there.
Julie started to step off the elevator, but stopped sharply when she was blocked by the brunette Australian girl who stood in front of her on the landing. In her hands she held up one of the cardboard poster signs that Celeste had given her.
It took Julie a moment. Then she stepped back, wobbly on her feet, catching her balance on the rail. She was visibly shaking.
“Read it,” Celeste encouraged. “Read aloud what the sign says.”
The shock poured from Julie’s entire being. She looked at Celeste with such confusion and wonder that Celeste had to nod and again tell her to read it.
“It says,” Julie started. But she had to stop and close her eyes for a moment before she continued. Even then, her voice broke. “It says, Have you forgotten that I am a superhero?”
Celeste nodded to her sign holder and then pushed the button to close the doors.
“What is happening?” Julie whispered more to herself, it seemed, than to Celeste.
They rode to the next floor. And when the doors parted, another helper was there with a sign. This time the man with the dreadlocks, and enthusiasm for his part in this had him struggling to stay still. Celeste widened her eyes at him, and he settled down.
Julie read the words printed on the poster board. “Tell me that you trust me.” They rode to another floor, and Julie reached a hand out to Celeste for support.
Celeste could barely take her eyes from her friend, but she had to focus on her role as director of this show.
The doors opened again, and Celeste held her finger on the open button.
Now Julie’s eyes were wet as she read another quote from the messaging session that may have left her head, but never her heart. “As much as you’re terrified right now, you’re also starting to feel the rush. The thrill from being on the brink.”
Another floor, another sign. “I want to feel like this forever, lost in this experience.”