The Crescent

Chapter 20

Already fifteen minutes late, Zacari and Lela left the room in a hurry to meet Javier. She'd only let her father know her whereabouts for the day because her mother had called her and told she had to, but she was still exercising her right to give the silent treatment. She tried not to dwell on it. There was an adventure and breakfast with a cute-ish boy waiting for her.

She pushed through the doors to The Crystal Ballroom. Chandeliers suspended from the impossibly high ceilings reminding her of Gloria, and post-storm sun spilled through the tall, open windows and bleached the little black and white dressed tables. Waiters and waitresses weaved through the tables with pots of sugared tea and pitchers of ice water. And the smell of food - Zacari inhaled deeply – was mouthwatering.

She spotted Javier at a round two-seater table in the corner of the ballroom. He waved her over. 

"You look nice," he said as she slid into her seat.

Zacari appreciated it and thanked him, but she adamantly disagreed. Before she'd left her room she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Her hair was flat, her skin was burnt, there were dark circles under her eyes, and in a rush she'd thrown on a ratty but beloved Hamilton T-shirt, something she usually only slept in.

He pointed at her shirt. "I love Hamilton."

"You do?" she exclaimed in spite of herself.

"Yes! I've watched the bootleg at least ten times."

"Oh my gosh, same. I wish I could see the original cast."

"My friend, Xavier, did. He said seeing it live is a whole different thing." A mischievous smile spread across his face. "So, I looked up Handleton."

Zacari's stomach dropped. "Oh, cool – I mean, yeah, it's just a little thing I made for fun, you know."

"I thought it was hilarious. I'm definitely a fan now. I followed it on Instagram," he said, pulling out his phone for proof.

Her eyes widened. She hadn't even noticed. She'd been so caught up with Baker that she hadn't even made her daily post.

"Thanks." She pulled out her phone and followed him back, both embarrassed and proud. "You know, I really wasn't expecting it to blow up like it did. It was just a dumb little video I made to make my mom laugh."

Javier leaned forward on his elbows. "Are you going to keep going with it? Like make a career out of it?"

"I don't know, honestly. I've kind of been in a rut about think what to do next. Like, what's my thing?"

"Randomness? Comedy?"

"Maybe so," she shrugged. "Also, that thing you said earlier, you do too."

"Do what?"

"Look nice."

"Oh." Javier's ears turned beet red. "Thanks."

Thankfully at that moment, a waitress arrived and took their drink order. Zacari got water and Javier got Orange Soda.

"Don't tell my mom or she'll kill me," he smiled over the top of the menu. "Can I hold Lela?"

"Sure." Zacari was pleased he'd remembered her name. Lela was stiff-legged when Zacari passed her over, but within seconds her tail was wagging as Javier scratched the underside of her chin.

"How do you like The Crescent so far?"

"It's definitely a creepy hospital."

"Hotel, you mean?"

"That's what I said."

"You said hospital."

"Did I?" she shook her head. "Yeah, hotel."