a work of art

chapter 14: jealousy

When we got back to the green room, there were a bunch of people there. Music was playing somewhere, and Billie was right in the middle of it, talking to a few girls.

I gave Claudia a puzzled look. "What? Who?"

She laughed. "It's New York. Industry people who wanna schmooze your girl."

That made sense. I had some schmoozing to do to her tonight myself.

Claudia spotted Finneas and headed for him, pulling on my wrist.

"It's okay," I smiled. "I'll head her way."

"Be careful out there," she grinned, with a little wave. Claudia had been in these kinds of crowds for a long time. I was sure she had some good stories to tell.

I began trying to gently elbow my way through the small crowd toward Billie. Everyone I slid past turned to look at me with an expression like I did not belong there.

I was fully aware that I really didn't.

Finally, I made my way to where she was standing. I touched her elbow and she turned. When she saw me she beamed. To my surprise, she slid one arm around my waist intimately and pulled me into the small group she was with.

One girl was tall, dark haired, bored. She barely glanced at me.

The other woman was about Billie and my height, and very... willowy. She was slender and fair, with long, brown wavy hair that was sort of a mess, despite half of it being pulled up. She had on a fitted tank top and a silky slip skirt, with big black boots. She seemed bored, too. She was mildly pretty.

"Claire, this is Lucy," Billie was still beaming at me while she introduced me to the willowy girl. "Luce, this is my friend, Claire Cottrill."

Hmm. I knew that name. How did I know that name?

"Nice to meet you," I said, feeling awkward.

The girl, Claire, was giving me a bit of an inspection. Her gaze seemed to linger on where Billie's hand had landed on my waist. Her expression showed a combination of interest and... dislike? She gave me a halfhearted smile, then turned her body back toward Billie.

She liked her, and it seemed like my showing up had thrown a wrench in her plans. I looked away, unbothered.

The room was hot and I was becoming irritable already. Crowds and parties really weren't my thing, and I felt a bit sprung upon. Billie was back to chatting with the girls, but was soon interrupted by a few rappers who all wanted hugs. She let go of my waist.

I didn't know anyone there other than her. Claudia and Finneas were snuggled up in a corner chatting with more people I didn't know. Claire, whom I'd only just met, had turned away to talk to someone else.

I looked awkwardly around while Billie caught up loudly with the rappers, and when I turned back, Claire was looking at me again.

I met her gaze. Her eyes slid away, but I kept looking, nosy person that I was.

She was prettier than I'd originally given her credit for. She didn't have the type of beauty someone might see right away. A man certainly wouldn't. But a woman knows how to look for beauty in other women.

She had flushed cheeks and very little makeup on. Her mouth was bare, but for a little bit of shiny chapstick. She played with a thin, silver chain around her neck, her nails chewed to stubs, the polish chipped. Her hair was a messy brown mop, her bangs heavy over her face.

Her bored friend said something that must've been slightly funny, because one corner of her mouth pulled up in a sarcastic smile. She brought the chain around her neck to her mouth, tapping a tiny charm I hadn't noticed against her tooth. Her lips were full, and soft.