Lurking In The Moonlight

Chapter Nine: Night Among The Rich And Famous

I made it to work with a few minutes to spare on Tuesday, my hair out of place and my clothes wrinkled from the night before. People who never gave me a second look, stared at me and I could heard them whisper about my appearance. The children didn't care what I looked like, they cared that I was there and happy to see them. On my way to work, I dropped the invites at the post office and picked up 10 packs of crayons and colored paper with the little money I had left so they would at least have this much this money.

The day went on as normal, paper work and sitting with patients, avoiding people who whispered about one. One man, who I knew was from records asked if I had a weird night, not bothering to even change clothes. I ignored him, walked past as he snickered at me. It was odd. When you sit around and do your job right, no one notices, but the moment they think something is worth noticing, they jump on it like flies.

I finished the small details of the event, planning everything out to the finial detail of what color napkins we'd use. I spent my whole evening working in my office, working until 7 pm, when I decided to take my work with me to finish it. I packed up, locked my door and made my way out of the hospital. Once I was outside, I took a deep breath of the awful night air and quickly made my way home before it got any darker and the creeps came out.

I didn't stop until I was safely in my apartment building, letting out air I didn't know I was holding. I checked the mail, nothing but a few bills, then went up to my apartment, dropping everything on the floor as I shuffled in.

It was quiet in here, too quiet. There was no noise. I was completely alone. I heard the sounds of sirens outside in the street, but nothing in here. I missed being in Arthur's apartment. It was so much more livelier than this place. I found myself just plopping on the couch and just sitting there. I was unmotivated in doing work after spending all day and night doing it.

I slowly got up and got a cigarette out of the kitchen drawer and sat back down on the couch, lighting it as I got back. Taking a long drag, the feeling came back to me that I felt a few nights ago.

I was lonely once more.

~~~~~~~~~~

After a few nights of little to black out sleep, it was finally Friday. Thursday was payday and I went out a bought a crimson dress. It was sleeveless, long down to my feet, with a collar that brought the material over the front of my chest. It was very form fitting and professional and It made my figure look good. It was perfect and for once, I felt perfect in my life. I pulled my blonde hair a bit, curling the ends a bit with some cheap curler I bought on Clarence while out shopping. I put a bit of eye shadow and a light shade of lipstick on, giving myself on finally look over before heading out the door.

When I got to the venue, it was four o'clock, two hours before the big event. I spent those two hours going over schedules I worked on all week, fitting place setting and making sure everyone know where to be, when to be there, and what to do. The room looked beautiful, almost as if I didn't stretch everything in my power to pull this off. It was a quarter to 6 when people started to enter the hall.

I stood along side the usher, thanking people for coming and they barely aknowledged my presence or the fact I was even there. They were dressed in gowns worth more money than I made in a month, jewelry worth more than my whole life and noses so high in the air I could see that they, in fact, had no brain in their heads. I smiled anyways, letting the people continue to pass by me. It was 6:30 and the party was in full swing, people mingling among the crowd, laughing and having a 'good time', being so carefree. I felt rejection start to creep in as each person passed by me, none of being the one person I wanted to see more than any of these other people.

"Why so serious, beautiful?" I heard someone asked, as I turned to see Arthur, standing there was his hand in his pockets. He smiled so innocently as I took his is appearance. It was dressed in his red suit he had wore when he came over to my apartment for dinner, it looked even better on him now under these fancy lights. His hair was combed back and his face was freshly shaven, looking like a million dollars.

"Arthur." I said, smiling widely and I left my post, to pull Arthur into a tight hug. He stiffened at first, but slowly put his arms around me, returning the gesture. I broke off the hug, grabbing Arthur by the hand and pulled him into the crowd of people, moving along the edge of the social gathering, not wanting to be in it completely yet. I grabbed two glasses of wine from of waiter as he past, handing one to Arthur. "You have no idea how happy I am to see you."

"Anything for you." He voice came out clear, but nervousness was laced in his words. I smiled and took a sip of the wine, making a face and stinking out my tongue.

"What I wouldn't give for a cup of coffee." I joked, making a silly face causing Arthur to giggle at me, feeling a bit relaxed. The music was that had been playing the whole time suddenly pierced Arthur's ears and he turned a looked almost star struck when he realized who they were.

"Is that-?"

"Don Ellis and his Jazz Orchestra from your favorite show, The Murray Franklin Show? why yes it is!" I said with excitement as Arthur took a minute to finally obverse the band in person. They had just ended a song, and began to play another one. Arthur threw back his glass of wine like a pro, before grabbing my wrist, placing it on a random table near us.

"Dance with me." He said, leaving no room for argument as I was dragged to the dance floor, where a crowd had formed. I placed my glass down as I pasted a table, when Arthur pulled me into his arm. One hand in mine and an arm around my waist, I let my hand rise to his shoulder as he lead us around the dancing floor. He was a great dancer.

"You're a really good dancer."

"I know." He said, cockily as he looked around the room. "You know who's not." He took my hand, and pointed out a fat man, who was clearly didn't have a clue how to dance to this kind of music, waving his body around like a greasy pig. "Him."

I laughed as we continued to spin around the room, laughing with each other and having a connection like I never felt before. People paid no mind to us and we didn't care. We were happy in our own world.

"Having a good time, Sandra?" I heard from behind me. My whole body froze, causing to stop and look confused as to why I stopped in the middle of the dance.

"Shit." I whispered, knowing who I would see as I slowly turned to confirm the voice that I haven't heard from in such a long time. There she stood, the woman who gave me life. Elaine Daniels.