Burnouts

Your Priceless Advice

Scene 1: The Helmsley Bar

Heather Blakely

"Another Bellini, please," Audrey orders.

"I'll have one too," I add, "and maybe a shot of vodka."

"...make that two...each," Audrey smirks at the bartender.

"We should slow down," I say half-heartedly, "we must be drinking to forget," I laugh to myself.

"Cheers to that," she says once we both get our glasses of Bellini.

"Mm," I take a sip of it, "cheers to not drinking alone."

She snickers, "I suppose I should thank you for being available then."

"I find it odd that you would need me considering who your roommate is," I tease.

"Trevor has no interest in conversation that doesn't include sexual innuendos and ego-stroking," Audrey rolls her eyes, "besides, Alison has him out grappling to be in her good graces again."

"How inconvenient," I say sarcastically.

"Really," she agrees, "can you believe Tony Milligan walked me to school? His jacket reeks of Christian Dior and maple syrup."

"Tony?" I say in surprise, "how did that happen?"

"I don't want to talk about it," she waved me off, "he's just so annoying...and weird...and obnoxious."

We don't really talk anymore, but, "He's a nice guy."

"Oh, please— you're only saying that because he's been nice to you despite your issue with Jace."

"There is no issue with Jace, and Tony is with Ethan Carey more than anyone else these days," I shrug nonchalantly, but Audrey took on a more concerned demeanor.

"He is," her eyes narrowed in thought, "what a couple of self-righteous assholes."

"Audrey," I said through laughter as a few people turned their heads at the sound of profanity.

"Why do we bother with them?" She asked rhetorically, "I want an epic romance like Princess Ann and Joe Bradley had in Roman Holiday, and that will never happen...here."

"When have you ever been interested in dating? Other than...with Ethan, but we don't have to talk about that."

"Don't fret, It's fine," she shakes her head, "Ethan is a great actor, he does really well at playing the charismatic guy. I fell for it...and him, but I wouldn't have if I didn't...crave the intimacy."

"What do you mean?" I tilt my head.

"You wouldn't understand how it feels to be me. I am on my own a lot, Heather, it's the only way to stay focused and get things done right. But— it's certainly not any fun watching as everyone around me holds hands and holds each other while I stand...alone," Audrey sighs heavily and shakes her head, "ehem," she clears her throat. "Maybe, I've had too much," she laughs it off.

"...no," I say softly, "I wish you would have told me this before."

"Why?" She scoffed, "what could you do? Even now that you've let your ex-boyfriend rebound before you, you still don't seem too heart wrenched."

"Well...I'm not," I admit, "I have a lot of things on my mind, and I'm feeling a mix of emotions— but none of that has anything to do with Jace."

"And yet, it's enough to make you drink," she challenges.

"Oh, yeah— definitely," I take my last shot.

Audrey laughs, "I've spilled my guts. It's your turn now."