Page 61 of Five

“I picked out the color scheme. I told Nancy that you like pastels. But pink?” She wrinkles her nose. “No pink. So I chose blue.”

I’m still smiling my fake smile. Trying to think of something clever and witty to say. Something Princess Rory would say.

Tera frowns. “You can redecorate if you don’t like it.”

“No!” I say. “No, no, no. I love it, Tera. Really, I do.” I hug her tight and enjoy her familiarity for a moment. “Thank you,” I say, still embracing her.

She pats my back and holds me an extra second before pushing me away to hold me at arm’s length. “Are you OK?” Her smile is gone now. Her face is nothing but the serious expression of a concerned friend. “I know what happened last June was… weird, but Rory, I’m your best friend. I’m here for you. You know that right?”

“I know.” I sigh, letting my sadness and disappointment through for a second. But then I ravel up those loose ends and paint on a bright smile. “Let’s just forget about this summer, OK? I just want to concentrate on what’s next, ya know?”

Tera nods her head, her smile back in place. “OK,” she says, tucking a stray piece of hair behind my ear in a tender gesture that makes me ache for her. We have been tight friends for years now.

“I’ve missed you,” I say, meaning it.

She make a pouty face. “It’s OK,” she says. “New year, new rules, new everything, right?”

I nod. “Right.”

“And we’re going out tonight—”

“No,” I say. God, not yet. I’m not ready.

But Tera stomps her foot. “Yes,” she insists. “We’re going out tonight. I know you don’t want to hear about the Hamptons, but I do have a few delicious details to fill you in on. One of which is my new man.”

Now this is interesting. So my ears perk up. “OK, I do want to know that.” I laugh. “Who is it?”

But Tera just hooks her arm in mine and walks me further into the room, kicking the door closed behind her. “You’re gonna have to show up tonight to find out. It’s secret,” she says. “Even to me. Did you talk to anyone else yet? About our secret party?”

“No. What kind of secret party?” I ask. “Is this the big Palladium House reveal?”

“I think so,” she says, dropping her voice into a low whisper. And then she shrugs and flops down on my new bed. “I’m not sure. But it’s by invitation only.”

“And we have to bring a date?” I ask.

“No,” Tera says “It’s our… pairing.”

What the fuck?

“Knock, knock?” Cliff is opening the door with my luggage. It’s not much, since I went home last spring with… well, nothing but one hastily-packed backpack. I did pick up some new clothes. So I have a couple extra cases, but they’re small, so Cliff manages all three of them with ease.

“Where do you want this, Rory?”

I look around the room and nod to the closet. “Just over there is fine. Thanks, Cliff.” He sets each case down and then pauses before turning back to us. The expression on his face is one of sadness. I’ve known him long enough as just a friend to read the disappointment.

“I’ll leave you two alone,” Tera says, backing away. “But be ready by eight, Ror. We can’t be late for this, OK?”

I nod, doing my best to silently assure her that I will, but my eyes are stuck on Cliff as she exits, closing the door to give us privacy. “I’m sorry,” I say.

“Nothing to be sorry about,” he says, shrugging. “Shit happens for a reason, right?”

“I suppose.” I sigh, sitting down on my bed. “Did you tell her what happened?”

“No,” Cliff says. “Not much, anyway. Just that you broke up with me and…” But his words trail off. So… all that stuff that happened afterward goes unsaid. “She knows something is wrong though. She’s gonna relentlessly bug you about it all year until you give in and spill the details.”

I nod. Not knowing what to say to that. “Are you staying for the party tonight?”

“Not invited,” Cliff says. He pauses. Looks away, then back at me. “You know, they asked me to be part of this.” He pans his hands wide, indicating this means Palladium House.