Fallen Too Far

Darla shoved a tray with champagne at me, "Go, go, hurry," she barked.

I walked as swiftly as I could with a tray full of champagne flutes. Once in the ballroom I started my same path again through members who were deeper in conversations and I was just a tray of drinks. I liked this better. I didn’t feel on edge.

Bethy’s familiar giggle caught my attention and I turned to look for her. I hadn’t seen her in the kitchen earlier. I’d assumed Darla hadn’t wanted her to work this function. Or Woods’ dad hadn’t.

Bethy wasn’t dressed like us. She had on a clingy black chiffon dress and her long brown hair was piled up on her head with ringlets hanging down around her face. She turned her head, catching my eyes, and she broke into a huge grin. I watched as she hurried over to me. The stiletto heels she was wearing didn’t even slow her down.

"Can you believe that I’m here as a guest?" Bethy asked, looking around us in awe and then back at me. I shook my head because I couldn’t.

"When Jace came to my apartment on his knees and begging last night I told him if he wanted me he had to claim me as his girlfriend in public. He agreed and well, you get the picture. Things got real hot up in my apartment. But anyways here I am," she gushed.

Jace had manned up. Good for him. I glanced over her shoulder to see Jace watching us. I smiled at him and nodded my approval. He flashed me a crooked grin with a shrug.

"I’m glad to know he got some sense knocked into him," I replied.

Bethy squeezed my arm. "Thank you," she whispered.

She didn’t have anything to thank me for but I smiled. "Go have a good time. I’ve got to get these all passed out before your aunt comes out here and catches me talking."

"Okay. I will, I wish you could enjoy it with me, though." Her eyes glanced over my shoulder. I knew she was looking at Rush. He was here and he was ignoring me in front of all these people. He was doing it for Nan’s sake but did that make it any better?

It slowly dawned on me. I’d become Bethy.

"I need the money so I can get my own place," I told her with a forced smile. "Go mingle," I encouraged her and walked off to the next group of people.

The eyes following me sent a burning sensation up my neck. I knew Rush was watching me. I didn’t have to turn and see him to confirm it. Had he just had the same realization that I had? I doubted it. He was a guy. I had become available and easy. I was also the world’s greatest hypocrite. I was now guilty of what I’d scolded and pitied Bethy for.

The last champagne flute left my tray and I walked back through the crowd careful not to go near Rush or Nan. I didn’t even glance their way. I had some pride left. I only had to stop three times for guests to put their empty flutes on my tray as I hurried back to the safety of the kitchen.

"Good you’re back. Take this tray. We need some food out there before they all drink too much and we have a high-faluting drunken mess on our hands," Darla said, handing me a tray of things I didn’t recognize. They also smelled bad. I scrunched my nose and held the tray away from me. Darla cackled with laughter.

"It’s escargot, snails. They’re disgusting but these people think they are a delicacy. Get over the smell and go." I felt my stomach roll. I could have done without that explanation. Escargot would have been a sufficient description.

When I reached the entrance to the ballroom I steadied myself and tried not to think about the snails I was giving people to eat or the fact that Rush was in there acting like he didn’t know me at all. After I’d spent the past two nights in his bed.

"You doing okay?" Woods asked when I walked inside the room. He was at my elbow looking concerned.

"Yes. Except for the fact I’m giving people snails to eat," I replied. Woods chuckled, took one from my tray and popped it into his mouth.

"You should try one. They’re really very good. Especially soaked in garlic and butter."

My stomach rolled again and I shook my head. Woods laughed out loud this time. "You always make things more interesting, Blaire," he said, leaning down toward my ear. "I’m sorry about Rush. Just for the record, if you’d have chosen me you wouldn’t be working tonight. You’d be on my arm."

I felt my face flush. It was enough to know I was a dirty little secret but for others to realize it was humiliating. I’d wanted Rush, though. So bad. Well, I’d got my wish alright.

"I need the money. I am very close to being able to afford a place of my own," I informed him matter of factly.

Woods gave me a brisk nod and a sympathetic smile before turning to greet an elderly guest who was passing by. I took that moment to get away. I had snails to feed people.

Jimmy caught my eye and he winked at me reassuringly. He’d taken care of Rush’s side of the room brilliantly. I hadn’t even gotten close to him. Bethy smiled brightly at me when I arrived at her group. Her smile died when she looked at the food on my tray.

"What is that?" she asked in horror.

"You don’t want to know," I informed her, causing Jace and a guy I wasn’t familiar with to laugh.

"Probably best that you let this pass on by," Jace told Bethy as he tucked his hand around her waist and pulled her closer to his side affectionately.

She beamed up at him and that was all the sweet romance I could take. I hurried on to the next group. The curly red hair was familiar. It took me a second to place her. The evil venom in her smile reminded me exactly where I’d seen her before.  She had been after Woods at Rush’s house the night of Nan’s party. I hadn’t made a fan that night thanks to Woods.

"Isn’t this fun?" she said, turning her attention away from the couple she’d been talking to and focusing on me. "Guess Woods decided you were more suited to work for him than date him." She giggled and shook her head causing the red curls to bounce around. "I swear, this makes my night." She reached up and tipped my tray.