Under the Lights

“Not even a little bit. I—” She’s cut off by the sound of the doorbell, and we all freeze. The front lawn is packed with vultures, but ringing the bell, especially on Thanksgiving, seems like a whole other level. Even I’ve only had that happen to me once, and I’m pretty sure that photographer’s still weeping over his priceless shattered lens.

Ally walks up and looks through the glass. “Ha. Well, if it isn’t.” She opens the door and steps back, letting in…Jade.

“Fucking creeps,” Jade mutters as soon as she’s inside, patting her spiky platinum hair like the crowd’s been running their fingers through it. Then she stalks over to Vanessa. “I could kill you, Park.” Her creepy green devil’s eyes are filled with irritation as she glances at her daughter. “If you weren’t making my only child very, very happy, I probably would.”

Lucy gasps, and I hear Ally whisper, “She’s being hyperbolic, Luce. She wouldn’t actually kill Van, I promise.”

“No, I would,” Jade says coolly without so much as a glance at the Duncan sisters. “I’m up to my ears in shit thanks to this impromptu announcement, and Zander’s not remotely ready to deal with this.”

“I warned Zander in advance,” Vanessa says firmly. “Considering his response was to tell me that I was a sinner and he’s glad he avoided making the terrible mistake of committing to me and burning in hellfire, you’ll understand that I don’t really care what happens to him.”

“Mom—” Bri starts, but Jade winces at the name. Bri sighs. “Jade. It’s done. If you’re going to blame anyone, blame me. Or better yet, don’t blame anyone — just sit down and eat with us. If that’s okay with the Duncans,” she adds quickly.

“Of course it is,” says Pam. “Ally, honey, go grab another setting.”

“I shouldn’t.”

“Well, your daughter will be eating with us, and it’s Thanksgiving,” says Ally’s dad, “so, we’d love if you would, too.”

“We have enough Hollywood orphans at the table,” Liam adds wryly. “Given that you’re the only parent of one here who actually supports your child’s identity, maybe you should stick around.”

Surprisingly bold words coming from Liam, but they work. We all take seats around the table, and I even see Jade give Brianna a quick hug. Very, very quick.

But even with the tension between Jade and K-drama, and the paparazzi roaming around outside, it’s impossible not to feel like everyone around me has their shit together. Which I’ll take as a good sign, because it means I have to be next. I don’t know what the fuck I really wanna do or what I think I’m gonna find, but there’s a way better shot it’s in actual China than the Chinese Theater.

Some space will be good. A little scarier than I’ll ever admit, even to these people, but good. And worst comes to worst, I’ll bang a lot of foreign chicks, smoke and drink some good shit you can’t get in the States, and…I don’t know what. I don’t wanna plan. I just wanna go.

Ally’s parents are both good cooks, which I already knew from occasional dinners here while Ally was my assistant. It occurs to me as I shovel turkey and stuffing into my mouth that this is probably the last place I had home-cooked food. It’s no In-N-Out Burger, but it’s pretty damn tasty.

On my right, Ally’s grilling Bri on every single detail of her life while K-drama laughs; on my left, Lucy’s staring at me adoringly while Pam watches with disapproval. It’s everything the way it should be, but it isn’t my life. I’m just a guest here, which is all I’ve really ever been anywhere — in my house, on the set of Daylight Falls, and now at A Duncan Family Thanksgiving.

If I’m gonna be a guest, it might as well be somewhere fucking awesome.

I get a whole lot of questions about my trip that I have no answers to, but mostly, this is a Welcome Home Ally party meshed with a Happy Coming Out for K-drama, so I don’t feel too bad when I tell everyone I have to leave early, and I don’t think anyone cares all that much when I go. Then I hear K-drama excuse herself, too, and I wait for her to join me and walk me to the door; going outside together at this point is basically suicide by paparazzi flash.

“Thank you,” she says once we’re out of earshot of everyone else. “For staying. I couldn’t have done it without you today.”

I roll my eyes. “Oh, come on, K-drama. You’re the new rebellious rock star of the Teen Hollywood set. You don’t need shit from me.”

“Trust me,” she says dryly. “You’re the last person on earth whose ass I’d kiss if you didn’t actually deserve it.” Her expression grows unsettlingly sincere. “Thank you for being the friend I’ve needed the past few months, Josh. I’m guessing I won’t be hearing from you much while you’re gone, but I don’t even know where or who the hell I’d be right now if it weren’t for you, so…thank you. Really.”

I open my mouth to give another sarcastic response, but she narrows her eyes. “Just say ‘you’re welcome,’ Josh. Instead of whatever asshole thing you’re about to say, just say ‘you’re welcome.’”