It was dark inside the dance club, but the neon lights in funky patterns made the place remain lively. Loud music permeated the air and the mixologists were busy concocting drinks. There was also a party machine emanating flames, bubbles, fog, and all kinds of effects. Kenzie looked around and swore that after seeing this place, she'd have to hit Bridgeport's hot spots.
When the two had danced themselves out for a while, they decided to have some drinks. Kenzie wasn't much of a drinker, so she got something small, a Spotlight Polish. Jillian ordered a KTHXBYE. The two sat at the bar as they consumed their tasty drinks.
"Wow, this tastes awesome!" Jillian declared after one sip. "Makes me want to jump up on a table and dance."
"Please don't. Then everyone will think you're drunk and we'll have to leave. That would be so embarrassing."
"True, but at least I'm not a celebrity. It wouldn't be in the papers that the famous Jillian Swansen got drunk and started dancing on tables."
"Still, it might get out that you were with me."
"Yeah, good point. Okay, I won't dance on any tables."
"Thank you."
As the two sat at the bar consuming their sugary drinks, Jillian suddenly sucked in her breath.
"Holy plumbob!" she said fervently. It was hard to hear her under the cacophony in the club, but Kenzie was sure that's what she'd said.
"What?" she asked.
"You'll never guess who's here!"
"Don't tell me. Patrick."
"No, better than that!"
This caused Kenzie to stare astonished at her friend. Someone better than the cute guy she'd been talking to at the pool? Who could it be?
"Who is it?"
"It's Alley Catraz!"
Kenzie nearly dropped her drink. The Alley Catraz? Five-star actress, here at Lars' Disco-tech? It was hard to believe that the posh celebrity would be in a place like this. It was nice, but hardly the type of place one would expect a celebrity to hang out in.
"Let's go say hi!" Jillian said, bouncing up and down on her chair enthusiastically.
Even Kenzie had to admit it sounded like fun. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet Alley Catraz. So she agreed, and the two friends made their way past the dance floor to her. Kenzie led the way, but she looked around in what she hoped was a subtle manner. She could hear Jillian walking behind her almost with a spring in her step.
"Say something," Jillian hissed when they were a few feet behind the actress.
"Why me?" Kenzie whispered back.
"Because you talk to people all the time with your job. It'll be easier for you."
"I don't talk to celebrities!"
"Please?"
Kenzie sighed and gave in. She walked toward Alley, who then stood up and headed toward the bathroom. Kenzie, not thinking, cut her off at the pass.
"Excuse me, Ms. Catraz?" she called, hoping her voice wasn't shaking with apprehension.
Alley turned around and looked at Kenzie. "Yes?" she asked in her bell-like voice that millions of fans had fallen in love with.
"I, hello. I'm Kenzie, and I'm one of your biggest fans. I know, you probably get that a lot."
"Yeah, I do. What do you want?"
Kenzie was slightly taken aback. This was how celebrities treated their fans? They acted like snobs? Or maybe it was just Alley.
In any case, Jillian, apparently satisfied that Kenzie had made contact, joined the two women and said, "Oh my gosh, Alley Catraz! I am your biggest fan!" like a giddy schoolgirl. Then she followed it up with, "Can I please have your autograph?"
Alley nodded indifferently and withdrew a pen, only for Jillian to discover that she had nothing on her that Alley could sign.
Kenzie jumped to the rescue and said, "Do you have an autograph signing session, Ms. Catraz?"
"I don't have one scheduled," Alley replied.
"Wait!" Jillian exclaimed. "Here, can you sign my drink glass? It has this club's logo on it, and that's where I met you. I'm sure they'll let me keep it."
"I can do that," Alley replied. She signed away on the side of the glass. Kenzie knew that Jillian would probably never use that glass again except to wash it.
"You want one too?" Alley asked Kenzie.
"Sure," Kenzie replied and thrust her own glass toward the actress. Once they both had their autographs, the two friends could barely contain themselves. Kenzie wasn't usually the type to make a big scene by getting uncharacteristically excited, but this was different. Alley was somewhat of a snob, but she was still one of her favorite actresses. And the fact that she'd met her and gotten her autograph in the same evening was worth celebrating.
Alley excused herself and went into the ladies' room. Kenzie and Jillian celebrated being star struck by dancing wildly on the dance floor, and then ordering some bar food (Kenzie got nachos while Jillian got onion rings).
By the time the two had danced themselves out, it was past midnight. Patrick hadn't shown up, and they didn't see Alley again, except for when she emerged from the bathroom and a bunch of exuberant fans pounced her. Kenzie and Jillian hightailed it out of the club before they got lost in the riffraff.
When they got back to the house, Kenzie jumped in the shower while Jillian vowed to take a bath the next morning. Kenzie washed the typical club smell of drinks and smoke from the party machine out of her hair and thought about how fortuitous it was that she'd actually met a celebrity and gotten her autograph. Her and Jillian's autographed glasses were both safely packed away in their suitcases (after they'd paid a fee to the club in order to keep them), and Kenzie planned to put hers on display as soon as she returned home. But would she put it in her office or her house? She'd worry about that when she got home.
As she stepped out of the shower, Kenzie couldn't help but feel completely enlightened. This was turning out to be the best vacation ever, maybe even better than her trip to China. She couldn't wait to discover what the next day would bring.
No comments:
Post a Comment