It was then I realized, as we were walking through the airport, that Lizzie and Sapphire were attracting huge amounts of attention. They were both wearing high heels, full makeup, and big sunglasses. Dozens of people were gawking, pointing, snapping pics with their phones. And there were paparazzi. I recognized them by the giant cameras they held, flashes going off as Sapphire turned and gave them a wave, flashing both her nails and her bling.
Jay and No Name Boyfriend strolled behind, Jay in his cashmere coat, looking every inch the millionaire that he was.
In contrast, I felt like people must think I was a ballsy fan who had attached myself to them.
Or that they had adopted me a la the Jolie-Pitts, given that I looked about fourteen years old next to all their glam.
“I love you, Lizzie!” some twenty-year-old guy yelled out.
She blew him a kiss.
It all felt ridiculous.
The car waiting for us was a limo. I stared at it in astonishment.
“Don’t let it freak you out,” Sapphire said, give me a nudge with her elbow and a smile. “It’s just the easiest way to get us all there. Plus the windows are tinted.”
“Don’t you ever get tired of people staring at you?” I asked her. I was being totally sincere. I wouldn’t enjoy it. Not that I wouldn’t enjoy people appreciating my talent, because I would. If I could sell a short story or novel, I’d be all over that shit. But I didn’t want people following my every move and snapping photos of me every time I stepped out of the house.
“Not really. I guess I’m used to it.” She slipped into the limo and I followed her. “Besides, I don’t wear this wig for Jay.”
Lizzie sank into the seat across from us. As soon as the door shut behind the guys she took off her glasses and rubbed her temples. “Holy f**k, I have a headache. I need a drink.”
“Maybe you need to eat something,” her boyfriend said. “You always get bitchy when you’re hungry.”
“Fuck you, Alex,” she said.
Alex? I never would have guessed his name was Alex. He looked like a Joaquin or something with his exotic looks. Alex must have been his real name.
“I rest my case,” was his opinion.
We pulled out of the airport terminal and I strained to see everything around me as we exited. But all I could see was other guys, and apartment buildings jammed alongside the highway. I had never seen buildings that close together or so close to traffic. It was claustrophobic. The car motion was also making me sick, with its gunning of the engine, then slamming of the brakes. The man driving never looked back, never spoke to any of us. There was a man in the passenger seat who appeared to be some kind of security guard given that he’d met us at the plane and escorted us the whole way.
I breathed through my nose carefully and leaned against the window.
After we went through a tunnel we emerged in the middle of buildings. They were just everywhere, all around us. I looked out the window and tried to crane my neck to see the sky but I couldn’t get the proper angle. I knew I looked like a hick staring wide-eyed at everything but I couldn’t help it. I’d seen all of this on TV but never imagined it would feel so… condensed. Even from a car. I did notice though that the diversity of people walking was just as it was portrayed on TV. There was every size, shape, color of human being possible, with eclectic fashion choices.
My phone buzzed.
You in the city?
Yes. It’s crazy busy. Lol.
The doorman knows you’re coming and will let you in.
Ok. Thanks.
We dropped Lizzie and Alex off first, pulling up to a high rise with tiny balconies that jutted out towards the river. Then after another nauseating twenty minutes in stop and start traffic, we dropped off Sapphire and Jay. She squeezed my hand and gave me her phone number before she got out. “Call me if you need anything. For real. You don’t have to feel stupid about asking any questions or if you’re just bored or whatever.”
“Thank you.” I squeezed her hand back. “I really appreciate that.” I did. But I wasn’t going to call her. It might be intimidating, but I was going to do this on my own. I was going to stay at Devin’s apartment by myself and then in the morning, if all went well, I was going to see my father. I’d been researching online using his name and age and I was pretty sure I had found the right guy. After an exhaustive online stalking of him, I had determined he worked at an office in mid-town Manhattan. I just wanted to see him. Just once. From a distance. Just to see if I would feel anything.
Maybe if he looked nice I would take the plunge and contact him online and see if he was receptive to meeting in person. At the very least, I wanted to let him know that I wasn’t dead, despite what my grandmother had told him.
I hadn’t thought that I would be able to see him this soon, but if I was here, on my own, it was something I wanted to jump on.
At the same time, though, I found I was desperately missing Devin. I wanted him with me, sharing my first taste of New York.
After Sapphire and Jay went into their building, we finally got to Devin’s apartment, or at least I assumed we were. I wasn’t really sure. The driver turned back to me when I didn’t make any move to get out of the car.
“You’re here, miss.”
“Okay. Thanks.” I grabbed my backpack off the seat then jumped when the security guy opened the door for me. “Oh, thanks.” When I got out on the sidewalk I stared up in shock. The building was a glass sculpture squashed in between brownstones. It was a modern design and the whole thing seemed to be tilting forward towards the street in a way that was both cool and terrifying. It was clearly a trendy neighborhood too, given the people I saw walking around and the numerous street-side cafes.
I went to the door and was about to open it when it opened for me. A man in a uniform smiled at me. “You must be Tiffany. Mr. Gold said to expect you. I’ll take you up.”
I smiled back. “Thanks.”
He chatted the whole way up in the elevator and I tried to give appropriate responses but the truth was, I was exhausted and overwhelmed. I smiled and nodded and told him my flight was fine when he asked. But I wasn’t great company. He forged ahead though, telling me the amenities the building had to offer and when the maid cleaned and how I could ask the concierge for anything, including ordering food or having drycleaning sent out. The thought of sending out clothes to be washed made me want to laugh.
“Oh, and Mrs. Gold is in the apartment but she said she’ll be leaving in about twenty minutes. She’s just packing some clothes.”