July 25th
Going into our last week here, (we leave on the 30th) it has been officially decided that this is the week of total togetherness. Or whatever that means. I guess maybe because we've been so apart these last few weeks, we decided it's time to get back together. Be the friends we've always been.
We didn't really say that, but it seems that way. The drama is dying out. At least I hope it is.
So tonight we went out. Safely. And not to some club. We went out to a nice dinner IN HOLLYWOOD! It doesn't matter that I've been there already this trip. I love Hollywood. Derek decided to take me and all of my friends out. I told him that would involve nearly everyone I've met on this trip. I told him it would be about twenty people. I gave him the list.
"The more the merrier!" he replied. "So that's... seventeen? Not a problem."
"I don't know if Amalia and Brendan will come," I replied. "I haven't met Brendan, but if Amalia ends up coming, he will, I'm sure."
"Just let me know," Derek replied, smiling.
It was a sort of couples trip. Derek and I, Claudia and Rico, Ducky and Justin, Bruce and Patti, Maggie and Tyler, Amalia and Brendan, and then Dawn and this guy she met this past week, Christian. Sunny kept calling Stacey and Kristy her dates.
I was surprised to see Amalia and Brendan. I mean, his father has cancer. They went out to dinner and to a play and his father could be... don't want to think about it. It's too morbid. But they seemed to be having a good time. Brendan is really nice, too. I'm glad they came.
Christian is also really nice. I mean, I wouldn't have just anyone dating my sister. Dawn seemed really nervous about going out. We were talking about it while we were getting ready.
"What do you think?" Dawn asked, holding out a black skirt.
"Is that leather?" I asked with interest.
"No," she replied. "I can't afford leather. Besides, I have issues with... I mean, if I'm going to be honest about, even just not eating red meat? How can I wear leather? Anyway, it's pleather. Much less expensive."
"I like it," I said. "It's awfully short though."
"Yeah, that sends the wrong message. Dad probably wouldn't let me out in it if he knew I was going on a date. You realize that Dad hasn't had to deal with this. I haven't gone on a single date since I moved back here." Dawn dug through her closet and grabbed a black pair of pants. "Is this cute? Or is it just stupid?"
"Why are you so nervous?" I asked. "I mean, I thought you'd know everything about guys."
Dawn dropped the pants and sat down across from me. "Mary Anne, we have to talk. I don't know where you got the idea that I know everything about being an adult or a high school students or what, but I don't. I don't say the things I say to hold it over you that I was in high school a year longer than you. I say the things I say because it's common sense."
"Are you saying I don't have any common sense?" I asked.
"No! Mary Anne! I just say what I say! It's not a contest, or a me trying to be better than you. I just say stuff. It's not always the right stuff, it's often very wrong. So I don't know what I should say for you not to be offended by every other word I say. Because I'm trying, and it's not working."
I didn't know what to say. "Maybe, maybe you should try on the pants and we'll see how they look."
Dawn nodded. "Good idea."
I don't know what to do about that one. Dawn's acting SO strangely. But then again, how could she be so knowledgeable when she fretting over if a skirt is too short?
Anyway, we got picked up in three cars. Derek in his car, Ducky in Mr. Schafer's SUV, and Rico in his car. I mean, there was 17 of us! Obviously, Derek and I were in his car, along with Maggie and Tyler. Ducky had Justin, Sunny, Stacey, Kristy, Dawn and Christian. Rico had Amalia, Brendan, Bruce, Patti, and Claudia.
They were a little crammed in that last car, I think.
Anyway, we went to Hollywood and we parked, and before we could start our hike to wherever we were going (which some of us were in not the most comfortable shoes and would be a big pain in the butt), Derek stopped us.
"Okay!" he shouted once we were out on the sidewalk. "I've got a bit of surprise for everyone. I know I don't know all of you very well, but it wasn't like I was going to be excluding anyone here. So, check it out!"
Right then, a LIMO pulled up to the curb. I grabbed Derek's arm. "This isn't- You didn't!"
"This is, I did," Derek said grinning.
I thought back to when Derek and I came to Hollywood that first time and how he paid for nearly everything. I stared at him. "Derek, you're not like... rich, are you?"
He smiled. "Well, sort of," he admitted.
"Why didn't you tell me?" I asked.
"You didn't know. Most everyone around here knows that my dad is rich, and he sends me tons of cash out of pure guilt. And why not splurge it all on my girlfriend and her friends?"
"Oh my lord!" I threw my arms around his neck.
"Come on, Mary Anne, let's get in before they drive off without us."
We climbed into the limo (we had run out of seats, so I sat in his lap).
"Where are we going?" Patti asked.
"We are going to one of Hollywood's finest restaurants - Burger King," Derek said.
A silence swept over the limo.
"I'm kidding!" He said. "We're going to Vert, Wolfgang Puck's restaurant. It's at Hollywood and Highland. And after that, it's more surprises."
We ate and even Dawn found a vegetarian meal that she said was delicious. Christian kept trying to eat her food, and he was trying to get her to eat the fish he got.
"I'm not eating that!" Dawn said laughing.
"It's white meat! It won't kill you!" Christian said. "I don't eat red meat, come on, I'm not trying to trick you."
I had to admit, they were pretty cute. And Dawn didn't seem nervous at all now, even in her short skirt.
I had no idea how much it cost for all of us since Derek didn't let anyone see the bill. I'll bet that it was outrageous, especially since there had to have been a gratuity. I don't even want to imagine what it was, but Derek didn't blink an eye. He just handed the waiter a credit card and that was that.
We walked around the plaza some, and Kristy took pictures of the Hollywood sign and a group of middle-aged women squealed over Tyler and asked for his autograph. They even recognized Maggie, and had Ducky take pictures with all of them.
Then a group of guys and girls who were about nineteen or so, recognized everyone from Vanish from the Bash, and got autographs and pictures there. Maggie looked a little embarrassed, but everyone else in the band was really excited.
It was getting dark and Derek took charge again.
"Okay, it's almost nine-thirty, and we have an appointment to make. So follow me." He took my hand and we led the way down a bunch of escalators.
"Oh, check it out," Claudia said. There were all of these lit columns with the names of all the movies that have won Best Picture at the Oscars, each listed with the year they won.
I took some pictures of those because they were just gorgeous. Derek and I hadn't been through here when we'd been here the last time.
"What's up those stairs?" Stacey asked, pointing to this glamorous marble staircase. We'd been taking regular escalators everywhere, and the staircases were just cement.
"I'm glad you asked," Derek said, "because that's where we're going."
My eyes widened as we reached the top of the stairs. I realized that we had been here before, just coming from the other direction when Derek and I had been here before. "Oh my lord, Derek, is that...?"
"The Kodak Theatre. Let's go in."
"We can't go in there," I said. "Remember, we tried, but..."
"I didn't realize how much you wanted to go in," he replied easily. "So I called in a favor or two."
I kissed him, right there in front of everyone.
Sunny let out a loud "AWWWWWWWW!" and I blushed.
"What are we waiting for?" Amalia said. "We're going in, right?"
Derek opened the door and everyone filed in. We were the last ones in because of that. I couldn't believe it. Now, I watch the Oscars religiously, but nothing can compare to actually being there. It was the most beautiful place I've been.
It was empty except for us, so we were loud and everything echoed.
"Want to go on stage?" Derek asked.
"YES!" I squealed.
He led me up the stairs leading up to the stage where every single Oscar winner walked up to receive their award. We were on the stage where every actor, whether receiving an Oscar or presenting them, had stood.
"This is amazing," I said. "Just thank you so much for this."
"No problem," he replied, smiling, like all of this was no big deal. "Do you want to dance?"
"Yeah, but there's... no music."
Derek raised his eyebrows. "There isn't?" He waved a hand above his hand, and I looked and there was a light on in the control room and a man waved back at him.
Soft, slow music started to play and we began to dance. I rested my head against his chest. "Derek, this is just amazing." It was the most romantic date I'd ever been on in my entire life. I looked down at the seats and everyone was watching us, but I didn't feel embarrassed at all. Actually, a few of the couples started dancing too.
"This is the most wonderful night of my life," I said.
"Even better than meeting Cam Geary?" he asked, smiling.
"So much better than meeting Cam Geary."
"I'm glad to hear it."
I don't really know what happened after that, but I think I floated home on a cloud.