Hidden away in the kitchen, Evelyn wished that she hadn't been such a slacker in those etiquette classes. Although she had no interest in playing a part and acting like a 'proper' citizen for the Socs, the idea of actually being out in the opening did seem more appealing after spending almost an hour peeling potatoes. She was tucked away in the back with a bunch of kitchen staffers that she didn't know. Thankfully she had Dally.
"Johnny says they all pulled up in Cadillacs and Corvettes." Dally said, hauling in a box of cucumbers from the fridge so that they could work on the finger sandwiches that would be making rounds around the resort after dinner but before the bonfire. How many meals did these people actually need to eat? "They'll have their noses turned up at us all summer." Dally grumbled. He had come to work in New York before and he had made it for quite some time, bragging about it every week back home in Tulsa but Long Island was another beast. This was the vacation spot of New York's upper crust and they felt more entitled here than they did in Manhattan.
"No different than any other season." Evie shrugged. She was doing her best to not be bothered by all this. The first week hadn't been so bad but she had a feeling that now that the Socs were arriving things were going to get rough. Evie was used to sitting on the sidelines of a rumble, cheering on her brother and the other boys as they threw fists at these suit jacket wearing morons. Now she had no battle to cheer down because they had been forced to lay down their arms, all for a decent pay.
"These ones think we're their slaves."
"We're not slaves, we're being paid."
"Slaves, servants, same thing ain't it?"
Dally was riled up already, having only heard about the guests arriving at the resort. Evie could only imagine what things were gonna be like when he actually had to interact with any of the rich kids. This was why they had thrown him back here in the kitchen. However, the kitchen was the last stop before they sent them home and Evelyn wasn't interested in spending the summer in Tulsa by herself or with just Dally for that matter. She wanted to be where her friends were; where her family was.
"I say we show them who they're dealin' with. We're no thugs from Brooklyn." Dally said, his hands making the chef's knife in his hand dance down the cucumber, creating thick slices that Evie was going to have to fix.
"You're gonna get me in more trouble than we already are." the girl shook her head.
"I thought you lived for that kinda thing."
Evelyn was known for being rowdy, especially for a chick but that didn't mean she couldn't behave at times. She was the middle child of the family and the middle ground between Two-Bit's wisecracks and Bonnie's elegance. She could start a fight with almost anyone but she could also end one. Luckily, Evie was saved by her big brother waltzing in with a tray of emptied champagne glasses.
"It's crazy out there." It was only day one and Two-Bit was sure that he had never worked so hard in his life. He had to dance around tables and wandering guests to bring them their pre-dinner champagne.
"Hey Evie, look a penguin." Dally cracked a smile, commenting on Two-Bit's suit.
"Do you waddle when you walk?"
"Very funny guys." Two-Bit shook his head, picking up a cucumber slice to toss at Evelyn. "It's too bad you're both so goofy looking or they might have let you play dress up." he said, reaching up to straighten his bow tie.
"We're just the more skilled workers." Evelyn said, snatching the knife from Dally so she could fix the mess he made of the cucumbers. They needed to be thin for the finger sandwiches for tomorrow.
"Skilled? When did you two become skilled?"
"Hey kid, orders are up, lets go." one of the chefs called from their left.
"Get going, kid." Evelyn teased her older brother, throwing a useless cucumber slice at him.
"I'll get you two later."
As Two-Bit left the kitchen, he returned to a world of suited waiters and finely dressed folks. Forced laughter floated on stale air, and fake smiles cracked from behind perfectly lined lips. It was a play and all the actors were ready for their debut. Unfortunately the staff would be made to play their part in this grand charade.
"Good evening, I'm Two-Bit Matthews, you can call me Two-Bit or Matthews or pretty much whatever you'd like as long as it doesn't insult my good looks. I'll be your waiter this summer. Can I start you off with something to drink?" Two-Bit purred, looking over his new table. He had scored one of the best gigs in the house, and the young Tulsa waiter had no idea that he was serving the closest thing that New York had to royalty.
The Buchanans came from a long dynasty of Oil barons, starting with Bartholomew Fitzgerald Buchanan who had found the oil on his farm in the South. After their riches started flowing, Bartholomew moved the family to the Upper East Side of New York, where they now reigned supreme over the other affluent families there. If you aligned yourself with the Buchanan's you could have pretty much anything you wanted.
The Hardings were one of these families who paid their dues to the current Buchanan king, Vincent. George Harding had just inherited his father's wealth which came from amusement parks. His grandfather had been an engineer who had suddenly turned to creating steel roller coasters. After contracts with Disneyland and other well known parks, the Harding had solidified their wealth and position in New York. This position would be cemented by the projected marriage of Vivian Buchanan and Edward Harding.
Edward was already enjoying his newly minted position as prince, and celebrating by drinking. "I'll take a whiskey," He said, his voice like silk over sandpaper. There was something charming and disarming about his tone, yet Edward's eyes made Two-Bit regard him with caution.
"You've had two already," Vivian whispered, a gentle hand pressing into her boyfriend's forearm. Her pleas were in vain, and Vivian knew it, yet she couldn't help but dream that one day Edward would listen. If Vivian were to give up this naive hope, her view of a bright and happy future would dim to the inevitable reality she faced.
"Best make it a double," Edward countered firmly, brushing Vivian's hand off his arm and confirming his defiance.
Two-Bit felt an unnecessary pang of sympathy for the beautiful girl seated in front of him. Her big brown eyes held his for a moment, before falling to her offending hand. Wishing it were no longer attached, Vivian hid it under the table, and looked up once more with her eternal smile plastered on her porcelain face. "And for you miss?" Two-Bit asked, trying to disguise the blush he felt growing across his chest as he looked at her.
"Just a water please." Vivian replied, softly. A queer expression barely eclipsing her features before disappearing behind her china doll mask. She had caught the equally strange look on the servers face, and it caused her to regard him more seriously for a moment, studying his charming and animated features.
Though Two-Bit and Vivian were lost in each other for the moment, it was broken by the abrupt entrance of Vivian's best friend, Lucy Eldridge. "You didn't forget to save me a seat did you?" The pleasing blonde said, sitting with much less grace than her posed companions. It was as if the air returned to the room with her presence.
"Lucy! I was wondering where you were!" Vivian exclaimed, new life flooding her face. She tore her eyes from the handsome waiter and allowed her being to be enveloped in the excitement of Vivian's presence. That was one of the most endearing features of Vivian's personality; her ability to make whomever she spoke to feel as if they were the only being in the world. It was what drew people to the handsome, wealthy young woman.
"What kept you Miss Eldridge?" George Harding, Edward's airless new-money father asked, regarding her with all the judgement he reserved for those his station allowed him to gauge.
"Well, it was the darndest thing Mr. Harding, there was a rally at the school protesting the war and I somehow got swept up in it." The cadence of her voice was a stark contrast to George's. Lucy was a bell, ringing high and clear, and bringing intrigue with each improper syllable. Even Two-Bit couldn't help but feel at ease with this woman in the room. She was a much needed zephyr in this crowded room of starch.
"Don't tell me you're a part of that nonsense Lucy," Amelia Buchanan, Vivian's mother, drawled. Her good Southern breeding had never left her. Amelia came from old money, even before she married Vincent, and she had very staunch values and ideas. These new age rebellions against the war and such were just a waste of time in her eyes. All things being considered, it was not a surprise that Mrs. Buchanan was a registered Republican.
"It's hardly nonsense Mrs. Buchanan, but that's not good dinner conversation is it Viv?" Lucy said, her tongue clicking against her cheek as she turned to the young Miss Buchanan. "I've missed you." Lucy was too used to the overbearing mother that had given her her best friend. It had taken the measure of their friendship before Lucy had learned to tune out the annoying sound of that Southern accent.
"I've missed you too," Vivian imparted, as if the two girls shared a great secret. She leaned closer to her ally, grateful for a soldier in her corner in this den of vipers. "You need to tell me all about NYU, we'll have to catch up after dinner." Vivian exhaled gratefully, letting her tense shoulders relax in the presence of Lucy. The unflappable Lucy Eldridge, as Vivian liked to call her.
"Of course." Lucy smiled, taking a sip from her water goblet and throwing the still awaiting Two-Bit an amused wink.
Two-Bit's first night of service passed without much excitement. Later, when he told the story of that night, Two-Bit would regard the stolen glances between himself and Vivian as the highlight of his evening. In those later years, when Two-Bit would tell of her heart-stopping smile, Vivian would give him that same smile and swat him lightly, while the same blush came across his chest that it had all those years ago.
While Two-Bit served and cleared the table, he couldn't help but hear snippets of their conversation in his passing. From what he managed to catch, Two-Bit had begun to draw conclusions about the type of people he had been tasked with serving.
Mrs. Buchanan was exactly what a Southern Belle should be. She was beautiful, whip smart, and everything she said had to be dissected to find its true meaning. Amelia was in control of her own life, her husband's life, and her children's lives. Everything they did had to be cleared through her.
Mrs. Harding desired nothing more than to be exactly like Amelia. She was aware of the precarious situation her family's new money put her in, and Marianne was desperate to secure her family's place in the dynasties of New York. Marianne had no personality of her own, but only mimicked what Mrs. Buchanan did in a less glamourous way.
The men were polar opposites. It was as if you had sat down the president and a hillbilly at the same table. Only, the hillbilly was the man from old money. Vincent Buchanan was remarkably laid back for one of the world's wealthiest men. He had an easy smile, that bounced between his eyes to his perfect lips with grace. Vincent was charming and charismatic and liked by everyone. He genuinely seemed to like everyone as well, and treated even Two-Bit with the respect deserved of a king. Vivian's ability to make anyone feel like they were the only in the room had come from her father.
Mr. Harding was stiff on the other hand. He was like a cardboard man, standing for everything and falling for anything. He took offense at the slightest comment and huffed with an upturned nose. He acted as if Two-Bit didn't exist and his food just magically appeared in front of him. Mr. Harding was even stingy with the tip.
As the night progressed, the conversation turned from the families of New York to the hopes from the summer. Eventually, Vincent turned to his daughter's friend with a warm smile that suggested years of acquaintance.
"Miss Eldridge will your parents be joining us?" Vincent asked, considering her over the rim of his Scotch glass.
Lucy smiled in response. She knew her parents and Vincent were good friends from all their years of friendship. "In a weeks time, father and mother are still in Paris last I've heard."
"So you came on your own?" "How did you get here?"Amelia was quick to jump in before Vincent could question further. Her tone suggested imperious judgement.
"Well I imagine she didn't walk." Vivian's tone was light, but restrained. Her mother was a critical woman, and while Vivian was sued to that criticism, she didn't approve it extending to her friends.
Vincent stepped in quickly, before his wife and child could have it out at the dinner table. "Are you still driving your father's T-Bird?"
"Yes I am," Lucy said with a confident nod.
"Well there you go Amelia, she drove."
After that, the conversation came to a swift close. George Harding stood, holding his tumbler in hand, and smirking. "Well Vincent, let's leave these women to their silly conversations," He drawled, but his smile was demanding. Vincent and George's sons rose as well, following their father's patterns. Vincent was slower to rise, but he did, nodding politely to the women and leaving Two-Bit a big tip.
While the men retired to smoke and talk about how great they had become, the women would go upstairs for the next stage of their great pageant; the bonfire. This event was limited to the younger members of high society who are still fighting to prove they are the mirrors of their parents.
No, it will not be the stars that will only glitter tonight. With the heat and the light of the fire to guide them, the bright lights of the big city would let loose for the first, and not the last, night of their summer.