Holly Hearts Hollywood (21 page)

I sat upright. “They’ve been threatening you?”

She nodded her head. A damp lock of golden hair fell in front of her face, and she pushed it aside. She lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “These girls are crazy, Holly. They have to be like, twelve, and I’m receiving
death
threats.”

An icy pit grew in my stomach. Death threats? I knew Grayson’s fan base was a little nuts, but I couldn’t imagine that. “Oh no, Lacey. Have you told anyone?”

“Yeah, I told my agent who called the police. I wish they didn’t have to, though. I don’t want this getting in the papers. It makes me look…weak.”

I can imagine Lacey wouldn’t want it in the news, especially with the recent drama with her father. Lacey is filing a restraining order against him for extra measure.

“I don’t want people to think I’m being a drama queen or creating this story to get attention. I need some positive stories about me in the paper. But I can’t imagine why someone would want me dead because of who I’m dating. Do these girls actually think they have a chance with Grayson? Obviously they’re insane.”

That sounded a little more like the Lacey I was used to. I couldn’t help but wonder what all of this meant for New York and the tour. Would we have more security? I’m sure I’ll get sucked into this in some weird way. Next thing you know, I’ll be sorting through her mail and sampling all of the candy people send her, just in case some lunatic poisoned it.

“Have you told Grayson?” I asked.

Lacey paused for a while before answering. “No, I haven’t.” Her voice wobbled. It almost sounded like she was crying. “Grayson already thinks I’m a bit high-maintenance, and he’s still worked up over the stuff with my dad. I don’t want to upset him anymore. Besides, what would he think if I started complaining about some silly death threats?”

“Lacey,” I said firmly, “if Grayson sincerely likes you, and I’m positive he does, he’ll
totally
care about this.”

She started
really
crying, her voice thick and wobbly. Even her bottom lip trembled a little. She’s crying way too much around me lately. “I like him so much, Holly. I don’t want to lose him. What if he thinks I’m too much work or it’s too risky to keep going out with me? I don’t have any talents! I’m not smart like you. Grayson always wants to talk about the weirdest things, like animal rights and stage performing.”

I wasn’t sure what was so wrong about a performer talking about
performing
. But how on Earth could Lacey not think she wasn’t talented?

“Lacey, you are
so
talented. You’re a great dancer, and you always wear the coolest things. You know how to put on makeup, and you work out and stuff.”

Lacey rolled her eyes. Well, at least I imagined she rolled her eyes. She was wearing sunglasses, after all. “Wearing trendy clothes isn’t a talent,” she said.

“Yeah, but dancing and modeling are,” I replied.

Lacey turned toward me and removed her sunglasses. Even after all of the beach frolicking she did with Grayson, her makeup was still perfect. Some people get all of the luck. My mascara starts to bleed at a drop of sweat.

“Holly,” Lacey said, “you and I both know I wouldn’t be anywhere without you. You wouldn’t be anywhere without me. We need each other. What’s the point of all of my supposed ‘talent?’ It obviously wasn’t enough.” She paused before continuing. “Do you know how Mr. Salazar found me?” I shook my head, and she continued. “I was in the Sun Valley Beauty Pageant. For the talent portion, I danced, right? It’s the only thing I can do. Mr. Salazar approached me after I won the competition and asked if I could sing. I told him I couldn’t, of course, and he said we could work that out. I didn’t understand why he wanted me so much. There are tons of talented singers out there. But now that they’ve combined my looks and dancing with your amazing voice, we can be unstoppable.”

It was one of the nicest things I’d ever heard Lacey say, and perhaps some of the smartest things I’d ever heard as well.

Grayson returned, and the conversation came to an abrupt end. He plopped himself down next to Lacey and grinned at us.

“Having some girl talk?” he asked.

“You could say that,” Lacey answered.

Our beach trip improved after that. Grayson and I tossed a Frisbee around while Lacey worked on her tan. Even my sister woke up from her zombie-daze and joined in with the game. For one great moment, we felt like normal people.

March 10
^th
, 8:30am—LAX

Okay, I’ve been in LA long enough now for me to realize that this city isn’t made up of purely touristy stuff. I know LA isn’t perfect and shiny like I once thought it to be. It’s
dirty
here, and there are tons of homeless people. The other day when we were at the beach, I saw this homeless man. I was trying to eat the PB&J sandwich I had packed, but I felt so guilty stuffing my overweight face in front of him. So I offered him my sandwich, and do you know what he said? “Is it organic?”

And I was like, “Um…It’s Smuckers.”

He said, “No thanks.”

Seriously, even the beach bums are snobs.

But it doesn’t mean I’m jaded or anything. Not like Serena. I love this city! And okay, there’s a ton of pollution, and the city is
crowded
. It takes us forever to drive anywhere, especially on the freeway. They have
eight
-lane highways here, and traffic is still bumper-to-bumper. Regardless of all its faults, and despite the brain cells I’m killing by simply breathing, I’m going to miss this city.

We’re on the tarmac right now, waiting for our plane to New York to take off. If movies have taught me anything, it’s that New York is the most dangerous city in the world. I wouldn’t be surprised if King Kong swatted our plane out of the sky as we descend into New York.

Did I mention we’re flying first class? I don’t have to wrestle for the armrest with some uptight businessman, and I have enough room to stretch my legs. And okay, some of the things in first class are weird. Like, earlier, a flight attendant asked if I wanted a hot towel. What am I supposed to do with that? Bathe myself?

When I said goodbye to my family at security, they actually seemed sad about me leaving. Well, I expected that from my mom. Her emotions are wound tighter than a guitar string. But Ivy, who’s always thinking of new ways to make fun of me, looked devastated. Or maybe she was upset I was going to New York with Lacey and Grayson, and she wasn’t.

I can’t honestly say I’ll miss my sister all that much. She is a lot of work to be around. Does that make me a horrible sister? I’m sure I’m not easy to be around all the time either, but it doesn’t mean my family doesn’t love me.

Anyway, Grayson and Lacey are sitting directly behind me, which means I can hear every word they’re saying. It’s actually quite sickening. They keep saying ridiculous things like, “Oh! I love your dimples!” followed by lot of kissing. And yes, I can hear that too.

I don’t know how they manage it. The kissing, that is. These seats are kind of far apart. They’d have to lean way over to do it. I want to turn around to see what exactly the logistics of such a kiss would be, but I don’t want to look like I’m eavesdropping. Of course, I kind of am, but I don’t want them to
know
that.

Ever since The Stable Incident and the guitar lessons, I’ve been second-guessing everything Grayson says and does. And look, I know people can change. I know I haven’t talked to Grayson since junior high and a lot of growth has obviously happened between then and now. But, I can’t forget that sneer on his face as he said those horrible things to me. I remember thinking,
For someone so handsome, you sure do look ugly when you’re being so mean.
Some things never change. The good-looking, popular guy is still attracted to the beautiful, and sometimes mean, girl. Lacey isn’t
all
that bad. But…besides her looks, what does Grayson see in her? I guess I’m being hard on Lacey; she’s actually been pretty cool lately. But still, she’s ridiculous sometimes.

Oh no. Now they’re feeding each other Dove chocolates and reading the little inspirational phrases to each other. I can hear their lips smacking. They’re
giggling
.

“‘The sure way to miss success is to miss the opportunity,’” Grayson purred as he read from the wrapper.

“These are all so silly,” Lacey protested. “None of them make any sense. Like this one, ‘When life gives you cream, make butter.’”

“Isn’t that from a song?” Grayson asked.

“What song would say something weird like that?”

Grayson sighed, and I could imagine his eyes rolling. “Never mind.”

The flight attendants are asking us to put away our things for takeoff. I always hate this part of a flight, the taking off. It makes my stomach turn as the plane lifts off the ground and—

Later, 9:15am—On the plane

Well, I didn’t vomit during takeoff, which is a small victory considering how tempted I was to smash that flight attendant in the face. I mean, really? Can the plane not take off if, God forbid, someone’s writing in their journal? I totally heard Grayson snicker at me when the flight attendant reprimanded me like I was a preschooler.

But oh no, the fun didn’t end there. Everything got weirder after the flight attendants handed out beverages. I started reading
To Kill a Mockingbird,
which Jennifer wanted me to finish yesterday, and Lacey announced (quite loudly, actually) she was going to take a “cat nap.” I had barely read through the first chapter when I felt something by my shoulder. I looked down to see Grayson, on bent knees, by my chair. He had unbuckled his seatbelt and slithered over to my chair!

“What are you reading?” he asked.

I hate being interrupted while I’m reading, so I briefly showed him the book cover and returned to where I’d left off.

“I love that book,” he said.

“You’ve read it?” I asked, although I kept my eyes firmly on the page.

“Of course, it’s great. Are you excited?”

“About what? The book? Yeah, I guess.”

Grayson shook his head, and some of his golden-brown hair brushed against my arm. “No, I meant New York. Have you been there before?”

“No.”

Grayson sighed and settled on the floor by my chair. Seriously. He was sitting, cross-legged in his designer jeans, on the floor of the airplane. “I love New York,” he said. “It’s the best.”

“It can’t be better than LA,” I protested.

“Eons better. New York is my city.”

I sighed and closed my book. It was obvious Grayson wanted to chat, for God knows what reason. “Then why aren’t you living there?”

Grayson shrugged. “The studio is in LA. My parents love LA, and I can’t keep my menagerie in New York, can I?” He laughed.

“I’d love to see you try to keep Hercules in a Fifth Avenue penthouse,” I quipped.

“Exactly. And it’d kill me to leave the dogs, the cats, and my parents behind.”

“Well, you obviously have a high opinion of this city. I guess I’ll have to see it for myself.”

“I’ll give you a tour,” he said enthusiastically.

“Oh no,” I protested. “You don’t have to do that.” I was silent for a moment, and I took a deep breath. “Has Mr. Salazar talked to you recently?”

Grayson raised his eyebrows. “I talk to him all the time, what do you mean?”

“I mean, has he mentioned anything to you about your relationship with Lacey?”

He considered this for a second. “No, he just talks about the money we’ll make on the tour.”

So, Mr. Salazar hasn’t talked to him about us. I’m not sure if that’s a good or bad thing. One thing is for sure—we’re on two different pages, and we’re going to have to get on the same page soon.

“Did he mention Lacey and me to you? Like the other night at the party? Is that why you were upset?” Grayson asked quickly, his face openly concerned.

I was trying to think of a response, but the fasten seatbelt sign came on, and a flight attendant asked Grayson to return to his seat. I’ve never been so happy to encounter turbulence.

THINGS FOUND:

1.
Cool illustrated safety guide about what to do if the plane crashes. Will use it for collection of instruction manuals and safety guides, not as a fuel for my paranoia.

2.
Golden wings with sticky adhesive on the back. Identical to wings flight attendants are wearing, save for the sticky adhesive. Think wings are intended for children to feel like one day they too can serve snobby people apple juice and pretzels on planes.

THINGS TO DO:

1.
Stop acting weird every time Grayson talks to me.

2.
Buy toothpaste when we land. Think I might’ve left toothpaste at home.

Later, 10:00pm—The Plaza Hotel

We’re finally here! It’s nighttime, but the view of the city as we flew into JFK was breathtaking. Strangely, the press was here when we arrived. How interesting can it be to the general public that Grayson and Lacey flew into New York? Apparently, it’s downright fascinating, judging from all of those photographers. Luckily, we have a full security detail following us—following Lacey and Grayson. I just happen to be caught up in all of this. Ryan, one of the security guards, looks like a hit man for the mafia. Apparently, he holds a world record in crushing watermelons with his thighs.

After our luggage was collected, we were quickly whisked away and driven to the Plaza Hotel. I never in my life thought I’d be staying on one of the top floors of the Plaza! Everything in here is so lush and floral. They have these giant floral arrangements in practically every room. God help anyone who walks in here with allergies. When I got to my room (which is next door to Lacey’s suite), I slipped off my shoes and let my feet sink into the carpet.