“Tell me one more time what a good-bad movie is,” Max said.
It was Saturday night and Anthony had invited Paige and Colleen over to his apartment to watch videos. He’d also invited Max.
Max was the first to arrive.
“A good-bad movie is a movie that’s originally made with the intention of being good, yet somehow turns into a disaster. When it’s released, it gets horrible reviews and disappears. But then, over the years, it starts to develop a cult following. Even though the movie is bad, it’s fun to watch. There’s something over-the-top and campy about it. The acting. The dialogue. The directing. Everything! I can’t explain it. Once you’ve seen enough good-bad movies, you’ll know what I mean.”
“What are we watching tonight?” Max asked as he plopped down on the couch.
“A camp classic. Valley of the Dolls. Have you ever seen it?”
Max shook his head.
“It was made in the late ’60s,” Anthony said. “It’s based on the best-selling trash novel of all time. I have a copy if you ever want to read it. It’s brilliant! Jacqueline Susann wrote it. Anyway, the story focuses on three single gals who try to make it in Hollywood and they become hooked on booze and pills. The pills are called dolls. What’s also interesting about the film is the way the characters toss around the word fag.”
“What do you mean?”
“They just constantly use that as an insult.”
Max raised his eyebrows, but before he could respond, the doorbell rang.
Shoot! Just when things were starting to get interesting! Anthony cursed whoever was at the door as he went off to answer it. It was Colleen, who was loaded with bags of Chinese takeout. Anthony scowled at her.
“Why the face?” she asked.
“Your timing couldn’t be more off,” Anthony whispered, looking over his shoulder to make sure he wasn’t overheard. “I was making some progress on the ‘Is he or isn’t he?’ front. Now I’m back to square one!”
Colleen rolled her eyes, handing Anthony a bag. “Paige filled me in. Don’t worry, you can count on me. If I find out anything, you’ll be the first to know. Now smile. You’re cuter when you do.”
“Well, you did bring food.” Anthony sniffed the air. “Mmm. Smells great. What did you buy?”
“Egg rolls, spare ribs, three kinds of dumplings, pork fried rice and sesame chicken. We can’t have a bad movie night without munchies!”
Anthony headed into the kitchen for plates and forks while Colleen joined Max in the living room. When he came back, Colleen was kneeling in front of the coffee table, opening up white containers. The fragrant aroma of Chinese food filled the air, making Anthony’s mouth water.
“Anthony always finds the best bad movies,” Colleen said. “I don’t know how he does it. It’s like an instinct.”
“It’s an instinct most gay guys have,” Anthony said, handing a plate to Colleen and then Max. “I think we’re born with it.”
There. He’d said it. Laid his cards out on the table. Until just a few moments ago, he hadn’t come out and said to Max, “Hello, my name is Anthony DeMarco and I’m gay.” But now Max knew. Without a doubt.
If Anthony’s words had thrown Max, he didn’t show it. He continued to fill his plate with Chinese food, while Anthony and Colleen did the same.
“What are some other bad movies that you guys have seen?” Max asked while dipping his egg roll into hot mustard sauce.
“How much time do you have?” Anthony asked. “Seriously. We live for these movies.”
“We’ve seen Mommie Dearest,” Colleen said.
“‘No wire hangers…EVER!!!’” Anthony quoted.
“Mahogany.”
“Oh, God, that one’s my all-time favorite!!!” Anthony turned to Max with an excited look on his face. “Diana Ross is a struggling fashion designer living in the ghetto in Chicago and she becomes an internationally famous model. The best known line of that movie is when she turns her back on love and her boyfriend tells her…”
Anthony turned to Colleen and together they screamed, “Success is NOTHING without someone you love to share it with!!!”
“And let’s not forget Showgirls,” Colleen said.
The doorbell rang again and Anthony went to answer it while Colleen started telling Max the plot of Showgirls. When he opened the front door, he did a double take and took a step back. Then he closed the front door behind him and stepped out into the hallway with Paige.
“Did you dress in the dark?” he hissed.
“What are you talking about?”
Anthony waved his hands in the air. “You look like a frump!”
Anthony couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Paige was wearing an oversize NYU sweatshirt and a pair of sweatpants. And she hadn’t done anything with her hair or makeup. She looked like she had rolled right out of bed.
“If we’re trying to figure out if Max is gay or straight, this certainly isn’t the way to do it.”
“Is that what we’re trying to do tonight? I thought we were getting together to watch some videos. You didn’t tell me we had an agenda.” Paige shoved a finger in Anthony’s chest. “First of all, this is the way I always dress when we have bad movie night. Second, I didn’t know there was a dress code. You didn’t mention one when you called to invite me over. If I’m not passing inspection, I’ll go home.”
Anthony’s mouth dropped open. What had gotten into Paige?
“I didn’t mean to upset you. I’m sorry.”
“You should be! There’s nothing wrong with the way I look.”
“What are you all worked up about?”
“Nothing. Now can we go inside and watch the movie?”
Anthony hadn’t meant what he said. Okay, Paige didn’t look her best, but she certainly was no frump. He’d only been kidding with her. But from the way she was walking to his front door, all rushed, it was almost as if she were trying to outrun him. Her cheeks were all red, and the only time her cheeks got red was when she was upset and about to cry.
Anthony touched Paige on the shoulder. “Hey, are you okay?”
Paige turned around and gave Anthony a smile. “Of course I’m okay!”
No, she wasn’t. The smile on her lips was quivering. And her eyes looked moist. “You’re not upset with me, are you?”
“Upset? About what?”
“What I just said. Paige, you know I think you’re a knockout. It’s just that sometimes I feel like you don’t want the rest of the world to know.”
Paige gave Anthony a quick kiss on the cheek. “You’re sweet. Now come on, let’s go inside and watch a bad movie.”
And with those final words, Paige went inside.
After Paige was gone, Anthony remained out in the hallway, trying to figure out what had just happened. Something was up with his best friend and he was going to find out exactly what it was.
Paige had been lying to Anthony.
She was upset.
She knew his remarks hadn’t been mean. Anthony loved her.
But there was no putting one past him. Anthony could always pick up on her moods and she was in a bad one.
She’d have to confess to him at some point. But not tonight. Tonight she just wanted to forget that this morning she’d turned on her TV and there in living color on New York Live was Camille.
Her mother was in New York and she hadn’t called to let her know she’d be in town!
At first Paige had been excited. She figured that once Camille was through being interviewed she’d call her and they’d spend the day together.
But Camille never called.
She had stayed in the apartment all day, waiting for the phone to ring, and it never did.
Finally Paige couldn’t stand it anymore. She picked up the phone and dialed Camille’s cell phone. Naturally, her mother didn’t pick up, so Paige left a message:
“So nice of you to make time in your busy schedule for me. I caught you this morning on New York Live. What was up with the lighting? You looked awful. All puffy and bloated. Unless it wasn’t the lighting. You might want to call a plastic surgeon and see about some repair work. You looked at least ten years older than you actually are.”
Paige had gotten some satisfaction with those final words. She knew Camille would freak out after hearing her message. Good. She cared more about her career and her appearance than her own daughter.
Was it too much to ask that her mother make some time in her life for her? She wasn’t trying to be unreasonable. She knew Camille had a busy life, but how hard was it to find a way to squeeze her into it?
She’d spent all day feeling sorry for herself, and when Anthony had called to invite her over, she’d dressed without thinking. True, knowing that Max would also be there, she should have dressed to impress, but it was too late now. Now it was time to get over it all. She wasn’t going to worry about the way she looked and she wasn’t going to think about Camille anymore. Tonight she was hanging out with friends.
“Hey, Paige, come sit next to me,” Max said, patting the spot next to him on the couch.
Paige couldn’t help but notice the surprised look on Anthony’s face. She’d bet anything that he’d been hoping to sit next to Max. Well, there was nothing she could do about that.
“You like nice and comfortable,” he said as she settled down next to him.
“You don’t think I look like a frump?” she asked, reaching for a plate and filling it with pork fried rice. Paige didn’t know why she had said that; the words had just slipped out. Sometimes Anthony was such a know-it-all that it was nice to occasionally put him in his place. “Some guys would say I do.”
“It’s the perfect outfit for watching videos. Why get all glammed up when we’re just staying in on a Saturday night?”
Paige looked directly at Anthony and tried not to smirk.
“I’m with you, Max,” Colleen agreed, who was wearing a neon pink T-shirt and overalls.
“There’s nothing wrong with looking nice,” Anthony huffed, sitting down on the floor and aiming the remote at the TV.
The others wouldn’t be aware of it, but Paige was sure Anthony had spent hours deciding what to wear. Even though he looked casual in his dark brown cords and light brown suede shirt, she was sure he’d agonized over his outfit.
“I’m sure you’re still in the running for the best dressed award from GQ,” Paige teased.
Anthony glared at Paige. “Thanks. Now everyone be quiet! It’s time to watch the movie.”
At first, Anthony was engrossed in watching the movie. But then he noticed that Max and Paige weren’t paying much attention to the TV. They were paying attention to each other.
“How come you’re using a fork?” Max asked Paige.
“What’s wrong with a fork?”
“You can’t eat Chinese food with a fork. You have to use chopsticks! Don’t you know how?”
“Not really. I can pick the food up, but by the time it reaches my mouth, it falls back onto my plate.”
Anthony gasped. Why, that little liar! She knew how to use chopsticks! She was just playing dumb. Something that he would have done!
“They’re easy to use. Here, I’ll show you.”
Anthony’s eyes nearly bugged out of his head as Max slid behind Paige and wrapped his arms around hers. Then he placed her chopsticks in her hand and scooped up a piece of chicken, lifting it toward her mouth.
“See? Easy. Nothing to it.”
“Let me try myself.”
Paige tried to use the chopsticks, but she couldn’t seem to get the hang of it. Or so she pretended, Anthony noted. She kept picking up rice and vegetables, and just as they reached her mouth, they fell back onto the plate until Max wrapped his arms back around her and guided the chopsticks again.
“Why don’t you just feed her?” Colleen suggested, her eyes glued to the TV screen. “It’ll take less time.”
Anthony pinched Colleen’s leg.
“Ouch!”
He smiled pleasantly. “Sorry. But you know how much I hate talking during a movie.”
And I don’t need you giving Max romantic tips!
“Uh-huh,” Colleen said, glaring at Anthony while rubbing her leg.
“Anyone want a fortune cookie?” Max asked.
“I’ll take one,” Anthony said.
“Me too,” Paige said.
“Me three,” Colleen chimed in.
“What’s your fortune say?” Paige asked after Anthony had cracked open his cookie.
“Mine says I’ll find fame and fortune where I least expect it,” Colleen said.
Anthony popped a piece of cookie in his mouth and stared directly at Paige before reading off the slip of paper from his cookie. “Mine says I’ll be stabbed in the back by my best friend.”
Two hours later, the movie was over.
“So what did you think, Max?” Anthony asked.
Max rubbed his eyes. “I’m still in shock.”
“What was your favorite scene?”
“I only get to choose one? Let’s see.” Max thought for a minute. “I guess it would have to be the scene where Neely and Tony have their singing duet in the mental hospital.”
“Let’s not forget the scene where Neely rips off Helen’s wig and flushes it down the toilet,” Colleen added.
“Is anyone up for another movie?” Anthony asked. “We could keep with the Hollywood theme and watch Beyond the Valley of the Dolls. It’s an unofficial sequel and it’s sooo bad it makes the original look like a classic!”
Colleen stretched and yawned. “I’m kind of tired and I’ve got a dance class early tomorrow morning. I’m going to call it a night.”
“Me too,” Max said, getting to his feet.
“I guess that just leaves you and me, Paige,” Anthony said.
“How about if I walk you home?” Max said to Paige. “That is, if you’re not staying.”
“You don’t have to do that,” she said.
“I know I don’t have to, but I want to. Let me go get my jacket.”
Colleen raced over to Paige and squeezed her arm. “I’m going to leave now so you and Maxie can have some alone time. Call me in the morning!”
Anthony tried to fight against the jealousy rippling through him, but it was hard. His mind was racing with images—all of them romantic and all of them starring Max and Paige.
He got off the floor and headed into the kitchen with a stack of dishes, slamming them on the counter. Paige followed after him with the empty takeout containers.
“Is anything wrong?” she asked, tossing the containers into the trash.
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure,” he said as he began loading the dishwasher.
“Then why are you giving me the big chill?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Paige looked up from the white plastic trash bag she was tying shut. “Yes, you do. You’ve been ignoring me all night and I want to know why. We always talk back to the screen during Valley of the Dolls and you didn’t do it once tonight, even when I did. And whenever I made some sort of comment to you, you shushed me. And let’s not forget your so-called fortune. You will be stabbed in the back by your best friend. What was that supposed to mean? Are you mad because I snapped at you before?”
Anthony filled the dishwasher with Cascade and then turned it on. “You mean when you bit my head off for no reason?”
“Tell me what’s wrong.”
“The way you did when I asked you what was wrong?”
“Anthony! Stop answering my questions with questions!”
“Fine! I’m jealous, alright?” Anthony admitted. “You got to sit next to Max on the couch and now he’s walking you home. Satisfied?”
“Is that my fault?” Paige asked, going to the sink so she could wash her hands.
“No, but—”
“I didn’t ask him to walk me home.”
“I know that!”
“Then why are you being so horrible to me?”
“You were horrible to me, too! Needling me with those comments I made out in the hallway and then saying I’d win the GQ award for being best dressed. You still haven’t told me why you were so upset and I know something is up, so don’t try to lie to me.”
“I don’t want to talk about it,” Paige said, squirting her hands with SoftSoap and lathering up.
“Well I don’t want to talk about this.”
“That’s really mature. I thought we had a pact. That we were going to help each other land Max. Is our friendship breaking up? Are we actually going to let a guy come between us?”
Paige’s words were like a slap in the face and Anthony snapped out of his jealousy. “We better not!” He sighed. “Look, I’m sorry. When I saw all the attention Max was giving you, I lost it. I like this guy. I really like him. He’s cute and sweet and adorable. I love spending time with him. I have these feelings for him and I can’t tell him because it’ll probably freak him out. We hardly even know each other! God. Listen to me. I sound like some dippy heroine from a Harlequin romance.”
Anthony leaned against the humming dishwasher. “It’s just that sometimes you meet a person and they blow you away. It’s like they have this magical aura and they draw you in and you’re helpless.”
“Okay, this is getting a little heavy,” Paige said, turning off the faucet and shaking the excess water off her hands. “We’ve only known Max a couple of weeks.”
“I’m not doing a good job explaining myself. I like Max. I like him a lot. But if I tell him what I’m feeling and he’s not gay, well, then I’ve blown our friendship because like all straight guys, he’s probably going to be grossed out.”
“Not necessarily.”
“Paige.”
“Well, you’re not going to know until it happens. It’s not like you have a crystal ball and you can look into it and see what the future is going to bring.”
“I wish I did.”
Paige wiped her hands dry on a dish towel. “Hey, no matter what happens, you know you still have me.”
“I know that. And you have me. So, are you going to tell me what happened today?”
Paige sighed. “It was more of the same. Camille’s in town and she didn’t bother to let me know.” Paige held up a hand so Anthony wouldn’t speak. She knew he would find some way of defending her mother’s actions and she wasn’t in the mood to hear it. Maybe there was a reason why Camille hadn’t called, but she doubted it. And if there wasn’t, she didn’t want to know. Feeling unwanted by your own mother hurt too much. “I’m over it. I should be used to it by now, right? She’s been doing this to me my entire life.”
“Paige?” Max called from the living room. “Are you ready to go?”
“Almost,” she called.
“I’ll meet you downstairs, okay?”
“Okay.”
“One word of advice before you go,” Anthony said.
“What?”
“If he’s leaning more toward Straightsville, then the next move is yours!”