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Bobby glances over at Ja to listen to so hi noises, pleads with anyone ill listen

I can’t for out a hand to steadyreactions

Bobby slaps Ja on to her

"No one cares," Bobby’s saying "I thought we agreed on that"

Jareed on that," Bobby’s saying "You understand me? No one cares" He slaps her across the face, harder This tiets her attention She stares at hi with anyone here and it’s useless We agreed that no one would care"

Ja to relax into thewith exertion, trying to wrestle her down, but he’s laughing because he’s so stressed out, and so, frivolously, "No one could have saved her" I’ for the door I’ away fro that the Halcion prescription Jamie picked up was ht and I’ Absolut from a plastic cup, overdressed in a black Prada suit with Gucci boots and eating Xanax, a cigarette burning between astore that ; there’s a stage, there’s supposed to be bands, there’s an Amnesty International banner, there’s supposed to be the ubiquitous benefit concert (though right now the Bangles’ "Hazy Shade of Winter" is blasting over the sound systeer froe sneakers, there’s Andre Agassi and Willia guitars, there are the first black people I’ve seen since I’ve been in France, there’re a lot ofon who you ask), there are trays of ostrich on tiny crackers, opossue plates of tentacles draped over clu down and I’ for a leather sofa to fall into because I can’t tell if people are really as disinterested as they appear or just extre away flies when they aren’t busy whispering or lurking I’ directions It’s really an alar party and everyone is a monster It’s also a mirror

And then a giant intake of breath Uncertain of what I’e of the crowd, beyond the crowd, perfectly]it, ca around her, surrounded by playboys, her hair sleek and dark gold, is a girl

Chloe

Everything rushes back and it knocks h the crowd du so hard I’li over to say "Hi" but when she sees how freaked out I look-face twisted, gasping-sonore me

At the precise moment Elle turns away I see Bertrand Ripleis across the record store, his eyes focused as if on a target, gri h the crowd, knocking into people, but it’s so packed in the Virginupward and sideways across a slope and Chloe see how fast Bertrand Ripleis isan intro, a way to kiss her

"No, no, no," I’ arounda tray of hors d’oeuvres, who

Bertrand angrily knocks away, and then by an unusually insistent Isabelle Adjani, straining to keep up his side of the conversation When he glances over, sees how round I’ve covered, he pushes her aside and starts cutting across to Chloe laterally

And then I’ on Chloe’s shoulder, and before even looking at her-because there’s so lance over in ti at me blank-faced until he retreats