that lying phony Clara Knowles had destroyed Lorraine’s chances. Thanks to the not-so-flattering articles Clara wrote for the Manhattanite, the popular girls at Barnard wanted nothing to do with Lorraine. And why? Because Lorraine had wanted revenge against everyone’s new favorite flapper, Gloria Carmody.
What a joke. If anyone would listen, Lorraine would explain that she was the flapper queen. Gloria hadn’t even bobbed her hair until Lorraine made her! Gloria hadn’t known how to dance anything other than a boring old box step! Gloria had worn dresses that went down to her ankles! Until Lorraine stepped in and saved her. But now people acted like Gloria was some kind of … hero. It was enough to make a girl want to punch someone.
“I think taking some time away from booze has been good for you,” Becky observed. “You’re so far ahead on all our coursework and reading—you even managed to finish Paradise Lost early, isn’t that right?”
Lorraine nodded. “I wish I’d paradise lost my copy of it,” she muttered, waiting for Becky to laugh. When she didn’t, it only made Lorraine want a drink even more. “Maybe then I’d have had an excuse not to read all ten million pages of it.”
“You’ve got to admit sobriety has given you a lot more free time.”
“Yeah, too much free time.” Lorraine picked up a white woven pillow and tossed it onto her roommate’s bed. “I’m knitting, Becks. Knitting.”
The truth was that Lorraine was actually very good at school—there had always been so many distractions, though, and why study biology in a textbook when you could get up close and personal with an actual boy? Sadly, Lorraine had more than enough time on her hands these days to excel academically. Oh, how she wished she could change that!
“ ‘They say a clean conscience makes a soft pillow, but this one suits me fine,’ ” Becky read from the embroidery on the pillow and giggled. “That’s funny, Raine!”
“It would be funnier if we were drunk,” Lorraine replied. “Have you heard about any parties or anything? Just because we have all the same classes doesn’t mean you have to be my warden, you know.”
Becky gave her a long, hard look. “Well, it is the weekend.” A slow smile appeared on her face. “And since you’re persona non grata in the city, why not come out with me to Long Island?”
“It sounds long. As in and boring.”
“Only if you go to the wrong parties. The real shoe spinners are on the estates out there, and tonight there’s a big to-do down in Great Neck. You heard of a fellow called Forrest Hamilton?”
Lorraine caught her reflection in the mirror and fluffed her bob. “The Broadway producer? Sure.” The society pages were thick these days with photos of and stories about the handsome young entrepreneur.
“Well, the party’s at his house.”
Lorraine raised her eyebrows. “And you’re invited? Why did he invite you?” Sure, Becky had a more thriving social life than Lorraine’s, but study groups and coffee klatches didn’t count, did they? Who would’ve expected Becky to have such an impressive acquaintance? “Becks, you’ve been holding out on me!”
Becky laughed. “Not exactly. My friend Dorothy’s brother starred in Bug-Eyed Betty, Forrest’s first show, and he was able to snag us invitations. Dorothy says it’s going to be the biggest bash since Sodom and Gomorrah got burned up.”
Raine leaped from her bed to hug Becky, nearly spilling coffee all over her roommate’s pristine bedspread. Finally, a real night out! “Thank you, thank you, thank you! You have no idea the public service you’re doing.” She sat down beside Becky. “Without you I probably would’ve been stuck studying flash cards with Melvin.”
“Oh, right, your friend from Columbia. You should invite him along! He’s cute.”
Lorraine almost choked on her coffee. “Seriously, Becks, you should go down to the Ziegfeld and try out your comedy act there. That stuff is gold! You and Eddie Cantor will be best pals in no time.”
Becky crossed her arms and pouted. “I’m being serious! Maybe he’s not a big six or anything, but you’ve got to admit Melvin’s got a handsome face.”
“You can’t even see his face behind those enormous glasses,” Lorrain muttered. She tried to imagine Melvin wandering among the glittering young things in his bow tie and sweater vest. “Trust me. He’ll be much happier with the flash cards.”
Besides, she wouldn’t want to be seen with Melvin if Marcus happened to be at the party. Not that she was still thinking about him … that