The Rules of Attraction

SEAN Tense scene with Rupert.

Rupert shaved his head. I had to stop by Roxanne’s place before the party to score for some Freshman idiots and the fucker had shaved his head. He was doing coke on the floor in the living room and staring at himself in the mirror, Hüsker Dü was blasting and some Brazilian guy was sitting on the couch fooling around with a portable Casio machine when I walked in.

“What’s going on?” I shouted over the music. I walked over to the stereo and turned the volume down.

“You’re gonna have to sell that bike of yours,” Rupert growled, wiping the mirror off with his finger and then sucking on it.

“Yeah?” I laughed nervously. “What’s going on?”

“Where’s the money, chump?” he asked.

“Take American Express?” I joked.

Rupert threw his big white bald head to one side, a couple of razor cuts dried black made it look even creepier, and laughed for too long. I wondered if the Brazilian shaved Rupert’s head. The thought made me queasy. “Oh, Bateman, you’re not funny.”

“Funny guy,” I said.

“And because you’re not funny, I’m going to give you some time.” He stood up. He looked big, almost menacing but in a wimpy way and came near me.

“How much do I owe you?” I asked, backing away a little.

“I’m not gonna remind you, Bateman,” he said, running his hand over the shiny head. He looked over at the gun case, considering which ones were loaded, but he was too coked out to do anything to me.

“There’s an orgy in Booth tonight,” I said, though I didn’t care. I was going to be with Miss Hynde anyway, and the thought of kissing her momentarily got me excited and calmed me down at the same time and all I said was, “Need to score for some Freshmen.”

“I need my money,” Rupert said, pissed but judging from his tone of voice would probably let it slide. He walked over to the desk near the gun case and opened a drawer.

“You know I’m broke,” I said. “Stop picking on poor boys.”

“What about the bike?” Rupert smiled, walking over to the stereo and turning the volume up but not as loud as it was before.

“What about it?” I asked.

“You’re such a jerk,” he sighed.

Before I left I asked him, “Where’s Roxanne?”

“She’s fucking the Brazilian,” Rupert shrugged, pointed.

He handed me a bag.

The Brazilian waved.

“How hip can you get?” I said.

“Yeah, walk on the wild side,” Rupert said, turning away from me.

I grabbed the stuff, left, hopped on my bike and was back to school by ten.