Free Date With A Rockstar by Sarah Gagnon

asks. He’s merging into deliriously tired. I know the look.
    Brie points to Jasmine and all of us try not to giggle. I think Jasmine whispers “bitch” to her, but I’m too far away to make out the words. Jeremy turns to Jasmine and she’s all smiles. “If you had to be cursed with either big feet or big hands, which would you choose?”
    â€œThese are funny questions. Did you come up with them yourself?” She bats her eyelashes at him.
    â€œYeah, sorry.”
    â€œOh, don’t be. You’re so much fun. I guess I’d pick big feet. They’re easier to hide.”
    Jeremy nods and Bill points at the next girl, but the plane bumps up and down and the seatbelt sign pops back on. “Thank God,” Jeremy mumbles.
    Bill stands in front of us. “I guess that will be enough. Everyone make sure your seatbelts are buckled.” I watch him and Eleanor return to their seats. They have a pile of paper between them and I wonder if they’re assigning dates right now. Or maybe that’s up to the producers. Did Jeremy like the answer to my question? Is honesty a good thing?
    Outside of the plane window, dark and light clouds pepper the sky. I bet if they were a food they’d be sweet. Maybe like marshmallows. Lucky for me, processed sugar is almost as cheap as vitamin spread. We’re too high up for a view of the landscape below. According to most environmentalists, the entire country is as overbuilt as Boston. I’d like to see that for myself.
    The plane tilts and circles down to land. Before we reach the ground, I catch a glimpse of foliage and blue water that look just like the brochure. Key West. Palm trees decorate the edges of the airport terminal. I instantly love them. All the leaves are on top, like the trees have big, shaggy hair. The city buildings are circled in thin clouds, but appear to be close. The plane bumps to a stop.
    â€œGirls, stick together.” Bill stands in front of us, adjusting his suit jacket. “Our agenda for this morning is to check into the hotel and get situated in our rooms. The first date will be this evening, but we’ll meet and discuss that along with our schedule in the hotel meeting room this afternoon.”
    I reach under the seat in front of me and pull out my bag. Shelley Anne fumbles with her lap belt so I demonstrate with my own. A big whoosh of warm air encircles me as I step off the plane and I wiggle my toes. Anything new and different is awesome.
    Jeremy is already off the plane. A limo pulls up alongside and he turns, smiles, waves, and climbs in the back. I’m smiling so wide my face feels stiff. The air here even tastes sweet, or if not quite sweet, it doesn’t taste like the tar exhaust of cars.
    We board a compact white shuttle. I snag a window seat to watch every single thing. If Fluxem gets me, I’ll have all of this to remember. I shake off the fatalism. I can do this. I can win enough for the cure. The shuttle whips through the street too quickly. A golden arch frames the hotel entrance.
Grand Escalatta,
the neon lights proclaim. A clean swath of green carpet leads in. This is so incredible. I turn back toward the shuttle and I’m rewarded with a glimpse of the ocean. The whole city hums. “What’s that noise?” Eleanor asks the bellboy.
    â€œThe water purifier, ma’am.”
    Oh.
I understand now. This section of ocean truly is aquamarine because they’re cleaning it. Constantly, from the sound of it. I wonder how much that costs? Bill checks us in at the front counter and holds up five envelopes.
    â€œTwo to a room. Pair up now.” Shelley Anne is still standing close to me, so I just slide a bit closer and she flares her nostrils in relief. She’s such a strange girl. I’m just glad I’m not sharing a room with Jasmine.
    We take the stainless steel elevator up to the seventh floor. The carpet is patterned in tropical colors and the theme