The Great James Gates

Inspired by the Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

The Great James Gates

Most people let life happen to them. Coasting on each gust of wind that pushes them toward their inevitable end. And then, there are those few rare people who happen to life.

James Gates was one of those few people.

His tireless rise in social status, experience, and wealth was not only something he pursued to better himself; but for a girl.

Every summer for five years, she would be there.

Delilah Bradford, the angel from California. She had been James' close friend and the only girl he had ever really cared for. Delilah was the kind of girl who could make you feel important just by looking at you.

This year they would both turn 21, and James had planned to surprise Delilah with an extravagant 1920's themed party celebrating them both.

It would be a night to remember.

***

A white Lexus pulled up outside of the Bradford house. James could feel his heart begin to race. James was ready, wearing a blue suit with a white shirt beneath, and his blonde hair styled and swept to one side.

He looked like money walking down the street.

James greeted Mr. Bradford first. "Glad to see you all made it here safely." He said, shaking Delilah's father's hand.

"Hello, James. Good to see you as always." The older man replied.

"How is your family, dear?" Delilah's mother asked, greeting James with a hug. "They're well, retired this past year." James noted.

"Oh, did you inherit the house then?" Mrs. Bradford asked.

"Actually, I bought it."

She stopped to take a look at him and smiled. "It looks like you are doing well for yourself, James."

The car door opened and out stepped a lanky west coast girl, all blonde highlights and curls that bounced just above her shoulders. Delilah was stunning as always.

"James!" The young woman exclaimed, hugging him tightly. "You look... amazing." She said, beaming.

He could feel the heat creeping over his cheeks but smiled confidently just the same.

"As do you." James took her hand and kissed it.

"Well," Delilah started, cheeks flushed. "You'll have to tell me what you've been up to." She paused a moment. "James, would you join us for dinner tonight?"

"Of course." He smiled.

James heard someone else getting out of the vehicle, and looked up to see a young man walking around front.

"Hey, sweetheart." He kissed Delilah on the head. "Who's this?"

Delilah tucked her hair behind her ear. "Will, this is James Gates, a friend of mine. His mother takes care of our summer home the rest of the year."

James was taken aback.

The man next to Delilah was tall with dark hair and light eyes. He dressed like he had money, but looked like he'd never had to work for it.

"James, this is Will Thomas. He's a director in Hollywood, his first movie is in production currently," she added. "We started dating in March."

Will reached a hand out to James. "It's good to meet you."

James begrudgingly shook his hand.

"James is joining us for dinner." Delilah informed Will.

"That's great, the more the merrier, right?" He looked at James, putting his arm around Delilah.

"Hope you like steak."

The Green Light

Night came as a relief.

James loved seeing Delilah, but couldn't stand another moment in the same room as Will. James sat gazing out his bedroom window. Down the other side of the street, was Delilah's.

Delilah kept a green lamp on her desk, and each summer when she was awake and wanted to talk, she would turn it on.

It was like a secret code between them.

As soon as James saw the green light bouncing off of her bedroom window, he would text her. They stayed up for hours until one of them fell asleep. Each year was the same, each year James awaited the light.

That night, light spilled out from her window. But this time, someone sat at her desk. The figure was much larger than Delilah, likely Will. Before long, Delilah’s silhouette replaced the other.

She stood at the window a few moments looking out into the darkness and turned out the light.

The illusion of love and lust

Morning came and James asked Nathan over for a late breakfast. Nathan was reasonable and a good listener, though biased towards morality. He was also the only one who knew about James' secret love for Delilah.

"That's it," James declared. "I have to break them up. I have to fix this so that Delilah and I can go back to the way we were before."

"You can't do that." Nathan protested, taking a sip of coffee. "That damn green light has you enchanted." He paused. "And they seem happy. Somewhat."

James pointed at his friend, smiling that overly optimistic smile of his. "See, somewhat. So you agree with me?"

"No, I don't agree with you. Don't put words in my mouth."

James stood looking out over the pool, his hands behind his back. His eyes were weary from not sleeping the night before. He felt as bad as a hangover, though he'd never had a drop to drink.

I've missed you this past year.

The words Delilah had spoken to him at dinner played on repeat in his brain. "Delilah deserves to be happy. Unbelievably happy."

"And you think that you can do that for her?" Nathan asked.

"Better than he can." Sorrow filled his blue eyes.

They remained for a while, unspeaking until Nathan broke the silence. "I assume since she's dating someone else that the joint birthday party is off?"

James turned to his friend, a grin creeping over his face.

"No, old sport. The party is very much still on."

The Party

The night was everything.

Per the invitations, women wore flapper dresses, men wore suits, and James wore a black tuxedo with a bow tie to match.

Sparkling patio lights gleamed off of the pool. There were deviled eggs, shrimp cocktails, and cheese and olive platters. Gold tinsel hung from every doorway, gold-rimmed champagne flutes at every table... The night was nothing short of perfection.

All he needed was the girl.

***

When Delilah arrived, she was flawless as refined gold. Her hair was adorned with pearls and white feathers. Her dress was pale gold and white beads that tossed gracefully with her every step.

James met her at the gate, taking her in.

"Happy birthday, Delilah." James kissed her on the cheek. "And Will, glad you could make it." He shook the man's hand.

"This is... really something." Will looked around at the extravagance of the party. "Really something."

The whole neighborhood partied into the night. The cake was cut, party-goers threw each other in the pool, and drinks were downed one after another. James was about to make his way towards Delilah when Will tapped his champagne flute.

"Hello, everyone." Will started. "You don't know me, but I wanted to say thank you, for coming to celebrate Delilah... and her friend, James." He raised his glass out to James from across the pool. James hesitated but did the same.

"Delilah," Will turned to his girlfriend, taking her hand. "I know we haven't been together for long, but I've seen so much of your life, your family, your friends. I see how they treasure you..."

Will pulled a small black box out of his jacket pocket and knelt to the ground. "and I want to treasure you for the rest of my life."

James watched in horror as the woman he loved said yes to the wrong man.

The Confessions

The night was green.

Congratulations were made after Will's proposal. Delilah's friends and acquaintances alike adored her ring and told her what a beautiful bride she would be.

She's engaged, James thought enviously, but he didn't care. I have to tell her, right now.

Will had gotten talking with some of Delilah's acquaintances about Hollywood life, and James saw his opportunity.

"Delilah," James took her by the arm, catching her off guard. "Would you come with me a moment?"

"Sure. Is everything alright?" she asked.

James hurriedly closed the sliding glass door behind them.

"There is something I need to tell you. It should have happened sooner than tonight."

"Okay." Delilah spoke softly.

"We've lived across the street from each other for years, and been friends just as long. You know what your friendship means to me, don't you?" James pleaded.

"Of course. You've always been one of my closest friends." Delilah smiled innocently. James took her hand.

"The wrong man gave you a ring tonight. It should have been me, it was always supposed to be me." James pulled her in close, kissing her softly. Delilah didn't stop the kiss but gave into it. The two melted together in the yellow moonlight.

***

A few hours into the party, Delilah stumbled back into James' living room and fell down next to the patio door. She didn't hear Nathan walk in until he almost tripped over her.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Delilah. I didn't see you there." He apologized.

"Hey, Nate. You look... swell." Delilah slurred her words, resting her head back against the wall. "This is... I've never had a drink before tonight. Did you know that?"

Nathan shook his head. "No, I didn't know that. Would you rather sit on the couch?" He asked. Delilah nodded, and Nathan helped her up and onto the plush sofa.

"You're so nice."

Nathan pulled a blanket around her and began to leave. As he did, Delilah called out.

"I always thought it would be James, ya know," she yelled over her shoulder.

Nathan turned to her. "What did you say?"

Delilah had been crying. Her eyes were red, mascara stained her cheeks. Nathan had thought it might have been from drinking, but now he was sure that the crying had come first.

"He never said anything to me, about his feelings. Will has a lot of money, though. And he's gon' be famous. Then I'll be famous too." She stared past the wall in front of her. Guilt and regret stained her beautiful, ruined face. Nathan felt sorry for her.

"But I'll never love him as much as I love James."

***

Will had seen the kiss.

He had suspected Gates' having feelings for Delilah, but he couldn't have foreseen him making a move on her. Not after the proposal. He saw one of James' friends coming out of the house.

"Is James in there?" Will asked, stopping Nathan at the door. His breath smelled heavily of alcohol, his eyes bloodshot.

"No, but Delilah's asleep on the couch." Nathan shrugged past Will and headed off to find James.

The Pool

It was midnight, and his guests had gone home. All except for Delilah, Will, Nathan, and some drunk 20-somethings passed out around the house.

"Was it worth it?" Nathan asked.

James looked over at his friend. "Yes, I believe so," James started, "Delilah deserves to know her options. Now, she does."

"Good for you," Nathan said, finishing his drink. "I'm gonna walk home. Suppose I'll call you in the morning, see how you're doing?" James nodded, thanking his friend as he left.

James sat down at the edge of the pool, hanging his feet in the water. He stared at his reflection, looking down at the great facade he had created.

He felt very alone.

And all James could do now was hope that his love would be returned. All he could do was wait.

Out of the silence, a single gunshot rang into the night.

The water was cold.

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-Leah H.