It's a new year

 Justin hated being out of the loop. But there was Vada and well, she seemed to be a bit of a third wheel too. She was always there at Gabe and Sammy's. She was the giddy sort too. He imagined she couldn't possibly be that happy. 

After a while, he could tell Sammy and Gabe weren't all that happy to see her either. So he decided to play along after being over at their place. Yes, he was pretty good at faking it too. But he was glad to have someone with him when he went over to Ari's.

He hated to tell Ari that he didn't know anything about Vada. Oh, she could make over him with that smile of hers and he'd smile back as if he was just as happy. After a while, it felt like he was on a drug or something. Just a little dizzy, possibly in a haze. He couldn't even think straight. 

But there they were so close, drinking wine and acting like they could be a couple to even if they didn't know what to say to each other. 

He hoped Ari didn't notice. Of course, Ari and Jade were in the clouds. They were engaged. And wanting to bring out the bubbly for the new year.

Before long, Mona and Hoyt were there. More laughter. Justin found he and Vada were so good with laughter, but would that lead to anything else? A part of him dreamed that she was someone he met by chance in Paris. He got around to asking her if she'd ever been there. 

"I wish," Vada told him.

"It's nice to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there," he shrugged. 

"It would be a once in a lifetime trip for me," she was certain. 

"Yeah, one time is enough," he nodded. "I mean, sure the places are cool, pretty old even. And yeah, they know how to back. But you know, you make your own Paris wherever you go." He knew it was a lie, but he wanted to see just how far he could get through the night with it.

"Oh, really," she smiled back and took another sip of wine. He was smiling too as if she just might be his ticket for staying in the country, after all.