The Hills: The Next Move Is Yours (Episode 328)

"Maybe you guys are just drifting."

From the cold open where Audrina and Justin check out an apartment at Little Tokyo Lofts to Audrina appearing to skip out on a roommate dinner with Lo and Lauren, I got the feeling that the Audrina/Lauren friendship was going to take some kind of a hit. But like Lauren said to Whitney, apart from living together, what do they even have in common anymore? Audrina has her little house out back, while Lo and Lauren have taken bedrooms in the main house. Truly, Lo and Lauren have been friends since childhood, but does that mean that there's no room for Audrina?

I have to give it to Lo, though, for successfully defending herself against the possibility that the gradual freezing out of Audrina might have had anything to do with her. Maybe it's because she appears to whisper those little digs that has Lauren wondering what she's been doing. She hasn't done anything. Which is exactly the problem. How can Audrina assert herself when Lauren's made it difficult? Truly, living alone can be great, but when you're in one place and you're supposed friends are elsewhere, that's not living alone, that's living apart.

I know, that's kinda deep, right?

Lauren finally goes to talk to Audrina in her little house, where Audrina says quite plainly that it isn't her so much as she feels Lo is keeping her away. And Lauren totally sheds tears but is that really all she can do? She walks away from Audrina's (which looks really cute by the way) and I don't think that anything was resolved.

Glad to see that Justin's really seems to be there for Audrina, prodding her to think really about what she wants. Also to extol the virtues of living alone, to which I can attest. Of course, I'm not in a Hollywood Hills guest house but a crappy studio on the North Side of Chicago, but I try to make my own fun.

Working Girl

Road trip! The siblings Pratt hit the road to Sin City when Stephanie accidentally/on purpose tells Spencer what Heidi's been up to. Also, nice that Spencer totally slept at the apartment when Heidi wasn't there. It isn't long before they arrive in Las Vegas, where Heidi's had a taste of what it will be like working as a project manager on the Vegas hotel for Sam and Brent:

1. Wear tiny skirt and highest heels.
2. Write things on clipboard.
3. Say "Oh that sounds amazing."
4. Repeat step 3.

Truly, the project manager gig sounds like a fantastic gig, but you'd never know it by the way Heidi appears to trail. Okay, yes, it's a big step up for her, and it's a lot to learn, but at least fake some enthusiasm.

Can't say that I blame Heidi, though, when Spencer rolls up on her at The Palazzo where she is having business drinks with Sam, Brent, and another business associate. I'm pretty sure that sound you heard when Spencer appeared was the deafening boom of any shred of credibility Heidi had as it left the building. Spencer makes his case that obviously he wants to get back together and wants to be with her because why else would he be there? I mean, apart from the fact that she is his meal ticket and everything.

While Heidi and Spencer talk -- or rather, Spencer talks while Heidi looks baleful -- Sam's already joking that they're going to need a new project manager. When Heidi returns, Sam and the business colleague call it a night, leaving Brent to give Heidi the briefest, sharpest talking-to about what could be the end of her career at SBE. She's got a lot to think about, he cautions, before leaving her in the bar. Hope she didn't get left with the bill.

Morning comes and Brent is waiting for Sam to collect him for the trip back to Los Angeles. Where's Heidi? Sam arrives just as Brent leaves Heidi a second voicemail message -- she hasn't been answering her phone. As Brent gets into Sam's car to drive to the airport, we see where Heidi is. At the airport already, on her way home with Stephanie, Spencer, and the biggest Louis Vuitton duffel bag I've ever seen.

Notes

• I've recorded the after-party -- recap or no recap? Should I milk this, or can we wait until August for season 4?
• That being said, there was a "The Hills Off The Record" aired over the weekend -- it was pretty good. I'll probably recap in my blog if anyone's into it.
• Not enough Whitney? We need more Whitney?
• I wonder what the lag was between this and "No Place Like Home", as Chloe looked absolutely ginormous!
• I thought the dress Lauren wore when she went to talk to Audrina was really pretty. And I don't even like long-sleeved dresses with exposed shoulders.

The (last) Poll

What do you think Spencer said to Heidi to convince her to come back to L.A. with him?