The Hills: Boys Make Girls Cry (Episode 404)

"If we hurry, we can catch the early bird special at Old Country Buffet.": Spencer and Heidi have got to go... (Image courtesy MTV.com)It's Frankie's birthday, and the gang head out to Las Vegas to celebrate. And when I say gang, I mean Lauren, Lo, Stephanie, Doug, Brody, Frankie, and maybe some anonymous brunette lurking in the background. While they enjoy Champagne on Doug's private jet, Audrina and Justin are nowhere to be found. When Stephanie asks where they are, Lauren says it's a long story. Which I'm sure is really nothing at all but will get nitpicked over once they hit Sin City. As if that wasn't awkward enough, Brody hoists a glass of bubbly to Stephanie, whose presence as a Spencer surrogate is kinda welcome. Nobody ever said the end of bromance was pretty.

Opening credits, Natasha Bedingfield sings that the "rest is still unwritten" la la la.

The gang arrive in Vegas (to the strains of Your Vegas performing, um, "Your Vegas"), checking in at The Venetian. The girls are relieved to have their own room to themselves, separate from the rowdy guys. Lauren calls a bed to herself, while Lo and Stephanie wonder who Lauren will hook up with that night. Lauren assures them that she'll be hooking up with nobody, unlike the last time they were in Vegas for Brody's birthday. Hey, isn't that when Lo and Frankie made out? No mention of that, though Lo is still shocked by Brody sorta calling Stephanie out on the flight. Stephanie wonders why Brody talks smack about her to Lauren behind her back when he knows she's a good person. Lauren just advises Stephanie to show him what a good person she really is. Okay, good luck with that.

Back in L.A., Heidi finds Spencer playing video games at home. Not only is he pissy about Heidi coming home later than he expects because she works, but he's annoyed to learn that not only is Heidi's sister Holly moving to town, but she'll stay with them until she finds a place of her own. Though Spencer insists Holly's last visit was a disaster, with Holly leaving her stuff all over the place, Heidi insists.

At the Venetian, Lauren and the girls join the boys in their suite for pre-party shots. She also tells about why Audrina isn't with them. Apparently, the night before Audrina was rude to Lauren, ignoring her in favor of talking to some other girls. When Lauren tried to get her attention, Audrina brushed her off by saying "I'm here with my friends." Everybody agrees: Lauren should kick Audrina out of the house. But what if Lauren doesn't want to lose yet another friend?

If Holly drives 14 hours from Colorado, how long will it take for Heidi and Spencer to haul ass out of the apartment for a dinner reservation? According to my watch, less than three minutes, give or take a minute. Heidi is quick to say that Holly is welcome to stay there as long she needs to, though Spencer is not as welcoming. Well, there was that high five, but what? No hug? Holly looks exhausted after her drive, though it's nice to see that she kept up with the extensions she got on her last visit to Hollywood.

Night has fallen in Vegas, and Audrina and Justin have finally checked into The Venetian. Audrina grins that it will be an interesting night. When Justin asks why, Audrina gives her side of the story, which has Lauren trying to barge in on her conversation. They haven't seen each other since, and besides, they're growing apart so this is what happens. Audrina sounds matter-of-fact when she says their relationship won't go back to how it was.

Cut plays host to Frankie's 21st birthday dinner. Frankie asks where Audrina is, and Brody shouts that he's tired of talking about her. So what to talk about? Stephanie pipes up, asking Brody why he says mean things about her to Lauren. When he asks about Spencer, Stephanie reveals that Spencer's been ignoring her because of her friendship with Lauren. Stephanie doesn't think he should tell Lauren not to be friends with her. Brody contradicts her, saying that he never told Lauren not to. But he's known Stephanie for a long time, knows how crazy she can be. Which is code for "You used to be a crazy druggie." Stephanie calls his bluff, and Brody doesn't back down. While Stephanie can't believe he just called her a psycho, Doug tries to defuse the situation by changing the topic to something else. Sadly, though predictably, he offers no alternative. What he said was, Lauren, be careful. She's crazy. When Stephanie says not to call her crazy, Brody refuses. And so Stephanie leaves before they see her tears, Lauren following her out.

Lauren reminds Stephanie it's not easy to be the bigger person, but still, Stephanie is in shock. Brody sounded just like her brother. Why is it so easy for boys to make girls cry? How could he say that to her? Though Lauren reminds her that she's better and stronger for having taken care of her drug problem (her actual words: "rough path"), Stephanie is still in shock that Brody could throw that back in her face. And frankly, even I'm kinda shocked that he would go that far.

Audrina catches up with Frankie and the birthday revelers at LAX. While Justin and Brody stay away from the girl drama, Audrina and Lo are left to awkwardly drink in silence while they wait for Stephanie and Lauren to appear. Audrina pleads her case to Frankie, who thinks she should apologize, and that the ladies should all just make up and get along already. That doesn't look like that's going to happen, as Lauren looks surprised to find Audrina there. Frankie asks Lauren to not have words with Audrina that night, so she doesn't have words with her at all. They don't talk, avoiding each othe, easy to do in a big night club. Audrina is put-out, and Justin tells her she shouldn't get upset over people who don't seem to care much for her. They decide to cut out early, bidding goodbye to Frankie. Lauren watches them leave, but doesn't say anything.

Spencer actually dries to Bolthouse, just to bitch to Heidi about Holly lying on the couch, accidentally erasing three of his programs from his TiVo, and using his rowing machine. Heidi doesn't want to hear it, insisting that Holly does want to move out and Spencer had better be nice. And maybe he needs to get out of the house his own damn self. Yeah, Heidi! I have to say, I like independent Heidi. Wished she liked herself like that, too.

Stephanie and Lo definitely think Lauren should talk to Audrina when they get back to Los Angeles. Frankie knocks on their door, barely upright after a night of partying, to give the girls some bad news: Brody and Doug are in jail because Doug got punches. Oooh, cliffhanger!

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