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I watch her face as she takes it all in "Like it?"

Her wide grey-green eyes drift over everything, returning toat her Haven’t stopped since we sat down She smiles shyly into her lap The table is shost of a s the knuckles one at a tiuys are usually too dense to actually do Her cheeks glow a little pink

"So E back as the waiter arrives with a bottle of wine "Because this fil to do it for both of us"

She smirks at me while the wine is tasted and approved, doesn’t speak until the waiter disappears "You’re already famous"

I frown, lips pursed "I ahs "Oh, I don’t know… the photographers who follow you around, irls," I say, and she laughs again "Well, I’ve noticed one girl And I haven’t been able to see or care about any of the others lately They led, she says, "Hmm"

I don’t want to say too much too soon She seems oddly perceptive where bullshit is concerned "You didn’t answer Are you ready for it yourself?"

She shrugs "I don’t know It’s still a little surreal I want to be successful, of course But part of irl"

That’s a new one Who wants to be normal? "Normal how?"

The self-consciousness is back She bites her lip, fingers tracing the base of her wine glass as she debates what to reveal "Like… high school Theatre class Hoe plans Pro have you been tutored?"

"Since sixth grade"

"I started then, too"

She leans up "It never bothered you--the friends you left behind? The athletic teams you never played on, the class president spot you’d have easily won?"

No one’s ever asked ht to what I ree credits a year ago, and was nments and tutors "I never did public school, so in with" I lean closer, too, elbows on the table "You realize, don’t you, that there are e who’d desert all of that stuff in a heartbeat to have e have, to be e are?"

"So I hear" She colors slightly and I s into her lap again

"Nothing Just so this e She rolls her eyes "With you"

I can’t help but chuckle "So I have a loyal fan in--where do you live?"

"Sacramento"

"Sacra the moment this is out ofmy face "It’s like 400"No But not as far as say, Texas, or New York" I knohat I’ot the innocent look down Growing up with ht me to either lie like a pro or not bother

In a feat of perfect ti that will earn him a thirty percent tip, the waiter arrives with our ht to where Graham lives, in relation to me But New York is on the other side of the country froht down the street I should pinchabout Graha it

The , the waiter attentive but not intrusive We talk about jobs we’ve done, people we’ve worked with or want to ith, and he’s funny, especially when discussing Hollywood gossip, and how petty and catty people can be How fake Which makes me think of Brooke

"So how do you know Brooke?" I ask, not thinking this question will get the reaction it does I just recalled the animosity that seens in his response quickly, but not before I see what flies across his face Even still, I’ to pry… I just… noticed you guys seem… uh…" Oh my God, I’ve talked myself into a corner

"Noticed that, did you?" His voice is careful, calry