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"Yes" My smile is similar to that of the boy on the screen, if Wynona doesn’t look closely enough That boy is not yet the uncaring bastard sitting in front of her

She scoots an inch closer "Were you and Ms Ca of School Pride?" I can tell from her cold eyes she knows danore her pointless taunt

"Sure," I lie

Ignoring me, she asserts, "Because there are rumors that the two of you had--issues--on the set of your recent filaze "There’s a reason they’re called ruht?"

She looks like she wants to bite ood way "What about now? Do you consider yourselves to be--friendly--now?"

What a bitch I decide to throw her a fast ball, which turns out to have perfect ti out this past weekend, in fact"

Thank God I’m occasionally truthful, because just as I admit this, she click-clicks and up pops a photo fro Brooke’s apart me I wonder if Brooke knows about this I wonder if she even set it up with that photog girl she has on payroll How else would this shot get into the exclusive hands of a common local news station when Star or Us would have paid a shitload of cash for it?

Wynona’s façade cru the element of surprise, but she rallies and turns back to Emma "So if you and Reid aren’t involved… is this due to your involvelances at a card "--Marcus Hoffpauer?"

The photo on the wall changes to E next to that conceited prick at his prom That must have been a pity date

Erinning conspiratorially at her "Ah, I reht?"

Elances at the photo "Yes, at his proers into Wynona "If he wanted to score points, he could have--I don’t know--introduced her to his friends? That’s e do e invite non-celeb friends to our parties" A glance at Erateful for ive Wynona asmile "So, about School Pride We’re both really excited about the upcoht several clips--I assu audience a couple of them now?"

Eh theit idle and purr for a moment "Wow, her face…" Her mouth turns up on one side "I kind of expected her head to start spinning around at one point"

Wynona was tough, but I’ve had more hostile question-answer sessions than that No need to pass that info on to Eh "Courtesy never works with people like her, so I don’t bother If you want to shift topics, you have to force it With a selic look, of course"

"Of course"

We pull into traffic and I’ either of us needs right now is more public scrutiny "You looked miserable at that pro, she says, "The waiters were nice" I laugh and she gives led "How did you know? I mean, practically everyone fell for the story that I’ular people"

I usted sound "Please You’re one of the least conceited people I know Your best friend is a non-celeb girl--that’s evidence enough that you’re not abovewith commoners"

She suess--you told hio to school, so you can’t i like that--and he got pissed I wouldn’t be surprised if he wanted you to give hi up in the industry and he saw his chance at that falling away"

She blinks in surprise, and her hands open on her lap "I can’t bla disappointed about that, if that was the case"

I’ "Why should he put forth no irl? Yes, there’s a lot of luck and who-you-know, but we both had to work like hell to becoet it handed to us Even if you are planning to toss it all aside to become an ordinary little co-ed"

She clears her throat, a light blush across her cheeks

In the silence, I begin ru steady with that under-aged girl Once I was gone and he got her to wake up, she was et to a friend’s house so her parents wouldn’t find out she was at soht

"I’ot to my place," John said

"What about the other one percent?"

John sighs, passing on a rare piece of insight "Dude, I hope we never have daughters"

My best friend doesn’t know about the possible kid with Brooke I love John, but unlike Brooke, I don’t trust anyone with that information Thanks to her, Emma and Graham both know about it

"Do you mind if I ask you about your relationship with Brooke?" Elad she can’t see my eyes behind these shades I mean da It’s not o and now you’re, uh, hanging out together"