Mystery downed the dregs of Rusty?s martini and gazed exhaustedly at Dan with droopy gray
eyes。 ?Every time Rusty mentions your name I feel the heat creep up my thighs;? she confessed
throatily。 ?I?ve been drowning in desire all week; but I managed to channel that animal energy
into my book。? She giggled。 Her teeth looked like they?d been colored in with a yellow
crayon。 ?Parts of it are totally X…rated。?
Pauper turns prince。 To coin a phrase; I?m crowning。
Dan reached for a cucumber sandwich and shoved it in his mouth; chewing it violently without
even tasting it。 He was supposed to go home and write his memoir。 He was supposed to have a
girlfriend。 He was supposed to be freaked out by this decidedly insane; yellow…toothed; horny
chick。 But the truth was; he was horny; too。 He?d lost his virginity twice already; and he couldn?t
wait to lose it again and again。
?e on;? Mystery beckoned; holding out her yellow…nailed hand。 ?We can get a room and put
it on Rusty?s tab。?
Dan picked up his observation book and followed her to the front desk。 Poetry be damned。 He
couldn?t resist following this story line to the next chapter。
lis for love
Jenny couldn?t be sure that the L who?d sent her a note on Valentine?s Day was actually the boy
from Bendel?s。 He could?ve been a total nerd or even a gross; perverted old man; but secretly she
was already in love with him。 She felt like a girl in a fairy tale in love with a man in a mask; and
she was determined to ride the Seventy…ninth Street crosstown bus until she met him face…to…face。
Monday and Tuesday she rode the bus alone until 7P。M。 with no luck。 On Wednesday after school
Elise came with her。
?I don?t get it。 Why are we doing this again?? Elise asked。 She?d already finished all her
homework and was staring out the window over Jenny?s shoulder; bored nearly to tears。
?I told you。 I left my favorite hat on the bus this morning and if I ride enough buses; I?m sure I?ll
see it;? Jenny lied。
?Someone probably took it;? Elise argued。 ?Your cute fuzzy red hat? I?m sure someone took it。?
A swollen…ankled middle…aged woman wearing a dowdy trench coat and reading theWall Street
Journal glared at them the way people are always glaring at teenagers when they?re talking in
public。 Like; could you please just press the mute button? Well;excuse me。
?Just this last bus and then we can go home;? Jenny promised; even though she?d promised that
two buses ago。
Elise put her hand on Jenny?s black…stockinged knee and left it there。 ?I don?t really mind。 It?s
not like I have anything better to do。?
Jenny waited for Elise to remove her hand。 ?What are you doing?? she whispered loudly。
?With what??
?With yourhand 。?