Comedy Girl Read Free Page A

twenties.
    â€œKeep the change,” I stammered.
    He squeezed the bills in his hand. Then he gave me a huge smile and a sexy wink.
    â€œSee ya ’round, babies. Next time remember to wear a robe. Some of these delivery guys might get the wrong idea.”
    I watched him walk to his truck.
    â€œHe’s hotter than that pizza!” Jazzy exclaimed. “He loves you, he totally loves you!”
    I looked at my empty, trembling hands. “Oh no! I screwed up!”
    â€œYou’ll be screwing him, girl! Did you see how he eyeballed you just before he left? He totally digs you!”
    â€œHe better dig me—I just gave him a twenty-five-dollar tip. And I forgot to use the coupon!”
    That hefty tip landed me a date with Eddie.
    I didn’t dare make eye contact with him as I sat with my head in my notebook in Geometry class. But out of the corner of my eye I peeked up and could see how much more attractive he looked without his Pizza Town uniform on. I also noticed him glancing back at me, his blond hair flopping in his face. I shifted uneasily in my chair. For the first time Eddie was paying attention in Geometry—he was paying attention to me.
    What was he thinking? I wondered. “She’s so in love with me that she forgot the price of pizza and gave me all her money.” Or, “She wants me so bad she tried to seduce me with a large tip.” Or, “She obviously isn’t learning anything in math—she can’t even figure out how much a pizza costs!”
    When the bell finally rang, I scooted out of class like a track star. Eddie grabbed his notebooks and followed after me.
    â€œThere’s a party Saturday,” he said, his green eyes piercing through me. He handed me a piece of paper ripped from his spiral binder. “I’ll be there,” he continued, with a wink. “Here’s the address.”
    That was a date with Eddie. No flowers, no movie, no dinner. No seductive invitation, no “What’s your number? I’ll pick you up at seven.” A date with Eddie meant a parentless house, grunger friends, booze. But I didn’t care. Although I hadn’t really ever noticed Eddie before, I now found myself strangely attracted to him. He was tempting, even in his bright red chinos and Pizza Town hat, and I’d go anywhere he wanted.
    Â 
    I hated parties, and despite Eddie’s invitation I probably wouldn’t have gone without Jazzy. Who would I talk to when I arrived? What would I say? What would people think of me? I preferred a rental movie night with Jazzy. We could scream and laugh and be our goofy selves. Parties were so painfully awkward. Hanging out with a bunch of drunken snobs who wouldn’t talk to me during the middle of the week, let alone the weekend—it was just another place I didn’t belong.
    We arrived fashionably late in our party outfits—tight flowery tops and lots of beaded jewelry, Jazzy sporting a pastel blue headband over her bleached-blond hair and I wearing red heart barrettes in my orange hair. Smokefilled the dark foyer, and the pulsing beat of the Mojo Monsters echoed off the walls. Couples sat on long leather couches in the living room, drinking beer.
    Eddie was nowhere to be found, so I sat on the edge of the sofa next to the TV, while Jazzy scoured the house. Jelly Bean was hosting Saturday Night Live . I escaped into the show, ignoring the critical glances of my schoolmates.
    Gavin wouldn’t act like these idiots, I thought. He wouldn’t ignore a girl sitting alone. Then out of the corner of my eye I saw a jet-black-haired guy in a leather jacket coming down the stairs. Gavin! My heart sank. And I’m sitting here alone. Watching TV at a party. He’ll see me and think I’m a total loser geek. I tried to find someone to talk to, but everyone around me was making out. I cringed.
    But when he turned his face toward me I saw it wasn’t Gavin after all. How could I