Reality Check Read Free Page A

trying to get the kids’ baths done. We can't all have fun jobs like you, Hallie.”
    “My job's not so great,” Hallie says without a hint of irony. We all groan.
    “You get to work at the café on the dock where all the hot guys are, including the ones that go to the Ross School, you get paid for getting a tan, and you get half the year off since the place is closed in the winter!” Brooke sounds indignant.
    “I can't help it if there are cute boys.” Hallie grins.
    “Who all want to date you,” I remind her.
    “Not that you ever notice until they're sending you flowers.” Keiran giggles.
    “Okay, fine, my job is cool,” Hallie admits. “But at least I work.” Hallie glances at Brooke and Brooke glares at her in return. This is a dance the two of them do all the time.
    “I would never work
you-know-where
.” Brooke says the phrase fast, like it's on fire.
    “Whenever Brooke says it like that, I feel like she's talking about Voldemort or something really awful,” I quip and Keiran and Hallie can't help but snort. “When in reality she's just talking about the—”
    “Don't say it.” Brooke puts her hands up wildly, trying to cover my mouth.
    “You are so touchy.” I laugh when she starts to tickle me. “What's so wrong with owning a—”
    “Don't!” Brooke begs and now I can see she's getting upset. “Just sing. You promised us some Britney and if I'm going to get soaked in my gorgeous new boots you better deliver.”
    “Okay,” I tell her. The others applaud as I stand up and go reclaim my mop-turned-mic. Grady and Ryan, hearing the commotion, step into the kitchen doorway and whistle. Grady's beloved All-American Rejects shirt is covered in chocolate, since he's just made another batch of his homemade double chocolate Tropic Thunder cookies (Grady is a movie junkie who likes to name all his creations after his favorite films). Irun behind the counter and punch up the tune. “I can't deny my public.” Then I break into full Britney mode, remembering some of the dance steps we used for the talent show a few years back and singing to the mop at the top of my lungs. When I'm done, I'm met with loud cheers. I bow.
    “Ryan, when are you going to let her perform like this for real one night?” Brooke demands. “Charlie would bring the house down.”
    “I would not,” I say with a laugh. “I only do this sort of thing when no one is here, or it's just you guys. You know I have a terrible voice. I couldn't do it, like, for real.”
    “I think you should try out for the school play,” suggests Hallie. “You can act.”
    Before I can tell Hallie how crazy she is, I hear more clapping and turn around. Susan is applauding. I guess I forgot she was here. “That might have been your best performance yet,” she says and walks over with her oversized Milk and Sugar coffee mug in hand. I notice she's wearing super-high heels. She strides gracefully over to the table—unlike I would in those shoes.
    “Susan, I want to introduce you to my best friends—Keiran, Brooke, and Hallie.” The girls all shake her hand and look at me curiously. “Susan has been my number-one customer all week—or should I say my
only
customer. She's here on vacation.”
    Brooke gasps. “I'm so sorry for you. Did Priceline.com do this to you? I hear they pick the most rinky-dink places sometimes, which would explain how you wound up here.”
    Susan laughs. “Charlie said you were funny, Brooke.”
    The girls look at me again. “I've been bragging about you guys,” I explain. “I've been giving Susan a little background on my Cliffside existence.”
    “And you haven't left town yet?” Brooke deadpans. I swipe her with my cleaning rag. “EWW! Charlie, stop!”
    “Do you want to sit?” Keiran asks Susan politely.
    “I'd love to,” Susan says, before I can protest. I'm sure Susan wants to finish her book but doesn't want to be rude. “I was hoping to meet you three all week.”
    “You really are bored,”