“How are you doing?”he said.
“Good?I won a scholarship to grad school.I start in September.”Which sounded like boasting, but here I was, looking at him in his super expensive clothes.Yeah, he was wearing shorts and a T-shirt, but those weren’t his old ripped jeans, and it was a Calvin Klein T-shirt.He was a famous actor now, and I felt small, the way I never had when we were together.All that time I’d spent worrying about him, and here he was, better than okay.I should have been happy about that.
“You going to quit dancing when you start school?”he said.
“No.I’m gonna make it work.”
The server came back with our drinks, and I looked at the menu.
“The Classic pizza’s good,” he said.“It’s got everything you like.We could split one, if you want.”
Because we both liked the same toppings on our pizza.
“Sure.”
He ordered, and the server left.I waited for him to stick the knife in and twist.I deserved it.But he just looked at me.Not angry, only concerned.
“You let your hair grow,” I said.“And you bleached it.”
“Yeah.The show’s producers think it makes me look more innocent.”
“I read that feature on you inEntertainment Canada.”
“Oh, that,” he said.
“How fucking dare they?”
“It was publicity for the show.”
“That’s not the point.They called you ugly.How does that not bother you?”Why did it bother me that it didn’t bother him?
“Getting judged on my looks is part of my job,” he said.“I get paid to put up with it.”
“You shouldn’t have to.And you’re not ugly.You never were.”
The food arrived, and we didn’t speak while we helped ourselves to the pizza.
“I’m sorry the article hurt your feelings,” he said.
“It’s notmyfeelings I’m worried about.You shouldn’t have to put up with that.”
“I appreciate the thought, but it doesn’t bother me.Anyway, notoriety has its compensations.”
“That doesn’t sound like you.”
“Joel said it, and I agree with him.Joel’s my costar on the show.”
There it was.Sticking the knife in.
“I know who he is.He’s a dick to you on the show.”
“He’s an actor.”
“Now you’re gonna tell me he’s not really like that.”
“He’s nothing like that,” he said.“So, you watched the show?”
“I tried.I got to episode eight.”I looked at my plate.“I had to stop watching after that.”
