The Smartest Girl in the Room Read Online Free PDF Page A

would have
replaced their coats by now." She laughed. "‘Criminal warrants’-
how very ‘Law and Order’ of you."
    "Ugh!" He shuddered. "That show is the worst.
To think people actually believe that’s what the police and court
systems are like! No wonder this country is such a moral
cesspool."
    "Pre-law?"
    "Criminal Justice. As close as we get at this
school."
    She rolled her eyes. "I didn’t realize I was
surrounded by so many people who were settling when they deigned to
come here."
    He put up his hands as if he were protecting
himself. "I was very grateful to get here, and I’ve been squeezing
my education for all it’s worth, although, maybe not as much as
some people. But I’d have to be blind not to notice its
reputation."
    "I’m sure since you left your frat you’ve met
many more of the academically-motivated."
    "Hold on there. I was single-handedly
responsible for making us the fraternity with the highest grade
point average, and when I left they became one of the lowest. Yes,
I ‘participated’ in most of the festivities, but only if it wasn’t
a school night."
    "You’re right. Frat boys can be smart. Oh
wait. You’re not in a frat anymore, are you?"
    "I concede nothing, but you like to win,
don’t you? Maybe you’re the one that should be a lawyer when she
grows up."
    "Great idea, except I have no passion for
it."
    "Then what are you passionate about?"
    "I will tell you on one condition."
    "Go on."
    "Stop talking to me about when I grow
up."
    "Fair enough."
    "I really like yoga and Pilates."
    "Really?"
    "What?"
    "Nothing, I just expected you to say
something about superconductors or international banking." He said
then thought for a moment. "Do you think that would work for me?
I’m looking for a new workout."
    "There are so many different kinds of yoga
out there that you can use it for almost anything if you know what
to look for."
    He frowned. "Except maybe getting really
built up, right?"
    She shrugged. "I’m a bad test case. I’d have
to eat nothing but protein shakes, egg whites and probably meat,
lift four hours a day and take steroids before I’d get big
muscles."
    "So you’re basically a guy."
    She smiled. "Yes, I’m a guy. And what do you
do?"
    "Not enough. I used to run and lift weights,
but I overdid it. My doctor told me I could walk again or run
again- once. I try to hit the weights and some of the cardio
machines at the gym, but I feel like such an old man when I get,
you know, on the elliptical."
    "Well, yeah! Those are things that, like,
twenty-five year olds use!"
    Mitch made a face. "Point taken."
    "Uh huh."
    Zainab walked in a little bit later. "Thank
you for joining us!" Mitch said as he kissed her on the cheek.
    Zainab looked serious. "Sorry. I was
researching our options and I just found out about the crackdown at
the Tiger clubs last month."
    Mitch frowned. "You mean because of that
cokehead they caught in a bathroom?"
    Zainab nodded. "Word is that in addition to
bringing his stash, he also had a few underage companions with
them. None of which is noteworthy except that one of the girls was
connected to a City Councilor. He was pretty pissed, so IDs are
actually being checked now."
    "There are some places we can go Metrowest,
and then there’s a bunch of places on Route One," Mitch suggested.
"And I’ve got a car. Not a problem."
    Zainab groaned. "We’ve got a car but most of
the other guys don’t. So we’ve got to stay T-accessible."
    Emily put up her hands. "Guys, it’s no big
deal."
    "You’re not getting off that easily. There is
an option over the river."
    They waited. "But?" Emily finally said.
    "It’s being hosted by Tau Epsilon Theta."
    Mitch's stopped breathing. "Maybe I shouldn’t
go."
    "Who or what is Tau Epsilon Theta?"
    "They were Pi Alpha Gamma’s biggest rival. We
didn’t always play nice," Mitch said. Emily could tell from Mitch's
voice that was an understatement.
    "Haven’t you been out of Pi Alpha- your
fraternity- for a while now?"
    "Not