The Smartest Girl in the Room Read Online Free PDF

long enough."
    Emily stood and saluted. "Guys, have a great
time. I’m going to go home, make myself a Shirley Temple, go crazy
with some Battlestar Galactica , and call it a night. But
you, my friend, are mine tomorrow at nine, so don’t invite anyone
over, okay?" Before either could respond, Emily dashed for the
door.
    She walked out into the twilight. It was
always so tense going out and coordinating who was going, where
they were going, how they could sneak her in. So Emily was just
going to go home, get comfy and go to sleep. All was well. But...
sometimes it was nice to do something different. Maybe tonight
she’d go see a movie instead.
    "Emily!"
    She turned around and saw that Mitch was
running after her. She stopped and waited. When he reached her he
took a deep breath. "Boy, you walk fast!"
    "Not fast enough."
    He tilted his head. "I can’t let you bail on
my account."
    She shook her head. "Sorry, but it’s bad
enough when there’s a friendly bouncer. This serves the greater
good."
    "Nice Star Trek Two reference but I
couldn’t live with myself if you went home."
    "You’ll be fine then because I’m going to see
a movie. I think Copley’s playing the latest Brad Pitt-"
    "And you’re such a big Brad Pitt fan?"
    "Just because he’s beautiful doesn’t mean he
can’t act. But I’m going one way and you guys are going the other.
Have a great time and hopefully I’ll see you around."
    "Fine. I’ll see the movie with you."
    Emily’s cheeks tingled. "You can’t."
    "I can’t go see a movie? There must be a
constitutional amendment."
    Emily never realized before how difficult it
was to argue with someone who had gorgeous green eyes and a great
smile. "You and Zainab had plans."
    "No, you and Zainab had plans, and I elbowed
my way in."
    "That’s not an improvement, just so you
know."
    "Zainab isn’t going to miss us."
    "Are you underestimating my importance to
her?"
    "I think you’re underestimating how many
people she’ll have around her tonight." He smiled. "And what do you
have to be afraid of? It’s a movie, it’s not like I’m asking you to
elope."
    Emily sighed. "A movie?"
    He put his hand on his chest. "Just a
movie."
    She thought for a moment then moved in closer
and put her hand on his. "Only," she whispered, "if it is the most
sweeping, cheesy, romantic Brad Pitt ever."
    "And if that’s not playing?"
    "Then you are going to buy me the best dinner
of my life and tell me about what happened in the battle of the two
fraternities."
    "Sounds like a plan. Let’s say bye to Zainab
and get my car."
    She wrinkled her nose and shook her head.
"I’ll meet you there. I want to walk."
    "Are you going to make everything hard?"
    She grasped his hand and shook it. "Yes," she
said. He grinned and walked away.
    She had been walking for five minutes when
Zainab called.
    "What are you doing?"
    "I think I’m seeing a movie with Mitch. Don’t
be mad. Now the rest of you can have fun."
    She could see Zainab shaking her head through
the phone. "You know you’re the one I wanted to hang out with
tonight, right?"
    "So come with us."
    Zainab laughed. "That would be fun, with the
two of you making googly eyes at each other over me."
    "Zainab! I wasn’t- I’m not going to-"
    "Yeah, sure. Are you still coming over
tomorrow?"
    "Yes, dear. So don’t be too hung over,
because I’m putting you through your paces."
    "Whatever you say."
    Emily looked at the phone after Zainab hung
up. "I’m not," she said before she put the phone in her bag.
     

CHAPTER 3
     
    Emily got to the mall and sat down on the
stone ledge by the pool in front of the movie theater. Ugh. Brad
Pitt really was playing.
    "You beat me here." She turned around to see
Mitch. He looked at the marquee and grinned. "It’s playing after
all, and you’re just dying to see it, aren’t you?"
    "You win."
    "Now what?"
    "I believe we agreed that you were going to
buy me dinner-"
    "The best dinner you’ve ever had."
    "-the best dinner I’ve ever had, and