The Smartest Girl in the Room (5 page)

He shook his head as he put the bags in the
car. He walked back to the elevator, trying not to think about
curve of her lips when she listened to him talk. Maybe she could
come with me. Right, and bail on everything she’s worked so hard
for? And I’ll just put her in my suitcase for the whole trip.

She shook the diet coke at him as he
approached. "As promised."

"And I thought you weren’t going to touch the
stuff."

"For you, anything." He smiled at that and
sat down. Emily leaned in. "So, the other part of the arrangement
was that you tell me what happened between you and the
fraternity-which-I-cannot-name."

He put his elbows on the table. "The thing is
I’m not sure I can provide you with all of the details."

"Just do your best."

"It was last year. May."

"The scene is set."

"Our weekends usually went pretty well. And
by ‘well’, I mean that there was usually a lot of liquid
refreshment and company."

"Girls. All of whom showed ID before you let
them in."

"Absolutely. However, there were occasions
when we didn’t have as much company as some of the other guys would
have liked, and during those times they would go looking for some
to bring over a day or two before."

"You guys put the 'organize' in
'organization'."

"You cannot fault us for our forethought.
Usually, we didn’t have to look too far, but with finals
approaching and our strange academic calendar, that weekend found
us a little short. So some of the other guys ventured out into
parts unknown, also known as Boston University and Boston
College."

She shook her head slowly. "And?"

"There is kind of an unspoken rule between
fraternities... and territories."

"Territory. As in ownership?"

"We preferred to think of it as an implied
right."

"First dibs?"

"That works." He smiled, but she didn't.
"Some of the younger guys obviously did not understand this because
they brought back a whole bunch of new girls. We thought that was
great until we realized where they were from."

"Don’t you have a chapter or something at BU
or BC?"

"Ah, so you’re not a total Greek novice?"

"Some things have managed to gain my
notice."

"We could have had a chapter at the other
colleges but we didn’t. So when some of the other frats found out,
they were pretty pissed. Only one, however, thought it was worth
their time to pay us a visit."

"And did you have cookies and tea waiting for
them?"

"Not exactly. And this is where it gets hazy.
I remember some shoving, yelling, punching," he nodded as he
listed. "But the next thing I knew a bunch of us woke up in the
basement half-naked with some of the other frat guys." He was
silent for a moment. "And there was some marker writing on us. And
there were no girls." He looked around. "But there were some
pictures on our cell phones."

"And then?"

"We all agreed that one, we weren’t going to
each other’s campuses again and two, it never happened."

She laughed again. "What an exciting life you
used to lead."

"Excitement isn't everything it's cracked up
to be. I think there's an old Chinese curse: 'May you live in
interesting times.'"

Emily frowned. "I'm not Chinese."

"I didn't think you were." He paused. "But I
did think you were something."

Emily raised an eyebrow. "Serbo-Croatian?
Norwegian? Pakistani?"

"No," Mitch said slowly. "Something Asian,
East Asian." She was silent. "But maybe not…"

"Korean," she said after a moment. "Or, my
Dad was- is. So I guess it depends on whom you ask. Some will say
absolutely, some will say not at all."

"Hmm," he nodded knowingly. "I get that
sometimes."

"Not being accepted by either the Korean- or
Euro-American communities?"

"No. Yes. I mean, Jewish communities. My mom
is Jewish, my dad isn’t. They raised me as a Jew. We go to a Reform
synagogue, when we go to synagogue, but sometimes my Dad and I
get... let's call them curious glances."

"Isn’t that different? You are Jewish right?
It's a religion. It's non-negotiable."

"Except for the ‘purists’."

"True," Emily sighed. "My Mom was, er, is the
opposite. Her dad was Jewish, her mother was not, and the Jews in
our family weren't even Reform."

"Oh ho," Mitch said involuntarily.

"Excuse me?"

He smiled. "I knew there was something I
liked about you."

Emily tilted her chin. "You have a thing for
quarter-Jewish girls?"

"No, but I think I should. But only if
they’re also half-Korean." She looked away, trying to think of
something smart to say, but couldn't. "And now you're supposed to
say something nice about half-Jewish boys."

"You should be a gentleman again and change
the subject."

"So what do you want to do when you're out of
school?"

"Drink, most of the time. When I’m not
shooting up."

"And how do you plan to finance your habit?
Student loans?"

"I really would rather spend my days in a
crack house than go to school anymore."

"You mean you’re not going to graduate
school?"

She looked up at the ceiling. "I am so burnt
out now I’m surprised I don’t set off fire alarms."

"That’s no surprise. They have vacations-
even co-ops- for a reason, dummy."

"I bet you call all the girls that. No, this
is better, because now I’ll be out more quickly. I know this sounds
stupid and ungrateful, but I never wanted to go to college. Hell, I
didn’t want to go to high school. I would have been happy sitting
in the Boston Public Library all day studying on my own. Of course,
then I probably would have been an expert in hemlines and hair
color, but learned nothing about politics or history. Maybe it was
all for the best. Of course it is. I just wish I could do anything
else."

"So what would you like to do when you’re
done?"

"If money were no object? I’d love to tramp
around the world. I’ve always wanted to take the ‘Alexander trip.’
I’d start in Macedonia and work my way to India. Then do him one
better and get to China and Korea, just because." She sighed. "But
even if money weren’t an object, that’s just not safe anymore." She
propped her face on her hands. "My interview is over for now. Your
turn. What do you want to do when you escape from college?" Emily
asked.

"I feel pretty square, but I’m planning on
coming back for more. Law school and I’m looking forward to it." He
shrugged. "I’m pretty simple."

"Not at all," she smiled "The law is noble
and exciting. What kind?"

"I guess I like to argue, so maybe
litigation. I haven’t decided yet. I was too busy taking the LSATs.
I’m sorry, we’re not all as complicated and interesting as you
are."

"I don’t buy it. I’m sure that beneath your
calm exterior you’re burning with passion for... something," Emily
said.

Mitch raised his eyebrows. "You know, this is
just a first date."

"Date? Is that what we’re calling it?"

"Is there some reason this doesn’t
qualify?"

She sipped the last of her drink, stood up
and said, "In my universe, dates include food. I’m always
hungry."

He stood up too. "You don’t look like you
always eat," he said finally.

"I didn’t say I always eat, just that I’m
always hungry. You know," she playfully tapped his chest with the
back of her hand, "still growing."

Her hand tingled when he took it into both of
his. "I guess," he said quietly, "I’m just going to have to feed
you then. What am I getting you?"

She looked at him looking at her. She hoped
she wasn’t turning red. "I think I’m not as hungry as I was a
minute ago."

"Am I doing something wrong?"

"I didn't say that," she said softly.

He reached for her face and put a lock of
hair behind her ear to match the other side. "If I don’t get
something for you, I’m going to feel like a jerk." He took her hand
back and led her to the escalator.

She stood to one side of the escalator while
he leaned on the other. She blushed and turned away to look out the
windows. "Wait, are we heading toward the Reflecting Pool?"

"Yeah. Whole Foods is that way. I thought we
could grab some bread and cheese."

"How European of you. Not that I’ve ever been
to Europe. But-" she pointed and looked at him, "isn’t this where
you were mugged?"

"I think we’re safe, I don’t have any school
books with me tonight. Do you think it might be dangerous?"

"It might be, but I’ll protect you."

She jumped off the escalator and pulled him
with her. They crossed the street and walked to the Reflecting
Pool. He jumped up on the stone border and started walking
backwards on it.

"Stop!"

"I’m not going to stop," he said. "I think
I’m going to close my eyes."

"Stop!"

"And if you keep telling me to stop, I might
fall in, get soaking wet and then catch pneumonia. And then you’ll
have to take care of me for months on end, miss class and not
graduate. Is that the life you want for yourself?"

"All of this assumes that you’re not going to
fall and crack your head open. Get down!"

He shook his head. "I’m not going to get
down. In fact, you’re going to come up. You’re going to have to
hold my hands and make sure that I don’t fall in. I mean it. I’m
going faster!"

"Oh, Jesus!" She jumped up onto the smooth
stone. It was about five inches off of the pavement, but she felt a
little off balance. Though she’d lived in close proximity to the
pool for years, she’d never done this. "Open your eyes or I’m going
to push you in myself!" she shouted.

He opened his eyes and grabbed her hands. "If
you want me to get all wet, there are easier ways."

"Get down from there now!" A booming voice,
which sounded as if it were being magnified by a bullhorn, came
from a security guard next to the building. "You are not allowed to
step or sit next to the Reflecting Pool. Get down right now!"

"Happily!" Emily jumped onto the pavement and
pulled Mitch with her. "Sorry! Won’t happen again!" The guard made
sure that they were down and well away from the pool before he
slowly walked off.

"You’re stupid!" she said, hitting his arm
once the guard was out of sight.

"Ow! What was that guy going to do to
us?"

"Fine us for trespassing, Mr. Lawyer, and I
would be very hard pressed to pay it."

"Don’t worry, I’d bail you out."

"Dude, you haven’t even made it to dinner
yet."

"Right, food!" He grabbed her hand and they
ran across Mass. Ave, laughing as they dodged traffic. They ran
into the store giggling. Emily grabbed some fruit and Mitch got the
bread and cheese. The food rang up to twelve dollars- "This had
better be some good cheese!"- then Mitch grabbed two chocolates.
"For you, my dear," he said as he handed them to her. She
grinned.

"What, no coffee?" Emily teased as they got
out of the store.

"Princess Cappuccino is open until
twelve-thirty tonight."

"Did you know there is another one on Newbury
Street?"

"Newbury Street? Hmm, is that cheating on the
Gainsborough location? I mean, it’s a different store, but it’s the
same store, you know?"

"What do you think the Supreme Court would
say about it?"

"Who’s the complainant?" They walked up Mass
Ave to Newbury as they puzzled it out, gobbling up their bread and
cheese on the way. By the time they got there, they determined that
if the proprietors were bringing charges against them, they
wouldn’t have a case, but if the staff, who might have grown
accustomed to their tips, did, that would be another story. "And I
do try to tip," Mitch said as they walked down the stairs into the
Newbury Store. "My mother had a friend who worked in a coffee shop
for a little while, and they totally depend on the extra dollar or
two they get per hour. It doesn’t seem like much, but it adds
up."

"I always think of it as good karma to
protect myself from people spitting into my tea."

"With that in mind, I insist that you get
something other than tea."

"Excuse me? You haven’t known me long enough
to be irritated, have you?"

"I think it might be a long night, and the
extra caffeine might help."

She sat down and watched him from the back
while he ordered for them. She could tell he still worked out. His
frame wasn’t large, but he’d made his shoulders bigger. When he
moved his arms slightly, she could see his upper body became more
defined, even under a shirt and jacket. He moved like he was proud
of his body, but not overly so. She started wondering what he might
look like underneath the layers.

"For you." He sat down and handed her a
pinkish brownish concoction topped with whipped cream and chocolate
syrup. "Yum," she said, and giggled. "I have the worst sweet tooth
ever," then started to take careful sips.

"Good to see you have some vices."

"Ugh! Don’t encourage my depravity."

"Coffee and chocolate are hardly
depraved."

"What would count, since drugs and alcohol
are off the table?"

"Isn’t there an Adam Ant song to this
effect?"

"I don’t know, he’s a little before my
time."

"Then how do you know about him at all? And
how do you know he’s before your time?"

They talked about old music, the merits of
classic Doctor Who (he was for, she was against) and the upcoming
election for a while before they realized that they were the only
people left in the place and that the guy behind the counter was
looking at them resentfully.

"Okay, what’s next?" Mitch opened the door
for her and they stepped out into the brisk fall air. It was just
about midnight.

"Is anything else open that won’t card
me?"