Free Just Like Me by Dani Hall Page A

Jesus tomorrow, Lisa.”
    “…Ok, that didn’t work out like I thought it would.”
    We both ate more, puzzling over a good code name for Jett.
    “Zachary…something…was a president, right?”
    “Right.”
    “So…Zach?”
“Yea, that’s a pretty common name. I don’t think anyone would link the two.”
    “Right. So, Zach?”
“Yea. So…what are you and Zach going to do you think?”
    I shrugged.
    “I don’t know. Dinner I guess, no telling what else.”
    Different pictures sidled through my head. I pictured a vast theater with a long red carpet. Celebrities in long dresses and suits, all dolled up, ready to see some famous play. I’d wear something like them, almost blend in, and have one of those ridiculous little binocular things to watch from the top row. They’d sing in Italian, and I wouldn’t know a thing they were saying, but I’d understand the story anyway. I may even cry.
    I pictured a tropical island. While things were getting cold here, we’d be flown to some beach where we’d enjoy surf and sand, cold drinks. I pictured myself lying on a beach in a nice chair, sipping on an iced coffee and watching the sun go down. I would have a wide-brimmed hat and look absolutely absurd. But I wouldn’t care.
    Maybe there will be a ball. An enormous ball where women would wear gowns the size of four people, and it would be sparkling and golden, and maybe it’ll be a masquerade. People will wear shiny sequined masks that match their outfits. And I will be just as bizarre, wearing a long gown and mask, dancing around slowly, actually fitting in with some life I’d never cared for.
    All of it is absolutely illogical, of course. I had never fancied for any life like that. But it’s fun to think about the possibilities. To imagine a life I’ve never known.
    “How are you going to treat him?” Lisa cut into my daydream.
                  I considered that for a second.
    “Well…if it was an actual date…”
    “You would offer to pay for your own stuff. I know you, and that’s exactly what you do. You don’t like guys paying for your crap.”
    “So the question is whether I milk the celebrity thing and let him pay for anything…or do what I’d normally do.”
    “But they don’t want you to milk the celebrity. He’s just normal.”
    “But a normal guy would pay for the girl’s meal.”
    “But normally you’d offer to pay.”
    “Yea…that’s true.”
    “But what if it’s like a restaurant that has $50 dollar meals?”
    “Then he’s paying.”
    We finished eating and dropped our empty boxes and drinks in a trash can. I wasn’t ready to go back to the dorm, so we walked over to the bridge. We both leaned against the railing, resting our elbows on the top. We watched the fish swim around and people walking around campus.
    “It’d be so weird if ya’ll ending up, like, actually dating.” Lisa said, finally breaking the silence.
    “Oh please,” I said, starting to pick at the paint on the railing. I tried to contain my sour face. “I don’t grovel at his feet. I don’t go looking at his biography and memorizing every detail of his life.”
    Lisa cleared her throat. “So…”
    “So, I’m not his type.”
    Silence encompassed us again. It’s a weird thing, silence. Out here, of course, there are sounds of nature. The water flowing beneath us, wind in the trees, sound of steps on the pavement. But actual silence, it’s louder than anything else you’ll ever hear.
    “It’d be weird.” Lisa repeated, gripping the railing and straightening up. “You’d always be in the news, be living the high life. You wouldn’t even need college. You’d be set for life.”
    “Right. Like that’ll happen.” I searched desperately for a topic change. “Remember when you wanted to drop out to be a professional gamer?”
    She laughed, shaking her head at the memory.
    “Yea, but you convinced me otherwise. I guess I kind of owe you for that. Maybe. I could’ve been an