Page 66 of Is This for Real?
“Nobody liked my revised chapter,” I say.
“I liked the original chapter,” Miranda says.
“The original chapter is the right hook,” Zelda says. “You have to trust your own judgment.”
“Why the ice cream pints?” I ask.
“I was just telling Zelda that Oliver rejected me,” Miranda says.
“Oliver rejected you?” I ask. I don’t find this reassuring. Miranda is like an Amazon warrior goddess with her long, wavy, red hair and lithe body.
“Yes, I invited him up to my uncle’s place for the weekend,” Miranda says. “When we were getting ready to go to bed, I asked, ‘Should I make up one bed or two?’ And he said, ‘Two.’”
“Ouch,” I say.
“Exactly,” Miranda says. “I pretended to be fine the next morning, but I was glad when I was back home and I could lose myself in painting.” Miranda is a struggling artist.
“It’s his loss,” Zelda says.
“At least now I know. And I feel better that I put it out there,” Miranda says. “I’m happy with the painting.” She shows us a photo on her phone of an abstract painting. “See the two blocks of color? That symbolizes the two beds. And then I added the newspaper text as a collage over it.” The newspaper collage bits say “Move On” and “Don’t Enter.”
“I like the painting,” Zelda says.
“Me, too,” I say. I can understand Miranda’s point that it is better to know, but Oliver is not one of Miranda’s best friends.
"I forgot to tell you," Zelda says. "I met Max the other day for lunch. We're both representing defendants in this stock exchange case."
"You guys were really cutting it up on the dance floor at that party," Miranda says.
"He's a good dancer," Zelda says.
"He is," Miranda says. "I love going to parties with him."
"But neither of you are romantically interested?" I ask.
"Definitely not," Miranda says.
"Nope," Zelda says.
"Why not?"
"The chemistry isn't there," Zelda says.
"Same," Miranda says, nodding. "Unfortunately."
Zelda picks upFour Weddings and a Funeralfrom the coffee table. “Did you watch this again last night?”
“Yes. I just don’t get why Hugh Grant likes Andie McDowell over Kristin Scott-Thomas.” I grab a pillow from the couch, stuff it behind my back, and lean against it.
“I thought you were over Jamie.”
“I am over Jamie.”I’m in love with another best friend.Nothing like repeating mistakes.“But I thought there was something there. So, how do I trust my judgment? What was missing for him? Yet it worked for me?” I know there’s something there with Rory. I mean, we are hanging out all the time. It’s like he can’t let go, even if he’s not quite willing to commit. And I’m not willing to take a chance, either.
Zelda sits next to me. “If you look at Andie McDowell’s character, she was American, kind of an unknown quantity, kind of free, kind of like a man in her attitude, she sleeps with him on the first date and then tries to slip out of the bedroom. Kristin Scott-Thomas’s character even calls her a slut.”
“Are you saying Jamie didn’t like me because I am not a slut?”
Zelda tilts her head. “No, you’re not listening. Kristin Scott-Thomas’s character is upper-crust British, constrained. Hugh Grant wants the unknown. You’re part of Jamie’s family. You’re not new. It could be as simple as that.”
