Read Being Hartley for Free Online Page B

pains."
    "I guess it wasn't as much fun as I thought it'd be."
    "I hate to break it to you, but where morons are concerned, it usually isn't. If only more guys were like…" she starts, pausing to concentrate as she reverses out of park and aims for Sunset Boulevard once more.
    "Like?" I've been feeling jet-lagged again, but I am instantly awake on hearing this. Maybe I should ask about the fake boyfriend now?
    "I was about to say like Noah."
    I look at her to see what she's really saying here. Noah? There can't be anything going on with Noah, can there? Rory and Noah are like brother and sister. They've worked together since they were six years old. First on Saturday Kids and now on SMD .
    "Noah would never act like that," she continues.
    "They were only acting like that because you're famous."
    "I know. But he wouldn't be like that even if he wasn't famous. I know he wouldn't."
    From everything Rory's told me about Noah, I'm sure she's right. He doesn't sound the type who'd be picking girls up at the lights. He's more into serious girlfriends, though he's only had a couple of those. Still, I don't see what he's got to do with this. "Okay," I say. "Um, you're not secretly dating Noah, are you?"
    "What? Are you crazy? No! Yuck!"
    I frown. "Okay, so I guess you just totally contradicted yourself there."
    Rory shakes her head. "You know what I mean."
    Phew. "Oh, good. Because I was hoping there was nothing wrong with dating Noah…" I regret the words as soon as they've left my mouth. "That is, you know, not that I could ever…" I try and start shoveling my thoughts back into the hole I've dug for myself, but it's too late.
    Beside me, Rory smirks as she changes lanes, then pulls up at a set of lights.
    Oh, great, here it comes…
    "So." She finally gets the chance to eyeball me. "Still think Noah's cute, huh?"
    I remind myself to try and act cool. Like I don't think about Noah Hoffman five million, ninety-eight thousand and three times a day. Approximately. Give or take a few thousand. "Everyone thinks he's cute, Rory. Unless he's suddenly changed?"
    "Nope," Rory tells me as the light turns green again. "Oh, wait, maybe that's not true. I hear he's even a bit cuter since he got that buzz cut. And, of course, he's single right now," she says in a sing-songy voice.
    I don't reply. Single? That's interesting. He'd been dating this girl, Emme, an actress, off and on for years. I guess it must be off again (which is fine by me). But cuter? I seriously doubt that's even possible. I rest my right arm on the door and surreptitiously reach up to touch my cheek. Yep, as red hot as I thought it was. If I'm not careful, the tinting on my side of the car might start to bubble. "So." I decide it's time to change the subject. "Is it far to Allie's class?"
    "Nope. Just another couple of blocks. Wait till you see her!" Rory glances over for a second, Noah forgotten (phew!). "You'll never believe it. She's gotten so good."
    And for the first time today, talking about her sister, I see my cousin's face truly light up.

- 6 -
     
    "Wait! Before we go in…" I grab onto Rory's tank top outside the glass doors of the dance studio and pull her back toward me. I can't bear the not-knowing one second longer.
    "What? And can you stop acting six years old, with all the pulling and poking?" She smooths her top back into place.
    "Sorry, Miss All Grown Up. It's just…before we see Allie. What's all this new boyfriend business that Mom's going on about?"
    Rory glances inside the door before turning back to me. "Huh? Oh, that. It's nothing. It's just Dad. Over-dramatizing. You know how he is. Everything's a made-for-TV movie with him."
    I finally catch her eye. "So there's no new boyfriend?"
    "Look, I might have gone on a few dates with someone, but you don't need to get fitted for your bridesmaid's dress yet."
    I frown. "Um, okay. Calm down." Better let it go.
    "Maybe I would if everyone would stop interrogating me! Now, let's go. It's boiling out here."