Read You Should Smile for Free Online Page B

headed to Blitzville, where I am no longer responsible for my actions or my blurting mouth.  Looks like tonight, I was headed to Blitzville. 
    Chris came up next to me.  I met his eyes and there was that look again.  Sympathetic.  
    “You doin’ alright, Shay?” he whispered.  Oh shit, he saw right through me. 
    I tried to act nonchalant.  “Yeah.  I’m fine.  Why?”
    He shrugged his shoulders.  “Just asking.” 
    I didn’t believe that for a second, but I wasn’t about to ask again.  I was afraid he’d tell me the truth. 
    He put his arm around me and said, “So what do you want to drink?  I’m headed to the bar.”
    “You don’t need to get me a drink,” I blurted out.  Then, realizing it sounded rude, I clarified, “I mean, I appreciate it, but you don’t have to do that.”
    He grinned again, showing his dimples.  Nothing.  I felt nothing for those dimples.  I wish I felt something.  He was so damn nice – and “available”.
    “I’m headed up there anyway.  Now, what do you want?”
    “Okay then.  I’ll take a wheat.  Whatever’s on tap.”
    “Wheat, on tap, coming up…”  He grinned again.  Then leaned in, “You know, you’re not supposed to let strange guys get you beer.  It’s not safe.”  He turned to me and I could tell he was serious.
    I laughed.  “I usually don’t, Dad !  I figured since you were Thad’s friend that you’re safe….”
    “Haha.  I am, I promise….but I’ve seen some legal cases where it happens.   Just making sure you don’t usually do that…..Oh, and you can call me Daddy if you want.” 
    I knew he was just kidding around on that last comment.  His cheesy grin gave him away. 
    Lance walked up behind us and overheard Chris’ comment. “Well, fuck me.  She’s got you throwing game now, pretty boy?”  He hit Chris on the shoulder and said, “Not bad, son.  Not bad.  We’ll work on it.”
    I laughed at them before noticing Thad was staring at us, glaring.  Chris looked up and met his eyes.  He nodded his head toward Thad, winked at him, and then went off to the bar.
    As he walked off, I decided to go to the bathroom.  On the way there, I walked past the group of college girls.  One screamed, “Yes, it is too him.  Like, no one else has an ass like that.  His name’s Dr. Reeding, but, like, I heard that everyone calls him Dr. Breed With Me.”  I laughed to myself.  Not bad.  Dr. Reeding had other nicknames to add to the list. 
    I glanced over at the girl making the statement and she was about nineteen or twenty, bleached blond hair and fake nails.  Her grammar told me she did fit the stereotype.  I shuddered at her future.  You never have to worry about the dumb, fake, bitchy girls.  They’re too stupid to be manipulative.  No, the girls you gotta fear are the naturally beautiful, smart, and manipulative ones who don’t play by Girl Rules.  You know, the Angelina Jolies of the world.  Those are the scary ones – the ones who see no boundaries, adhere to no rules, steal your boyfriends, steal your husbands.  You know, the best friends who sleep with your boyfriend in your bed.  Been there, got the t-shirt.
    As the night wore on, I noticed the girls begin to get more drunk and brave.  Soon, they were heading our way.  Thad stood up on their approach.  He spoke first.
    “Hi Samantha and Cassie.  I hope you’re not drinking in here because I know neither of you are twenty-one.”  Grin.
    They all stopped in their tracks and one of the blonds replied, “Oh, of course not, Dr. Reeding.  We wouldn’t do that.”  They then changed course and headed back to their table again.  Chris looked at Thad and Thad grinned back.  “Works every time.  Anytime I’m somewhere and don’t really want undergrads hanging around, the alcohol card comes out.  They scatter like cockroaches.”
    Sure enough, within ten minutes, they’d left with their posse, no doubt in search of another bar willing