What would it be like to get confirmation—from Hollywood, no less—that your girl wassuper fat? That everyone saw her that way? That even a Hollywood-fat actress had to wear a fake butt to portray her? That if you boiled this girl down to her essential lines, they were all rolls and bulges—andliterallyeveryonecould see it?
The headline for this girl, this woman you were with, was that she was fat. And you were never going to trick the world into seeing her any other way.
“I think you should take me home,” Cherry said.
She started walking toward the door. The tattooed girl at the concessions stand was staring at her again.
“What?” Russ was right behind her. “Cherry, no.”
She kept walking.
He followed her out the door, then grabbed her arm. “Wait.”
Cherry turned to face him. Her mouth was open, and her jaw was cocked to the side, ready to fight.
Russ ran his other hand through his hair. “Give me a second, okay? I’m just surprised.”
“How is any of this a surprise? You knew about the movie!”
“I didn’t know you wereinit.”
“I’mnotin it!”
“Okay!” He took hold of her other arm, too. “I’m sorry! I didn’t know—I guess I didn’t know whatThursdaywas about.”
“It’s a global phenomenon,” Cherry said.
“It’s a comic book,” he said. “I don’t read comic books.”
She rolled her eyes painfully. “It’s actually a collection of weekly strips.”
Russ looked overwhelmed. “Okay.I didn’t know that. Did you want me to know that? Did you want me to read it?”
“No!”
“Then whatdoyou want from me, Cherry?”
“I want you to not be freaked out!”
“I’m not freaked out,” he said.
She frowned at him. She’d been frowning at him this whole time.
Russ closed his eyes. “Okay, I’m alittlefreaked out.” He opened them. “Just give me a second.”
Cherry was breathing at the top of her chest, even though her dress fit fine.
Russ loosened his grip. He rubbed her arms. “Give me a second, okay?”
She looked down.
He brushed his fingers over her bangs. “It’s a global phenomenon, huh?”
Cherry’s anger finally ebbed, and her eyes filled with tears.
“Hey, hey, hey,” Russ said, leaning close to her. “Look at me—I’m not freaked out. I’m just surprised.”
Cherry looked up at him without lifting her head. She was biting her bottom lip.
