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"So?" she said.

"David's father is one of the principal owners of the Ascot Theater, which translates into free tickets and good seats to rock concerts all year. He lives in Woodside Village, right near Century City, which is probably where we would live if we didn't live where we do."

"You want to invite a boy to our party so you can get free tickets to rock shows?" Star pursued.

"No, silly. I can afford the tickets, and I probably could get pretty good seats, too."

"So?"

"Well, he's good looking, isn't he?"

"Let me see that picture again," Star replied, curling her fingers at her fast and furiously.

I looked at Misty, who covered her smile with her hand. We both knew Star was teasing Jade. Nevertheless, Star studied the picture as if she really was considering David's good looks. She shrugged and handed the picture back to Jade.

"His eyes are too close together. Granny says never trust a man whose eyes are close."

"Oh, pleeeze," Jade cried. "His eyes aren't too close and that's just some old wives' tale,

superstition."

"Don't disregard superstitions. There's a lot of wisdom in them," Star insisted, wagging her finger at Jade. Jade looked at us.

"What do you two think'"

"What else can you tell us about him?" Misty asked.

"Yeah, what else?" Star followed. She sat back with her arms folded under her breasts and pressed her lips together as if she was really sitting in judgment on some jury to decide the future of Jade's romances.

"He's had this thing for me forever," Jade said. "Up until now I've been polite, but noncommittal "

"You mean you've been teasing him," Star said. "No," Jade said. "I have not."

"So why didn't you ever go out with him? You sure you're not just playing with him?" Star asked, shaking her head with disapproval.

"No, I wasn't playing with him. I don't do that... much," she added with a coy smile. She looked serious again. "I didn't think he was sophisticated enough for me, but he's matured and, despite what you think, become quite handsome as he got older."

"I didn't say he was ugly," Star relented.

"The point is he'll value an invitation from me and respect it and us, and he knows how to behave at a party," she continued. "I've been thinking seriously about going out with him and this will make for the best opportunity to see if he and I jell."

"Jell?" Star asked, her eyebrows hoisting. "What are you doing, making jam?"

"Laugh if you want, but I think he makes for an excellent candidate and that's my choice. Well?" Star shrugged.

"I don't have any objections," Misty said. "Cat?"

"I guess he's fine," I said, glancing at Star. "Fine," she agreed.

"Thank you," Jade said, and sat. "So? Who's next?"

"I was thinking about asking Chris Wells," Misty announced, "but I don't have a picture of him"

"Just describe him," Jade said.

"He's only a little taller than I am, cute and shy, with long blond hair he's always brushing away from his eyes. Deep blue, by the way," she added. "I've had a crush on him for a long time, but I always felt he looked at me as if I was five years old or something."

"So why do you want to invite him?" Star asked.