Brilliant

Chapter 3- Winter

Ho. Ly. Shit. HOLY SHIT! 

There she was. Right in front of me. The real Lucille De Rosa. My heart began to pound like a jackhammer breaking through my chest. The beautiful comedienne who I spent my Saturday night's lusting over as a teen was within thirty feet of me. Though I had since gotten over her, seeing her in real life brought back so many memories of sitting in bed, watching The Drama Club with my little sister and wondering why the sketches where Lucy's characters kissed a boy made me so upset. 

I couldn't believe I was here. I couldn't believe she was here. Starstruck, I completely zone out, but after a few minutes of just staring, I tune back in to hear the end of a story about a hot museum tour guide.

"And as he was leaving, I just hear a voice. Like from the back of the tour group. Just this tiny, feminine voice. 'I'm fertile!'"

The crowd laughs.

"And so I turn around, you know, expecting, like, someone around my age. I don't know, like, only someone in their twenties is going to shout 'have my babies!' or something, right? I mean, I was falling in love with this guy, but come on."

I smiled. She always had a unique way of storytelling, which I appreciated extensively, despite the frequent mentions of attractive men.

"Anyway, so I turn around and it was this tiny girl. At most, fifteen years old, with booty shorts and boxer braids," she giggles. "Like she's over here acting like Kylie Jenner. Meanwhile, when I was fifteen, my fashion inspiration was frickin Lizzie Maguire. Like, if I could fit and flowy tank top... over a striped t-shirt... with a jean skirt.... OVER bright purple leggings, that still wouldn't be enough."

Everyone in the bar laughed nostalgically.  I wanted to be Lalaine so badly when I was a kid.

"And if I saw a hot guy, my first reaction was 100% of the time, without a doubt" Lucy stuck out her chest and began twirling a piece of her hair. "'hi, um. What's your favorite song from High School Musical?"

The entire room burst into hysterics. Lucy had this way of making an observation and turning it into a masterpiece. All the best comedians do.

"And trust me guys, the answer was never Bop to the Top." she smiled. "Thank you guys! It's an honor to be here! Have a good night!"

The club swelled with applause, which turned into a standing ovation, which turned into whoops and hollers. Fifteen year old me would have been dying right now. I would give standing o's at the end of every Drams Club episode, even though I knew she couldn't see me.

As Lucy walked backstage, I searched for Jo. I had too many emotions, and I desperately needed to share them with her.  She used to make fun of me for humming songs from the show (and then proceeding to snort when the funny parts came along, even though I wasn't saying them out loud) while studying for exams.

Shit. Where does she always disappear to?

I didn't see Jo or Michael anywhere. Of course, they vanished into a corner the second we arrived, but they apparently left since not even Michael's signature leather jacket was at their original table. 

I groaned and sat down at the bar. I wasn't familiar with this neighborhood, and I wasn't comfortable taking a cab alone at night. I knew it would be at least another hour or so before Jo would even pick up her phone, no matter where they went. They hadn't seen each other in two weeks, which for them was like a year, so they were probably off having sex somewhere. So I was stuck here for a bit.

"Um, excuse me? Hi, may I please have a Dogfish Head 60 minute IPA?"