Jenny couldn?t be sure that the L who?d sent her a note on Valentine?s Day was actually the boy from Bendel?s. He could?ve been a total nerd or even a gross, perverted old man, but secretly she was already in love with him. She felt like a girl in a fairy tale in love with a man in a mask, and she was determined to ride the Seventy-ninth Street crosstown bus until she met him face-to-face. Monday and Tuesday she rode the bus alone until 7P.M. with no luck. On Wednesday after school Elise came with her. ?I don?t get it. Why are we doing this again?? Elise asked. She?d already finished all her homework and was staring out the window over Jenny?s shoulder, bored nearly to tears. ?I told you. I left my favorite hat on the bus this morning and if I ride enough buses, I?m sure I?ll see it,? Jenny lied. ?Someone probably took it,? Elise argued. ?Your cute fuzzy red hat? I?m sure someone took it.? A swollen-ankled middle-aged woman wearing a dowdy trench coat and reading theWall Street Journal glared at them the way people are always glaring at teenagers when they?re talking in public. Like, could you please just press the mute button? Well,excuse me. ?Just this last bus and then we can go home,? Jenny promised, even though she?d promised that two buses ago. Elise put her hand on Jenny?s black-stockinged knee and left it there. ?I don?t really mind. It?s not like I have anything better to do.? Jenny waited for Elise to remove her hand. ?What are you doing?? she whispered loudly.
 ?With what?? ?With yourhand .? ?The book says to express your affection with gentle caresses,? Elise declared. ?But I don?t want you to. Besides, we?re on abus ,? Jenny hissed, pushing Elise?s hand away. The last thing she wanted was for L to see her and Elisecaressing each other.God. How embarrassing. ?What?s wrong with it?? Elise cried, shoving Jenny in the leg just as the bus lurched over a bump. Jenny slipped off the seat and onto the floor, her butt landing hard on her neighbor?s shoes. Jenny closed her eyes, too mortified to open them. If her secret admirer were watching now, he wouldn?t be writing her any more love notes. The bus lurched over another bump as it roared across the park and Jenny?s boobs bounced mercilessly, as if she hadn?t been through enough. ?Here.? A hand gripped her arm. ?Fuck off,? Jenny mumbled in total humiliation. She batted the han............