Kissing the Shy Guy - Stephanie Street Page 0,20

try. Besides, I couldn’t have my new boyfriend spending so much time with his ex-girlfriend, now could I?” Laura’s smug expression turned into a glare. “And, of course, I like him.”

I stared at my sister and wondered which one was the real mean girl—Laura or Jenna? Laura purposely set out to steal Jenna’s boyfriend and, in the process, totally screwed Jenna’s program for the scholarship.

“That’s messed up, Laura.” My own sister had been the cause of Jenna’s heartbreak the other day.

Laura rolled her eyes again. “Stop. The last thing I need is a big brother lecture about being mean to the school ice queen. Jenna deserves whatever she gets.”

Everyone else nodded, agreeing with Laura. Soon the conversation veered toward making plans to carpool to our grandparent’s house to play cards, eat Grandma’s cookies, and drink the soda she kept for us in a separate refrigerator in the garage. The adults would huddle up in the front room and kitchen to reminisce and continue gossiping. A few of them might join in the card games, but most would pick at the veggie trays and crackers and fight the grandkids over the cookies.

But I couldn’t stop thinking about Jenna and how devastated she’d been about that scholarship. As we made our way to the door, I sought her out with my eyes. She’d started picking up the table decorations. She looked exhausted and utterly defeated. I experienced a stab of guilt, leaving her there to clean up after us. Still, several other women were helping her. My mom talked to them, offering hugs and sincere thanks.

“I’ll ride with you if that’s okay,” Kyle asked, interrupting my thoughts.

“Yeah, sure.” There was nothing I could do about Jenna. At least, nothing I could do right then.

“Did you bring your guitar?” Kyle asked.

“Never leave home without it,” I replied.

8

Jenna

“So, have you decided what you’re going to do about the scholarship?” Lydia sat at her vanity painting her nails. I’d finally gotten away from my mother and the funeral to find my friends halfway through the first season of Outer Banks as well as a ginormous bowl of popcorn. They’d saved the chocolate for me.

I unwrapped a Rolo and popped it into my mouth. Lydia had put them in the freezer, so they were frozen just the way I liked.

“What a day,” I sighed between chews. The first thing I’d done when I arrived was to take a shower. I’d smelled like coffee and traces of dumpster. Now, clean and fresh and wearing my pajamas, I finally relaxed into the pillows on Lydia’s bed.

“I think it’s so weird to go to funerals all the time,” Bella said. She’d taken up her usual post on the floor with several pillows and a comforter. A stack of fashion magazines would keep her busy for the next few hours. Lydia’s mom subscribed to them, and Bella got her fix anytime we had a sleepover here.

“You make it sound like I go for fun, Bell. And it isn’t all the time.” It was more like once every two or three months. And if it wasn’t a funeral, it was a wedding or baby shower.

Belle exaggerated a shudder. “Still, I think it’s morbid.”

“Some of them are, but let’s talk about something else.” I sunk further into the pillows wishing I could just go to sleep.

“Uh, hello? I did ask a question over here.” Lydia held her fingertips under a UV light. “We have more important things to discuss than funerals. Like the fact that Jenna has to find a partner or all her hopes and dreams will die, and we’ll be holding a funeral for them.”

Bella snorted. “Dramatic much?” she said, earning herself a glare from Lydia.

“Come on, Jen. What’s it going to be? A solo act? Or have you thought of someone to take Josh’s place?” Lydia was persistent and determined. No problem stood a chance with her around. If I didn’t come up with a solution soon, the next time I saw her, she’d have a spreadsheet with a list of possible partners and a detailed list of solo acts I could perform if none of those worked out.

“I don’t know.” I was tired of thinking about it, which wasn’t a good sign. I didn’t have any idea who might be willing to help me. Only seniors were allowed to compete. It wasn’t like guys who could sing and dance were thick on the ground at Lakeview. I’d realized too late how lucky I’d been to have Josh. And