to keep repeating the same words and phrases over and over in her speech, tumbling them around and spitting them out to the crowd like some kind of green confetti. The people applauded, eating it up. If everyone here voted for her, she was as good as elected.
When she finished, Megan took the stage, and the future Congresswoman Watson came over to greet me.
“Thank you so much for letting me be a part of this wonderful event,” she flashed me a practiced smile.
“Congratulations,” I said, looking at the people crowding around her for a handshake, adding, “We’ll be looking forward to your support when you get elected.”
She smiled again, and I had the craziest feeling she was studying me. She turned to the crowd and announced in a loud voice, “Let’s all go bid on these wonderful auction items!”
After her speech, my table was flooded with people wanting to register and sign our petition, keeping me busy as the afternoon flew by.
I could hear Megan singing in the background, a catchy tune about a love affair gone wrong, “It’s not you, it’s me-e-e,” her beautiful voice rang out. People stopped in their tracks to listen, and a crowd gathered around the stage, swaying in time with the music.
“Hi Marina,” a girl’s voice called out to me. I looked up to see Amber at the side of my table. Her friend Brittany was standing behind her, looking bored, “Where’s Ethan?” she asked with a smile.
I was really hoping she wouldn’t come, but I half expected her, so I put on a placid mask and shrugged noncommittally. “Would you like to register to vote?” I asked them.
“Naw,” Amber said, “I just can’t get into all this stuff.” She waved her hand dismissively at the papers on the table.
“I thought you wanted to support our local farmers,” I replied, pointing to the banner behind me. I tried not to sound too sarcastic, but I’m sure it came out that way. Take it easy, I said to myself. Keep calm.
She smiled suggestively, “There’s lots of other ways to do that.”
I turned my back on her, willing her to leave. I answered an elderly woman’s question about the special election, and when I turned back around she was right in front of me, leaning towards me over the table.
She looked at my neck and smiled, “I see you have a necklace too.” She touched a pendant, nearly the same as mine, only with a polished teardrop of Amber in place of the aquamarine. “He’s not very original… is he?”
I looked at her, speechless. How could she know exactly where to stick the knife for maximum pain? I was always surprised by intentional cruelty, and it felt like someone had just punched me in the stomach.
Just then, Shayla bounded up, smiling and happy, “There you are… this place is rocking!” She looked at my face and stopped, glancing over to see Amber and her friend.
“Hey Shayla,” Brittany said mockingly, “How’s the weather up there?”
Shayla’s eyes narrowed at Brittany, and she stepped over to stand by my side, “Amber. I heard you were back… What? Did you flunk out of your fancy school? Not quite as smart as you thought you were, huh?”
Amber cast her a dirty look and turned to her friend, announcing in a loud voice, “Let’s go find Ethan. I’m sure he’ll be happy to see me.” They wandered off into the crowd.
“Are you okay?” Shayla looked at me with alarm, “Do you need to sit down?”
I shook my head no, still speechless. I could hear Megan’s sweet voice ringing out in the background, “You said you loved me, but it was a lie-ie-ie,”
“Could you watch the table for a minute?” I asked in a thick voice.
I wanted to be alone before the wave of emotion hit, but just as I rounded the corner of the auction tent Abby ran up to me, ecstatic, “I have great news! Barbara Watson just bid five thousand dollars for your painting! Everything else is fetching top dollar too– we’re on track to raise a lot of money for Lue’s defense fund… And we might not even need it if she gets elected!” She started thinking aloud, “I suppose we could find a good charity to donate the extra money to…”
“Abby, I have to get going. Can you get a ride home with Dutch or Cruz?” I said in a monotone, afraid to think or feel anything. All I could think was, if I didn’t leave right away,