to the floor, pens, pencils, and highlighters scattering around my feet.
She got him the gig? But I was supposed to get him that gig.
Except I didn’t. Because I chose to go straight to English class instead and turn in my extra-credit paper.
Because I chose to play by the rules and follow those stupid commandments.
But how did she know about it? There’s no way she could have known. The only reason I knew was because I’ve lived through this day before, but I certainly didn’t tell anyone.
As soon as the thought is out, my whole body freezes.
I did tell someone. I told Owen. On the way to the gym for the speeches. I was trying to prove to him that my life did not revolve around Tristan.
The words come rushing back to me like a bucket of ice water dumped on my head.
I found out the band that was supposed to play at the carnival tonight canceled and I could ditch school to go and get Whack-a-Mole the gig, but I’m not going to because I have other things to do.
Daphne must have overheard me. Or someone must have overheard me and reported it back to Daphne, and then she went and got Tristan’s band the gig.
I watch in horror as Tristan freaks the freak out in almost the exact same way he did with me.
“Are you serious?!” he screeches. “Daphne! That’s amazing!” He leaps forward to hug her and then swings her around. Thankfully he leaves the kissing part out. Daphne catches my eye just as he’s setting her back on her feet.
I close my mouth and force it into a smile.
Girl Commandment #6: Thou shall never act or appear jealous.
“That’s amazing!” I echo. I turn to Tristan and hug him. “I’m so happy for you!”
I never really considered myself an actress before but this is an award-winning performance if I ever saw one.
“How did you do that?” Tristan asks.
Daphne shrugs. “Oh, it was nothing. You just have to know the right people.”
I snort and both Daphne and Tristan look at me. I pretend to have something in my nose and reach for a tissue from my locker.
You just have to know the right people? What a bunch of codswallop, as Owen would say. I know for certain that she just drove down to the fairgrounds and asked the sweaty bald guy like I did. But did she get detention because of it? Or is she better at the whole school evasion thing than I am?
“So, I guess I’ll see you tonight, then?” Daphne asks, running her hand down Tristan’s arm.
“You bet!” Tristan says, and I swear he sounds like a ten-year-old boy who’s just been invited to meet the real Spider-Man.
Daphne disappears down the hallway and Tristan turns to me with a grin so wide, I’m afraid he might break some important jaw muscle. “Amazing,” he breathes. “I wasn’t even that excited about the carnival, but now…” He does a little leap. “I can’t wait to tell the guys!”
Wasn’t even that excited about the carnival?
What is that supposed to mean? That being at the carnival with just me is nothing to get excited about?
I can feel the red-hot frustration bubbling up inside me—the green-eyed monster rearing its ugly head—and I almost open my mouth to demand an explanation, but I manage to rein it in just in time.
“Amazing!” I repeat, feeling like this word has lost all meaning for the rest of eternity.
“She really didn’t have to go out of her way to do that,” Tristan remarks.
“No. She really didn’t,” I agree, hiding my gritted teeth behind a smile as I contemplate the leniency of another commandment: Thou shall not kill.
My Little Runaway
3:22 p.m.
So, an overly bouncy, malnourished, almond-poisoning cheerleader is after my boyfriend? So what? This is not a game changer. This is absolutely nothing new. Every girl in this school would date Tristan if they had the chance. Some are just more … proactive about it than others.
I will not let this derail me. I will continue the course! If I had one of those motivational posters on my wall it would be the one with the mountain climber that says PERSEVERANCE!
Tristan is my mountain. And I will get to the top!
Daphne and her way-too-short-to-qualify-as-dress-code-appropriate cheerleading skirt is just an obstacle in my way. Like a boulder or a tree.
I tell Tristan again how happy I am about the gig and promise to meet him at the carnival later tonight.
First, I have a varsity softball team to