Home Sweet Drama (10 page)

11

PAIGE = HOMECOMING OBSESSED

ON MY WAY BACK TO MY ROOM, I STOPPED by the girl's bathroom to shower and change. Paige was out, so I decided to text her to see if she wanted to meet up and study in the common room together.

When u get back wanna study in com room?
I sent the text and started gathering my books. I had enough to do that I could go and get a head start.

My phone beeped a couple of minutes later.

Just finished w HC committee—b there in 5

I deleted the message. At least if we had to work, Paige wouldn't have any time to talk about Homecoming.

In the common room I spread my stuff on the round table. If I sat on the couch I'd get too comfy and would probably fall asleep. I took the egg that Jacob and I
shared for health class and set it on the table, then snapped a picture of it. I was definitely going to get an A in this class—no doubt. I'd wanted to give the egg to Jacob yesterday when I'd seen him in the hallway, but things had been too weird with Callie.

I pulled out my history book and started reading the assigned chapter. Mr. Spellman's class wasn't too hard, but he always assigned a lot of required reading. I'd read a few pages when I heard flip-flops approach the common room.

Paige walked inside, her arms full of green folders.

“What are those?” I asked.

She grinned at me. “Details for the dance!”

Did
every
sentence about Homecoming have to end in an exclamation point?

“Oh, cool,” I said. “I'm sure it'll be great.”

Paige put the folders on the table and flipped open one. “It's going to be
amazing.
Seriously. I'd tell you every detail, but I don't want to ruin the surprise for you.”

“Yeah,” I said. “You definitely don't want to do that. I love surprises.”

And if I hear one more thing about it, I'll go insane,
I thought, but smiled at Paige.

“Are you the first person in Canterwood history who
doesn't have homework?” I asked, nodding at the folders. “Because then I'd be so jealous.”

Paige sighed. “I have homework, but I really want to go over all of this first.”

I nodded, not saying anything, and went back to my textbook. I wanted to talk to Paige about
so
many things, like my party and what we were going to do over fall break, but all she wanted to talk about was Homecoming.

“So, has anyone heard from Jasmine?” Paige asked.

I looked up slowly. “That's kind of random. Why would any of us hear from her?”

Paige shrugged. “I don't know. I guess I didn't expect her to contact any of you, but I kind of wonder where she is and stuff.”

“I don't care as long as it's not here.” I uncapped my pen pointedly, trying to signal to Paige that I was done talking about Jasmine.

“How are Julia and Alison doing?” Paige asked. “They have to be feeling awesome now that the truth about what really happened is finally out.”

I stiffened in my seat. I knew Paige well enough to know where she was going with this. If I let her, she'd make the conversation about my party. She was using Julia and Alison's situation as a way to ease into talking about
my party. I wanted to talk to her about it, but not like this. Not when she'd spent so much time talking about poor Jasmine and Homecoming.

“Julia and Alison are happy. Glad to be back on the team.” I pointed to my book. “I've really got to get this done, okay?”

Paige shrank back a little. “Yeah. Sorry. I'll go get my homework.”

She gathered her folders and left the common room. I folded my arms on the table and laid my head on the desk. This was
ridiculous
. I couldn't even have a normal conversation with my roommate anymore! She was obsessed with Homecoming
and
with trying to find a way to prove that I'd lied about what had happened with Jacob at my party. And I was getting tired of it—I wanted to tell her the truth on my own terms.

Paige entered the common room without a word moments later and we both got to work. Neither of us talked as we did our homework and the tension in the room was crazy. I was considering saying I was done with my homework, even though I wasn't, and telling Paige I had to run to the stable to pick up something I'd forgotten. Just as I started to close my book, my phone buzzed.

4got 2 get egg from u yest. Wanna trade now?

It took me two point five seconds to type a response.
Sure. Meet me outside Winchester.

I picked up the egg, its padded box that Jacob had made, and our notebook, leaving my books spread open on the table.

“Back in a sec,” I said. “I've got pass my egg to Jacob.”

“'Kay,” was all Paige said.

I left the room and felt immediate relief the second I got out. I hurried down the hallway and when I pushed open the door, Jacob was leaning casually against the railing. I tried not to smile when I saw him, but I couldn't stop myself.

“Hi,” I said. My voice sounded shy and it felt like it was the first time we'd met.

“Hey,” Jacob said, his voice soft. Our eyes met and, for a second, all I could think about was how much I'd missed the tingly feeling I'd had whenever I'd looked into his eyes.

Stop it,
I said to myself.
He's with Callie. Just like
you
wanted. You had your chance to be with him.

I thrust the egg and notebook in his direction, then took a step back toward the door.

“I logged everything in the notebook,” I said. “If you just write that you took it tonight, we'll be ready when we turn it in tomorrow.”

“Great.” Jacob looked at the egg, then back up at me. “I know we'll get a good grade. There's no way we won't.”

“Yeah, we really did carry that thing everywhere,” I said.

As I spoke, I tried to think of something—anything—to talk about to keep him here. But I knew better. I didn't need to be talking to Jacob. I should have been inside, doing homework and not chatting with my ex—best friend's boyfriend. I didn't need anyone to see us together and think there was something going on.

He had a look on his face as if he wanted to tell me something. I could feel it. But if this had anything to do with Callie, I definitely didn't want to know.
But maybe it has nothing to do with her,
I thought. It could be about a zillion things—school, parents, whatever.

Paige was waiting for me in the common room, probably counting the minutes of how long I'd been out here with Jacob.

“I've got to get back inside,” I said, tipping my head back in the direction of the door.

“Oh.” Jacob put his free hand in his pocket. “Okay.”

“Bye.” I turned, pulled open the door and left him standing on the steps before he could say another word.

12

EGG FREE AT LAST

I WALKED INTO MR. SPELLMAN'S HISTORY class on Wednesday afternoon dreading the period. It was my least favorite class because I shared it with Eric
and
Jacob. They hadn't interacted during class since my party, but they were about to be forced to. Soon.

“Class,” Mr. Spellman said. “I wanted to remind you all that after fall break, your group projects will begin.”

I looked at Jacob, then at Eric. They were both in the same group. Luckily, I wasn't with them. If Mr. Spellman had assigned me to their project, I would have asked for a transfer. At least they wouldn't have to start working together until after fall break. Maybe a week away would do everyone some good. We all needed some space from each other.

“Today, I want you all to get into your assigned groups and begin discussing about how you're going to handle your project. Go ahead and gather your group members.”

I watched, frozen, as Eric and Jacob glanced at each other from their seats. Eric got up first and moved to join the other people in their group who had gotten together by one girl's desk.

Jacob stood and walked over, keeping two people between him and Eric. I almost couldn't breathe, watching them being forced to interact with each other and stand so close together. They
hated
each other and now they'd have to spend time on a group project. The odds of them being paired up together had been ridiculous. I'd almost fallen out of my seat when Mr. Spellman had announced the groups.

I looked up, surprised when I realized my group had huddled around my desk. I guess because I hadn't moved, they'd all come to join me. The three people I didn't know—two guys and a girl—scooted their desks closer to mine.

“Introductions first I guess?” asked a guy with black hair.

“Yeah, let's,” said the girl. “I'm Diana.”

“Sasha,” I said.

“Van.”

“And I'm Oliver,” said the other guy.

Diana got out a notebook and wrote
History Project
across the top of the page. “Want to just toss around a bunch of ideas and see what we come up with?” she asked.

“That sounds good,” I said. I sat back in my chair and let them talk. I nodded along and pretended to listen as they talked about ideas for our project. I should have been offering suggestions, but I kept stealing glances over at Eric and Jacob. Their group was sitting at the far corner of the room and they weren't even looking at each other.

“So, if we all brainstorm over break,” said Diana. “Then we'll have way more ideas when we meet when classes start again.”

“Sounds good,” I heard myself say. This was one time when I was cool with sitting back and letting other people take control. Normally, I'd want to be in charge and let my type A personality take over. But I didn't care that much. I just couldn't stop watching Jacob and Eric.

When it was time for health class, I felt like I'd downed too many energy drinks. Witnessing the tension between Jacob and Eric had made me nervous during history, and
I hadn't been able to shake the feeling all day that something was up with Jacob. The more I watched him, the more I was convinced that something was wrong. He was fidgety and he seemed on edge every time I saw him.