Home Sweet Drama

by Jessica Burkhart

  Before I lost it, I walked across the stage and down the stairs.

  Eric was waiting in the center of the floor. Without a word, he reached out and took my hand in his warm one. Feet away, Jacob and Heather held each other’s hands. Heather looked over at me and I shot her a Can you believe this? look over Eric’s shoulder.

  The lights dimmed and a semislow song started. Eric was a wonderful dancer. He didn’t glare at me or try to make me any more uncomfortable than I already was. And that was something I liked and missed about him. We’d been able to talk to each other about anything. He’d made me hot chocolate the night Jacob and I had gotten into a screaming match at the Sweetheart Soirée. He’d coached me through the YENT tryouts—being there for me through all of my insecurities.

  And I’d thought it was enough. I’d been beyond happy. When Eric had misinterpreted what he’d seen between Jacob and me, I thought I’d be devastated for months about losing Eric. And I was—I missed his presence in my life. His friendship. I couldn’t stop thinking about Jacob, but I had to stay single.

  I kept my gaze over Eric’s shoulder and he did the same, looking over mine. Heather and Jacob were keeping a polite distance between them and they weren’t looking at each other either.

  The minutes seemed to drag on forever and finally, the song ended. The crowd clapped and Eric released my hands. I didn’t know what to do or what to say. Did I just walk away?

  “Excuse me,” Heather said. She stepped between Eric and me. “I’m cutting in.”

  Heather grabbed my arm and led me away. “You need to dance with the guy you really like,” she said. “Jacob.”

  27

  SAVED

  “THANKS FOR SAVING ME,” I SAID TO Heather. “But I can’t dance with Jacob.”

  “Why?” she asked. “You’re both single.”

  I shook my head. “It doesn’t matter. I still have a tiny bit of hope that Callie and I will somehow be able to be friends again one day and if I date her ex-boyfriend after she thinks I broke them up, there’s no way we’ll ever be friends again.”

  “But what about you?” Heather nodded slowly. “And Jacob?”

  I shrugged.

  “Don’t, Silver. You both want to be together. It’s not even an excuse to say you won’t be with him because of Callie. If you really wanted Callie back, you’d tell her the truth—that Jacob went after you.”

  “But—”

  “But you won’t,” Heather interrupted. “Because you don’t want to make him look bad. I know. You’ve said. But if you did, then you’d get Callie back and she’d just hate Jacob, not you.”

  “I know you’re trying to help, but I don’t want to keep talking about this. It’s just not going to happen between Jacob and me. It can’t.”

  Heather stared at me, shaking her head.

  “Excuse me,” Paige said, stepping beside us. “I need to talk to Sasha.”

  Heather shrugged. “Talk.”

  “Alone,” Paige said.

  “Fine. Talk alone,” Heather said, mocking Paige’s tone. She looked at me one more time before walking away.

  “Can we talk for a sec?” Paige asked. “Somewhere more quiet?”

  “Sure.”

  But I wasn’t sure at all. I followed Paige to the back of the room and my stomach twisted before she spoke a word. Paige was obviously upset and I had no idea what this was about.

  We found an empty corner and Paige turned to me.

  “Sasha, I noticed something tonight,” Paige said.

  “What?” I asked.

  Paige took a long breath. “You and Jacob. You’ve been looking at each other all night. Glances here and there. Long stares. He’s been watching you and you can’t take your eyes off him.”

  “That’s so not true,” I said. “Yeah, we talked for a minute. But we had to—Headmistress Drake made us congratulate the winners. You heard her.”

  Paige rubbed her forehead with her hand. “I feel like I’ve been living with someone else since your party. You just told me the truth about what happened with him—don’t start lying now. There’s something going on and you keep shutting me out. I want to know why. Right now.”

  28

  MAKE THE CALL

  I WASN’T GOING TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION here. No way was I going to be that girl who had drama at another school event.

  “If you want to talk, let’s go to the bathroom,” I said. “We don’t need to talk about this out here.”

  “Fine.”

  Paige and I walked out of the ballroom and entered the bathroom just down the hallway. We pushed open the heavy wooden door and I listened for a second to hear if anyone else was inside, but we were alone. I leaned up against the sand-colored marble sink and Paige put her purse on the small couch near the full-length mirror.

  “I cannot keep doing this,” I said. “I told you the truth—Jacob made a move on me at my party. I didn’t try to kiss him. But it doesn’t mean I’m going to get back together with him. We might be looking at each other, or whatever you think is going on, but that’s it. We’re never going to be boyfriend and girlfriend.”

  “You’re protecting him because you like him,” Paige said. “Otherwise, you’d tell Callie the truth. I get it.”

  “Do you?” I asked. “Because you dragged me away from Heather to ‘talk’ and you don’t seem to get it at all. This whole Homecoming thing has been in my face so much and you didn’t seem to understand. You left me standing by the bonfire to go help your precious committee.”

  Paige shook her head. “I apologized for that. I told you I was wrong. But you know what? I don’t think this has anything to do with Homecoming.”

  We eyed each other and I folded my arms. “Enlighten me, please.”

  “You’re jealous that I’m with Ryan and you don’t have a boyfriend.”

  I stared at her—stunned. “Are you kidding me, Paige? Seriously?”

  Paige just shrugged. She was being crazy!

  “I’m thrilled that you’re with Ryan!” I half shouted. “I can’t believed you’d ever think anything else. Who was the one who pushed you to talk to him? Who helped you send the e-mail for the group date? Who helped you get ready for your first date?” I stepped away from her, shaking my head. “Enjoy your wonderful, amazing Homecoming dance. It’s been your number one priority all week, so don’t stop now. I’m out of here.”

  I turned away and started for the door.

  “Sasha, wait.” Paige’s voice was high. “I didn’t mean—”

  “And you know what,” I interrupted. “I think we need some time apart.”

  “What are you talking about?” Paige’s face paled.

  “I’m going to stay here for break,” I said. “You go home and I’ll stay in our room. We need space and we can talk after break.”

  “Sasha.” Paige’s voice was wavery. “I want you to come home with me. You can’t stay on campus by yourself. I shouldn’t have—”

  I shook my head and cut her off. “I’m staying here. I’m going to go back to our room and call my parents.”

  I walked out of the bathroom and headed down the hallway. I’d been at the dance long enough and I didn’t care if I got in trouble for leaving.

  “You okay?”

  I turned and Heather walked toward me.

  “Not really,” I said. “Paige and I had a huge fight. She accused me of something ridiculous and I can’t be around her right now.” I sighed and rubbed my forehead. “I was supposed to stay with Paige for break, but I’m going to stay here.”

  “Well, that only sounds like the lamest fall break ever. At least I’m going home with a ridic tiara.”

  “What else am I supposed to do?” I snapped. “I’m not going to stay with Paige. Sorry if that sounds ‘lame’ to you.”

  “It is lame. You’re just planning to hide in your room all week and do what?”

  “I don’t know! Stuff—whatever.” I rolled my eyes. “I’m out of here. I’ve got to go call my parents a
nd tell them where I’m staying.”

  I stepped around Heather and started down the hallway.

  “Sasha,” Heather called.

  “What?” I turned and looked at her.

  “When you call them, tell them you’re staying with me.”

  I’d definitely heard her wrong.

  “What?” I repeated.

  “You’re staying with me,” Heather said. “Make the call.”

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Twenty-three-year-old Jessica Burkhart is a writer from New York City. Like Sasha, she’s crazy about horses, lip gloss, and all things pink and sparkly. Jess was an equestrian and had a horse like Charm before she started writing. To watch Jess’s vlogs and read her blog, visit www.jessicaburkhart.com.