Page 67 of The Prom Queen Project
“Ugh.Why are you so smiley?”
“Andrew,” Dani groaned while taking a bite out of her apple. “Play nice.”
“I’m always smiley.”
“Not like…” He narrowed his eyes at me while flicking his wrist in a circular motion, gesturing at my appearance. “This.”
“That’s n—”
Dani cut me off, holding up her apple as she spoke with her mouth full of unchewed fruit. “You do seem kinda glow-y today.”
“I’m not—”
“What’s going on with you?” she prodded again.
“Jesus, what’s with the third degree? And where’s Elliot?”
Andrew cocked his brow. “Shouldn’t you know? You are his girlfriend,right?”
“Of course, I am!” I yelled with far too much volume. I immediately recoiled, biting my lip as I smoothed out my sweater, trying to calm myself. “I just don’t keep tabs on him like that. I’m not his mom.”
“Yeah.” Andrew shrugged. “Neither am I.So,I have no idea where he is.”
I sighed, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. I didn’t even bother dignifying a response as the three of us sat in silence, waiting for Elliot to arrive. Sliding my phone off the table, I dropped it onto my lap and typed out a message.
He was always looking out for his sister.Just like Jessie used to look after me. My gaze was trained downward as I picked at the skin surrounding my nails.
“Clarke, can we talk?”
I looked up to see Camryn standing in front of me, her head hanging as she avoided my eyeline. My lips pursed into a thinline. Shooting a quick glance at Andrew and Dani, I slid to the side, making room for her at the table.
“Uh, sure.”
“But like…alone.”
“Oh.” I frowned, mentally smacking myself at my own stupidity. “Yeah.”
I rose to my feet, following as she led me to an empty table next to the trash cans that most people tended to avoid. I scrunched my nose as we sat down, only sobering up when I noticed the strained expression on her face.
She folded one hand over the other, still looking at everything except me.
I cocked my head to the side. “You okay?”
“No. I…I don’t…” She rubbed her hands over her eyes. “I don’t want to do this.”
“What’s wrong?”
She shook her head and let out a small laugh. “I never wanted to be a cheerleader. I was just trying to live up to my sister’s reputation. And being a base? I didn’t train for that.”
“Oh. I mean, cheer season is basically over. There are a few small things, but I guess if you want to be a flyer—”
“No!” She raised her voice, causing me to flinch. Guilt lingered on her face as she sighed. “Sorry. I just…I don’t want to be anything.”
The fog occupying my mind lifted. The pieces began to fall into place as her words sank in.She didn’t want to cheer at all anymore. The only reason she was doing it in the first place was because of her sister.
My mouth was left slightly agape as I pondered the right words to say. I sighed.
How could I offer her any kind of advice when I was living a lie too? Streaks of mascara stained her cheeks. My featuressoftened as I stared at her.Just say something real, Clarke.No rehearsing the perfect words over and over.Just speak.
