Page 55 of Restless
“If we make the play Urban Contemporary, the sets will have to be redesigned,” she pointed out.
“Not necessarily, baby,” Lolly called from the audience.
Maybe, if CJ hadn’t lied to her, Harley would be more receptive to Nardo’s stupidity and her grandmother’s interference. Today, she was having none of it.
“No one asked you, Lolly!” she almost snarled.
“I’m telling you anyway,” Lolly replied. “As one of the play’s sponsorsandyour grandmother, I can pass my opinion.”
Harley ignored the comment. “When is Ms. Mendez getting back from the office?”
“Harley, baby, what’s bothering you?” Mommie asked. She was Harley’s only friend.
The door opened again, and Harley held her breath.
“Hey, Harls,” Rebel greeted, bouncing down the aisle and plopping next to Lolly, since Lou sat next to Mommie and Kaleb was perched on her lap. The little twit was nine and still wanted babying. “Sorry I’m late. I just finished eating.”
Harley exhaled, on the verge of screaming and crying. After her invitation to CJ to watch her rehearsals, he’d left her on read and still hadn’t answered her.
“CJ can’t make it,” Rebel continued. “He’s—”
“A liar!” Harley yelled. “He promised he’d come and watch me.”
“He did?” Rebel asked in surprise.
He hadn’t, but no one could prove it. She hadn’t done anything wrong. It was all on him! Sooner or later, more than just Mommie would defend Harley and realize how deeply CJ had betrayed her. “If it was Molly, he’d show up.”
“Dude, chill,” Rebel said kindly. “He’s at the hospital with Momma and Daddy. He didn’t come to school today.”
Brushing past Nardo, Harley stomped down the steps on the right side of the stage and barreled to where Rebel sat in the first row. “You’re covering for him.”
“And you’re losing it,” Rebel responded. “CJ wanted to be here.”
“If he wasn’t with Molly, he would’ve texted me himself.” She dug into her blazer pocket and came up with her cell phone. Securing the script under her arm, she scrolled through her messages, finding none from CJ. “Which he hasn’t,” she said in triumph.
“Let’s go to the cafeteria, Harley,” Mommie said, indicating Kaleb stand with a tap on his shoulder. “You can calm down and cool off.”
Harley ignored her mother. “You have no response to that, do you, Rebel?”
Rebel got to her feet, forcing Harley to step back. It hadn’t occurred to her until that moment that she had two inches to grow before she caught up to Rebel’s height.
“Has it ever occurred to you that my brother has more important things to worry about than your stupid play? Our mother isjustnow halfway back to normal after fourteen days. Our father is a walking zombie, and our little sister is still fighting for her life.”
“Oh, so now you’re claiming Jo.” Hurt and betrayal cut deep into Harley. “You sure about that, Rebel? It wasn’t so long ago you wanted yourlittle sisterand Aunt Meggie dead.”
Rebel paled. For a moment, she stared at Harley before scooting past her and starting up the aisle.
“Hit a nerve, didn’t I?” Harley screeched. “Run away.”
Halting halfway to the door, Rebel turned. “I’m not running. I’m escaping before I punch the fuck out of you,” she snarled. “You’re throwing what I did in my face when you’re turning into the same heartless cunt so shut the fuck up, dumb bitch.”
Her words echoing in the silent auditorium, Rebel stalked away.
“Rebel, stop this instant!” Mommie called.
Rebel ignored her, banging the auditorium door open with unnecessary force.
“Excuse me—”
