That afternoon, I headed to rehearsal happily, assuming that my tiff with Connor would blow over. As I walked by the vending machines on the way to the auditorium, Alexa Campbell ran smack into me. She was eating a chocolate bar, which she managed to get all over my pristine white shirt.
“I…I…I’m so sorry,” she whispered. “Don’t tell my mom, please.”
Alexa’s mom owned a successful chain of weight-loss facilities.
“I don’t need to tell your mom you’re sneaking chocolate—it’s obvious from looking at you.” The words just popped out of my mouth.
“What a bitch,” I heard someone behind me say, as (of course) Alexa burst into tears.
Belatedly, I remembered how Monet was always reminding me to think before I spoke.
“It’s okay, Alexa,” I said. But she just cried harder.
I ignored the mutterings behind me as I tried to console her. Geesh, some people were so sensitive.
“Here, let me wipe it off,” she said.
“No!” I said. But it was too late. Now there was a huge chocolate smear across my chest.
I glared at Alexa and she started to cry again. Giving up, I went into the bathroom and dabbed at it with some wet paper towels, but the stain didn’t come off. Now it was a wet chocolate smear.
I checked my watch. I was going to be late. There wasn’t time to go back to my locker and change into a new shirt. Of course I had an extra outfit or two in there. A girl had to look her best or risk the ridicule of the world.
I squared my shoulders. Looked like it would be ridicule today, but if anyone could handle it, it was me. After all, popularity had its privileges.
Most of the cast was already onstage by the time I made it to the auditorium. There was no sign of Monet or Mr. Fanelli yet, so the volume was loud as everyone chatted or ran lines. We were supposed to be off book in a week, but some people were still having trouble.
“Hi, babe,” I said to Connor. I put a hand to his blond hair and leaned in for a kiss. To my shock, he shied away.
“Uh, Sophie, we need to talk,” he said.
The room went deadly silent, which should have been a clue, but I didn’t catch on.
“Sure,” I said. “What about?”
He glanced at Angie. She nodded encouragingly. Not one blonde hair was out of place, and suddenly I remembered my chocolate-stained, damp top.
What was going on? Since when did my boyfriend need permission from Angie to talk to me?
I looked at him inquiringly, but he was silent.
“Say what you want to say,” I said, “so we can get on with rehearsal.”
In hindsight, this probably wasn’t the best approach, but in my defense, I had no idea what was coming next.
Angie wrapped an arm proprietarily around Connor’s and whispered in his ear.
Connor cleared his throat. “True love can’t be thwarted,” he said dramatically.
“What are you talking about?”
“I think we should see other people,” he said.
My jaw dropped. Someone in the back of the room laughed. My face grew hot and I held on to my temper with difficulty.
Angie was obviously behind Connor’s sudden urge to date other people. They weren’t even trying to hide it.
Rage boiled in my blood and I took a step toward her. My only desire was to hurt her as much as I’d been hurt.
I don’t know what would have happened, but Dev stepped in between us. “Why don’t you and Sophie take this conversation somewhere more private?” he suggested to Connor quietly. “Angie and I will wait here.”
I turned and marched off into the hallway, confident that Connor would follow me. Otherwise, he would have a full-scale scene on his hands.
It was all just a big misunderstanding, I was sure of it. I was relieved to find the hallway deserted, though. I didn’t think I could take another public humiliation.
That was, until Connor said flatly, “It’s over, Sophie. It just happened.”
“You mean with Angie,” I replied. It wasn’t a question.
“I’m sorry,” he said, staring at his hands.
What could I say to that? I nodded, unable to speak over the lump in my throat, and gathered the shreds of my dignity. Connor didn’t say anything else but rushed back to rehearsal. To his new love, Angie, I thought bitterly.
I waited until he was out of sight to burst into tears. I made a run for the refuge of the bathroom. It was empty, thankfully. I never thought Connor would humiliate me like this. I burst into hot tears but knew that I didn’t have the luxury of a good cry. My eyes swell up something fierce and I end up with little piggy eyes. Not a very attractive image, especially if I wanted the cast and crew to think I was okay.
After a few minutes of deep breathing, I splashed cold water on my face, careful to avoid my mascara.
I was numb as I walked back to rehearsal. I hadn’t seen it coming, me, the girl who had so carefully traversed the dangerous world of high school cliques.
Monet rushed up to me as I reentered the auditorium. “Dev told me what happened. Connor is a complete moron to break up with you in front of the entire cast like that!”
“Yes, he is,” I replied, “but I’m an even bigger one for trusting him in the first place.”
“Why don’t you skip rehearsal tonight? Everyone would understand,” she said.
I plastered a fake smile on my face. “There’s no way I’m giving Angie Vogel the satisfaction.”
I walked over to Dev. “Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s get this over with,” I snapped.
He looked at me sympathetically, which made me want to punch him.
“What’s your problem?” I said. I was being a total bitch to him and it wasn’t even his fault, but I couldn’t seem to help myself.
Dev didn’t respond to my nasty behavior. Instead, he flipped open his playbook and gave me my prompt.
I tried to keep my mind on my role, but I couldn’t help dwelling on my current situation. The breakup would be all over the school tomorrow and there would be no possibility of spinning it that it was a mutual decision. Not after the center-stage dumping I’d just received.