Rule 38: Carry yourself like you are the stuff! Any guy is lucky to have you!
The next weekend, the girls all met at Bershetti’s to lay The Crush Code to rest.
Sydney hadn’t wanted to go. It’d only been two weeks since Kelly’s birthday bash and that wasn’t nearly enough time to heal the hurt. Also, this was Sydney’s last weekend with Quin for a while. He was flying out the next day to go back to school at the Brooks Institute in California.
He looked at her now and smiled. “What would your friends say if I came in with you?”
“They’d probably kick you out. It’s girls only.”
He took off his fedora and brushed back several locks of hair that had escaped his ponytail. “Fine. But call me as soon as you’re done. I want to get in one more photo session before I have to take off.”
“I’ll call, you can bet on it.”
Quin was easily the best thing that had happened to her this summer.
Then again, the things one might consider as bad—her relationship deteriorating, her mother leaving—those had been good things, too. At least in the end they were.
Sydney waved as Quin drove off.
Inside Bershetti’s, the air-conditioning blazed, driving off the September heat. Sydney was thankful for the white gauzy long-sleeve shirt she’d slipped on over her cami.
“Hey, Syd,” Jordan greeted her at the host podium. “Everyone’s already here. Follow me.”
Jordan led the way to the round table where Alexia, Raven, and Kelly all sat. There were six chairs total around the table. Sydney made sure to take the chair next to Alexia and far away from Kelly.
Kelly avoided eye contact. She fidgeted with her napkin, folding the corner over and then flattening it. They were all here technically for her. The new Crush Code had been designed for her, after all.
“Can I get you guys anything to drink?” Jordan asked.
They all ordered and Jordan disappeared in the back.
“So,” Alexia said, “here we all are.”
Sydney looked from Alexia to Raven and then to Kelly, catching quick eye contact. Kelly flushed and glanced down.
“Here we all are,” Raven said. “And here”—she reached beneath the table and into her bag, pulling out a familiar shoe box—“is the Code Casket.”
She set it on the table among the glasses of ice water and rolled silverware. She flipped open the lid.
Sydney peered inside. A copy of the Breakup Code lay in the bottom along with four four-leaf-clover bracelets and a picture of all four girls. They hadn’t opened that box in months. It seemed so long ago that Sydney had used the Breakup Code for Drew. And at the time, when she got Drew back, she figured they’d be together for eternity. It was amazing how one summer could change so much.
Alexia lost It (which Sydney had found out way too late!). Sydney broke up with Drew, had an amazing summer at the hospital where she found Quin. Kelly…well, Kelly was in love. Sydney couldn’t deny that. And Raven…
“Hey, Ray?” Sydney said. “Did you ever hear on that singing contest?”
“Oh yeah. I was going to show you guys the letter I got yesterday.” She dug in her bag again and brought out the letter. “Kay-J wrote it. Here’s what she said:
‘Dear Raven,
‘I think you have a tremendous talent for singing. Your voice is awesome and your style is unique. You rocked that song you sang for me. I got chills up and down my arms.
‘The only thing I can suggest is to watch your rhythm and pitch.
‘Unfortunately’— Raven wrinkled her nose and continued —‘you didn’t make it to the next round of auditions, but let me explain why. I don’t think you’re right for the competition. I don’t think you should be singing backup. I think you should be singing with a band like Blake said you were. Focus on that because you have all the right elements of a total rocker chick.
‘If you ever need anything, let me know. I’d be happy to help.
‘XOXO
‘Kay-J.’ ”
“Oh my god,” Kelly said. “That’s so cool, Raven!” A smile graced her lips for the first time since Sydney had arrived.
“Despite the fact that I didn’t make it,” Raven said, “I’m not that upset.”
“You shouldn’t be,” Sydney replied. “That letter wasn’t a rejection, it was all praise.”
They chatted about the band October for a few minutes and how Raven and Horace were planning a Halloween party with a huge show. It was going to be a blast, and Sydney couldn’t wait to see Raven sing her heart out.
Alexia cleared her throat. “So, you guys want to get down to business?”
They all went silent.
“We’re here today to lay The Crush Code to rest. Do you guys all agree?”
“I agree,” Raven said.
Kelly nodded. “Me, too.”
Sydney looked across the table at Kelly. Had she used The Crush Code on Drew instead of her friend Adam?
Does it really matter? Sydney thought. No. It didn’t. Not now anyway.
“I’m ready to lay it to rest,” Sydney said.
Maybe the Code hadn’t been designed for her specifically, but Sydney had gotten some use out of it. Now that they were laying the Code to rest, she was going to repeat one rule to herself and use it like a mantra. This was for the new and improved Sydney, the Sydney that was going to focus more on herself and stop trying to control the things that were out of her hands.
Rule 38: Carry yourself like you are the stuff!
“Jordan?” Raven said, stopping her little sister as she walked past. “Could you take a picture of us?”
“Sure.” Jordan took the digital camera from Raven.
The girls leaned into one another. Raven put her arm around Kelly. Sydney smiled as Alexia leaned closer to her. There was an obvious divide between the girls, especially between Sydney and Kelly, but at least they were together. That’s what mattered most to Sydney. Maybe eventually they’d be one big happy group again. She didn’t hate Kelly, she just needed time to heal the rift.
“Say cheese!” Jordan snapped the picture and then handed the camera over.
“It’s perfect,” Alexia said, passing the camera around the table so everyone could see. “Okay, you guys, ready?”
They all nodded.
Alexia set the copy of The Crush Code in the Code Casket.
“As women of the Code,” they all said in unison, “we hereby lay The Crush Code to rest.”
They all laughed as Alexia set the lid on the casket.