Beauty (28 page)

Marissa gave me a wicked smile. “Watch this,” she whispered.

“Hey, Anthony!” She waved at him, smiling brightly, and Anthony slowed to a stop in front of us. “What are you playing today?”

“Some Beatles,” he answered seriously. “This song’s a tricky one. I’ve been working on it for weeks, but I think it’s finally getting there.

“Oh yeah?” Marissa snickered. “You
hear
it coming together?”

Anthony nodded eagerly. Either he didn’t notice Marissa’s sarcasm, or he didn’t care. “Some of the notes are still a little off, but I’ll get them eventually.”

“I bet you will,” Marissa said loudly. A few people paused in the hallway, listening. I saw Ashley glancing over in interest from where she was searching through her overstuffed locker. “What happened to the saxophone, Anthony?” Marissa continued, her voice growing even louder.

“I liked the sax,” Anthony said thoughtfully. “But it just didn’t feel like
my
instrument, you know?”

“Your air instrument,” Marissa corrected.

Anthony nodded, seemingly oblivious to the crowd starting to gather round. Ashley finally found her algebra book and started down the hallway toward us. “Right. The drum just feels right to me. I’m going to get a real one when I save up enough money.”

“Well I think you’re really talented,” Marissa said. Several people laughed under their breath. “Don’t you think, Molly?”

I looked at Anthony. He looked so serious standing there, like he had no idea he was being made fun of. What was
wrong
with him? Ashley reached us, pushing her way over next to Marissa.
Freak
, she mouthed at me. “Right, Molly?” Marissa pressed.

“Right,” I said slowly. I cleared my throat, tossing my hair over my shoulder. “Totally talented. Which is why,” I continued, my voice building with every word, “it’s such a shame that no one can hear you.” I smiled sweetly as all around me people started laughing. Anthony’s eyes widened and for the first time, it looked like he finally understood what was going on.

“Yeah,” he murmured, so quietly it was almost as if he was talking to himself. “I guess it is.”

“Walk me to play practice?” I said, smiling up at Hudson. The last bell had just rung, and I was hoping to snag a few minutes with Hudson before both of our practices began. He’d been acting weird all day, and I wound my arm through his, wanting him to give me that dimpled smile from the car that morning. “How can you say no to the star?” I added teasingly.

“You drive a hard bargain,” Hudson said, smiling a half-smile. It wasn’t his dimpled smile, but it was still pretty cute.

“That’s what I hear,” I said, tightening my grip on him. We were almost at the auditorium when someone came barreling around the corner, running straight into us.

“Whoa!” I said sharply. “Where’s the fire? Oh, Kemper.” I took a step back. Sometime during the day, Kemper had changed into a new outfit: a short black skirt and a bright pink shirt. It screamed Hayley. She was holding a sign in her hand, and I had to choke back a laugh when I read it. NOT SO FAST! FIRST KISS MY (GR)ASS!

For a second we just stared at each other. On my other side I could feel Hudson shifting uncomfortably in place.

“Molly,” Kemper said finally, breaking the awkward silence. “I’m so glad I ran into you. I’ve been dying to thank you for picking me up this morning.” Her voice was dripping with sarcasm.

“I’m sorry, Kemper. I completely forgot to call you.” I gave her my most innocent, wide-eyed look, the one that had gotten me out of Mr. G’s pop quiz this morning. “It just slipped my—”

“Oh, cut the crap, Molly,” Kemper said sharply, making Hudson tense up next to me. “I saw you two drive by me this morning. Or were you too caught up in your little lovefest with Ken doll here to notice me?”

“I …” I looked away, racking my brain for a good excuse.

“That’s what I thought,” Kemper said.

Hudson pulled his arm out of my grip. “That was Kemper we passed on the bike this morning?” he asked incredulously. “Why didn’t you ask me to stop?”

“I was … distracted,” I said faintly.

“I bet.” Kemper watched me, her face expressionless. “And last night? Laughing at Hayley? Were you
distracted
when you were doing that too?”

“When were you laughing at Hayley last night?” Hudson cut in.

“Oh, lucky for you,” Kemper snapped before I could reply, “you were too busy drinking beers on the other side of the field to catch the lovely display. Not only did our Molly laugh at Hayley, she also
oinked
at her.” Kemper crossed her arms against her chest, looking furious.

“Come on, Kemper, she did it to me too! The fair? Laughing? Your black streak? Remember?” I threw my arms in the air, starting to get fed up.

“Oh, I remember,” Kemper said coolly. “I’m just surprised you do too.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Hey, Molly! Hey, Kemper!” Before Kemper could say anything else, Karen Baker wiggled her way between us. Her eyes flickered over to Hudson, and she nervously pushed a stray curl out of her face.

“Hi, Karen,” I said wearily. Why did it seem like she was popping up everywhere lately? Couldn’t she see we were in the middle of something?

“I have a question, Molly.” The curl sprung back into her face, and she automatically shoved it away. “Could I maybe, um, possibly, well …” she trailed off nervously and I tapped my foot impatiently.

“
What
, Karen?”

“Could I come with you to Brandon Miles’s party tomorrow?” she asked, her words rushing together.

I stared at her, unseeing. Was she seriously asking me this now? Smack in the middle of my fight with Kemper?

“Can we talk about this later, Karen?” I asked exasperatedly.

“Oh, yeah, okay.” She fixed her gaze on me, her eyes wide and hopeful. “I just, well, I’ve never been to one of his parties and I thought it would be fun, and I know if you invite me like you did for Scoop, no one will say anything about it, and—”

“I said not now!” I yelled. It came out louder than I’d meant it to, and both Kemper and Hudson flinched.

“Oh, r-right.” Karen backed away, her curl falling right back into her face. Several tears sprung to her eyes, and she desperately blinked them away. “I-I’m so sorry, Molly,” she said, before taking off down the hall.

“Karen, wait!” Kemper turned to me, her eyes blazing. “You know, Molly, I used to wish this for you. The looks, the boy, the confidence. You were so sad sometimes, and all I wanted was for you to be happy.” She paused. “I guess you have to be careful what you wish for.” She started backing down the hall after Karen. “Congratulations, Molly. You have it all now. And I officially don’t know who you are anymore.”

As Kemper disappeared down the hallway, Hudson looked at me, disappointment flooding his eyes. “You know what?” he said softly. “Neither do I.”

I blinked at him in surprise. “What do you mean?” I whispered.

But he didn’t answer. He just shook his head and walked away, leaving me standing in the middle of the hallway, all alone.

All Hail the Queen

MR. G HAD just started his daily pop quiz Friday morning when the loudspeaker crackled to life. “Good morning, students of Miracle High,” Principal Markoff’s staticky voice rang out. “I’m sorry to interrupt your regularly scheduled programming.” She let out a chuckle. “But I have exciting news to share. The votes are in for this year’s prom court!”

I straightened up with a start. I’d known it was coming today, but I hadn’t expected it this soon. The day had barely started yet! I fidgeted nervously in my seat. I was sure Ashley was right—she’d never lose—but still I couldn’t help the little flutter of hope flapping its way through me. Mr. G leaned back against his desk, rubbing his hands together excitedly. “Finally,” he stage-whispered. “The moment of truth.”

“As you know,” Principal Markoff went on. “Every year we vote for a prom king and queen in each grade. So without further adieu, here’s this year’s prom court! The senior prom king and queen are … Mark Hopper and Becca Ford! The junior king and queen are … Hudson Taylor and Sarabeth Windsor!” I couldn’t help the knot that gathered in my stomach. There had never been any doubt in my mind that Hudson would win junior king. But I’d hoped we’d be talking when he did. I leaned back in my chair, feeling dejected. I’d tried calling Hudson after play practice let out last night, but he hadn’t answered, and he had never called me back. “The sophomore king and queen are …” Principal Markoff paused, making me straighten back up in my seat. “Josh Wilson and Molly Davis!”

Molly Davis. She’d said Molly Davis.

I blew out a breath. A thousand thoughts were rolling through my mind, so fast I couldn’t grab onto any of them. They rose and fell and crashed inside me, a crescendo—prom, me, queen, crown, Josh, me—building until they reached a single, solid roar. It was deafening, that roar. It was all I could hear.
I’m queen, I’m queen, I’m queen, I’m queen.

“Congratulations, Molly!” Mr. G’s voice sounded distant, slowly swimming its way toward me.

I blinked. The world came rushing back in: people cheering, someone whistling, Mr. G giving me a sly wink. I sat up taller, clearing my throat. Why was I so surprised? This was who I was now. I was Molly Davis. I was beautiful. I was captivating. Of course I was prom queen. “Thanks,” I said smoothly. I cupped my hand Queen Elizabeth–style, waving to the class.

Out of habit, I twisted around to look at Kemper and for a split second I forgot everything: our fight, what she said, that she wouldn’t be sitting there laughing at how I was becoming Ohio’s next trophy wife. I met her eyes and she stared back at me blankly, like I was a stranger, like we’d never even met. And just like that I remembered it all, so hard it felt like a punch. Quickly, I looked away. Who needed her anyway? Hayley was sitting a few seats in front of her, openly glowering at me. Who needed either of them?

I looked at Ashley instead. She was slouching in her chair, her mouth set in a tight line, Blair whispering something in her ear. I felt something lurch in my stomach. What if they were mad at me for winning? Quickly, I tore a sheet of paper out of my notebook.
You guys can be my ladies in waiting
! I scribbled.
Watch out, Pippa Middleton … here come Ashley and Blair!

Ashley’s face was impassive as she read the note, then passed it over to Blair, and my stomach lurched again. I might not need Kemper or Hayley, but I needed Ashley. And Blair. I didn’t know what I’d do without them. I watched as Blair leaned over and whispered something in Ashley’s ear. Ashley immediately broke into a smile, and grabbing her pen, quickly jotted her own note, passing it over to me.
Our butts are SO much better
than Pippa’s
, it read. I burst out laughing, half out of relief, and across the room, Ashley and Blair joined in. “What’s so funny, girls?” Mr. G asked, raising his eyebrows at us.

Quickly I tucked the note inside my textbook. “Oh, you know,” I said solemnly. “Just some royal business.”

All morning long, I found myself doing the strangest thing. Anytime someone would congratulate me, I’d hear Kemper’s voice in my head, saying: “Thanks, it’s always been my dream to turn into a trophy wife.” Or: “I know—I’m going to look so good on a mantelpiece.” It was ridiculous; I kept trying to shove her voice out, but each time it came back: louder and stronger and more Kemper-like than ever. Ashley and Blair were keeping up a steady chatter about my crown and making sure it fit my head and matched my dress, but even that couldn’t distract me.

I needed to see Hudson, I decided. If anyone could chase Kemper out of my head, it was him. But I hadn’t seen him all morning. He hadn’t been at my locker before homeroom, and he wasn’t waiting for me after any of my classes either. I thought of what he’d said to me yesterday. Could he still be mad at me after this? I mean, we were both on prom court! We should be celebrating. But when he didn’t turn up at lunch, I really started to worry. Stopping at my locker, I pulled out my cell.
Queen Molly would like to formally request the presence of King Hudson at her royal locker
, I typed. I read over it quickly as the warning bell rang. Perfect. How could he stay mad after that? I added an
XOXO
and pushed send. I was sure he’d be there when next period let out.

But he wasn’t. I knew he was in school—Ashley had seen him earlier—but it was like he was going out of his way to avoid me. If only it was a Monday, when we had gym class together. But on Fridays, the only time I usually saw him was between classes and at lunch. I pulled out my phone, hoping to find a response, but all I had was a text from my mom:
Dear Molly, Hope you’re having a good day! Love you, Mom.
I had a sudden urge to call and tell her the news, but how could I ever explain it? As far as she knew, I was still ugly duckling Molly, with too much hair and too little to do on a Saturday night.

I had to find Hudson, I decided. I might not be able to talk to my mom, and I might not be able to talk to Kemper, but I
could
talk to him. I started toward his English classroom. I would just wait for him there. Once he saw me, everything would be okay. It had to be.