“You’re delusional. I never called anyone. I have better things to do with my time that obsess over a red-headed, skinny bitch who couldn’t pull off Odile to save her life,” Becky sneers before closing her door.
I don’t want to believe her. I want to think that it was her who called the office. But she looked genuinely surprised at my accusation. Maybe it wasn’t her?
It couldn’t have been Lisa. Could it? She wouldn’t do that to me, would she?
Opening our door as quietly as I can, Lisa’s worried face is the first thing I see. “Is everything okay?” she asks the second I’m inside.
I lock it behind me and toss my phone and the stack of papers from Dr. Lee on my bed, sitting with a sigh. ‘Yeah. That was one of the school therapists, she wanted to check my ankle again before tomorrow.” Guilt at not telling her the whole story eats at me, but I need to know if it was her.
“Well that’s good that they’re making sure you’re okay. You are okay, right?”
“Yes, I’m fine. All checked out.” Do I take a shower now or in the morning? I’m so sweaty from rehearsal, but I’m so tired.
“What’s with the papers? Is that some kind of physical therapy thing?” She starts to reach for the stack, but I twitch it out of her way, shoving it into a zippered pocket on the outside of my suitcase.
“Something like that yeah.” I’ll shower in the morning. Sleep is what I need. “Did you talk to Hunter or Katy?”
“It was so weird, I tried to Facetime both of them but neither one would pick up. Hunter called me back but it sounded like he was downstairs watching tv with Jack and Cole so we didn’t talk long. Katy never picked up her phone.”
Speaking of phones. I check mine to see if I have any texts from Trevor. Of course there’s a few. “I’m going to go to sleep. Night Hannah.” Lisa reaches up to turn off her light. In the almost darkness, I take my phone into the bathroom to read my texts while I wash my face and change.
Trevor: Hey beautiful, wanted to see how dress rehearsal went. How’s the ankle holding up?
Trevor: I’ll be up late so feel free to respond. Any news?
Trevor: Did you know that stress fractures can get misdiagnosed as a sprain or a strain? I’ve spent way too long on the internet searching for this kind of stuff. Please tell me to stop looking up symptoms. According to all of these websites you’re probably dying.
Trevor: TT, I hope they did a good x-ray on your ankle. Also, the internet is a dark and scary place. Will you hold my hand?
Normally, I would get a warm fuzzy from his texts, but tonight I don’t have the patience for them. My mind turns over all the possibilities as I get ready for bed. Someone made a phone call to the front office trying to get me pulled from the performance tomorrow. If it wasn’t Becky, who was it?
Chapter Twenty-three
Katy
Everything is so green here, it’s like the Emerald City. And the trees are so tall. It makes me feel claustrophobic, the way they loom over the road. We stopped for lunch in Portland an hour ago. Cole and Henry are in the front seat of Mom’s Suburban, taking turns driving. Well, everyone except me has taken a turn at driving. Even though I got my license last week, none of the boys will let me take a turn.
I guess I should say that JJ hasn’t driven either. But then, it’s not her mom’s car so it doesn’t count. Although they let Henry drive, so what do I know? Everyone who can take a turn at driving has. Except me. Just another one of those “Katy is the baby” annoyances. But I can’t help squirming with happiness as we pass a sign saying “Seattle–47 miles.” So close.
After days of working on our parents, we came up with a plan they would agree to. Cole, Henry, Jack, Hunter, JJ and I piled into the Suburban after dinner last night and headed up the Five freeway, destination: Seattle. We all took naps on Friday afternoon so we could drive through the night and get to Seattle around two in the afternoon. Mr. and Mrs. O’Brian already helped my parents reserve two rooms for us up there—one for the girls and one for the boys. Hannah and Lisa don’t know it yet but they’re going to come stay with me and JJ after the performance before we all drive back home on Sunday.
I thought we were going to get caught out when Lisa kept trying to Facetime both me and Hunter. Luckily, Hunter called her back later, when we stopped for snacks and gas in the middle of Central California. I didn’t trust myself not to give something away, so I didn’t answer. She’ll forgive me tomorrow, I’m sure of it.
JJ and I have been relegated to the back row for the whole trip and I’m dying a painful death from the awkwardness. I’m in a constant state of not knowing what to do with myself when I’m around her. We haven’t talked about what happened at the race last weekend at all. Just gone back to hanging out like we have all summer.
Even if I can’t stop myself from staring at her when I think she isn’t looking.
And my fingers itch to touch her.
And as excited as I am to be going on this road trip with my brothers in order to surprise Lisa and Hannah by being at their show, I’m equally excited because I’m getting to take this road trip with JJ. Lisa and Hannah are still my best friends, they always will be. But JJ is too. I have no idea how I’m going to juggle everything once the summer is over—Lisa, Hannah and ballet have always been my whole life, but that’s not what I want anymore. I need them to like JJ, I need them to understand that me wanting to do other things won’t make me any less their friend.
JJ and I have been dozing off and on since about one in the morning, but now I’m awake and staring out the window while my brothers talk basketball stats with Cole and Henry. All those numbers are more than my short-circuiting brain can manage, so staring out the window it is.
“Katy?” Hunter’s voice breaks through the jumbled thoughts in my brain.
“What’s up?” He’s turned back over the bench seat in front of me, his phone in hand. “You should at least text Lisa, she’s worried about you.”
With a sigh, I lean back in my seat, arms crossed over my chest. “Don’t tell me how to be Lisa’s friend. She was my friend for years before she was your girlfriend.” I can’t hide the annoyance in my tone. I’m so sick of him and Lisa relaying messages to each other through me. I’m not their freaking secretary.
“Sorry,” Hunter starts to say before JJ interrupts him.
“Hunter? I think what Katy means is that she appreciates you wanting to pass on the message, but she’d like to have her own friendship with Lisa, and her own relationship with you, and not be in this weird three-way thing that’s happened.” JJ looks at me for confirmation. At my nod, she grins and pats my knee, jerking her head towards Hunter.
Sitting up straight, I lean my arms on the back of the seat in front of me, so I don’t have to shout. Irritated at the scowl on his face, I want to let all my sleep-deprived grumpiness out, but she’s right. “What I’m trying to say, Hunter, is that I love you and Lisa. But I am not your secretary and I hate it when you guys pass messages to each other through me, or when you use each other to tell me things instead of telling me yourself.”
I flop back in my seat, hands in my lap, relieved that I said something. Hunter eyes me for a long moment. “I guess you have a point, Bug. I’ll do my best.” He looks down at the phone in his hand. “But you should text her, she needs to talk to you.” With that he turns around and joins back in on the boys’ conversation.
“Thank you,” I say, turning to look at JJ. I grab her hand and squeeze, needing the reassurance. When she flips her hand to twine her fingers with mine, my stomach bottoms out and my heart catches in my throat. I stare at our linked hands, her long slim fingers, tanned and golden from a summer spent outdoors, next to my stubbier ones, the bronze of my skin complimenting hers. She has two thin gold rings on her middle finger. One has a twisted band with a little red stone nestled in the curve, the other is shaped into an open heart. An open heart,
like hers. From the start, JJ’s been the one working to be my friend. I was suspicious and stand-offish, and then I was confused and afraid. JJ was brave enough to fight through my three over-protective brothers to get to me, not to mention my own stubborn belief that she was using me to get to them. Maybe it’s time I stepped up and was brave enough to show her what’s in my heart too.
Silent, I stare at our hands, a slow smile creeping across my face. Giving her time to see what I’m planning, and pull away if she wants, I bring our joined hands up to my lips, before placing a gentle kiss on her knuckles.
JJ tugs at our hands, forcing me to look up at her face. A question sits in her eyes, but whatever is on my face must answer it because it disappears, an answering grin blooming across hers. When she smiles at me like that, I can hardly breathe, she’s so beautiful. The moment is broken when we hit a rough patch of highway, everyone in the car crying out at the bumps. But JJ and I don’t let go, squeezing our clasped hands before joining in with the conversation.
I have no idea what any of us talk about for the rest of the drive, all of my attention focused on the beautiful girl holding my hand, brushing her thumb across it. At some point, JJ slides into the middle seat, her hip pressing against mine, our arms twined as she leans up to whisper in my ear.
“Hey,” her soft voice sends shivers down my spine.
“Hey,” I whisper back, letting myself linger a little in the crook of her neck, until a bump in the road jolts me back.
Once the road smooths out again and we’re nearing the campus where Hannah and Lisa have spent the whole summer, JJ leans back in to whisper again. “So, are you finally convinced I was never interested in your brothers?” Her nose brushes the shell of my ear and I stifle a gasp. The hard finger she pokes into my side surprises a squawk out of me, getting the attention of all three of my brothers, plus Henry. Cole eyes me in the rear-view mirror.
“No flirting in the back seat.” He winks before looking back at the road.
Instead of protesting, I stick my tongue out at him. “Too late.”
Hunter and Jack’s smirks earn them each a flick on the forehead from JJ. “Mind your own business.” And with that, she loops her arm over my head, tucking me into her side. Jack reaches out like he’s going to high-five her but then pulls back.
Pasting a glare on his face he growls instead. “Break her heart and I’ll break your face.” Then he grins, reaching out for the aborted high-five. “God, I’ve been waiting to use that line for years.”
Chapter Twenty-four
Hannah
“Maybe it was Min?” Lisa says, placing a stack of leotards in her suitcase. I shrug, I wouldn’t put it past her. We’re busy packing up our stuff before the show tonight. We could stay in the dorms tonight, but we decided to sleep in the hotel with my parents instead.
I hadn’t been able to keep my secret from her for long. When I kept swiveling my head around at breakfast, eyeing every person who walked in the door, she refused to let it drop until I told her what was wrong. I may have left out the little tidbit about being asked to come back in the fall. I don’t know how to tell her and dropping that bomb on her at breakfast seemed cruel.
But she was incensed at the idea that someone may have tried to get me out of the show by exaggerating my ankle injury to the staff. My phone buzzes against my desk at the same time as Lisa’s. Since my arms are full of clothes, Lisa picks up her phone to check. “It’s Katy.”
Lisa reads silently for a few seconds while I shove the clothes in my suitcase, grabbing a stray sock off the floor to toss it on top. Her happy squeal startles me into stubbing my toe on the bed. “What?”
“They’re here!” Lisa turns her phone to show me a photo on her screen. The picture was taken in front of the dorms, Katy, her brothers, and JJ grinning.
“Oh my god!” I grab my own phone to check that I got the same photo. There it is. Our best friend somehow managed to get all the way up here to see our performance? “When did they? How did they?” I can’t formulate all the questions running through my mind.
“Hunter and Katy. You know how persuasive they can be.” Lisa grins, typing away at her phone. I start typing away at mine too.
Me: Hey, Katy and her brothers drove up for the show. Want me to introduce you? Now or after the show?
It only takes a moment for him to respond.
Trevor: I can head over now, I’m not doing anything at home. I kind of feel like I already know them all anyway.
Trevor: See you in thirty?
I send him a kissy face gif.
Trevor: Got it. How’s the ankle? Are you ok to dance today?
Me: Ankle is fine. I’m fine. I’m great. Hurry up and get here.
A thought occurs to me right after I hit send on that text.
Me: Ummmmmmm, hope you’re ok with meeting my parents. They’re supposed to be here soon.
Trevor: Parents love me. I’m very non-threatening.
Stuffing my phone in my pocket, I follow Lisa out the door, struggling to keep up with her pace. We giggle the whole elevator ride down, Lisa barely able to contain herself until the doors open. “Oh my god, just go!” I laugh, shoving her in front of me when she pauses to wait for me. Hunter and Katy are peering through the glass wall of the lobby, the grins on their faces bright as the sun shining in the sky.
Lisa bolts out the door and throws herself at Hunter, jumping into his arms as I step outside behind her. “You’re here! You’re really here” She’s laughing and hugging him as he spins them around for a second. Seeing her this happy has me grinning as Katy launches herself at me.
“Surprise!”
Hugging her tight, I can hardly believe they’re here. “How did you guys pull this off?” I ask.
Katy grins that mischievous grin. “It took a lot of begging and promising to be careful. If Cole and Henry hadn’t agreed to come it wouldn’t have happened,” she adds, pointing at her brother and the very tall man standing next to him, Jack hovering nearby.
I wave and they wave back before going back to their own conversation. Katy keeps talking, her eyes sparkling. “We left after dinner last night and drove straight through. We’re staying in the same hotel as your parents so we’re having an epic girl’s night in our room tonight.”
“We are?” Katy nods. “Hi JJ,” I add, waving at her. “How did Katy rope you into coming?”
JJ laughs, taking Katy’s hand. “I was promised VooDoo donuts.”
Laughing, I grin before looking around for Lisa. She and Hunter are deep in conversation on one of the benches. “We’re not going to get either of them to pay attention to us for the next twenty minutes at least. Want to come help me pack until Trevor gets here?”
Katy and JJ come help me get our room packed up, packing up Lisa’s things for her while I finish shoving my own stuff in my suitcase, only keeping out what I need for tonight’s show. We’re almost done when my phone buzzes.
Trevor: I’m here. I’m going to go ahead and assume that the guy making out with Lisa is Hunter and the matching dudes nearby are Jack and Cole?
Me: That would be correct. Just make sure they come up for air at some point. Lisa still has to dance tonight. We’re almost done, I’ll be down in a bit.
Trevor: Take your time, I’m not going anywhere.
Chapter Twenty-five
Katy
“I assume from the stupid smile on your face that’s Trevor?” I tease Hannah, tucking Lisa’s laptop into its case while JJ wraps the cords up.
She nods. “Pretty sure your face matches mine.” She nods her head at JJ who grins and gives me a thumbs up in response. “You guys are cute together.” I don’t know why her words are as reassuring as they are, but hearing them releases the last tiny bit of tension in my shoulders. I knew Hannah wouldn’t judge, in theory. But having everything out in the open is a weight off my heart.
“Wait!” Hannah’s sharp tone freezes me in my tracks, outside pocket of her suitcase unzipped. “Um, hang on. Don’t put those in there.” A guilty look flashes across her face for a second before being hidden behind a smile. Instead, she pulls out a small toiletry bag from her large dance bag. “Put them in here, we’ll need them tonight.”
“Ready?” JJ asks, breaking the awkward moment. She grabs one of Lisa’s bags, slinging it over her shoulder, and the handle of another, hauling them toward the door. I grab the handle of Hannah’s biggest suitcase and a reusable grocery bag stuffed full and follow her.
“Okay, maybe there’s something to be said for whatever you’ve been doing all summer,” Hannah says, awe in her voice. “You guys have way more upper body strength than me.” She grabs her own dance bag and the smallest of the suitcases, straining to carry it all.
“We aren’t going to have to worry about not having any boys this year, I can pick you all up. Maybe I’ll audition for Cavalier this Nutcracker.” I laugh as we head down the hallway toward the elevator. Hannah doesn’t answer, just gives me a tight smile. Weird, I thought that was pretty funny. JJ laughed. As we pass the last door it cracks open and a brunette sticks her head out, looking rumpled.
“Do you mind? I was taking a nap.” The second she lays eyes on Hannah, her face scrunches in distaste. “Of course,” she mutters before closing the door again.
I pin Hannah with a look. “Was that the infamous Becky?” At her nod, I’m tempted to go back and bang on the door, give that little bitch a piece of my mind, but Hannah marches on, digging her finger into the elevator button.
The door opens with a ding and we pull everything inside, Hannah struggling to get her smaller suitcase over the gap while JJ and I easily lift the bigger bags into the space. I flex my arms as the door slides closed. “That’s right, check out these guns.” JJ joins me which gets Hannah laughing.
Face to Face (On Pointe Book 3) Page 20
