Read Online Too Much Drama by Laurie Friedman - Free Book Online Page A

Vanessa and Emily. The only question was when.
    I got an answer to that question before I left the party. Vanessa and Emily cornered me when I came out of the bathroom. “We’re telling Brynn,” said Vanessa.
    I didn’t have to ask what she meant. “Why would you do that?” I asked.
    Emily made this weird, high-pitched sound. “Brynn deserves to know that Sophie is going after Billy.”
    â€œDon’t you think that’s going to upset her?” I asked.
    Emily rolled her eyes. “Obviously.”
    â€œSophie should have thought of that before she kissed Billy,” added Vanessa.
    I didn’t know what else to say to Vanessa or Emily. Sophie kissed Billy, but he didn’t exactly
not
kiss her back. They know as well as I do that Billy isn’t going out with Brynn anymore. He’s free to kiss whomever he wants.
    I felt sick as I thought about what Brynn will do when she finds out. I wanted to ask when they were planning to tell her and suggest that a good time would be after we graduate. But I knew it would be a whole lot sooner than that.
    When the party started to die down, I told Leo good-bye, and Sophie and I left. As we were walking home, Sophie linked her arm through mine. “I like Billy,” she said. There it was—a delayed response to the question I’d asked at May’s game. She looked so happy. And oblivious.
    I didn’t want to upset her, but she had to know what happened with Vanessa and Emily outside the bathroom. As I told her, her smile disappeared. “It’s no one’s business if I like Billy. If Emily and Vanessa get involved, it’s just stupid, small-town gossip.”
    It was the first time I’d ever heard Sophie say anything negative about Faraway. “I’m sorry,” I said. “I had to tell you.” I paused. “I don’t know what Brynn will do.”
    I could see Sophie’s frown, even in the dark. “Brynn doesn’t own Billy,” she said. “It’s a free country. He can like whoever he wants.”
    â€œTrue,” I said. “Billy can do what he wants.”
    I didn’t say this, but so can Brynn.

    New Year’s Day
Disaster strikes
    Dad closed the Love Doctor Diner today and had a brunch there for my extended family, which should have been great because Dad makes the best brunch. Ham, bacon, cheese grits, scrambled eggs, biscuits, and homemade cinnamon rolls.
    Unfortunately, Mom decided (without asking me) to include Billy’s and Brynn’s families. “Mom, how could you do that?” I asked. I put my empty juice glass down on the kitchen counter. Granted, Mom didn’t know what happened last night at the party, but she’s aware that Brynn and I aren’t speaking to each other. “I don’t see how you could invite the Stephenses. It’s going to be so uncomfortable.”
    â€œThey have been family friends for a long time,” said Mom.
    â€œThat’s not a reason to invite them, especially without asking me.”
    â€œApril, it’s a new year,” said Mom. “You and Brynn should both be able to put aside whatever is happening between you and get along for a few hours.”
    I knew the matter was closed. Mom couldn’t uninvite them. But as I got dressed to go to the diner, I felt the orange juice I’d drunk churning in my stomach. I didn’t know if Vanessa and Emily had told Brynn yet about what happened, but I literally felt sick thinking about it.
    The bad feeling I had about how the day would turn out grew as my extended family filtered in. By the time Sophie and her mom arrived, and then Billy and his family, I had a sinking feeling about what was going to happen. Unfortunately, it turns out my intuition was spot on.
    I saw Brynn’s face as she walked into the diner, and I knew she’d heard what happened at the party. She went straight up to Sophie. She hugged her and whispered