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

something in her ear. I could tell from the way Sophie recoiled that whatever Brynn had said to her wasn’t as sweet a greeting as it seemed.
    Brynn looked at Billy, but she didn’t say anything to him. Then she walked toward me and gave me the same hug she’d just given Sophie. “I hate you,” she whispered in my ear. Her words sounded more like a threat than a statement.
    My eyes found Billy’s. We’ve been friends for so long I think he understood that there was a problem. He walked over to where Brynn and I were standing and looped his arms around both of us. To everyone else, I’m sure it looked like a friendly gesture. He steered us outside and motioned for Sophie to follow.
    â€œWhat’s the problem?” he asked when we were finally out of earshot. I didn’t say anything, and neither did Sophie.
    â€œYou’re disgusting,” Brynn said to Sophie. She practically spat the words at her.
    â€œOK, calm down,” Billy said. Even though he didn’t look in Brynn’s direction, I knew it was meant for her. “We can figure this out.”
    Billy loves diplomacy as much as he hates confrontation. I knew his intention in bringing all of us outside was to clear things up. I also knew it wasn’t happening.
    â€œEveryone saw you kiss Billy at the party,” Brynn said to Sophie. “I guess you don’t care about your reputation.”
    â€œBrynn!” said Billy.
    Sophie looked hurt. “You and Billy broke up,” she said.
    Brynn moved away from Sophie, like being anywhere near her was physically unpleasant. She turned her attention to Billy. “You’re so pathetic,” she said.
    Then she looked at me. “And you’re nothing. You’re absolutely nothing to me, and you never will be.” Then she put her hand on her head and went back inside and said something to her mother. A few minutes later the Stephenses left.
    Not a great way to start the new year.

Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come, whispering, “It will be happier.”
    â€”Alfred Lord Tennyson
    Friday, January 2, 9:15 a.m.
Waking up
    I woke up this morning to Mom sitting on the edge of my bed. “What happened yesterday outside the diner? Carol called this morning, and she’s concerned about what’s going on with you and Brynn. So am I.”
    The last thing I wanted was for the moms to get involved. Sleepiness was my only weapon. I closed my eyes. “Mom, I’m not even awake yet. I don’t want to talk about this.”
    But Mom wasn’t letting it go. “April, I know you and Brynn have had some issues, but you, Billy, Brynn, and Sophie were outside talking yesterday. and you all looked upset. Did something happen?”
    There was no way I was telling Mom about Sophie and Billy kissing or what happened at the party with Emily and Vanessa. “Don’t worry,” I said. I yawned like I was going back to sleep. “It’ll all work out,” I mumbled.
    But I’m not so sure it will.
    Saturday, January 3, 10:45 p.m.
Saying good-bye
    Leo is leaving for college tomorrow, so tonight we had what he called our
last date
. “It’s kind of ironic,” he said. “We just had our first date, and we’re already on our last.” He laughed. I could tell he thought he was being pretty funny.
    I would have laughed too, but it felt like I was having a lot of “lasts” for so early in the year. I couldn’t help thinking about Brynn. New Year’s Day was probably the last time I’ll ever speak to her.
    As I thought about it, my mood darkened.
    â€œPenny for your thoughts,” said Leo as we sat down with plates of chicken and rice and hummus from the Middle Eastern restaurant in the food court at the mall.
    In the short time I’ve gotten to know Leo, I’ve learned there’s no point in not telling him what’s on my mind, since he seems to get when