The Real Prom Queens of Westfield High

Chapter Four

My mind swings to what may have happened if I’d dropped Marnie off first on Saturday night. I imagine the look Rick gave me growing more intense and…

“Shannon!” Josie cuts in. “You are so annoying! Did you hear me?”

“Um, you asked what I want to do with my final free days before camp?”

“No.” She sighs. “But never mind. What do you want to do?”

“Finish the binding on my Blue Jean Quilt.” I grin widely.

“Gah! I cannot wait for them to turn you into a normal person.”

• • •

So now I just need to ignore Rick’s phone calls until he catches on and gives up, which, to be honest, takes longer than it should for someone with a 150 IQ. He continues calling at different times for the next few days as I work on finishing my quilt.

Marnie calls to say goodbye before heading halfway across the world, and all she wants to talk about is why I haven’t spoken to Rick. “We keep just missing each other,” I say. “But you have a great trip.” Like she’s going to the beach to sunbathe instead of constructing homes for people who are devastatingly poor.

Finally, Marnie and I hang up and she flies away and I’m free from having to lie to her. That is, until she sends me an email from the Bahamas asking if I’ve spoken to Rick yet. I email her back saying my mom just grounded me from the computer all summer for having a messy room. Except that Marnie knows my room is always super-messy and all Mom asks is that I “keep the door shut on that godforsaken pigsty.” At least I know Marns will forgive my awful lies once my real excuse is revealed.

I just hope Rick will too.

The day before camp starts, technicians come to the house and install minicameras and microphones everywhere. Taping won’t start until it’s time for our “good-byes,” but just knowing the cameras are there freaks me out. Josie must feel it too, because she retires her shabby yellow nightshirt with “Super Chick” printed on the front and is wearing an adorable cotton short set as pajamas. She also has on a pair of faux black-framed glasses and is curled on the couch reading. So much for reality television.

Victoria comes by and coaches us to wait for filming to begin before getting emotional about my going away. Oh yeah, and if I can manage to look significantly unattractive for my goodbye scene and trip to camp, that would be great.

“The limo will swing by to get you at eight tomorrow morning,” Victoria tells me as she heads out the door. “Feel free to stay up late tonight eating salty snacks so you’re nice and puffy for the cameras.”

The moment she sashays out the door, our home phone rings. Josie checks the caller ID, looks at me, and silently mouths Rick.

My last chance to talk to him before I leave. I glance up at the camera in the ceiling with its unseeing glassy eye and marvel that I’m about to be watched relentlessly.

I surprise Josie by taking the phone out of her hand. Glancing at her and Mom, I hit talk and head down the hallway toward my bedroom.

“Hey,” I say once I’m behind my closed door.

“Hey, yourself,” says Rick. “You are not an easy girl to get ahold of.”

“Um, yeah, sorry, I lost my cell phone.” Actually, Victoria just confiscated it until after camp.

“This was my final attempt, so I’m glad you picked up,” he says, and I realize what a huge mistake I’ve just made. I didn’t even think through what I was going to tell him.