I nearly forgot about the party. It only fluttered back into my consciousness when we pulled into the PHS parking lot. As we got off the bus Aubrie said, "There's no way my parents are going to let me go to Garret and Joe's party."
"Ditto," Rachel said, then looked over at me. "And you shouldn't go either, Chels. You've got work to do."
I nodded and we plodded toward our cars. While we walked my friends threw out more suggestions for me. I nodded at these too, even though they barely registered in my mind.
"We'll be at the auditions rooting for you," Rachel said. "Well, just as soon as we let the air out of Rick's tires." I was not sure whether she was joking about that or not.
"Thanks." The word came out of my mouth wavering. "You guys are great."
I noticed Logan coming across the parking lot. He'd been at the game, but of course had no way of knowing about the drama that had happened on the way back.
"Hi guys," he called cheerily. Then to Samantha he said, "Ready for Pride and Prejudice?"
And that's when Samantha's composure broke. She'd been so collected on the way home that I'd thought she was okay. But as soon as he spoke to her, tears welled up in her eyes. She let out a little sob and threw her arms around him.
His arms tightened around her and his lips brushed against her hair. "What's wrong?"
"Rick planted beer cans in our duffel bags," I told him. "So I'm without back up singers for the audition tomorrow, and if Mrs. Jones can't convince the principal that the cans didn't belong to us, Samantha, Rachel, and Aubrie will be suspended for two weeks."
Logan stared back at us, stunned. "You're kidding."
"Nope," Aubrie said.
"We're going to let the air out of his tires tomorrow before he leaves for tryouts," Rachel added.
Logan shook his head, his expression serious. "No, you're not."
"Yes, we are," Samantha choked out.
He ran his hand across her back. "What about all of that stuff you said last year about taking the high road, and revenge not being the best way? Don't you believe that anymore?"
"Yes," she said, "but Rick can't keep walking over people."
"You're not going to do it," Logan said, but the softness in his voice made me unsure as to whether it was a command or a prediction. "You're not going to do something that's illegal just to get back at him."
She put her head back down on his shoulder and didn't answer.
The rest of us said our goodbyes, and we went our separate ways. I drove home, fighting to keep the lump in my throat from transforming into a crying jag, and wondered if Mr. Metzerol took emergency phone calls.
Adrian wasn't home when I got home, and she hadn't left a note like Mom instructed, but that wasn't a surprise. I wouldn't let myself worry about her. I didn't have time.
I sat down in front of the computer to surf the net for possible songs.
It was hopeless, I knew, even before I logged on. A new song wouldn't solve my problems. I needed my backup singers back. I put down the mouse and picked up my phone.
Pacing across my room, I called Tanner. When he answered his phone I told him everything that had happened. "Can you make Rick confess to putting those cans in our duffel bags? If he confesses then my friends will be able to sing with me."
"You think Richard framed you?" I could hear the doubt in Tanner's voice, and I knew he didn't believe it.
"Yes," I said. "I think Rick would do anything to win."
There was a pause on the line and I could almost sense Tanner arranging his words. "Okay, sometimes Richard doesn't play by the rules, but he wouldn't stoop this low. He wouldn't get people suspended from school."
I gripped the phone harder than I needed too. "You haven't even talked to him yet and you're taking his side?" And that's when I realized it could never work out between Tanner and me. No matter what we'd said yesterday in the car about ignoring each other's siblings, we couldn't. As long as Rick and I didn't get along, Tanner would have to choose sides. And apparently his strongest loyalty would always be to his brother.
Tanner let out a sigh. "Look, I really don't think he had anything to do with it, but I'll talk to him and let you know."
We hung up, and while I waited for him to call back, I took off my cheerleading stuff, flung it onto the floor in a heap, and kicked it—I knew it was childish, but I'd stopped caring. Then I changed into my grubbiest sweats. Five minutes later he called me back. "Richard said—and this is a direct quote—that he doesn't know now, has never known, and never wants to know anything about the contents of the cheerleading squad's duffel bags."
"And you believed him?" It was a stupid question. Tanner had believed Rick before he'd even asked him about it. Still, it amazed me that Tanner could be so blind.
"Chelsea," Tanner's voice turned soft, reasoning. "Why would he risk getting you in trouble when he already thinks he's going to win? No offense, but Richard's been at this for years."
And apparently Tanner thought that meant no one else stood a chance.
I said, "I don't understand why Rick does the things he does. I guess that's always been part of the problem." My throat felt tight. It was getting harder to push out the words. "Look, Tanner, I've got to get off the phone. I need to figure out a new song for tomorrow."
"Chelsea . . . " He let out a sigh and didn't say anything else. Well, what else was there left to say? "I'll let you go then."
He was letting me go, I knew, in more than one way.
I shut my eyes and then opened them again. It was too easy to picture Tanner with my eyes closed and I didn't want to see him right now.
"Good luck with your audition tomorrow," he said.
"Thanks," I said, but didn't mean it.
Then we said good-bye. That part I meant.
After I hung up, I went back to the computer, fighting harder than ever to keep the tears at bay. Even with my eyes open I could see Tanner's face. I could see the way he'd smiled at me before we kissed. But I didn't have time to cry about this. I needed to stay angry. Anger was easier to deal with and more time-effective, too. Anger gave you energy. Tears just made you weak.
I was on my third music site when the doorbell rang. I trudged to the door and opened it, already resenting the interruption. Molly and Polly stood on my door step. "Hi, we called a little while ago, but it was busy." Polly's gaze took in my faded sweats. "We wanted to get your opinion on our outfits in case we needed to change before we left for the party."
Molly looked me up and down. "I told you we were overdressed."
Which made me feel even worse. They had put all that time into getting ready, and I'd been so upset about everything I'd completely forgotten to call them and cancel.
I invited them in, then explained what had happened. " I 'm sorry, but I don't have time for the party. I've got to learn a whole new song."
"Why not just get new backup singers for your old song?" Molly asked.
"Because I don't know anyone else that can sing who isn't already trying out themselves." As soon as I said the words I realized I did. And they were standing right in front of me.
Chapter 17
I nearly gasped in excitement. "You guys could do it." Polly gasped too, but not in excitement. "No, we can't."
"Mr. Metzerol says you have beautiful voices."