Chapter 24
Aconsequence of staying up all night I considered—but didn’t put enough weight into—was the fact that I’d be dead tired that following Saturday.
I didn’t realize that tiredness would extend into Sunday, though.
In the back of my head, I knew I’d be tired, but I hadn’t anticipated how tired.
It left me foggy all weekend, time flying by in a blur.
Mom, convinced I was sick, thankfully let me “sleep it off” most of the weekend.
I did not, however, escape Sunday tea.
I sat sandwiched between Madison Oliphant and Mrs. Morris, both of whom were listening intently as my mom spoke about the upcoming homecoming festivities.
Leading up to the big game this Friday, Brentwood High was going all out in terms of being celebratory.
Mom had organized a committee to go around the city to “dress it up” by hanging flyers and spreading as much gold and blue spirit as possible.
“We’ve convinced almost all the shops on Main Street to paint pawprints on their windows for the big game,” Mom said excitedly, looking around the circular table with wide eyes.
She looked a bit like a storyteller surrounded by children, trying to be as animated as possible.
“A lot of people are hanging ribbons on their doors. If you don’t have one, stop by my car after tea, and I’ll get you one. I’ve got plenty to go around.”
I picked up my teacup and took the world’s smallest sip from the super-floral, super-sweet concoction. No matter how many of the teas I went to, I wasn’t sure I’d ever acquire the taste.
“Don’t forget, Center Inspire is hosting their Brentwood High art show, as well,” Mom went on, flipping a bit of her red hair over her shoulder. “I talked things over with Lila Matthews, and the way they’re organizing everything is going to look so lovely.”
“Madison dropped some of the artwork off the other day, and she said it’s going to be great.
” Principal Oliphant looked at her daughter with a warm smile.
It was funny how the two of them looked alike.
If Principal Oliphant was a few years younger, they could’ve looked like sisters.
“We’ll be there for the show, of course, supporting the gallery and the school. ”
The table ran like clockwork. Mom was the ringleader, always leading the conversations, while everyone else had turns here and there.
Except for Madison and me, of course. Madison was much better at listening than I was, but as I watched her today, I wondered if she was listening.
Her eyes were bouncing around the table as people spoke, but they looked distant.
So, while Mrs. Morris engaged Mom, I leaned over. “Have you gotten your dress yet?”
Madison looked over at me and smiled automatically, and I was right—she was distracted. “Dress?”
“For homecoming.”
“Oh.” She drew in a breath and then nodded. “I have. I’m on homecoming court, so I had to get it early.”
“Custom made,” Principal Oliphant interjected, patting her daughter’s shoulder. “She’s going to look so lovely in it.”
I was sure Madison would look lovely in anything she wore.
Even as I eyed her now, in a simple pink sundress, I was envious of how effortless she looked.
Her makeup was subtle but flawless. Her blonde hair was coiled into perfect curls, ones she wore up in a ponytail.
Everything about her seemed perfect. Then again, I would’ve expected nothing less from one of the leaders in the Top Tier.
Our topic had snagged Mom’s attention, and I saw her turn from Mrs. Morris. “Madison, you’re walking with Landon, aren’t you? Since he’s on homecoming court, too? I’ve already got his suit picked out and everything. We should make sure we get a tie that matches your dress.”
Madison nodded as she took a sip of her tea. “I actually picked up a tie when we bought the dress. I’ll be sure to give that to him at school.”
“Talia, isn’t this perfect? Madison and Landon on homecoming court together?
I couldn’t have planned it more perfectly myself!
” Mom leaned across her place setting eagerly, and all of the ladies at the table leaned in too, just as curious to hear what she’d say next. “Has he asked you to the dance yet?”
“Me?” Madison’s pink lips parted in surprise. “Oh, he wouldn’t ask me.”
“Why not?” Mom demanded, confused. “It’s perfect.”
If it were Morgan, I would’ve stomped on her foot. If it were Jaden, I would’ve nudged his arm. But it was Madison, and I could do nothing but plead with eyes she never looked over to meet. “I’m sure he’ll ask his girlfriend,” Madison said innocently, and then the table exploded.
“Girlfriend?” Mrs. Morris all but gasped, at the same time Mrs. Gunther exclaimed, “So the rumor was true!”
“Landon has a girlfriend?” Principal Oliphant asked her daughter, and Madison frantically looked around the table, unsure who to settle on. Ultimately, she looked down at me.
I gave her a grimace that could’ve passed as a smile.
For a person who liked everything planned out, I wondered what Mom was thinking. Nothing showed on her expression. Not shock, not surprise, not anger, not happiness. It was a little scary. “Do you know her name, dear?”
This time, Madison glanced at me before she spoke. “Um, you know, I can’t remember.”
“It’s Lacey,” Mrs. Gunther said, leaning her elbow onto the table. “I remember it from the Babble article. How interesting that it was true! I can’t believe you didn’t know, Naomi.”
“I thought you said it was a rumor, Gemma.”
All of the attention turned to me in a way that maximized my discomfort. I clutched my teacup tightly, frantically trying to think of what to say to downplay it all. “I’ve…never met her.”
Technically a lie, but I didn’t know who she was when I did meet her, so did it count?
“Well, this is just…” Mom trailed off, but I knew her well enough to know how she was going to finish that sentence. Disappointing.
The whole table started buzzing with the new gossip, and I reached for another cucumber finger sandwich, thinking about how my brother had one heck of a story to spin when we got home.
That, or finally come clean. Even though I hadn’t been the one to spill the beans, I felt guilty.
I wouldn’t want to be him, forced to explain something he’d been keeping to himself for so long.
How would I fare if I was in his shoes? If I had to come clean to Mom about Hudson?
Maybe that would be worse, though. It wasn’t like Lacey had bad history with our family.
Thinking about Hudson had me thinking of everything that’d come with Friday night’s all-nighter. From the confessions to the kiss. It was hard to imagine anyone not liking Hudson, but it was like he said. People couldn’t get past first impressions.
And I hoped, for my brother’s sake, that Mom wouldn’t automatically veto Lacey simply because she wasn’t Madison.
I slid my cell out of my jacket pocket and slid open the keypad, thankful for the tiny keyboard so I could send Landon a text without looking.
Gemma
soo, someone spilled the beans about Lacey to Mom. Wasn’t me. Wanted to warn you.
While the rest of the time everyone gossiped about my brother, I took a page from Madison’s book.
I looked around, nodded when necessary, but I thought about Hudson for the rest of the time.
If I concentrated, I could practically feel how his pulse hammered underneath my fingers, and I could remember the way his fingers felt on my cheeks. And, of course, his lips.
It was then that I decided that no matter what happened, I was going to hold onto him for a good and long while.
“I can’t believe it’s homecoming week,” Jaden said as we waited at the bus stop Monday morning, huddling deeper in his jacket. He’d broken out a thicker one as the mornings grew colder, and I found myself shivering, wishing I’d done the same. “Nice pajamas, by the way. Ducklings are super awesome.”
It was Spirit Week to celebrate homecoming, and today was Pajama Day.
I looked down at my pants, the ones I’d gotten approved by Mom and Dad before wearing them out.
I didn’t normally wear pants to bed—normally, I opted for a nightgown—but I wanted to be a little spirited this week.
They were still much comfier than jeans.
I didn’t have the heart to tell Jaden that they were chicks, not ducks. “Thanks. I like your… Are those Canadian flags?”
“Yep. I got them when we went to Toronto last fall. Cool, right?” Jaden stuck his leg out, allowing me to get a closer look. The red color was a little faded from the wash, but…sure. Pretty cool. “Anything fun happen this weekend?”
I smiled a little as I recalled it all, but there was no chance I’d ever tell Jaden the truth. “Mom found out about Landon’s secret girlfriend.”
“Oh!” He stepped closer, like we were about to delve into a gossip session. “What happened with that?”
“Mom was actually pretty calm about it. She just came home and told Landon that she didn’t appreciate other people knowing before her, and he promised to bring her over. Which, of course, will be the event of the century.”
“Have you met her? Landon’s girlfriend?”
I nodded. “Briefly. She seems nice, though.” I just didn’t know how Mom would react once she found out she was related to Hudson. Probably not well.
Jaden let out a breath that fogged in the air, bundling deeper underneath his jacket. “The mornings are cooling off. I’m not looking forward to waiting out here when there’s snow.”
“Me either,” I said, looking at the empty roadway.
“Are your parents not letting you get your permit?”
I looked up at Jaden quickly, forehead creasing. “What?”
“You haven’t talked about it. I know that was something you were looking forward to on your birthday. I’ve been waiting for you to bring it up.”
“You knew that?”