Page 70 of The Heiress
“Do you know any good coaches?” I asked.
“I might.”
“Would you happen to have their number?” I was enjoying the playful banter, but it was interrupted by Mrs. Stephens’ shouting, “Everyone for a ride back to school, let’s go!”
“That’s me,” I said with a grimace. “I should go.”
“I could give you a ride back,” Phoenix said.
The temptation to accept was immense, but I reeled myself in. “I really should go back with the van,” I said. “I made three of the girls from the dorm come, so I better not ditch them.”
“You’re recruiting for the tennis clinic?” Phoenix sounded impressed.
“Just supporting Taylor.” I smiled. “See you tomorrow?” My voice lilted with a ray of hope.
“Sure,” Phoenix nodded over to Mrs. Stephens herding out a group of kids. “You better get going,” he said, the spark in his eye matching the glittering diamond stud he wore in his ear. I paused to take him in, his cheeks fuller now and flushed with color from the physical activity, lips smooth and kissable—I knew that for a fact—and though I hated to leave him, there would be tomorrow, and hopefully many more days after that.
Phoenix’s eyes widened as I committed him to my heart. “Go!” he shooed, and I spontaneously reached up and pecked his cheek before detouring to the sideline to scoop up my bag, waving to Taylor and dashing to catch my friends.
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Beth had coerced meinto helping her with sign-ups for the Christmas play. As well as running the poetry club, Beth was passionate about drama. I wasn’t in the drama club and had no intention of joining it, but I was capable of handing out flyers and garnering interest. Dressed as Mrs. Clause, Beth wore a red and white fur lined dress, a red bonnet covering her curly mane of hair and gold framed glasses perched half way down her nose. I’d been reluctant to wear the reindeer costume, but as there were five other girls, I decided to embrace it. After all, it was just some antlers on our head and a chain of bells around our neck. All the joys of high school, I could hear Mom saying.
“Join our production of Humbug High!” Beth announced, waltzing through the cafeteria tables with a cane basket over her arm, “A retelling of Dickens!”
Sasha and I worked together, handing out flyers to everyone. I made a beeline for Taylor and Millie.
“Want to audition for the Christmas production?” I asked.
Taylor shook her head. “I can’t sing or act to save my life,” she said. “Are you auditioning?”
“No, I can’t sing or act to save my life either,” I said with a laugh.
“It does look kind of fun,” Millie said. “Beth has been trying to persuade me to try out. Are there any non-speaking roles?"
“I think they call that the scenery,” I said. “You did the vlogs for the football team, didn’t you? You were great at that.”
“Thanks,” Millie said shyly, “but that’s just asking questions. I don’t know aboutacting.”
“There’s no time like the present to step out of your comfort zone,” I said, gesturing to my reindeer antlers. I put the flyer in her hand, pointing out the sign-up details.
“I will if you will,” Millie said boldly, challenging me with a stare. “Taylor, are you in, too?”
“Yikes!” Taylor squealed, but quickly backtracked. “Okay, I’ll audition with you, but I know I’ll be so bad, they’ll reject me.” She chuckled at her brave plan, putting her hand out. Millie and I connected with her, and she did a tennis cheer, “1, 2, 3, team.”
We laughed, but it was interrupted by the commotion of a crashing chair. I swung around to see the top of Beth’s bonnet going down. Without hesitation, I scurried over toward the table, immediately seeing Addison O’Day in the center of things. Well, Beth was, but she was on the floor. With the noise level accelerating, I squeezed through the kids milling around with food trays. Beth was awkwardly on her backside, floundering under the long skirt of her costume, stained with what looked like a berry smoothie.
As if in the midst of an audition, Addison was dramatically holding her hand over her mouth, looking around to gain everyone’s attention. “Oh, I’m so sorry, Beth, I didn’t see you there. If you didn’t stick your stupid basket in my face, I wouldn’t have knocked my drink all over you.” Her sarcastic attempt at an apology made my blood boil.
I bent down to help Beth up—strangely, no one else had done this—her left boot having slipped off her foot, making it difficult to balance herself. The thick pink liquid left a big wet mark on the front of her skirt and her basket of candy canes and flyers was soaked.
“Oh, how nice, the outcast has come to your aid, Beth,” Addison said, revving up the group of girls around her to join in with the abuse. “Good to know you have a friend.”
Beth adjusted her boot as I supported her under her arm, and pushing her glasses up her nose, her chin twitching, she rasped, “Thanks Elisha.”
“You should get that costume to the laundry asap,” a screechy girl’s voice said, and someone else ridiculed with, “Get the girl some napkins!”
Behind me, Millie was right there. “Beth, are you hurt? Let’s get you out of here.” She guided Beth away and I was about to go, but I spotted a drink on the table. And instinct kicked in. Addison O’Day had been rude to Taylor, to Millie, to Phoenix, to Laura and now to Beth.
