Page 52 of Becoming Cinderella

I lift my head to shoot her a look, one that I hope screams yeah, right.

“All I’m saying is you kept your feelings from Jared for years while you just suffered in silence. What’s the worst that’s going to happen with Liam if he doesn’t feel the same way? He’ll go back to LA and you’ll never have to see him again. It’s not like you’ll pass him in the hallway at school.”

“Or,” I move to sit up. “I tell him and hypothetically he feels the same way but he still moves to LA and I still never see him again. I will only ever get to see those gorgeous eyes on the movie screen.”

“Liam does have those deep blue eyes you want to dive right into, but you have to admit, Taylor Swift could write a whole album alone off Jared’s green eyes.”

Those green eyes are my weakness. Well, they had been. I wonder if they still hold any power over me? I can’t imagine they do anymore.

Wait.

Penn just said that with a bit of a dreamy sigh. Am I making that up?

I try to remember past conversations with her about Jared, any indication that will clue me in to something I might have been completely blind to.

“Penn?” I sit up straighter. “Do you like Jared?”

She doesn’t say anything as she stares at her hands, spinning one of her rings around in circles.

“Penn….”

She slowly looks up at me and her guilt-ridden face says everything. “We’re talking about you and what you’re going to do about Liam. Not about me.”

“Oh no, I don’t think so.” I shake my head frantically. “Do you, Penn?”

“I’m sorry.” She drops her gaze away from mine again.

“You’re sorry?”

She winces at my words and I realize she thinks I’m upset.

“I’m not mad. Penn look at me,” I reach out and grab her hands, she’s moved from spinning her rings nervously to playing with the string on one of the brightly colored friendship bracelets tied to her left wrist. “I promise you, I’m not mad at you. I mean trust me, I get the appeal of Jared.”

I finally earn a smile which makes me feel like I can ask her the question I’m now eager to learn.

“How long have you liked him?” And how have I never noticed? Here I was thinking her acting stopped once she stepped off the drama stage, not that it was flowing into her everyday life.

Penn takes a deep breath. “The summer before ninth grade. Remember the back-to-school party we went to at Abby Williams house? We were playing night games and he and I ended up alone. I’m not sure what it was about that night, but something changed.”

For five years I’ve watched Jared date other girls and I have been heartbroken during every one, wondering if it would ever be my turn. During the lows, I had Penn to turn to, to lift my spirits. During what I thought were highs, Penn was the first to hear the details. All this time she’s had to watch Jared date other girls while helping me through it. She has had to suffer alone and in silence. I’m a horrible best friend.

She looks up at me with wide eyes. “I knew you liked him so I never did anything, and well, never said anything. I’ve just hoped that if I kept my feelings buried, they would eventually disappear. But they haven’t, Carter. Not at all.”

“Trust me, I get it. I’m very familiar with the concept of trying to bury my feelings and not being able to help who we like. Otherwise, I would have stopped liking Jared long ago. And now I like someone who is going to leave town in a matter of weeks.”

Penn’s lower lip sticks out in a sympathetic pout as she squeezes my hand.

“No, this isn’t about Liam and I right now. This is about you and Jared.”

Jared.

Jared likes Penn back!

I reach over and shake her shoulders. “Why didn’t I say anything earlier?” I cry to myself. “Penn, this is perfect!”

Penn’s solemn expression twists into confusion. “Perfect?”

I feel my smile grow as I let go of her shoulders. “Yes! Penn, Jared likes you too!”

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