It wasn’t hard to guess who she was talking about. And sure enough, with a quick look around the circle, I spotted Sarah sitting with her ankles neatly crossed, her hands folded in her lap, and her deadly scowl trained on me. She didn’t even have the decency to look away when our gazes met. I turned my head, my cheeks burning. Clearly, I’d stepped into her territory and she was not pleased.
“Let’s just say, Sarah Claiborne wouldn’t have shed a tear if I’d drowned in the Cascades two months ago when we cut school together,” I said in a low voice.
Geminia’s dark brown eyes grew wide and she covered her mouth. “Wait—that was you?”
I frowned, then nodded. “Yep. Yet another reason why my parents think I need a hobby. You know, idle hands and everything.”
“Are the devil’s workshop.” She grinned, flashing a slight gap in her two front teeth. “My gram liked to say that when I was little.”
“Guess it’s true.” I groaned and checked my cellphone in my pocket as Ms. Gentry entered into a lecture about proper hairstyles for this week. So far, no messages from anyone. It didn’t seem like I was getting rescued anytime soon. “How much longer do we have to do this?”
“We’re finished, Miss Hale.” Ms. Gentry stood in front of me with her hands planted on her hips and red dotting her high cheekbones. I gulped, wishing I’d spontaneously gained the ability to disappear. No luck. She was still glaring at me. “I’m about to release the rest of the girls home for a good night’s rest before the festivities tomorrow. Why don’t you stay a moment after and we can have a discussion?”
She’d made it sound like a suggestion, but the steel glint in her eyes as she went to pick up her clipboard told me that it was the furthest thing from a suggestion I’d ever heard.
Geminia patted me on the knee as she stood up, sympathy entering her eyes. “I’m sorry,” she whispered behind her hand. “I was hoping we could be friends, but I have the feeling Ms. Gentry’s about to eat you alive. It was nice knowing you. I’ll spread the word of your bravery.”
“That’s kind of you,” I said with a solemn nod. “Don’t let them forget me out there.”
Geminia gave me a two-fingered salute and then broke into a smile as she walked away. My eyes trailed her until Sarah entered my view, the sour and pouty expression she threw me not much of an improvement from the homicidal glances of earlier. It didn’t matter, anyway. After I’d explain to Ms. Gentry about the big mix-up, Sarah would be ecstatic to find me missing from the rest of the competition. We’d never have to interact again.
And that was fine with me!
“Miss Hale.” Ms. Gentry sat beside me on the bench and flipped through her clipboard papers until my name appeared, printed in black loopy writing. “I do hope today’s antics won’t become a problem. I am not in the habit of entertaining girls who draw unnecessary attention to themselves. Poise and self-discipline. Those are the qualities that make a fine Junior Rodeo Queen.”
“Ms. Gentry, I think there’s been a mistake.” I turned toward her, scanning the paper on her clipboard. That definitely wasn’t my mom’s handwriting. She didn’t dot her I’s with little hearts. “I’m not supposed to be in this competition.”
She pursed her lips and little pucker lines appeared around her mouth as she looked down at the form. “I don’t understand. Your name is Charlotte Hale?”
I nodded. “Yes, but—”
“And you are sixteen years old and a junior-to-be at Rock Valley High?”
“Yes, but you see—”
“Then it sounds like you are, in fact, supposed to be in this competition.” She looked up at me, clouds looming in her dark eyes. “The two young girls who signed you up after the deadline this afternoon were adamant that you be added to the roster. That you were worthy. Do not make me regret allowing them to bypass the rules set in place. I do not often make exceptions. I expect your full and devoted attention to this prestigious process.”
My mouth flapped uselessly as Ms. Gentry stared at me and raised her brow. There was no arguing with the woman. At least not right at this moment. I needed time to think that didn’t involve being under her harsh stare. She didn’t seem like the type who was just going to let me quit the competition without a perfectly good reason. And right now, my brain could come up with nothing.
“Have I made myself clear, Miss Hale?” she asked firmly.
I snapped my mouth shut and nodded. “Crystal.”
“Good.” She stood up and looked down her nose at me. “Then we will see you tomorrow at ten a.m. sharp for the first event. It will count as ten percent of your total score. Do not be late.”
“Yes, Ms. Gentry.”
She strode toward her son waiting two tables over. He looked as nervous and sweaty as ever, but he didn’t hesitate to follow her when she glided past him. And as I watched them both walk away, her words finally seemed to sink in.
“Two young girls?” I asked the empty pavilion. “Two young girls signed me up?”
Who could that be?
Suddenly, bile filled my mouth. I had a pretty good idea which two young girls Ms. Gentry was talking about. Two young girls who had lied about an errand they were running this afternoon and showed up late to the ceremony. Two young girls who were going to have a lot of explaining to do.
So much for being friends.
“Oh, I just can’t wait to hear this one,” I grumbled, pushing myself off the bench.
The excitement and joy I’d carried for my first movie night with Hunter fought against the frustration I felt toward Lexi and Beth in that moment. Already, it seemed like my plans for getting back to normal this summer were being stomped on by someone wearing oversized cowboy boots.
There was
