The Comeback Part 14

c) Dev and Connor had fought over me.

d) Dev was so jealous that he'd given Connor a black eye.

Connor had a black eye, but it was because of an enthusiastic game of racquetball. Chase's elbow accidentally making contact with Connor's eye was the cause, not Dev's fist.

But, of course, Olivia couldn't wait to spread the news. What I didn't expect was for Monet to confront her about it and call her a liar.

They faced off in the hallway.

"You know, Olivia, you've always had a big mouth, but I never thought you were a liar. A gossip, yes, but not a liar."

"I'm not a liar," Olivia said. "Am I, Sophie?"

I blushed.

"This time you've gone too far," Monet said.

"Monet-"

"No, Sophie, let me finish." She held up a hand to silence me. "Olivia, Sophie is my best friend. She would never betray my trust by hooking up with my brother and not telling me. Right, Sophie?"

I was a terrible liar, which was ironic, since it was almost a popularity prerequisite. Acting wasn't lying, it was becoming someone else, so I tried to think of myself as a wrongly accused innocent, but it wasn't working.

"Sophie?" Monet repeated my name, but the betrayal she felt was written on her face.

"Monet, I...it just happened."

My explanation was lost on her as she marched off without a backward glance.

"I hope you're happy," I turned to Olivia.

"Ecstatic," she said. She smiled cattily at me. "What's the problem, anyway? Monet will get over it. Dev's hot, and you two will be the most popular couple in school."

I replied without thinking, "We're not a couple."

Her smile grew wider. "Oh, really?"

"Not yet," I amended quickly. "It's just so new." The last thing I wanted was a rumor that I hooked up indiscriminately. Unfortunately, the double standard was alive and well at Kennedy High.

Olivia fairly vibrated with excitement, and I cursed my wild tongue. But I couldn't take it back without looking like an even bigger fool. And if I did tell her the truth, who knew what rumors she'd spread?

I couldn't bear it if Connor or Angie heard that I was pining for Connor, especially since I wasn't even sure I was pining. But I was sure I was confused.

Olivia scurried off and I knew that I had made a big mistake. Again.

It was raining, so we were confined to the cafeteria. My mood was darker than the cloudy sky. Monet still wasn't talking to me.

I surveyed the room, gripping my tray. Where was I supposed to sit? Monet wasn't in the caf. She was probably holed up in the art room with Scott. Maybe even making a little voodoo doll of me. The girl had skills.

Vanessa and Haley waved to me. "Sophie, over here."

They were sharing a table with a couple of girls from drama, but from the way Haley had her back to them, she made it clear she wasn't sitting with them. I sat between them, in the no-man's-land between popular and forgettable.

"Hi, Sophie," Ava said.

Haley nudged me, then deliberately turned her back. I was tired of talking only to the popular people.

"Hi," I said. "Hey, did you have fun at that concert?"

"I can't believe you missed it," Ava said. "Next time you should go with us."

I smiled at her. "Maybe I will. Let me know."

Haley nudged me again, but I ignored her. I wasn't going to let her tell me who I could talk to. I was so over that. Why did she care who I talked to, anyway? Did popularity have to mean I acted like a sn.o.b?

Dev stomped up and grabbed my arm. "I need to talk to you. Alone."

"Well, h.e.l.lo to you, too," Haley said with a pout.

Dev ignored her and steered me into the empty hallway. "I want you to stop those rumors about us," he said.

"Yanking me out of the caf wasn't exactly the best way to go about it," I said mildly.

"I don't have time for your c.r.a.p today," he said. "Monet is acting like I peed in her cornflakes or something. And all everyone is talking about is-"

"Is us," I finished for him.

"Yes," he said furiously. "G.o.d, are you so concerned about being popular that you had to spread that rumor?"

Ice settled in my stomach. I opened my mouth to deny it, but then I snapped it closed as just as quickly. Why did Dev always think the worst of me?

"How do I know that you didn't start that rumor?" I asked him.

"Get over yourself, Sophie Donnelly," he said. "I would never tell anyone that I'd kissed you. I'm ashamed of myself."

"Then why did you kiss me?" I practically shouted.

"Keep your voice down," Dev said. "Or is that part of your plan?"

"Now who needs to get over himself? You didn't answer the question. Why did you kiss me if I'm so repulsive?"

"I-I felt sorry for you," he said.

"You felt sorry for me?" I said. Fury surged through my veins. Was he trying to humiliate me even more than I already was? "Well, don't. There are plenty of guys who want to kiss me."

"Only the stupid ones, like Tanner," he hissed. "Or the desperate ones, like Jason Brady."

I froze. "I think you've said enough."

I went back to the caf. That's what Dev really thought of me? That you had to be stupid or desperate to kiss me?

Was that what everyone else thought? No wonder I wasn't popular any longer.

"Sophie, have you seen this?" Ava waved her phone in front of me.

"What is it?"

"It's the latest hotness poll," she replied.

"So?" I said indifferently.

"You don't seem very excited about it," she said. She pointed to something on the screen.

"What are you talking about?"

"You're number one, baby," she said.

"What? That can't be right." I grabbed the phone from her hands.

I stared at the words in front of me. Apparently, I had regained my hotness. And it didn't take a boyfriend or trashing another girl to do it. Who knew? And now that I was back on top, I was surprised to find I didn't even care.

"Are you okay?" Ava said.

"I'm fine," I said. "Just surprised. Thanks for telling me." I handed the phone back to her.

"What was that all about, with you and Dev? He seemed angry about something."

I found myself telling her the whole pathetic story. "And the worst part is that Monet is furious with me."

"Do you like her brother?"

"I don't know. Sometimes I think I hate him," I replied honestly. "But I'm not sure if he likes me."

"Oh, you have it bad."

I was very afraid Ava was right.

Chapter 20.

Ava took pity on me in my friendless state. "Want to go see a movie this weekend?" she asked.

"Are you sure you want to be seen with me?"

"I think I can take the heat," she replied.

"Cool."

We went to see the latest blockbuster. It wasn't really Ava's cup of tea, but I think she suggested it in the hopes of cheering me up. I avoided the Good & Plenty and opted for the more substantial nachos.

"Nothing like a cheesy flick to make me feel better," I said, propping my feet up on the row in front of me.

"Can't I take you anywhere?" she said. "That," she pointed to my feet, "is just rude. Somebody's head is gonna be there in a few minutes. Would you want your hair up against someone's feet?"

She was right. I put my feet down. "Sorry."

"No worries," she said. "Now, hand over some of those nachos."

We'd gotten there early because Ava insisted on getting seats in the back row.

"I forgot to get a soda," I said. "I'm heading to the snack bar. You want anything?"

"No, thanks," she replied.

There was a long line at the snack bar, so I decided to hit the restroom before the movie started. When I walked in, I saw Olivia Kaplan fixing her makeup at the mirror and then heard a familiar voice emanating from one of the stalls.

"Can you believe she's here with that fat lesbo? And to think Sophie used to be popular. But I fixed her." A little chuckle followed.

Olivia's eyes met mine in the mirror. She opened her mouth to say something, but I shook my head and she froze.

"Is that Haley Owens's voice I hear?"

Silence. Then, "Sophie, I didn't know you were here. I'll be right out."

She emerged from the stall and rushed to give me a hug. I sidestepped her. "I interrupted you in the middle of a story. Please go on."

"I-I-I was just joking," she stuttered. "I knew you were there all along."

"Haley, I know it was you who took that photo of me at the dance," I said. "And I was prepared to forgive you, but don't talk trash about my friends." I leaned in closer and said softly, so that only she could hear, "And if I ever hear that you called Ava names again, I'll personally see to it that a few photos of you are pa.s.sed around."

A little louder, I said, "Good, I'm glad we understand each other. Have a nice day." Score one for my big mouth!

I swept from the room, leaving Olivia and Haley gaping. They deserved each other. How could I have been stupid enough to think Haley was my friend? Olivia was bad, spreading malicious gossip, but she was open about it. Haley was worst of all, pretending to be my friend while stabbing me in the back.

"You were gone a long time," Ava observed when I returned.

I handed her a pack of gummi bears. She loved gummi bears. "Here."

"What are these for?"

"They're a thank-you," I said, "for being a good friend."