The Perfectionists

Chapter 34

AFTER A SLEEPLESS NIGHT, JANE sat up in bed and rubbed her eyes. Even though it was early, she could hear the sounds of breakfast downstairs. Swallowing hard, she threw on her slippers and padded to the kitchen. Her mom was at the counter, wearing her bathrobe.

"You are up early," she said blearily. Her mother jumped off her stool and hurried over to her, hugging her close. "Well, I was trying to wait up for you last night—but you came home too late."

Jane frowned. Her mom had texted asking where she was, and Jane had lied and said she was at her new friend Evie Grimhildes' house and would be home soon. Was she in trouble? Her heart sped up. Did they somehow know that they'd broken into Jay's?

But then she looked at her mom. She was beaming brightly. Jane settled onto a bar stool at the counter. "What's going on?"

"There's a message on the voice mail," Her mom said excitedly. "You got in!" Jane blinked. "In?"

"Into Juilliard!" Fairy Godmother leaped across the room to the cordless phone console. "My friend Darlene called! She hears everything that goes on with Juilliard admissions, and . . ."

She pressed play. After a beep, a woman's voice blared through the room. "Hey, FG, it's Darlene! So listen, it's not official yet, but the judge was thrilled by Jane's performance," she said excitedly. "Anticipate a letter in the next week! And tell your girl a big congratulations! She's following in your footsteps and going to Juilliard!"

Jane screamed. She'd done it. She got in. It didn't even bother her that her parents had found out first. It was the most amazing news she'd ever heard.

Her mom inched forward, giving Jane a hug. "You'll never believe the other news, too," she said excitedly.

Fairy Godmother beamed. "Well, Mrs. Coldwell called me last night. They have inside contacts as well, and it looks like Lonnie's getting in, too!"

Jane froze. A high-pitched wail rang in her ears. "Wait. What?"

"I know!" Her mother shook her head, marveling. "What are the odds? But you're both going. Isn't it exciting? You can room together!"

A sour taste filled Jane's mouth. All the excitement of a moment ago twisted inside her, changing shape until she didn't know how she felt. Anger, disappointment, resentment, and anxiety tainted the brief sense of triumph she'd felt. All she'd wanted to do was beat Lonnie, once and for all.

And now, instead of getting even, she'd be stuck with her for four more years.

"This calls for a celebration!" Her mother bustled to the fridge and pulled out a chocolate cake decorated with musical notes in delicate white icing. She started pouring milk into wineglasses. Only Sierra (her cat) sat with a knowing expression on it's face, watching Jane. It had seemed to suspect how Jane really felt about her "best friend."

"Well? Don't you have anything to say?" asked her mother, handing her a plate.

"Juilliard girl, how are you feeling?" She continued. Fairy Godmother then lifted her glass. "Speech! Speech!"

Jane stared around at her mom and pet, holding the slice of cake in her hands. The smell took her back in a sudden rush of memory to the night in Cupcake Kingdom when she and Carlo had kissed. Tears burned in her eyes, but she blinked them away so her mom could not see.

"I've never been so happy," she said.

Or so miserable.