Paradise

Chapter Eight

After the lights were replaced, and everyone had taken their turns auditioning, Mrs. Fielding rose from her keyboard and said, "The soloist will be announced tomorrow. Thanks for your participation. You all sounded wonderful." Then she dismissed us, and the sounds of rustling papers, sliding chairs and shuffling feet filled the classroom.

I turned to Kendall, but she was busy talking to Robert, so I stayed in my seat until Robert took his backpack and rose from his chair. I watched Kendall's eyes follow Robert out of the room. Then she turned to me with apprehension. "Uh, Pen--" she began, raking a hand through her long hair.

"What's wrong?" I asked, feeling my heart sink all the while. I knew she was about to ditch me to go hang out with Robert. Of course I didn't blame her ... but I still felt impending sadness, waiting to fall over me like a gigantic tidal-wave once she officially canceled our plans.

I could tell Kendall was in the middle of a big dilemma. The sad thing was ... it had nothing to do with canceling on me. Nope, it just had to do with breaking the news to me. I guess she thought I was so fragile that, unless she used that one perfectly-worded sentence, I would shatter into a million, useless pieces.

Deciding I would do the honors, I forced a smile. "You want to go with Robert, don't you?" I asked.

Her big, brown eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. She immediately tried to disguise that light by frowning, but it was still there ... just burning away, like a scatter of fireworks in the night sky. "Well ... he asked me out. An official date, Pen. I can't just tell him no."

But you can tell your best friend 'no'.

I gave her my best smile and nodded. "Then go," I said, feeling astonished by the lack of emotion in my voice.

Kendall couldn't help smiling. I hated how it looked like a smile of relief. "Really? You won't be mad at me?"

"Of course not," I said, still smiling. "What are friends for?"

"You have a way home, right" Kendall asked, starting to frown.

I opened my mouth to reply when Robert suddenly poked his head into the room. I felt my face burn as our eyes met. "Hey, if you need a ride--," he started.

I tried to swallow, but my mouth felt very dry. "N-No," I muttered, dropping my eyes to the floor. It felt like my face would burn off at any moment. "I can just call my mom."

Kendall took her bag and rose from her seat. "See, she's got it covered!" she said with a big grin.

I nodded listlessly. "Yep."

"Well, call me tonight, okay?" Kendall asked.

"Sure," I said just before she flung her free arm around my neck.

"You really are the best," she said before hurrying after Robert and leaving me in my chair, disappointed.

"Great," I muttered, lugging my backpack off the floor, and throwing it over my right shoulder. Now I would have to call my mother to come get me. She would probably be annoyed. After all it was already 4:45 pm. She had just gotten off work not too long ago, and was probably more than halfway home. Still, I couldn't just spend the night at the school.

So, I left the empty classroom and went to the office. It felt like a walk of shame.

The last office-worker, an older woman with short, curly hair named, Doris Chandler, was just leaving the office. Before she could lock the door, I said, "Hey, I need to use the phone."

She looked at me with such irritation that I immediately felt the need to apologize.

"Thought all you kids carried cell-phones?" she grumbled.