Confessions of a High School Supermodel

Chapter 22

22

When Maddie finally got a chance to talk to her best friend about Pool Party Friday, Bree was as reluctant to accept the invitation as Sundance had been to offer it.  However, after the huge fight that had ensued last time, Bree was a little more sensitive with Maddie’s feelings this time around.

“Well, if you really want to go…” Bree agreed reluctantly.  “I still don’t like Sundance.  But after what happened last time you went to a party with her, it’s not like I’m gonna let you go alone.”

“Come on!” Maddie wheedled.  “Aren’t you at least a little bit curious to finally get to go to PPF?  I bet it’ll be like a college party!”

Bree wrinkled her nose.  “A college party.  Red plastic cups filled with gross beer and skanky girls in bikinis trying to impress ugly guys.”

She caught the look on Maddie’s face and quickly added.  “But yeah, maybe it’ll be fun!”

Over the next few days, Maddie was swamped with the usual reading, tests, homework, and college apps, so she looked forward to the excitement happening at the end of the week.  So it was a surprise when her chance to escape the onslaught of schoolwork came a day early.  That Thursday, she got a call from Ms. Blake asking her if she could come babysit Justin that night for the first time in ages.   Maddie had work to do, but she was dying to get out of the house, and Ms. Blake promised she wouldn’t be out too late.

“I know you probably don’t need the money anymore with your new job--- Congratulations on that by the way, the pictures looked beautiful!” Ms. Blake babbled to her over the phone.   “It’s just that I tried introducing Justin to a new babysitter last week and he bit the poor girl!  Can you believe that?  Anyway, you two always get along so well; you’re his favorite sitter!”

“No problem, Ms. Blake, I can come over,” she promised.  It’ll be nice to finally take a break from studying, she thought.  Besides, I haven’t seen little Justin in forever!

When Maddie’s mom dropped her off in front of the Blake residence early that evening, Ms. Blake greeted her with a big hug.  “I’m SO glad you’re here!  Seriously, you have no idea how much Justin has been missing you!”

Maddie glanced over at the four-year-old.  Justin was playing with some dinosaur toys on the floor and paying no attention to her whatsoever.

“Well, how much I’ve been missing you,” Ms. Blake clarified.  “How much I missed having a babysitter that he doesn’t bite!”

“Don’t worry about it, it’s fine!” Maddie assured her.  “He and I will have a great time together.”

“So I’ve left some food for you guys in the fridge.  Also,” she continued, “Sawyer is home right now but he’s going out later tonight.  He’s probably in his room right now.”

Sawyer’s home? Maddie thought to herself in surprise. I wonder if he still thinks my name is Mandy?  she wondered idly.

“See you in a couple hours,” Ms. Blake called breathlessly as she dashed out the door and shut it behind her.

Maddie shifted her attention to the little boy on the carpet.  “Come on, Justin!  Let’s play some video games!”

Maddie saw no sign of Sawyer throughout the evening.  Not while she and Justin played video games, not while she was pulling dinner out of the fridge, not while she was helping Justin brush his teeth, and not while she was finally putting the sleepy little boy to bed.  Didn’t Ms. Blake say he was going out tonight? she kept wondering as she glanced at his closed bedroom door.