Heartbroken

Chapter 20:

I checked my phone and it was 3:22. I sighed and sat on the stage, thinking to myself.

I heard a door open and close. I heard footsteps, but I didn't acknowledge them. I was too busy thinking.

"Hey," I heard a voice say. It's owner sat to my left and someone else sat to my right.

"Hi," I said quietly, lost in thought.

"Miranda," the voice on my right said with a sigh.

"What," I said. "What am I going to do?" I looked at Alyssa. "I got detention yesterday and then I LEFT detention. I didn't come to the play and, as a result, lowered my grade. What am I going to do?" I repeated.

"I don't know, to be honest," Alyssa said. She shrugged. "There's nothing I can do. But there is something YOU can do." I looked at her questioningly.

"Just keep swimming," Carmen chanted happily. "Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming."

"Why are you phrasing Finding Nemo?" I asked.

"Because, you have to JUST KEEP SWIMMING!" She replied. "Don't let some guy get in the way. Prom is tomorrow!"

"That's just ANOTHER reason to let Luke get in the way!" I said sadly. Carmen rolled her eyes.

"That isn't what I meant!" She said. "I MEANT that you should just MOVE ON!"

I was about to reply when someone entered the gym. I could hear them skipping joyfully and their footsteps echoed loudly.

"Miranda!" Maria said in a voice filled with excitement and joy. "Carmen! I have good news!"

Immediately I jumped out of my sitting position and walked toward her.

"What?" I asked eagerly. "Is it about Luke?"

"No," Maria said, her voice changing from happy to sad. "I'm sorry Miranda. I didn't mean to make you feel excited..."

"It's okay," I said, a little disappointed.

"What's it about?" Carmen and Alyssa asked simultaneously. They exchanged a look at laughed softly.

"Well I don't want to brag or anything..." Maria admitted.

"Come on," I said. "Just tell us!"

"Well," Maria said, concealing her excitement. "Someone asked me to Prom!" We all jumped up and squealed in excitement. We clear our throats quickly.

"I'm happy for you!" I said, with a smile. "Who was it?"

"Oh," Maria said. "About that....Chris asked me to Prom." My smile faded.

"Chris?" Carmen asked. "Chris asked you to Prom?" She looked at me. "Didn't he ask YOU...?" I nodded.

"But," I said quickly. "It doesn't matter. I mean, I wasn't going to go with him anyway. I'm glad that he asked you to Prom."

"Yeah," Maria said, uncertain. "So, we're good? No hard feelings?"

"Please!" I said. "I wasn't going to go to Prom with him anyway! I mean, he's not a bad guy just I wasn't going to go with him."

"So," Alyssa said. "Do you have a dress yet?" Maria shook her head.

"I was going to get a dress," Maria explained. "An especially made dress. But APPARENTLY my order didn't get through and couldn't be delivered, even though I ordered it WEEKS ago! It's too late now."