Take a Bow

“Yeah, she’s with Tyler. They went that way.” I point to the opposite way of the studios.

The mere mention of Tyler’s name makes him frown. I can tell that I’ve hit a nerve.

“They’re celebrating. Isn’t it great about Emme?”

Ethan says nothing. My day suddenly gets a whole lot better.

“You know, that Pafford invited her to do a solo performance at the showcase. Emme’s going solo!” Ethan blinks. “Anyway, I told her I’d join them. Don’t they make the cutest couple? I think your little stunt at the concert just made them closer.”

I turn on my heel and see Carter standing there with his arms crossed.

“What are you doing?” His face is red.

“Oh, um … hey, Carter. I was just leaving!” I grab him by the elbow to walk away, but he pulls my arm off of him.

“Ethan, Emme is not with Tyler. And I don’t know why she’s talking about Emme going solo.”

I cut him off. “You don’t know anything. Emme confided in me, okay? She’s my best friend, not yours.”

Carter shakes his head. “Yeah, some best friend …”

“What’s going on, guys?” Emme approaches. She looks between us and I’m frozen. I’ve got to think fast before everybody turns on me.

“Oh, Emme!” I run up to hug her. “I’m so sorry. It’s just that I’m so excited for you, I accidentally let it slip about your solo thing. I’m so proud of you!”

She stands there. “Oh, I …” She turns toward Ethan, who looks like he’s on the verge of tears. “I was going to tell you. I just don’t know if I’m going to do it or not.”

Ethan nods. “You should definitely do it. It’s what I’ve been telling you to do all along.”

Further proof that Ethan’s trying to sabotage me. Why else would he encourage her to go solo?

“Really?” She looks at him with a blinding admiration.

I approach Carter again. “Well, we should really leave the two of them alone.”

“That’s not all you said.”

Why is Carter trying to ruin my standing with Emme?

Emme looks at him. “What?”

Carter stares me down. Emme, clearly confused, looks at Ethan. “What’s going on?”

Ethan looks down at the floor. “She said that you’re back with Tyler. Is it true?”

“What? I didn’t say … Sophie?” She looks at me, and I can tell that our friendship is teetering off a steep cliff if I don’t fix this.

I can’t have Emme hate me. Sure, I want to rattle her before the audition, but I need her song for the showcase.

“Em” — I pull her aside — “I’m so sorry. I was trying to be a good friend. I brought up Tyler to see what Ethan would say. I guess I messed everything up. I’m so sorry. But I think that maybe this gives you an opportunity to talk to Ethan and you guys can clear the air. I’m just trying to help.” I give her the best woe-is-me look I can muster.

“That’s okay,” she says softly.

I give her a big hug, apologize another gazillion times, and tell Carter we should leave them alone.

Shockingly, he agrees to go with me. But he stops as soon as we get outside.

“What was that?” He gestures toward the door.

“Simply a case of too many cooks in the kitchen. There’s bound to be some misunderstanding with all those people …”

Carter sits down on one of the stone benches that line the front entrance. “You were the only one talking.”

“Carter, it’s been a long day.” I grab his hand. “Let’s just —”

He pulls away from me. “I don’t know who you are anymore, Sophie. You used to be so kind and considerate, and now you’ve just gone too far. It was becoming pretty clear to me that you were using me — you aren’t the first and you probably won’t be the last. But Emme? How can you do that to her? You know she looks up to you and has absolutely no idea how manipulative you are.”

I stand up. “Why is it always about her? Huh? Why do you care about Emme? What, do you want to date her now, too? Well, you’re going to need to get in line.”

“I’m not interested in Emme that way. She’s the first person who listened to me and tried to help me, plain old Carter. All you want is your name and photo with Carter Harrison. And I’m not going to play that role any longer. I’m tired by it. I’m tired by your games. I used to think you were special, Sophie, I really did. But now I see the real you and can’t believe I put up with it for so long.”

I can’t believe he’s breaking up with me. That he’s doing it now. Before the showcase. Before I’m a star.

“Please, Carter, I’m so sorry. You can’t do this to me….”

He gets up. “Good luck with everything, Sophie. I know how much being a star means to you. I just hope you don’t ruin too many friendships while you claw your way to the top.”

He walks away and I feel deflated.

Why is everything falling apart for me?

How could Carter just break up with me like that?

Like I meant nothing to him. Like I’m nobody.

I’m not just anybody. I am special.

I won Brooklyn’s Most Talented Kid five years straight.

I’ve beaten Emme anytime we’ve had to compete together.

I got a standing ovation during my rendition of “Send in the Clowns.”

Okay, so I’ve made some mistakes. But if there is one thing I know, it’s how to get back on top. I can’t let everything come crumbling apart because of one little misunderstanding.

Step One: damage control. I pick up my phone and place a call.

“Gossip Guru, this is Stacy.”

“Hey, Stacy, it’s Sophie Jenkins … Carter Harrison’s girlfriend.”

There’s a slight pause. “Oh, hey, Sophie, you guys going out tonight? Would love to get some photographers there.”

“No, but I do have a story for you.”

I tell Stacy about Carter breaking up with me on the steps of the school (complete with tears) and make sure I give her my name four times.

Step Two: I’ve got some cupcakes to buy.

Mrs. Co

“Emme?” I say softly.

“Oh, hey, Sophie, I wasn’t …”

I open up a box of cupcakes.

“You didn’t need to …”

She looks at the cupcakes and I can slowly see the wheels turning in her mind.

“Em, I need to talk to you.” I sit on her bed. I let out a sigh. “I don’t know what’s been going on with me lately. I feel lost. And I haven’t wanted to burden you with anything because you’ve been so busy, but I really need you to know something.”

Her eyes are wide as she pats the place next to her for me to sit.

“I don’t think I’ve been a very good friend.” She doesn’t say anything. “Things haven’t been going as I pla

“I know you have a lot going on … and I hope that you know you can come to me if you ever need anything. And I don’t want us to hang out just when we’re rehearsing. You’re my friend, my best friend. I miss us just hanging out. And I really feel like you need to know that I’m there for you. No matter what.”

“Oh, Sophie.” Emme reaches over and gives me a hug.

I finally break down and sob. She holds me and doesn’t say anything.

It makes me cry even harder. I can’t make myself stop. Because this pain I feel, this hopelessness over my future, is real.

Everything I ever wanted is slipping from my fingertips. My life has started spiraling out of control, and for the first time, I don’t know what to do to stop it.