Take a Bow

I can’t believe that Ethan and Emme think they have the right to go through my stuff and then get mad at me. Are they even serious?

“How did she see the texts? You know what, it doesn’t even matter. I can explain.”

Ethan laughs. “This I’d love to hear.” I want to punch that smug look on his face.

I try to think. This can’t be happening two days before the audition. I knew that Ethan would try to find a way to sabotage my spot in the showcase.

“Amanda is very sensitive about all the time I spend with Emme….”

“Right, Amanda, who you’ve known for two years, thinks she should get priority over Emme, who you’ve known since you were eight and is the only reason why anybody wants to hear you perform. It’s for her songs, but, please, do go on….”

Ethan’s such a pompous jerk. He and Emme deserve each other.

“You know what? I don’t owe you anything. Where’s Emme?”

“She’s gone.”

Whatever. All I need to do is apologize to Emme and all will be forgiven.

And I need to put a password on my phone.

I go to leave, but Ethan blocks the door.

“Do you have any idea how much you’ve hurt her? And not just today, but how many times I’ve had to literally wipe the tears away from her eyes because of something you’ve done? Since the day I met her, Emme has done nothing but praise you and run herself ragged to help you out. What have you ever done for her? Nothing. I almost hoped that I was wrong about you, for Emme’s sake.”

“Oh, please, it’s like Emme is the poor little lost soul who does no wrong.”

“No. Emme is an extraordinarily talented person with the biggest heart. She’s just been beaten down enough to think that she doesn’t belong in the spotlight. Because her supposed best friend pushed her back while taking something that doesn’t belong to her. Well, your time’s up. Stay away from Emme. You’ve done enough damage.”

He walks out of the room.

Ethan thinks he knows everything, but I know Emme. Everything is going to be fine.

She’d never let me down.

I’m trying not to panic, but Emme is giving me the silent treatment. I’ve called and texted, but she isn’t getting back to me. I can understand why she’d be mad about what happened today, but if she wants to make it in showbiz, she needs to toughen up. People in the business are going to say way worse things about you during auditions.

Really, when you think about it, I’m doing her a favor.

I head up the steps of her family’s brownstone. It seems that I have to do my groveling in person. I knock on the door, but from the look I get from Mrs. Co

“Hi, Sophie,” she says coolly.

“Hi, Mrs. Co

She shakes her head. “She’s not here. She’s spending the rest of the week in the city at a friend’s.”

I can’t believe that her mom would let her stay at Ethan’s. That’s where she has to be. Ethan is keeping guard over her.

“Oh. Well, I guess I’ll see her at school tomorrow. Thanks!”

I turn around and head the few blocks to my house. I want to think that this will blow over, but if Ethan has his fortress around Emme, there’s no way he’s going to let me get in.

Desperation starts to sink into every pore of my body. I have to think of something to do. And fast.

I’m waiting by her locker in the morning. She sees me and gives me a weak smile. But still, a smile.

Good old reliable Emme. I know I’ve been going a little crazy lately. My mind is continually racing with different scenarios, but maybe I’m just overreacting. I can fix this. I’ve always been able to make things fine between the two of us. Okay, so maybe I haven’t been the greatest friend to her lately, but she knows how much I need this. It’s not only my last shot, but the most important one.

“Hey, Em, listen, I’m a jerk, and I need to tell you about what happened.”

She nods. “It’s okay. You don’t need to explain.”

Oh, wow. I didn’t …

I give her a huge hug. “Oh, man, if I haven’t told you lately how awesome you are, you are awesome! Our audition time tomorrow is one fifteen.”

“Sophie …” She looks at me with confidence, no biting of the lip, nothing. This can’t be good. “You’ve been one of my closest friends since I was eight. And I’ve learned a lot about friendship lately and I know that friends should always be there for each other. Friends also love one another unconditionally …”

I feel such relief. I haven’t lost her, after all.

“… and understand when a friend has to make a difficult decision. I’ve never had to test a friendship, never had a reason to question one before …”

Uh-oh.

“… but I’m not going to be accompanying you tomorrow. I can’t stop you from using my song, but I won’t be providing you with the accompanying music. If you are truly my friend, you’ll sing another song … and still want to talk to me.”

This is a test. I know she’s testing me.

“Of course, Emme. I understand. I really wish you’d let me tell you my side of the story, but you’re right. True friends are unconditional and I love you regardless of whether you’re by my side tomorrow.”

I give her a hug. She just stands there as I wrap my arms around her.

“Um, okay,” I say. “Well, I guess I’ll see you later. Bye!”

I walk away from her and my legs start shaking. What am I going to do tomorrow if she doesn’t come through for me? I guess I could have Amanda play … the song we did at the begi

This is a disaster.

No, I know this is a game she’s playing with me.

Fine, I’ll play her game.

All day. All freakin’ day I’m waiting to hear from Emme. For her to tell me that I’ve passed her stupid test. Every time I see her in between classes, I wave at her and smile. I decide to hunt her down after school.

“Oh, hey, guys!” I try to pretend that I hadn’t been walking in circles for twenty minutes as I wait for Emme to appear at her locker. Of course her guard dog is right next to her.

“Hi, Sophie.” While she greets me, it doesn’t have the same kindness as it usually does. She pulls out her books and studies them. Ethan leans against the locker and smiles at me.

“Um, I saw your mom yesterday and she mentioned that you’re staying in the city for the week?”

She nods. “Yep, have lots to do.”

“Oh, okay. Um …”

I can’t take this anymore. If she doesn’t accompany me tomorrow, I won’t get in the showcase. If I don’t get in the showcase, talent scouts won’t discover me. If the talent scouts don’t discover me, I won’t get a record contract. No record, no Grammy. This is it. Doesn’t she see she is ruining my last chance? Without this I have nothing. I’m nothing.

Emme was the only part of my Plan that was working. I can’t have this fall apart, too.

“Emme, please, please …” The tears spilling out are real. I need this. It kills me that I need her to do it, but I do. “You know I can’t do this without you. You know it, why won’t you help me? Why would you abandon me when I need you the most?”

Emme shuts her locker. “Ethan, can you give us a few minutes?”

Ethan opens his mouth, but thinks better of it and closes it. Thank God.

When it’s just the two of us, Emme launches in. “I’ve been wondering something, Sophie. Why do you hate me?”

“I don’t — how could you …”

“No, I’ve been thinking about it. What you said to Amanda, how you’ve acted toward me for the last couple of years. You ignored me the entire summer, but once a mention of an audition comes up, we’re suddenly best friends again. You’ve never once come to any of the band’s gigs, yet I go to every performance of yours, even when you’re in the chorus. You know what I think? You don’t like me getting attention. I even think about when we were twelve and you convinced me to dye my hair brown. It hit me last night. You don’t like that I have hair that makes people look at me and not you.”