From Twinkle, With Love(60)
“And how is that, Maddie? Since you’re the expert on me, how do I feel?”
Her eyes glittered. “You know.”
“I don’t. Why don’t you enlighten me?”
“I’m not doing this right now.” She began to walk away.
I barked a laugh. “Oh, big surprise. Maddie’s running away! That’s your MO anytime you come across something you don’t know how to handle.”
She whipped back around, her cheeks stained pink. “Fine! You want to know what I think? You’re just lashing out at everyone because you feel like a loser inside. News flash, Twinkle. That’s no one else’s fault but your own. Maybe you should fix yourself before you attack other people!”
Anger exploded in my brain in a thousand colors. For a second I couldn’t even see Maddie because of the thick fog of anger surrounding me. She’d called me a loser. “How dare you?” I spat, leaning forward. “You cannot blame me for your friends being total douche bags. Am I forcing them to say these evil things about each other? Am I feeding them their lines? I’m not the loser here, Maddie. It’s too bad you can’t see that.”
“Oh, they’re evil for the things they’re saying?” Maddie scoffed. “What about you, Twinkle? What about the fact that you’re sitting here, baiting everyone? What, that’s for the good of the world?”
“It is for the good of the world!” I shouted. A few people looked our way and then went back to their conversations. “I’m doing your friends a service by showing them what they act like when things don’t go their way. I’m forcing them to face the truth about themselves, and the truth isn’t always pretty!”
“You’re forgetting the nice things people have done for you, then,” Maddie said. “Didn’t Victoria come over one weekend to help you do your hair and makeup? Didn’t Francesca help pay for the expensive lighting you wanted? And I helped you recruit most of the actors for your movie! But that doesn’t fit in with this bullshit narrative you have going on, does it?” Her voice rose with every question until she was shouting too. “What the hell are you doing, Twinkle?”
“What are you doing, Maddie?” I yelled, gesturing at her short dress. “Who are you trying to impress by talking about your old friends behind their back to your new friends? By dressing like a teenage WHORE?”
We stared at each other in silence. I felt immediate shame, hot and choking, for the last thing I’d said. People should not be judged by what they wore. I knew that. I hated when girls, especially, were called out for wearing the “wrong” clothes. When I was called out for wearing cheap clothes. But I kept my face the same, refusing to give an inch. I couldn’t back down over that now, or Maddie would think I was apologizing for everything.
She nodded slowly. “Right. You know what? I don’t even know why I’m bothering. Just forget it.”
“Yeah, just forget it!” I yelled at her retreating back as she threaded her way through the crowd. “Just forget you, Maddie!”
I put a shaky hand to my forehead and took a deep breath just as Lewis Shore walked up, grinning. “Yo. We still on for that interview?” He clearly hadn’t heard anything Maddie and I had said. It was weird, how my entire world felt like it was collapsing and he was just standing there, smiling, happy to be at this party.
“Yep,” I said finally, my voice muted. “Come on in.”
Love,
Twinkle
Eighteen
<text message 1:18 a.m.>
From: Skid
To: Sahil, Aaron
yo the a-man wants to know if you made your move yet
<text message 1:18 a.m.>
From: Aaron
To: Sahil, Skid
I did NOT say that. I merely wondered if you’re having a fun time with Twinkle at the party <text message 1:20 a.m.>
From: Sahil
To: Skid, Aaron
Idk man it’s a bad vibe tonight. It started out great, we kissed and stuff and I thought I was winning her over but idk. We’re on our way back. I’m getting gas rn <text message 1:21 a.m.>
From: Aaron
To: Sahil, Skid
What do you mean bad vibe?
<text message 1:22 a.m.>
From: Sahil
To: Skid, Aaron
She’s acting different like super pissed all the time? it’s as if this movie thing is changing her or something <text message 1:23 a.m.>
From: Skid
To: Sahil, Aaron
don’t tell her that. take it from me girls do not like it when guys stick their noses in especially when they’re doing something wrong <text message 1:24 a.m.>
From: Sahil
To: Skid, Aaron
I can’t just NOT say anything
<text message 1:24 a.m.>
From: Aaron
To: Sahil, Skid
So what are you gonna do
<text message 1:25 a.m.>
From: Aaron
To: Sahil, Skid
I get it. if you care about someone you can’t just sit by while they mess up <text message 1:26 a.m.>
From: Skid
To: Sahil, Aaron
dude it’s your funeral so I’ll wear black the next time I see you <text message 1:27 a.m.>
From: Sahil
To: Skid, Aaron