Red(30)

As Felicity described the process, her friends circled her sculpture, looking at it from every angle, from close up and far away, just as Jonathan had. When she was done explaining, Haylie looked at the label on the statue’s pedestal. “Skin-Deep. This is what you were talking about the other night, right? How you’re afraid people think you’re something you’re not?”

Felicity wanted to kiss her. “Yeah, exactly. My mom and Brent totally didn’t get it.”

“How could they not get it?” Ivy asked. “The title makes it really clear.”

After such an emotionally taxing night, her friends’ support and understanding made Felicity’s eyes well up. “Thanks, guys,” she said, hoping they wouldn’t notice the catch in her voice.

“For what?”

“For … getting me, I guess. For understanding my sculpture.”

Ivy and Haylie exchanged perplexed looks. “Of course we get you,” Ivy said. “We’re your best friends.”

Felicity smiled at them, but she couldn’t help wondering if they’d still be her best friends by this time tomorrow.





    “You’d find it easier to be bad than good if you had red hair,” said Anne reproachfully. “People who haven’t red hair don’t know what trouble is.”

    —L. M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables





8


     FRIDAY, MAY 14


Felicity got to school half an hour early on the day of the assembly and headed straight for the auditorium in an effort to avoid her friends. So she was dismayed when the first person she saw was Haylie, waiting just outside the auditorium doors. At the sight of her friend’s excited face, Felicity’s guilt wrapped around her lungs like an anaconda and squeezed tightly. Tell her, tell her, tell her, the guiltaconda demanded. This is your last chance.

“Hey!” Haylie cried, throwing her arms around Felicity. “Ready to get nominated?”

“Absolutely.” Felicity swallowed hard. “Why’re you here so early?”

“Vanessa wanted to talk to me about the final order for the dance show. It’s so ridiculous—we’ve already changed it like eight times. And now I can’t even find her.” Haylie shrugged. “So, is your mom excited that you’re getting nominated for prom queen? Mine was totally freaking out this morning.”

Felicity knew she had to explain what was about to happen. Haylie would be furious, but at least she’d be prepared. Maybe she could even find someone else to nominate her. Felicity struggled to take a deep breath. “Haylie, there’s something—”

“Felicity, is that you?” Madison’s voice echoed through the empty auditorium. “Come help me with this banner.”

Haylie giggled at Felicity’s expression, interpreting her distress as hatred for Madison. “Go! It’s fine. We’ll talk later, when we’re both prom queen nominees!” With an ache in her stomach, Felicity watched her friend go. After this assembly was over, Haylie might never smile at her again.

Felicity tried to make up for her impending betrayal by being extra helpful to Madison—maybe everything would balance out in the grand, karmic scheme of things. They hung the paint the town red banner, set up the prom committee’s chairs on the stage, and unwrapped the red roses they’d present to all the female nominees. By the time they had finished setting up and the rest of the committee had arrived, students were trickling in, chattering excitedly and making last-minute nomination plans. Felicity sat down onstage and watched Haylie and Ivy enter the room, followed closely by Gabby. All three of them waved at her, and she wondered if it was possible to throw up without having eaten anything.

When everyone was assembled, Madison stepped up to the podium and beamed at the applauding crowd as if her heart were full of puppies and bonbons. “Thanks, everyone!” she chirped. “Welcome to this year’s prom court nomination assembly! Let’s start with the girls. I’ll begin. I, Madison Banks, nominate Georgia Kellerman for prom queen.”

“I, Chelsea Barrington, second the nomination for Georgia!” called another cheerleader.

Georgia stood up and smiled as if she had just been nominated for an Academy Award. “Thank you so much. I accept your nomination.” Everyone cheered as she did her shampoo-commercial walk up to the stage, received her rose from Madison, and performed a little curtsey.

Felicity was so nervous she could barely pay attention to the five cheerleaders who were nominated next. She prayed someone would come to her rescue and nominate Haylie; then she could claim she had decided to nominate Gabby at the last minute as an act of charity. But everyone was too busy nominating their own best friends to pay attention to hers.

The world seemed to slow down and recede when she finally saw Haylie stand up and say, “I, Haylie Adams, nominate Felicity St. John for prom queen.”

Across the auditorium, Brent stood. “I, Brent Sanderson, second the nomination for Felicity.” He grinned and gave her a thumbs-up.

Felicity’s legs took control, and before she knew it, she was standing. Her whole body trembled slightly, but she hoped it didn’t show. “I, Felicity St. John, thank you and accept your nomination,” she heard herself saying. Savannah smiled and passed her a rose, and there was a roar of applause. Felicity could barely distinguish it from the ringing in her ears.