Part 18 (2/2)
I thought it would be Phoebe calling back to say thanks, the polite freak, but it was Jade. ”How was Phoebe's graduation?” she asked.
”Okay,” I said. ”She gave the speech.” I shrugged at Quinn.
”I know,” Jade said. ”Someone said she messed up?”
”Who said?” I asked. A commercial came on for Home Depot, and a guy was holding a screwdriver.
”Do you want to watch this or not?” Quinn asked.
”It's Jade,” I whispered. ”People are dumping on Phoebe's speech.”
”She was great,” Quinn said. ”Who said what?”
”Maybe I misheard,” Jade said at the same time, smooth and sweet. ”I hope so. It was good?”
”She was great,” I said again, watching Mr. Screwdriver build shelves for his curly-haired son's room on TV. ”She rocked. Who said she messed up?”
”Why are you getting so Mafia about it?” Jade asked.
”She's my sister.”
”Since when?”
”Since she was born.”
”Can you hang up?” Quinn asked. ”It's on.”
”I meant,” Jade snarled, ”since when do you care about that?”
She had a point, but I just said, ”Leave it. Okay?”
”Fine,” Jade said.
”Sorry. I just-”
”Tell her I said congratulations.”
”I will. Thanks, Jade.”
”I'm gonna go take a shower,” Quinn said.
”No, stay with me,” I called after her, but she left.
”Roxie said you're going to the callbacks Monday?” Jade said. ”For your modeling thing?”
”I-I don't know. I guess.” I had to pace, so I went to the kitchen. Anyway, it was no fun to watch stupid reruns alone. ”Weird, huh?” I said to Jade. ”Me, modeling?”
”Now that you mention it, yes,” Jade said. ”I mean, not that you're not pretty. Just...I mean, you're so smart and real, I didn't think you'd be interested.”
”Neither did I.”
”But I think it's great. You know I've got your back, completely, whatever you do. Right?”
”Right,” I said.
”It's weird, though. Roxie seems to have some mixed feelings about your success, huh?”
”Well,” I said. ”Not really.”
”I just meant the whole yelling-in-the-hall thing, plus-”
”She was mad I didn't tell her, is all.”
”You think so?”
”Totally,” I said. ”You should get to know her, Jade. She's not what you think. Well, you talked to her a bit this week. Right? She's not, like, wild and nasty; she's sweet!”
Jade just sort of hummed, ”Mmmm.”
”Seriously,” I continued, all of a sudden feeling a manic need to convince Jade of Roxie's coolness, thinking I could somehow bring everybody together and life would be great. ”Like, I wasn't even planning to go on the callback for the zip zip thing? But Roxie called them up and made the appointment for me for Monday!” thing? But Roxie called them up and made the appointment for me for Monday!”
Silence, then, ”Did she?”
”Yes.”
”Okay, Allison? I have to ask you something.”
”Okay,” I said.
”Why do you think she would do that?”
My hands were starting to shake, like they had after the doppio macchiato. ”Because she's a good friend.”
”Suddenly?” Jade asked. ”She's suddenly your best friend?”
”No. She's just...She's nice,” I said feebly.
”Think, Allison. Why would Roxie set you up, force you to go to this modeling shoot when you don't even want to, and it's what she wants more than anything?”
I opened the fridge and looked in. ”Because she...”
”Come on, I don't want to hurt your feelings, but really, Allison. Let's be realistic-are you really the model type? I mean, to me you're a very nice-looking girl, and I love you to death, but really, do you honestly think you've got the stunning, magnificent looks of a model?”
”No,” I admitted, and closed the door.
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