Rival by Sara Bennett Wealer

Author:Sara Bennett Wealer
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: HarperCollins US
Published: 2011-02-13T06:00:00+00:00

Chloe never talked about that day, and I was too weirded out to bring it up. She also never changed her story. Because eventually? It all came true. Her mom did marry a rich guy, and he did get famous—at least as far as politics go. By eighth grade, Chloe really was jetting off to incredible vacation spots, and she had a clothes allowance that made even me jealous. It was almost like she’d made it all happen, just by wanting it.

And now, she’s trying to make it happen for me, even though I know she’s imagining herself in the sash and tiara.

“Why aren’t you on the court?” I ask her. “You’re the one who really cares about Homecoming.”

“Because I’m just not, okay?” She flips another page and, for a second, I see that big-eyed little girl again. “I’m happier behind the scenes, Brooke,” she tells me. “But I can’t do anything if you don’t help out a little. You’re never around anymore. What’s the deal?”

“The Blackmore,” I remind her. “It’s next month.”

She rolls onto her back and looks at me, very serious. “Why is this contest thing so important anyway? You’ve always been weird about singing, but you’re really freaking out this year.”

“I’m not freaking out.”

“Oh my God, you are so freaking out. Why? You’re going to get the big first-place star part or whatever it is you want. You always do.”

I lie down, grab one of her magazines, and start flipping. But it’s just something to do with my hands while I come out and say what’s really bothering me. “Maybe not always,” I say.

Chloe snorts. “What? Who else is going to get it?”

“This contest has some of the best singers in the country,” I explain. “You can’t assume anything at the Blackmore. The competition is really fierce.”

She waves her hand like she’s swatting pesky flies, and any hope I might have had of her understanding starts to fade. I guess I’ve known all along that she’s not the person to talk to about stuff like this. But I can’t just drop the subject. I need to talk with somebody. “And then,” I say, “there’s Kathryn.”

“Don’t worry about Kathryn.”

She says it like it’s simple. Like I can just snap my fingers and make Kathryn disappear.

“It’s not that easy,” I tell her.

Chloe wrinkles her nose. “Why not?”

“Well, for one thing, I see her every day in choir.”

“So? Ignore her.”

“I try to. But…”

“But what?” Chloe’s eyes are mean little slits now. “You’re you and she’s nobody.”

“She’s getting solos and I’m not.”

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