Free True Colors by Krysten Lindsay Hager Page A

to pick us up, and India joked Devon might want to stay over. Devon blushed.
    â€œYou’ll have to excuse her, she wants to be my stepmother,” Peyton said as Devon shrieked. We walked to the car, and Devon said she didn’t think she’d ever be able to look Mr. Urich in the face again.
    â€œI wonder what the Ingénue audition will be like next weekend,” Devon said when she calmed down. “My mom’s already freaking out about the whole thing. She’s called, like, fifty times to check on things.”
    I had been trying not to think about next weekend. Every time I thought about getting in front of the judges my stomach would flip over and I’d end up running to the bathroom. I had been trying to get through one day at a time. Now I could worry Mrs. Abrams would decide not to let her go and it would just be me by myself. I could just imagine me tagging along behind my mom because no one else would talk to me. Well, at least having my mom there would be better than nothing.
    The next morning, my mom came into my room. She said her manager had been taken in for emergency surgery, and they needed mom to cover for her in some important meeting. Then mom dropped the bad news.
    â€œThe meeting is on Friday afternoon.”
    â€œSo I can’t go to the audition? Mo-om, this could be my big—”
    Mom put up her hands to stop me. “I called Mrs. Abrams, and she said you can ride with her and Devon to Lansing. I don’t see any other way of getting you there.”
    I shrugged. I guess it was better than missing the competition, but I wanted my mom to be there with me. Mom said since she already paid for our room, Devon and I could share it, and Devon’s mom would stay in the other room. I was glad Mrs. Abrams would be there because I wanted somebody’s mother to be there… even if it wasn’t my own.

Chapter Nine
    On Tuesday, I went to sit in the lunchroom because I thought I could sit with Devon. I was halfway through the line when I remembered she was eating lunch in Mrs. Kharrazi’s room because she had to make up a quiz. Maggie and Halle had their matching pink purses on the chairs next to them, and I didn’t feel like having to ask them to move their stuff. I didn’t want to have to beg to sit at their table. I could sit with Tad and his friend, but none of the girls had ever sat by themselves with a bunch of guys. Besides, then everybody would think I was his girlfriend or something. I had been standing there way too long, and I started to walk toward Maggie and Halle’s table when Hana walked past me to get a napkin.
    â€œHi, Landry. What’s up?” she asked. I almost kissed her on the mouth.
    â€œHey, can I sit with you?” I asked.
    â€œSure,” she said. “What did you think of the math quiz?” she asked as we sat down. “The story problem was crazy.”
    Oh crap, I thought it had been pretty easy which should have been a huge sign since math is never easy for me. Hana was a brain, and if she found it tough, then I was sunk. My mouth was full, so I shrugged.
    â€œI read your story. It was cute,” she said.
    â€œThanks.”
    Tori walked by, and Hana asked if we were still fighting. I rolled my eyes.
    â€œI know you guys were friends and all, but doesn’t it bug you how she has to be the best all the time? I’ve seen her ask for extra homework to challenge her,” she rolled her eyes. “Why are they mad at you anyway?”
    I told her it was because of the audition, and she wasn’t surprised since Ericka and Tori were always so competitive. I didn’t mention Ericka was also mad about Kyle paying attention to me because I didn’t need to hear the fact Kyle would never be interested in me. Hana and her friends had finished eating, and I started to gather up my tray to go, but they told me to finish my lunch.
    The rest of the week flew by as I worried about the trip. We