Free Trapped by Melody Carlson

Who’d have thought?”
    We both go into the stalls, and I hear others entering, chattering as they gather in front of the mirror. One of the girls sounds just like Kelsey Nelson, and suddenly I remember the last time Kelsey and I were in the restroom together — and how I confronted her and ripped off the cheater’s bracelet. For that reason, I’m not exactly eager to exit the stall. So I linger.
    â€œOh, Sean’s car is nothing,” Kelsey is saying to the other girl. “I mean, it’s nice enough, but you should see the Mustang my stepdad has promised to get me.”
    â€œYeah, sure,” the other girl says sarcastically, “but that’s only if you get an A in AP Biology. How likely is that?”
    â€œYou’d be surprised,” Kelsey says lightly. “I’m a lot more academic than you realize.”
    The other girl laughs and then they both leave. I just stand there in the stall — speechless — trying to comprehend what I just heard, lining it up against what Kelsey said to me just yesterday.
    â€œGraceAnn?” Mary Beth calls out. “Are you okay?”
    I flush the toilet, adjust my dress, and step out.
    â€œAre you feeling sick or something?” She peers curiously at me.
    â€œNo … not exactly.” I frown as I wash my hands.
    â€œYou sure? Because you look pale.” She glances at me as she freshens her lip gloss.
    â€œWas that Kelsey Nelson I heard talking just now?” I slowly dry my hands.
    â€œYeah. She was bragging to Destiny about how her stepdad is going to get her a car. A Mustang I think she said.” Mary Beth laughs and hands me her lip gloss. “That is if she gets an A in AP Biology.”
    I frown as I put on some lip gloss.
    â€œOh, that’s right. She’s the cheater, isn’t she?” Mary Beth shakes her head as I hand her back her lip gloss. “Sad, isn’t it?”
    I just nod, feeling sick inside again. What I thought was turning into a perfect evening feels ruined. Soiled. And it’s all my fault.
    But as we walk back to the ballroom, I start to feel angry at Kelsey. I think of how she lied to me, how she played the pitiful victim … acting like her horrible stepdad was going to beat her senseless unless she passed AP Biology. For a “smart” girl, I am very stupid. And naive.
    I’d like to storm over to Kelsey, who is now standing near the center of the room, surrounded by her insulation of friends. Just the same, I’d like to break into that group, interrupt their chitchat and gossip, and loudly tell Kelsey that I overheard her in the bathroom — and that I’m enraged. I’d like to confront her for lying to me about her stepdad, and let her know that as a result of her dishonesty, my promise “not to tell” is now permanently revoked, and that first thing Monday morning, I’ll be going to the dean to report what I saw, complete with my evidence, and that she will most definitely be suspended, not only from classes but her beloved cheerleading as well.
    Except I can’t do that now.
    As much as it sickens me to be aligned with someone like Kelsey Nelson, it’s too late. I compromised myself by following her stupid, stupid, stupid example. And now all I can do is stand by and watch the aftermath.
    How is it that she seems to feel no guilt or remorse whatsoever? Meanwhile I am drowning in it. It all seems so unfair. So unjust.
    â€œSomething wrong?” Bryant asks me as he hands me a cup of red punch.
    I force a smile. “No, I was just thinking.”
    He grins. “I like that you’re a thinking kind of girl.”
    The knot in my stomach grows tighter as I nod. How I wish that were still true. As we dance, I try not to think about how Bryant’s opinion of me would change if he knew who I really was … what I’d done … only yesterday.
    I see Clayton dancing with Avery. He’s dressed in a