Free Home Sweet Drama by Jessica Burkhart Page A

wanted to give him a bath. It had been a while since the last time when—
no.
Did not want to think about that. But I couldn’t stop the memory. The last time I’d bathed Charm, Eric had helped me because Jasmine had turnedout Charm in the back pasture after it had rained. It had been minutes before my lesson and I’d found Charm coated from ears to tail in mud. Eric had helped me wash him in the outdoor wash stall and we’d ended up turning the hose on each other.
    I couldn’t help but smile when I remembered the look on Eric’s face when I’d swiped mud across his cheek. He’d retaliated and by the end, Charm was the cleanest of all of us. I sighed. Did not want to think about Eric. It didn’t do any good. There was no chance of getting him back and I had to let him move on. I’d done enough damage.
    I removed Charm’s tack and he waited for me just outside the door while I hung up his bridle and put away his saddle. I grabbed a bucket, container of horse shampoo, coat conditioner and a sponge. I untied Charm’s cotton lead line from the tie ring and we started walking outside. We passed Black Jack’s stall and I slowed. The stall door was opening and Callie led him out into the aisle. I looked at her face and knew immediately that something was up. I was her former BFF—I could tell when there was something going on. Her lips were pressed together and she stared at the ground. I couldn’t walk away without saying
something
.
    â€œCallie?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. “Everything okay?”
    Callie’s expression changed from worry to anger. She shook her head. “Are you kidding me? You’re the
last
person I want to talk to. Don’t say a word to me again. Ever.”
    My throat tightened and I led Charm down the aisle and outside. I hated this. Every second of it. But I’d done what I’d had to do to protect Callie. And I couldn’t go back on that now.

11
    PAIGE = HOMECOMING OBSESSED
    ON MY WAY BACK TO MY ROOM, I STOPPED by the girl’s bathroom to shower and change. Paige was out, so I decided to text her to see if she wanted to meet up and study in the common room together.
    When u get back wanna study in com room?
I sent the text and started gathering my books. I had enough to do that I could go and get a head start.
    My phone beeped a couple of minutes later.
    Just finished w HC committee—b there in 5
    I deleted the message. At least if we had to work, Paige wouldn’t have any time to talk about Homecoming.
    In the common room I spread my stuff on the round table. If I sat on the couch I’d get too comfy and would probably fall asleep. I took the egg that Jacob and Ishared for health class and set it on the table, then snapped a picture of it. I was definitely going to get an A in this class—no doubt. I’d wanted to give the egg to Jacob yesterday when I’d seen him in the hallway, but things had been too weird with Callie.
    I pulled out my history book and started reading the assigned chapter. Mr. Spellman’s class wasn’t too hard, but he always assigned a lot of required reading. I’d read a few pages when I heard flip-flops approach the common room.
    Paige walked inside, her arms full of green folders.
    â€œWhat are those?” I asked.
    She grinned at me. “Details for the dance!”
    Did
every
sentence about Homecoming have to end in an exclamation point?
    â€œOh, cool,” I said. “I’m sure it’ll be great.”
    Paige put the folders on the table and flipped open one. “It’s going to be
amazing.
Seriously. I’d tell you every detail, but I don’t want to ruin the surprise for you.”
    â€œYeah,” I said. “You definitely don’t want to do that. I love surprises.”
    And if I hear one more thing about it, I’ll go insane,
I thought, but smiled at Paige.
    â€œAre you the first person in