“You and Theo are so busy lately,” Juliet had grumbled over the phone numerous times. Sometimes Theo had been sitting beside Callie during the call, quiet so that Juliet didn’t know they were sneaking around.
With all their efforts at play, Juliet still didn’t know about their budding and unbreakable love, and Callie sensed that was a good thing. Juliet hadn’t yet nabbed a modeling contract in New York or Los Angeles. She hadn’t made a deal with any managers or agents. Her excitement for her big, starry life in the city was slowly melting into a frantic state. “What if it doesn’t work out?” Juliet had asked Callie the other night, her eyes glinting with tears.
Callie had never heard Juliet talk like that. It frightened her.
Callie had told her it would definitely work out, that Juliet would absolutely reach every goal she’d ever set for herself. But Callie had never been sure if that was true. The big world outside Bluebell Cove seemed terrifying and cruel. Why did Juliet want to leap into it?
About five hours before Theo planned to pick Callie up for prom, as Callie sat in front of her mother’s makeup mirror and tried and failed to find the perfect lipstick shade, Juliet called.
“Callie!” her mother called from the landline in the kitchen. “Come get it!”
Callie raced to the phone, her mess of blond curls flailing out behind her. She half expected Theo to be on the line, telling her that he wanted to call the whole thing off. But it was Juliet, asking if she wanted to come over and watch DVDs that night.
“I can’t,” Callie said, scrambling through her mind for the excuses she’d come up with.
“Why? Are you going to prom?” Juliet asked, joking.
Callie was silent for a split second too long. She’d never been good at lying to anyone, least of all her best friend. “I mean, no,” she said.
Juliet sounded harsh. “You are! You’re going to prom! I can’t believe this.”
“I’m not!” But it was too late. She could feel Juliet’s confusion and anger.
“Who are you going with?” Juliet demanded. “Don’t tell me you’re going with Jeremy? He was so mean to you, Callie. He doesn’t deserve…”
“I’m not going with Jeremy,” Callie shot back, her tone dark.
Juliet was quiet for a long time. “Whatever,” she said. “I’m coming over to see your dress.”
Juliet hung up, leaving Callie in a state of shock. Walking by the kitchen, her mother caught her. Folding a blanket across her body, she asked, “Is she coming over?”
Callie nodded. Her heart thudded in her stomach. Her mother hadn’t asked specifics, but she did know that Callie hadn’t told Juliet about her relationship with Theo.
In a small voice, her mother asked, “Do you think it’s possible that Juliet does like Theo after all?”
Callie glared at her mother. “All Juliet has ever said is how much she doesn’t like him!”
Her mother was delicate. “Sometimes women say that when they like someone the most.”
“That’s stupid!” Callie cried, though she had a strange, awful sense that her mother was right. Juliet had always thought that Theo was a given for her. She’d always had him as her sort of backup boyfriend, if the whole modeling thing didn’t work out.
What would Juliet do if she learned that Callie had taken Theo for herself? What if she never spoke to Callie again? Callie’s palms were sweating. She went to the living room, lay down on the sofa, and pressed her face into the pillows. She prayed that Juliet would get caught back at home, that Ivy would force her to work at the Bluebell Cove Inn, that her father would hold her back.
But all too soon, Juliet trounced through the front door, calling out, “Where’s the prom queen?”
It was much worse than Callie had planned for. Juliet had come to her place wearing a prom dress, maybe one of Ivy’s or Celia’s, and it made her look like an absolute knockout. The black dress curved over her breasts and highlighted the model cinch of her waist. She’d put on bright red lipstick, and her hair was messy and curly and gorgeous, like bedhead in a rom-com. Callie gaped at her best friend, willing herself not to burst into tears.
“Well?” Juliet asked, twirling in the living room. “How do I look?”
Callie could hardly whisper. “You look beautiful.”
“I know, right? I never tried on one of these fancy dresses, but now? I think I was missing out.” Juliet sat on the sofa next to Callie and beamed. “Do you think your date will mind taking me too?”
Callie’s mouth went dry with alarm. She stuttered.
Juliet rolled her eyes. “Come on, Callie. I caught you. I know you’re back together with Jeremy. But he needs to know he can’t treat you like he did last year. I’ll give him a talking-to when he picks you up.”
“It’s just that, um. You need tickets to go to prom?” Callie said meekly.
