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Mandy choked on a laugh. “Taryn, seriously. Friends are a good thing to have.”
“I have friends,” I said coolly, hopping onto the counter. “So, where is he?”
She sighed. “He’s on the patio with Grant and Amber.”
“And where are you at?”
“In a land of denial, telling myself everything is perfect except that my boyfriend cheated on me and is no longer my boyfriend.” She turned to me, her eyes misty. “Did you see them this morning? She was all over him.”
“Anyone say anything?”
“No, thank God. Everyone’s been talking about that stupid prank—and it couldn’t have come at a better time—but Amber hasn’t even talked to me. I think she’s on Jasmine’s side.”
“Has she talked to Jasmine today?”
“I don’t know, but Jasmine backstabbed me. You’d think Amber would say something to me, right? She’s my best friend.”
“Yeah…friends have a way of not being your friends when they’re needed the most. I learned to take people with a grain of salt,” I murmured. “So, you want me to hang out for moral support?”
“Yeah…and because the gang is having dinner here tonight.”
“What? Mandy!”
“I know, I know,” she groaned. “I couldn’t stop myself. Devon was talking to Grant and Amber in the dining room and everyone was watching. Next thing I know, I’m inviting them for dinner. I don’t know why—”
“You did it because you don’t want them to know that you’re suffering. Makes perfect sense to me. Stupid though.”
Mandy grinned. “I know. So…you have to be here tonight.”
“It’s your whole crowd, right? Grant, Bryce, Amber, Devon, Jasmine, and Tray?”
“Yeah. And Carter.”
“Who’s Carter?”
“Bryce’s cousin. He’s in town, he moved last year to Southington but he’s friends with all of us. Carter’s hilarious. You’ll love him, well…maybe.”
A girl popped her head in the kitchen and said cheerfully, “Mandy! Guess what? Tray Evans is here with Carter Sethlers. How cool is that? Tray Evans isn’t even on student council and Carter Sethlers doesn’t even go to our school anymore. I’m so happy you had the meeting here.”
“Anyone else with them, Shelley?” Mandy asked guardedly.
“Nope. Just those two.”
“Can you tell them that Grant, Devon, and Amber are on the patio?”
“Sure.” Shelley flashed her a blinding smile, which matched her blonde highlights. “I think Patrice already did, but I’ll check anyway. Gives me an excuse to chat up Tray, hmmm?”
When she left, Mandy sighed in relief. “Thank God Carter’s here.”
“He’s pretty cool, huh?”
“Yeah,” she murmured, her eyes vacant. She was thinking hard about something.
“Look,” I spoke up, jumping off the counter, “student council and socializing isn’t my thing. I’m gonna camp out in my room. Keep your cellphone with you and call me if you need me down here ASAP.”
“Okay. Thanks, Taryn.” Mandy sounded grateful as she wiped at some tears that were in the corner of her eyes. “Thanks.”
I escaped, breathing lighter when I shut my bedroom door a second later. Falling on my bed, I turned my iPod on again, but felt my phone buzzing next to me. Lifting it up, I saw Geezer’s name on the screen. Flipping it open, I greeted warmly, “Hey, Geeze.”
