Flirting with Disaster (17 page)

Chapter 36

Monday we stayed after school to have our final newspaper meeting before the Great Vote. We got to hear from each of the candidates. I personally thought it was a huge waste of time because everyone had already divvied up into Team Hazelle and Team Natalie.

Except for me, of course. Less than twenty-four hours before the vote, I was still wishy-washy. Natalie found me before the meeting was about to begin. “Almost finished with that article on [email protected]?” she asked. “I’m looking forward to seeing it. And hearing your ideas for a spirituality column.”

I nodded and smiled, but she still made me feel like I needed to escape her as soon as possible. I supposed that didn’t matter. You had to be able to work with and for people you didn’t necessarily like. Especially if they were going to help you meet your goals. Christian goals that were going to help other people, too. Like Becky. And Emma.

Hazelle didn’t try to sway me in any way. She wasn’t even particularly friendly. She went about her business doing what she normally did with her hangdog, I-miss-Brian look whenever I caught her unawares. It was a good thing she was running for editor and not for public office because she seriously didn’t know how to manage a campaign.

She did try to dress up her uniform a bit, though; I’d give her that. But then she had to go and ask my opinion.

She pulled me aside. “Savvy, what do you think of the accessories—makeup, hair, you know?”

I looked her over and offered nothing.

“Go ahead,” she said. “I asked you because I can trust you to be honest with me. You’ve got a lot of shortcomings, but you’re always honest.”

A lot of shortcomings, eh?

“Well,” I said. “Um, I think that, you know, you’ve got a lot of natural beauty that the heavy makeup is covering up. And there’s a lot of humidity in England. Pretty much everyone’s got to straighten their hair to keep away the frizzies.” Her face looked so fragile that I reached for something kind but true to say. I glanced at her bracelets—cool Indian bangles like Supriya might wear. “Love the bracelets,” I said.

“Thanks,” she said. “I got them at the museum gift shop.”

Her dad was a security guard for the British Museum. But there was girl rule #169: Don’t tell people you bought your accessories at a museum. “They’re beautiful,” was all I said. And they were. Then I saw a look cross her face for the first time.

She was worried about the vote.

Chapter 37

Tuesday morning we cast our votes.

“Thanks, everybody,” Jack said. “I’ll take the votes and tally them. After I’ve had a chance to talk with both candidates, I’ll make a general announcement.”

At lunch Hazelle was not at the newspaper table, and neither was Jack. I sat with Penny because I couldn’t stand the tension at the Wexburg Academy
Times
table.

I went home and did my homework, ate dinner, and turned in my column to Jack. This wouldn’t normally be a column week for me, but he’d juggled the editorial schedule a bit to accommodate end-of-the-year events. Then I tried to sleep.

In first period on Wednesday, I knew the answer before Jack had even made the announcement. Hazelle flounced into first period, her Ruby Desire lipstick as dark as ever, and plopped down right next to me.

“Hey, Hazelle,” I said.

She smiled at me, but it was a superior I-am-the-queen kind of smile. “Hullo, Savannah,” she said.

“I take it congratulations are in order?” I said.

She nodded. “Yes, thanks.”

“Oh, good,” I said, my hopes starting to flail a little at her iceberg-just-below-the-surface attitude. “Maybe sometime this week we can talk about my article. Maybe Thursday, when the new edition of the paper comes out?”

“I’ll try to squeeze it in,” she said. “I’ll have a lot going on during the transition. I’m sure we’ll be able to give you some little topic to fulfill Jack’s promise.” And with that, she turned to what was, I assumed, a very important text before Mr. Thompson came in to start class.

I purposely avoided Brian so I wouldn’t have to make eye contact with him. Before today, I’d been thinking he was a creep for dumping Hazelle. But now I wasn’t so sure.

After class I saw Natalie in the hall. I tried to smile, but she glared at me and started to walk by. Then she turned on her heel and came after me. “You made a very bad choice,” she said. “And it’s all going to come down on your head. Wait and see.” Then she threw her arm around Rhys’s waist and strode away.

She knew I’d had the deciding vote and hadn’t voted for her. I thought I’d done the right thing—even if Hazelle wasn’t warm and fuzzy, at least she was trustworthy and honest. But what had Natalie meant about it all coming down on my head?

Chapter 38

Wednesday night, my first night with the worship team. I was kind of sad because neither Supriya nor Tommy was there, but it did allow me a chance to get to know the others in the worship band. For some reason, though, I had the sense that doom was just ahead. I couldn’t shake the dark feeling. I was in the house of the Lord, playing His music with His people, and I still felt nervous.

It reminded me of a feeling I’d had when I was little. Once, in the middle of the night, I could hear noises coming from underneath my bed. I just had to lie there and hope that daylight would come soon. In the morning, Dad looked and said nothing had been there, but I knew different. Something had been after me.