Chapter Twelve Just My Personal Life
I worked my way through the crowded halls of Carson Hill, trying to maneuver my way to my locker. I finally broke through the last flock of people and swung my locker door open.
"Oh my God, why Kat, look who has decided to join us at school today!" I rolled my eyes and turned to see Jamie and Kat standing next to me.
"Are you guys trying to make me feel guilty?" I asked them. They both shared a look and nodded. Kat smiled at me.
"So, dear friend of mine, do you mind telling me where you've been?" I sighed. I had kind of expected the questions when I had arrived at school that morning. The past few weeks had been hectic when it came to the competition. As a result, I hadn't been spending much time at school, something my mom was not too happy about. Since today I hadn't had anything major to do, my mom had force-pulled me out of bed and sent me to school.
We were on Round 7 of the competition. In the last five weeks, Monica, Janine, Mark, and Joey had all been voted off, leaving me, Sandra, Davis, Eden, Chris, Michael, and my good friend Josh. I closed my locker door and turned to my friends.
"Yeah, I'm really sorry. I've just been so busy with the competition, and then when I wasn't off doing interviews or rehearsing I was at home napping." I gave them both an apologetic look. Jamie shrugged.
"We're glad that you're here now. Besides, a month and a half and the competition will be over!" I groaned and tilted my head back.
"Please don't remind me. I'm so nervous, like every week that goes by I just keep feeling my nerves grow. Any week now I could be voted off. It's a deeply scary feeling." Kat gave me a sympathetic look.
"Well, you clearly need to get your mind off of it. Why don't we go do something really fun, just the three of us?" She suggested. I nodded.
"Yeah that sounds like fun." I parted ways with them and went off in search of Sadie.
I found her sitting on a bench talking to some guy. I casually approached her.
"Hi, Sadie can we talk?" Sadie looked up at shot me an annoyed look.
"Now?" She asked, pointing to the moderately cute guy. I shrugged. Sadie turned to the guy, flashing him her coyest smiles.
"We'll talk later?" The guy nodded and walked down the hall. Sadie stood up and walked to her locker. I followed her wordlessly.
"This had better be damn important, Jude." She twirled the lock and swung the door open, revealing a hideous close up picture of Lil' Tommy Q. I tried not to barf. I averted my eyes from the picture.
"No, not really." Sadie turned to face me and gave me an annoyed look. I sighed. This competition was really doing hell to my personal life.
"It's just that I know that I've been busy what with the competition and everything, and we haven't hung out in forever." Sadie closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead.
"What do you want Jude?" I shrugged and gave her a smile.
"Do you think maybe we could hang sometime?" Sadie rolled her eyes.
"Why do you suddenly want to hang now?" I sighed. Now I was going to have to tell her the truth.
"Sadie, you're my big sister and I realize that you are quite jealous of all the attention I've been receiving and I just thought that maybe you'd want to hang out so maybe I could show you how this competition hasn't changed me in any way." Sadie shook her head.
"It sounds like a really nice idea Jude, really it does, but I don't have the time right now. I'm sorry. Maybe a rain check?" I nodded, slightly stung. I turned to walk away but Sadie's voice stopped me.
"Jude, I'm proud of you." I smiled and walked away. Sadie had no idea how much her compliment meant to me. Sadie hasn't ever in a million years said that she is proud of me. It made me happy that I could hold on to my relationships. Maybe if I did actually win this thing, I'd manage to keep all my friends and not have fame spoil it.
