Home Sweet Drama Paperback - 2010

Summary

Excerpt

1

TO JASMINE

JULIA AND ALISONâÈçS REVENGE WAS COMPLETE. TheyâÈçd taken out the biggest threat at school.

Jasmine King had been expelled from Canterwood Crest Academy.

IâÈçd been standing in JasmineâÈçs empty dorm room for a long time. Just staring.

I leaned my back against the wall and drew my knees to my chest, lowering myself to the bare wooden floorâÈ'shaking my head in amazement. It had happened so fast. IâÈçd gone to the indoor arena to practice and had been using Mr. ConnerâÈçs camera to film my session. Jas hadnâÈçt known the camera was on and sheâÈçd started to brag about how sheâÈçd framed Julia and Alison by making it look as if theyâÈçd cheated on their history test. IâÈçd texted Julia and Alison about the tape and theyâÈçd taken it to the headmistress. IâÈçd just left the TrioâÈçs suite after a this-close-to-tears Heather had thanked me for saving her friends.

Jas was gone. I remembered her moving into my dorm and how IâÈçd feltâÈ'IâÈçd hated that she had transferred from Wellington Prep to Canterwood. It felt like sheâÈçd done it just to torture the Trio and me with her presence. Now, there was no trace of her in her old room. It was as if sheâÈçd never existed. Part of me felt a little sorry for her that sheâÈçd been yanked away to a new school, but mostly, I didnâÈçt care. She deserved what she got for everything sheâÈçd done to us.

I reached for my phone to text Julia, Alison, and Heather. Everything had happened in an instantâÈ'Heather probably had no clue that Jasmine had been expelled. But before I could start a text, my phone buzzed.

Come 2 r suite & celebrate. ~H

That almost made me laugh out loud. Of course Heather knew. I should have known that. She was aware of everything that went on at school.

K. B there in a sec. I sent my text.

I got up and stuck my head of out the doorway and looked down the hallway toward my room. IâÈçd planned to spend the rest of the evening with Paige, my BFF and roommate, but I couldnâÈçt say no to celebrating JasâÈçs departureâÈ'something IâÈçd hoped for since the day sheâÈçd arrived. I stepped out of JasâÈçs old room and left the door wide open behind me.

I left Winchester and walked back toward Orchard. I hurried, then caught myself. I surely wasnâÈçt excited about hanging out with the TrioâÈ'it was just glee over Jasmine. Right? But maybe a tiny part of me wanted to hang with them. We still werenâÈçt friends, but things had sort of changed.

I walked across campus and marveled at how gorgeous it was, especially with the fiery orange-red sunset. The manicured lawns were trimmed like golf course grass and the dark lacquered fence rails gleamed. Every inch of the winding sidewalks looked as if someone had just swept them. No matter how many times I crossed the campus, it never felt any less prestigious. There was a reputation to uphold as one of the top East Coast boarding schools.

When I got to Orchard Hall, I stared at it for a minute. The brick building was four stories tall and each window had a stark white frame with a small ledge underneath. Black shutters on either side contrasted with the frames and the rooms on the top floor had peaks over the windows. Two chimneys rose from the back of the building. A black old-fashioned street lantern was on each side of the front of the building. Soon, their light would illuminate the heavy wooden door that led into the dorm hall.

I took a breath before opening the door. Callie, my ex-BFF lived here, and the last thing I wanted was to run into her. But I pushed the thoughts awayâÈ'tonight wasnâÈçt about CallieâÈ'it was about celebrating JasmineâÈçs exit from Canterwood.

I walked down the glossy wooden floor and stopped in front of the TrioâÈçs door. IâÈçd barely knocked when a bouncy Alison pulled the door open.

âÈêSasha!âÈë she said, grabbing me in a hug.

âÈêIâÈçm so happy for you,âÈë I said. She let me go and I walked into Julia, Heather, and AlisonâÈçs living room. âÈêYou can start riding tomorrow.âÈë

From her spot on the couch, Julia smiled at me. âÈêYeah, I bet we can.âÈë She took a breath, glancing down before looking back up at me. âÈêThanks.âÈë

I nodded. âÈêIâÈçm sorry I didnâÈçt believe you before.âÈë

Julia shook her head. âÈêDonâÈçt be dumb. YouâÈçre the one who saved usâÈ'you donâÈçt have to apologize for anything.âÈë

Heather appeared from her room and motioned for me to sit on the couch. On the coffee table in front of us, there was a bottle of ginger ale and four plastic champagne flutes.

âÈêLetâÈçs toast,âÈë Heather said. She tossed her long blond hair over one shoulder and sat beside me. Julia poured ginger ale into all of our flutes and we raised them.

âÈêTo Jasmine,âÈë Heather said.

âÈêTo Jasmine,âÈë I echoed with the Trio.

Âû 2010 Jessica Burkhart