D Is for Drama Read Online Free PDF Page B

leaving cue cards that say LOUDER in my locker.”
    I held up a hand to silence them. “Listen, I’ll go to Ms. Elliott and see if you guys can have your own show. She can’t possibly say no.”
    And I was right.
    When I visited Ms. Elliott at noon, she didn’t say no. She said, “Absolutely not.”
    The confident smile I’d worn into her office faded. “What? How come?” I asked.
    Ms. Elliott adjusted her glasses. “Sunny, I was fine letting you have your own show because I thought that would be the end of it. But if I let Bree and Suresh have their own show too, then I have to let the next students. Soon there won’t be enough stage time for all of you.”
    â€œThen say no to anyone after Bree and Suresh,” I said with a hopeful smile.
    She shook her head. “I’m sorry, you’ll just have to let them into your production.”
    â€œLet them . . .” My mouth fell open. “But this is my chance for fame and glory!”
    â€œI’m afraid that’s all I can offer,” she said. “You eithertell them no or share the stage. Now”—she held up two wigs—“which of these says fairy queen?”
    â€œThe purple,” I mumbled, picking up my backpack.
    There was no floating through the halls with giddiness this time. Instead, there were shackles of guilt around each ankle, one for not getting Bree and Suresh their show and another for not wanting them to be in mine.
    To make my conscience feel better, I went in search of the one person who could tell me the right thing to do.
    â€œChase?” I called, rounding the corner of his locker bay. “You won’t believe—”
    I stopped short. Not because he wasn’t there, but because he was there with Ilana. And she was wearing his jacket. And giggling.
    I don’t know why it bothered me. I had no desire to wear Chase’s jacket, he wasn’t my boyfriend, and she wasn’t my best friend. But I had a sudden urge to pull him away from her.
    Chase smiled at me. “Hey, Sunny D! What’s up?”
    â€œCan we talk?” I asked him, giving Ilana a small smile.
    In response she propped her cosmetics case in one arm and held open the lid. “Makeover while you chat?” She gestured at the contents. “You could look killer .”
    I shook my head. “I don’t want to look like a killer. Just give me a second with Chase, please?”
    Chase raised his eyebrows, and Ilana snapped her case shut.
    â€œFine,” she said, stepping between Chase and me. She gazed up at him and smiled sweetly. “See you this afternoon?” she asked.
    â€œOf course!” he said. “And thanks for the history notes.” He saluted her with a hot pink binder.
    â€œThank you for the ten bucks,” she said, patting her pocket as she sauntered away.
    â€œWhat’s happening this afternoon?” I asked, watching her leave.
    â€œIlana’s coming to my baseball practice,” he said with a pleased smile. “You want to come?”
    â€œUh . . .” I chewed my lip. “If I say yes, do I have to actually show up?”
    Chase rolled his eyes. “Never mind. What’s going on?”
    â€œI have a moral dilemma I need help with,” I said.
    His expression turned serious. “Yes, you should leave tap dancing off your list of theater skills.”
    I scowled at him. “My dancing is fine. I just didn’t know the edge of the stage was so close.”
    â€œThen I’d leave ‘observant’ off your list of theater skills,” said Chase.
    I gasped in mock dismay and raised a fist. Chase laughed and threw his arms up protectively, spilling papers out of Ilana’s binder. We both bent to grab them.
    â€œAll right, I’ll be serious,” he said, sliding the papers back into the folder pocket. “What’s your moral dilemma?”
    â€œHuh?” My