The Comeback Read Online Free PDF Page B

Not a very attractive image, especially if I wanted the cast and crew to think I was okay.
    After a few minutes of deep breathing, I splashed cold water on my face, careful to avoid my mascara.
    I was numb as I walked back to rehearsal. I hadn’t seen it coming, me , the girl who had so carefully traversed the dangerous world of high school cliques.
    Monet rushed up to me as I reentered the auditorium. “Dev told me what happened. Connor is a complete moron to break up with you in front of the entire cast like that!”
    â€œYes, he is,” I replied, “but I’m an even bigger one for trusting him in the first place.”
    â€œWhy don’t you skip rehearsal tonight? Everyone would understand,” she said.
    I plastered a fake smile on my face. “There’s no way I’m giving Angie Vogel the satisfaction.”
    I walked over to Dev. “Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s get this over with,” I snapped.
    He looked at me sympathetically, which made me want to punch him.
    â€œWhat’s your problem?” I said. I was being a total bitch to him and it wasn’t even his fault, but I couldn’t seem to help myself.
    Dev didn’t respond to my nasty behavior. Instead,he flipped open his playbook and gave me my prompt.
    I tried to keep my mind on my role, but I couldn’t help dwelling on my current situation. The breakup would be all over the school tomorrow and there would be no possibility of spinning it that it was a mutual decision. Not after the center-stage dumping I’d just received.

Chapter 6
    T he next morning I woke up with a sore throat, watery eyes, and a fever.
    I dragged myself to the kitchen table, where Mom had breakfast ready. I poured myself a glass of orange juice. It hurt to swallow, but I gulped it down.
    â€œYou look terrible,” Mom said. “You must be coming down with something.” She picked up the phone.
    â€œWhat are you doing?” I said.
    â€œCalling the absence line, of course. You can’t go to school like that,” she said.
    â€œNo!” I said. I would be crucified if I didn’t go to school. Everyone would assume I’d slunk off to lick my wounds.
    â€œI mean, I’m fine, Mom. And I have a test today that I don’t want to miss,” I lied, I hoped believably.
    Mom put down the phone, but she didn’t look convinced. “Sophie,” she hesitated, but then continued, “iseverything okay? I haven’t seen Connor around here in a few days.”
    â€œMom, everything is fine. I see him every day in school. And we have rehearsals.” All of which was true. I did see Connor; I just left out the part where he was “rehearsing” with someone else now.
    I would have to tell my mom that Connor and I broke up. Eventually. But I needed time this morning to get ready and if I told her the truth, I’d never make it in time.
    Post-breakup wardrobe was crucial. I couldn’t look like a trollop or a nun. No black, despite its slimming effects, or people would say I was in mourning.
    I was kind of regretting the pint of Baskin-Robbins Monet and I had downed the night before, but it was a ritual we’d indulged in since the seventh grade when Stan Reno dumped her for a cheerleader. He’d had breath like a pit bull with indigestion, but Monet had been crushed.
    â€œFinish your breakfast,” Mom said. “And take some daytime cold medicine.”
    Thinking about the breakup had made me lose my appetite, but I managed to force down a few more spoonfuls of oatmeal, which seemed to satisfy her.
    I went upstairs and dug out my favorite designer jeans and a turquoise top. The perfect looking-good-but-not-trying-too-hard outfit. I used about a bucketof concealer and a little bit of blush to put some color in my cheeks. Even my hair cooperated, and I went to school confident that I looked my best.
    I ran into Vanessa outside before first bell. My prediction was