The Lonely Hearts Club
Page 54

Ryan looked back at his supposed friends. "All right, let's not overreact," he countered.
"You have got to be kidding me." I looked at Ryan in complete disbelief. "You're going to stand up for him?"
You're on my side, I thought. You sang to me, right?
"No, of course not. it's just. , ."
All my frustration from the last few weeks had built up, I was so pissed, I could barely see straight.
I turned to Ryan, heat rising in my cheeks. I could taste the acid on my tongue. He was supposed to be a friend of mine, but he was going to stand there and allow this to happen. He didn't want to create waves with his idiot best friend and disgusting teammates.
"Wow, Ryan, how disappointing. You wouldn't want to have to stand up for yourself, now would you?"
Ryan looked at me like I'd stabbed him. We both just stared at each other.
I instantly regretted it.
"I didn't mean ..." I sputtered.
He turned away and left me standing there, with a look of pure horror on my face.
How could I say that to him in front of everybody?
Tracy put her arm around me and led me to her car. "Pen, he's such a jerk, don't pay attention to anything he said!'
"But Ryan --"
Tracy looked confused. "I'm not talking about Ryan. I'm talking about Todd,."
0h, right, Todd,.
I kept replaying the conversation over and over in my head.
"Here, put this on your wrist. I'll take care of the bed." Tracy handed me a bag of ice, took the sheet from my hand, and started to make up the air mattress on my bedroom floor. "Penny, stop beating yourself up over it. He's an idiot."
I looked up at her. "Do you really think we've upset that many people at the school by starting the Club? First Principal Braddock and now . .."
She shook out the sheet as it fell onto the bed. "Sit down." She sat on my bed and patted the cushion next to her. "Penny, the Club is one of the most important things that either of us has ever done. Todd, Chesney is an idiot, end of story. Don't let it ruin the success of the evening."
I looked down at my flannel pajamas and put my knees up so my chin was resting on them, "I just don't want to be responsible for making anyone upset,"
'Do you know what you're responsible for?"
I shrugged my shoulders. I didn't know what to think anymore. Every time I thought I could handle the Club and being friends with Ryan, everything fell apart.
Tracy grabbed my shoulder so I was forced to look at her. "You're responsible for Kara being comfortable enough to talk to people about her eating disorder!'
Kara's transformation had been remarkable. Gone were the baggy sweats, pictures of stick-thin models in her locker, and her lunch routine of picking at a salad with no dressing. Now she wore more flattering clothes, had pictures of her friends up in her locker instead of waif models, and ate with the group. She still had a long way to go, but it was a start.
"You're responsible for the fact that Teresa kept her volleyball scholarship to UW."
Teresa ended up acing her Calculus exam, thanks to Marta.
"You're responsible for the fact that, for the first time in her life, Diane Monroe has her own identity. Remember what she was like at the beginning of school?"
I pictured Diane at the diner, clearly miserable, but trying to pretend that everything was fine.
"And now anytime you see her she's so happy to be in the Club and to have girlfriends. She's really surprised me."
Tracy wasn't the only person Diane had surprised. I still couldn't believe that she risked her standing with Braddock to help the Club, or that she stood up to Todd, tonight. , . or to Missy after the article came out.
I felt my chest restrict and my eyes were starting to burn. "Those things didn't happen because of me. I can't take responsibility for them."
Tracy got up and took my hands. "You were the one to open our eyes. You re the one that's the strongest of us all."
My bottom lip started to quiver. "Yeah, I'm so strong."
"Stop it Penny, Don't sell yourself short. You're the leader of the group because everybody respects you, because you're there for people, and because you're one of the greatest people I've ever known. I'm so happy to have you as my best friend. How many times do I have to tell you that?"
Tracy hugged me, and I held her tightly.
"Plus," she continued, "everybody is pretty much scared of me when they first meet me and Diane comes off as Little Miss Perfect, so I guess you were the lesser of three evils."
I let go of my grasp as Tracy started to laugh, "Sorry, you know I can't help it. this is exactly why we all need you so much!"
I sat back down on my bed and realized how tired I was. Tracy lay down on her mattress and threw the covers over herself. "Enough drama for today. I'm out."
I turned off the lamp on my nightstand and pulled my duvet cover over me. Laughter came from below.
"What is it?"
Tracy giggled. "I just wish we could see Todd, tomorrow morning. He is going to be so sick. Let's hope he got sick on Missy! I'd pay to see that!"
I laughed for a second before I thought of Ryan. I had to figure out a way to make everything right between the two of us -- again.
How was it that I could be part of a big group of girls, but couldn't seem to stop causing problems with one guy?