The Real Prom Queens of Westfield High by Laurie Boyle Crompton

don’t give her the scoop. Like I said, she’s usually not a bitch.
    â€œI do appreciate your sudden interest in my life,” I say, “but there is no scoop here. That was just Rick.”
    â€œThat much I know. He says to call him when you get in. I want to know why his call made you freak.”
    â€œI think he may be kind of into me,” I say. “That’s all.”
    She repeats “ That’s all? ” as if a guy being into me is a holy miracle. “How do you feel about him?”
    I think about the way our eyes kept locking in the rearview mirror. I shrug, but Josie must read my expression because she says, “Okay, so you like him. What’s the problem? Is he a real uggo?”
    â€œNo.” I’m suddenly defensive. “He’s not an uggo . I’m just not sure if I like him and anyway I’m leaving in a few days for Prom Queen Camp.”
    There’s a pause where Josie could be telling me to skip the show and go for it with Rick. But she isn’t.
    â€œIt’ll work out,” I say. “I think he’ll wait.”
    Josie raises one perfect eyebrow. “Or maybe, after your makeover, you’ll snag someone better.” She starts rattling off a list of my attributes that need improvement, and I shove her off the couch.
    My mind swings to what may have happened if I’d dropped Marnie off first on Saturday night. I imagine the look Rick gave me growing more intense and…
    â€œShannon!” Josie cuts in. “You are so annoying! Did you hear me?”
    â€œUm, you asked what I want to do with my final free days before camp?”
    â€œNo.” She sighs. “But never mind. What do you want to do?”
    â€œFinish the binding on my Blue Jean Quilt.” I grin widely.
    â€œGah! I cannot wait for them to turn you into a normal person.”
    ***
    So now I just need to ignore Rick’s phone calls until he catches on and gives up, which, to be honest, takes longer than it should for someone with a 150 IQ. He continues calling at different times for the next few days as I work on finishing my quilt.
    Marnie calls to say good-bye before heading halfway across the world, and all she wants to talk about is why I haven’t spoken to Rick. “We keep just missing each other,” I say. “But you have a great trip.” Like she’s going to the beach to sunbathe instead of constructing homes for people who are devastatingly poor.
    Finally, Marnie and I hang up and she flies away and I’m free from having to lie to her. That is, until she sends me an email from the Bahamas asking if I’ve spoken to Rick yet. I email her back saying my mom just grounded me from the computer all summer for having a messy room. Except that Marnie knows my room is always super-messy and all Mom asks is that I “keep the door shut on that godforsaken pigsty.” At least I know Marns will forgive my awful lies once my real excuse is revealed.
    I just hope Rick will too.
    The day before camp starts, technicians come to the house and install minicameras and microphones everywhere. Taping won’t start until it’s time for our “good-byes,” but just knowing the cameras are there freaks me out. Josie must feel it too, because she retires her shabby yellow nightshirt with “Super Chick” printed on the front and is wearing an adorable cotton short set as pajamas. She also has on a pair of faux black-framed glasses and is curled on the couch reading. So much for reality television .
    Victoria comes by and coaches us to wait for filming to begin before getting emotional about my going away. Oh yeah, and if I can manage to look significantly unattractive for my good-bye scene and trip to camp, that would be great.
    â€œThe limo will swing by to get you at eight tomorrow morning,” Victoria tells me as she heads out the door. “Feel free to stay up late tonight eating salty snacks so