The Comeback by Marlene Perez Page B

Jason said and hustled me outside before the chaperones saw me.
    We were out of the building when someone blocked our path.
    â€œI don’t think so.” Dev’s voice came from a long way off. I looked up and his face swam into view. “Sophie’s not going anywhere with you.” He grabbed my hand and gently pulled me free of Jason’s grasp.
    â€œI say she is.” Jason yanked my arm and I stumbled.
    â€œLook, Brady, I know what you’re up to,” Dev said. “Just leave Sophie alone and we won’t have a problem.”
    â€œWhy do you care?” His voice was pugnacious. SAT word. “What’s she to you?”
    I peered into Jason’s face. What was I doing? I couldn’t stand Jason. He was a slug. The fact that I saw two of him only underlined the fact that I’d totally blown it. Ignored all those warnings you learn in health class. You know, never set your drink down, never let a guy you don’t know and/or trust get a drink for you. If you feel funny, don’t ever leave with someone. That kind of stuff. The bastard.
    â€œShe’s my sister’s best friend,” Dev replied. “And she’s not leaving with you.”
    Jason tugged on my arm again—and that’s when I threw up all over him. Pink and black vomit (I shouldn’t have had two boxes of Good & Plenty for dinner) stained his shirt. I guess the throwing up grossed him out so much that he gave up. He strode off, cursing.
    Dev sighed. “What are we going to do with you, Sophie?”
    The fresh air revived me some, but I was still having trouble walking.
    â€œHe put something in the punch,” I slurred.
    â€œNow you figure it out,” Dev replied. “What were you doing hanging out with a reptile like Jason Brady?”
    â€œNo one else would talk to me.” I sniffed. Tears streamed down my face. I was still having trouble walking and now I was crying too hard to see where I was going. “What about your date?” I wailed. “Poor Beth.”
    â€œShe’ll understand,” he said tersely. Dev threw me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. I was thankful that my dress wasn’t any shorter, because that’s all I needed, a picture of my underwear getting posted on some Web site.
    Dev was strong, very strong. I clung to his back. I wasn’t exactly a lightweight. Don’t get me wrong, I had an okay body, but I wasn’t a petite little thing like Beth, either.
    He dumped me into the passenger seat of his car and took out his cell. I could tell by the grim expression on his face that he was angry. I didn’t blame him. I’d managed to screw up his date with Beth, and there was a strong possibility I might barf in his car. Chalk it up to another smart move by Sophie Donnelly, the queen of popularity.

Chapter 10
    W hat are you doing? Don’t call my mom.”
    He flipped the phone open. “I’m not calling your mom. I’m calling Monet to get her butt out here and help me.”
    â€œOh.” I collapsed against the seat.
    The next thing I knew, Monet tapped on the window, and then she and Scott, the art class hipster, slid into the backseat.
    She took one look at me and laid into her brother. “God, Dev, what did you do to her?”
    â€œHe didn’t do anything,” I slurred. “Jason Brady spiked my punch. Dev saved me.”
    â€œActually, Haley saved you,” Dev said. “She saw what was happening and came and told me.”
    â€œWhy you?” Monet asked what I was thinking.
    â€œThere wasn’t anybody else,” Dev replied. I winced at the bare truth of the statement. “I mean, shecouldn’t find you and she didn’t want to tell Connor, so she got me.”
    He seemed to realize that mentioning my ex’s name wasn’t helping me feel any better and changed the subject. “We can’t take her home like this,” he said, gesturing to my