Too Much Drama by Laurie Friedman Page A

Mrs. Stephens mad?” I asked. I’d wondered what Brynn’s mom knows about why Billy broke up with her or how our friendship fell apart. Whatever she knows, it’s only from Brynn’s perspective, and I’m just not sure she has any idea how overly dramatic and frustrating Brynn can be.
    â€œMrs. Stephens is always nice, so it was hard to tell,” said Billy. “I told her to tell Brynn that I’m sorry about everything. I think she understood.” He shrugged, then kept talking. “I miss the way we used to be. You know, the Three Musketeers. But it hasn’t been that way for a while.”
    I stood up and put the box of photos back on the shelf. Billy was right. A lot changed when he and I started going out at the end of the summer before eighth grade. It got even more complicated when he and Brynn started going out this past summer.
    When I sat back down, Billy exhaled. “I’ve done everything I can,” he said, like he was through trying to make things better with Brynn.
    â€œI get it,” I said to Billy. “I’ve tried to talk to Brynn too. There are lots of things I’d still like to say to her. But she’s made it clear she doesn’t want anything to do with me.”
    When I finished talking, Billy cleared his throat. “April, I’m going to ask Sophie out.” His words sat between us for a second, and I could tell he was waiting for my response.
    â€œFinally!” I said.
    We both laughed. Billy was relieved, and in a way, I was too. I waited to see if he was going to give me details. How. When. Where. But he didn’t, and I didn’t feel like I could ask. Even though we’re friends again, we used to go out, so it just felt weird to ask him how he was going to ask out another girl.
    â€œWant to listen to some music?” I asked Billy.
    He grinned. “You know I do.”
    Some things will never change. Billy will always love listening to music. As we sat side by side listening, I felt happy for Billy.
    It’s a little weird that he went out with me, then Brynn, and now Sophie. I guess weirder things have happened. (I’m not sure what.) But he and Sophie seem to fit. And best of all, the truth will be out and hopefully everyone can move on.
    Including Brynn.
    Wednesday, February 11, 5:44 p.m.
Sophie is a rule-breaker (in a good way)
    Today in Bio, Sophie asked me if I would go with her after school to the Cold Shack. “I have something important to tell you,” she said.
    I tried to get out of her what it was about, but she wouldn’t say. I thought it might have something to do with her parents. Valentine’s Day is Saturday, and I had a feeling she was thinking they’re going to get back together or something, but Sophie said she wasn’t saying a word until we were settled into our favorite booth with a scoop each of our new favorite flavor, Mocha Chip.
    By the time we got our ice cream, I couldn’t wait a second longer to hear her news. “Spill it,” I said.
    Sophie took a bite of ice cream. “Mmm, delicious!” She was enjoying this way too much.
    â€œOut with it!”
    â€œPatience is a virtue,” said Sophie. She took another bite. And another.
    â€œC’mon!” I said. “You have to tell me now.”
    Sophie smiled and pushed her cup aside. “OK,” she said. “What I wanted to tell you is that I’m going to ask Billy out. On Valentine’s Day.”
    Even though it’s hard to choke on ice cream, I’m pretty sure I did. “Like out on a date?” I asked, though I was pretty sure that wasn’t what she meant.
    â€œNo, silly, I’m going to ask Billy if he wants to be my boyfriend.”
    Part of me wanted to tell her Billy was already planning to ask her out. But I knew I couldn’t betray his confidence. And I didn’t want to spoil it for her.
    â€œSophie, you know Faraway is pretty old-fashioned,