PTE

housan

little flip. Four thousand people had

tho

my bulletin board because Mom said sparkle was a "brand." There was a poster of a gi

. I'd never f

alled from downs

e s

screen. Four tho

weating. I could

ps when you're good. Nobody claps when you'r

ws. My lip gloss video got four th

wo

looking fo

past Piper's door on my way to t

il in her mouth. A lamp lit up half her face. The other half sat i

e a painting o

as already

it. That's the truth.

She rubbed her eyes. She sighe

rf

om and typed th

ho never goes out. Day 4

ng emoji. I ad

I pos

my casserole, the video

me, six

eading comments wit

ooks like

e always

et this gi

s. So many la

ebble in my shoe. But then the numbers k

om hummed in

y," she said,

just

be a star." She smiled at me. Then she

she lef

oo

quietly I alm

ter what happe

ars later. But that day,

lock. She didn't slam it. That was the scar

g a get-ready-with-me.

ian

doorway. Her face was blank. He

fake. "Can you not stand

hool showed m

ka

like a ghost.'" Her voice cracked on the

. "It's ju

d me witho

re in m

my hou

ldn't help it. I

on. Don't b

n thousand peopl

at you. They're laug

he sit

sequins. For one second,

adly. Crying would make her small

idn't

down,"

N

ian

an't m

ing you.

She said

that word coming out of her mouth. It

did. I reached for th

Your own mom couldn't sta

m went

ard a car drive by outside. I he

White, like all the color

didn't swear. She d

t looke

It was worse. It was like she'd been expecting this exact

ned around a

I heard the front door open. I

t th

all over, a weird little thril

fast I almost missed i

y stomach l

told myself she'd be fine. I t

er. I didn't text.

e say sorry. Not once.

star

phone and che

thousan

But I couldn't read them. The word

m couldn't

loud. To a girl w

one face dow

r creaked. For a second,

th grocery bags, humming her

ybe s

r sister?" s

I shout

oo

That word. Why did

The ring light buzzed in th

ed the video. My thumb hover

le

esse

you sure you want t

e

eo vanished. Nineteen

to feel

idn

iginal file. It was still there, ten seconds long. Piper at the

looked like someone car

lse. A small frame on the corner of her d

oman laughin

ntil my scree

plain. I saved the video to a lock

d I ke