The Confession Read Free Page A

on Canyon Road after school on Friday.
    We walked under low clouds, threatening rain. The air felt cold and wet, more like winter than spring.
    â€œI just don’t get it about Taylor and Sandy,” Hillary started.
    I shifted my backpack on my shoulders. It was loaded with homework for the weekend. “What about Taylor and Sandy?” I asked, thinking about my history term paper.
    â€œWell, you should have seen them at Reva’s party,” Hillary continued.
    I stopped walking and grabbed the sleeve of her blue sweater. “You promised. No talking about the party.”
    She tugged her arm free. “I’m not talking about the party, Julie. I’m talking about Taylor and Sandy.”
    â€œWell … what about them?” I asked grudgingly.
    â€œI watched them at the party,” Hillary replied. “It was pitiful. Sandy followed Taylor around like a lovesick puppy dog. And Taylor hardly talked to him. I mean, she was busy coming on to every other guy there.”
    â€œShe likes to flirt,” I agreed, jogging to cross the street before the light changed.
    â€œIt was disgusting,” Hillary insisted. “You should have seen the way she danced with Bobby Newkirk. And I saw her making out behind the garage with some boy I’d never seen before.”
    â€œOh wow,” I murmured. “And what did Sandy do?”
    â€œRan around getting her Cokes,” Hillary reported.“I mean, I don’t get it. He had to know what Taylor was doing. She was so obvious! She practically pretended Sandy wasn’t there. And he just grinned at her and followed her around.”
    â€œThat’s true love,” I said dryly.
    â€œIt’s not funny,” Hillary scolded me. “You know how serious Sandy can be.”
    â€œI wish Vincent could get serious,” I muttered under my breath.
    Hillary turned and squinted at me. “What did you say?”
    â€œOh, nothing.” I sighed. I pictured Taylor flirting with guys at the party. I had tried flirting with Vincent. But he thought I was kidding or something. He just made jokes.
    â€œSandy is a great guy,” Hillary continued. “But I think—”
    â€œI actually think they’re a great couple,” I interrupted. “I mean, maybe Taylor can get Sandy to lighten up. He’s so shy and quiet all the time. He’s never really had a girlfriend before. He’s so excited about it, maybe it will change him. Maybe … ”
    I waved to a station wagon full of kids from school. When they rumbled out of view, I caught the fretful expression on Hillary’s face.
    â€œI don’t think Taylor is good for Sandy,” she argued. “I think Sandy is going to get hurt. I think Taylor may dump him the first chance she gets.”
    â€œI know he’s a lot more serious than she is,” I agreed. “But aren’t you being a little hard on Taylor?”
    Hillary’s mouth dropped open. “Excuse me? Hard on Taylor? What are you talking about?”
    A strong wind greeted us as we turned onto Canyon Road. Sandy’s red brick house came into view on the next corner.
    I had a feeling that Hillary might be a little jealous of Taylor. Before Taylor started going with Sandy, Hillary was the only other girl in our group. And now Taylor had arrived, with her trendy clothes, her perfect hair and perfect face—and perfect body. And Taylor quickly seemed to focus all of the group’s attention on her.
    So maybe Hillary was just the tiniest bit jealous.
    But as I walked beside her on the sidewalk to Sandy’s house, I decided not to mention this theory of mine. It would only hurt her feelings. And she’d spend the rest of the week denying it.
    â€œTaylor is okay,” I said instead. “She’s not a bad girl. She likes to have fun, that’s all. And she’s not shy.”
    Hillary snickered. “That’s for sure.”
    I turned onto the gravel