chapter 15

“Because you are!” Sadie said. “Here, I’ll prove it to you.” She snatched away my packet and leafed through it.

“HEY!” I whined. She shoved a single piece of white paper into my face. I grabbed it, confused. It read in block letters: IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED THIS PACKET FROM A JUDGE, YOU HAVE MADE CALL BACKS.

“You made it, you made it!” Sadie laughed, a whirlwind of joy.

I just stood still, shocked. I made it. My dream might actually... come true. It felt like a miracle. How could something like this happen to a small urban girl like me?

Blackness suddenly took over, my consciousness being sucked away until only I was left.

Sadie was laughing still when we got back home.

"I can't believe it, Eve!"

"I can't believe you're still talking about this, Sadie."

"Well, I guess I can believe it," Sadie amended. "You were the best singer up there."

"No, I was not!" I smiled, a little overwhelmed by all that's happened today still. Miracles were happening left and right, but why me?

Why was all these things happening to an average, run-of-the-mill me?

As I ran to my room, I was once again halted by the beautiful poster of Dex. It stared at me, making tingles run through my skin, terror striking me still. I thought to all the times he had hurt me, from embarrassment, betrayal, and rejection. I still felt anger towards him, surprisingly. Another poster we had received laid on the ground, thrown by my hands. I crossed over to it, brushing my fingers across the cover.

In a flash of anger, I ripped the poster of him into a million tiny slivers. Instead of feeling satisfied, however, remorse filled me. Why was I feeling so regretful towards Dex? Because he ruined my life, I told myself angrily. But truly, I didn't know why. He ruined me, but it wasn't his fault. I, however, couldn't find myself to forgive him.

"Now's the time to make amends," I whispered to the air, my voice dwindling on the swish of the wind.

When I walked downstairs, the first thing I saw was Sadie frantically answering the phone.

"Yes? Oh yes, her name is Eve Valencia, oh, can you stay there for a second? I have to put you on hold- Hello? Yes, she is here. No, she can't answer questions right now. Please wait- Yes? No. Sorry, you'll have to wait- Hey again, what were you asking?"

I reached over and pressed the red button. Sadie looked at me, embarrassed.

"Who were they?" I demanded.

"Uh-uh-nobody."

"It must've been somebody."

"Um-no it wasn't. I was just-um-talking to myself! Yes, that's right! I'm going crazy, aren't I?"

"Sadie!" I grabbed her hand and squeezed, "WHO WERE THEY?"

"Reporters," she squeaked. I dropped her hand, shocked. Reporters?

"They all want to know about you, Eve," Sadie continued, "One of the girls that made the top ten." "WHAT?" I was growing beet red from embarrassment. Sadie grinned.