Page 131 of Shine Bright

Susannah nods slowly. “Will you tell me what’s going on between you and Mr. Sutherland?”

I freeze and feel all the blood drain from my face. “How do you . . .” I stammer, my heart pounding in my chest in shock.

“I saw you,” she explains. “A while ago.”

“But why . . . why didn’t you say anything?”

She grimaces. “We haven’t talked much lately, remember?”

“You could have told Pearson,” I blurt out, my voice rising an octave.

“And you could have told Pearson about me. But you didn’t.”

“I thought about it,” I admit, lowering my gaze.

“Me too. And yet we both kept our mouths shut. Maybe we’re not such terrible friends after all.” She gives me a hesitant smile, and suddenly it’s almost easy to talk to her. It’s a little strange, because for once we’re actually being honest with each other.

“Phoenix and I . . . we talked to Pearson. Just this afternoon.”

Susannah’s eyebrows shoot up in surprise. She didn’t expect that. “What did he say?”

“Quite a bit. But it went well. He was his usual self, always trying to find a solution that works for everyone involved.”

“So Mr. Sutherland can stay?”

“He can. But he’ll be assigned to a different group, and we aren’t allowed to rehearse together anymore.”

“That’s good, isn’t it?”

I nod. “Yes,” I reply, but I can hear that I don’t sound entirely convinced.

“But?” She looks at me encouragingly.

“Everyone will know,” I say, not wanting it to be a problem. After all, I told Pearson and Phoenix that it wouldn’t be. That was the truth, but somehow it wasn’t. Not entirely anyway. “I don’t want to care what they think of me, but . . .”

“You do care.”

“I can’t help it.”

This time Susannah reaches for my hand. “Let them talk if they want to. Let them talk for a few weeks, and then the next drama will come along for them to gossip about.”

“You’re probably right.” I sigh. “Are you angry that I didn’t tell you about him?”

“No. That would be pretty hypocritical, don’t you think? None of us have talked to each other properly for months. Especially not about our problems.”

“We really need to change that.”

A thoughtful expression crosses her face, and the next moment she jumps up and pulls me with her. “Then come on. Let’s tell Katie that you’re dating our teacher. She’ll be shocked.”

I have to laugh. “She’ll kill me.”

“Maybe. But only because she was hoping to date him herself.” Susannah grins, and for a moment, things are easy between us.

It won’t stay that way, I think we both know that. Everything is still too complicated for that. She’s still sick, and we’re still worried. It will remain difficult.

But right now, it’s okay the way it is. Everything else will become clear.

One thing at a time.