Love and Other Drama-Ramas! by Sarah Webb Read Free Book Online

Brains!”
    Then Diablo plays the opening bars to “Caroline” — my favorite Golden Lions song. Even though they haven’t gotten a record deal yet, the song’s been all over the radio and everyone here seems to know it.
    Brains belts out the first line over the cheers and applause. “Where have you been all my life, baby? I’ve been searching for a girl like you. A girl I can hold, touch, love.”
    His eyes scan the boxes looking for Clover as he sings the next line. “A girl I can trust with my heart.” He thumps his chest with his fist. “My torn, abused heart. Are you that girl? Everyone . . .” He punches the air, and the whole theater joins in as one. “Car-o-line. Are you that girl? Car-o-line.”
    I smile. The song’s about Clover, but Brains couldn’t get her name to fit the music. He tried Clover-belle but said it made her sound like a pet donkey.
    Clover is beaming, her eyes locked on Brains’s face, tears rolling down her cheeks. Happy tears this time. I can’t imagine how it must feel to have a song written just for you — but it must feel pretty amazing. I squeeze her hand, and she squeezes back.
    “They’re going to be huge, Clover,” I yell. “Everyone loves them! This is just the start.”
    “I know.” She beams at me, her eyes watery with emotion. “Isn’t it exciting?”
    When the song ends, the roof nearly lifts with the applause.
    “What an atmosphere,” Mills says as the intro to the next song plays and the clapping dies down a little. “I love this place. And these boxes are super cool. I feel like a princess up here.” She looks across at one of the other boxes, and her face freezes.
    Staring back at us, his arm thrown around Annabelle Hamilton’s shoulders, is Bailey Otis. And from his startled expression and the way he quickly pulls his arm away from her, it’s clear he’s spotted us too.
    It’s car-crash viewing. Mills looks as if her world’s just stopped spinning. She crumples against me.
    “This one is for anyone who’s ever had their heart stomped on,” Brains says from the stage as I hold Mills up. “It’s called ‘Burning Love.’”
    “I have to . . . Out.” Mills staggers toward the door.
    “Is she OK?” Clover shouts over the music.
    “She’s too hot. She needs air. Back in a sec.”
    I follow Mills outside. She has slid down the wall, her arms hugging her legs and her head pressed against her kneecaps. She’s crying so hard, her back is heaving up and down. I crouch down beside her.
    “He did go a bit funny when I said I was spending the evening with you instead, but I didn’t expect . . .” she says through her tears. “What’s wrong with me? Am I not good enough? I shouldn’t have canceled on him. He hates it when I do that . . . But did it have to be Annabelle Hamilton?”
    “I’m so sorry, Mills. I don’t know what to say. It doesn’t make any sense. Bailey’s obviously not who we thought he was. Don’t let him spoil our night, though. Come back inside.”
    She shakes her head. “I can’t. It’s too humiliating.”
    I stay with her, stroking her head and listening to the muffled sound of “Burning Love” coming through the closed door. After a few minutes, the song ends and there’s more ecstatic applause.
    Mills sighs. “You go inside, Ames. You shouldn’t miss the whole gig because of me.”
    “There’ll be other gigs. I’m not going to leave you out here on your own.”
    “Thanks, Ames. I don’t deserve you.”
    I nudge her with my shoulder. “Yes, you do. You’re my best friend, Mills, and besties stick together, no matter what. All for one and one for all, remember?”
    She smiles and nods, but the smile doesn’t reach her heartbroken eyes.
    “We can still listen to the music,” I say. “And Clover said there’s an intermission. Maybe you’ll feel strong enough to watch the second half.”
    “Maybe.” She doesn’t sound convinced.
    “You OK, Mills?” Clover asks, walking out of the box at