Play Nice (Make the Play Book 3) by Amber Garza Read Free Book Online Page B

makeup is smeared, my eyes puffy and red. Besides, if mom comes home and finds me all wet and weepy she’ll reprimand me. And I’m not in the mood for that.
    If only I had a hobby. I think about all the time Emmy spent alone. She used to sit in her room doing homework, studying, or reading. She didn’t mind it. Then again, Emmy has a completely different life than me. She has a loving family, a brother who adores her. Frankly, it makes me sick. They’re so sweet they make my belly ache.
    I actually liked Emmy. Sure I became friends with her as a way to get close to Cal, but she grew on me. She was genuine in a way that none of my other friends were. And she was silly, and vulnerable. I wished I could be more like her. Every once in awhile, I let my guard down around her. I allowed myself to be open, to be myself. With other friends that was never possible, but with Emmy it felt okay. And it was. She didn’t judge me. There were even moments when I thought our friendship could last. That perhaps I could drop the ruse.
    But the longer we hung out, the more jealous I became of her life. Of her family. Of her friends. Of her budding romance with Chris. She thought she was keeping it secret, but I always knew there was something between them. There was no hiding the way he looked at her. Or the way she looked at him. It was only a matter of time.
    And I started to hate her for it.
    Everyone thinks I betrayed her out of spite. Or because I could. Or worse yet, that I’m cold hearted and have no feelings. But in the end it was because I coveted her life. It hurt to watch her get everything I wanted. It was jealousy plain and simple. Not that it makes it any better. What I did sucked. I get that.
    I wish I could take it back. When I stopped hanging out with Emmy, it became crystal clear that she had been my only real friend. The only friend who truly cared about me. Talia and Heather and the rest of them were out for one thing – popularity. I saw that long before last Friday night.
    Emmy wasn’t like that. She never cared about popularity. Probably deep down she did, but it wasn’t the most important thing to her. She wouldn’t have betrayed for it.
    Sighing, I pick at the thread on my bedspread. Oh, well . It’s too late to change what I’ve done. It’s not like Emmy will ever forgive me. And I know Cal sure as hell won’t. He’s made that very obvious.
    This is why I hate silence. It forces me to think. To face who I am and what I’ve done.
    When it becomes too much, I slide off my bed and head to my computer. Plopping down on the office chair, it swivels until I face the wrong direction. I drop my bare foot to the floor and turn my body until I’m facing the computer. After turning on the monitor, I click around on the web until I pull up my favorite online channel. There are a few new makeup tutorials from my favorite online personalities, so I click on one. When the video starts, I settle back in my chair, taking note of the colors and techniques that are used.
    Makeup and fashion are my thing. I’ve never been good at sports, and I don’t get the best grades. But if you need your hair or makeup done, I’m your girl. Emmy used to encourage me to start my own makeup channel. A place where I could upload video tutorials about hair or makeup, or even fashion. I love the idea. I’d be good at it. I used to do Emmy’s makeup and hair all the time, and I made her look like a totally different person. But I’d never be brave enough to put myself out there like that.
    The reason people think I’m so confident and brave at school is because everyone is too afraid to speak out against me. My popularity shields me from criticism or ridicule. And anytime someone has tried to go against me, I make their life so miserable they regret it. And then they retreat.
    Until now, that is.
    The tide has shifted. Everything’s changed.
    And it’s only confirmed what I already knew – I don’t have thick skin. I don’t cope