I woke up to my pillow vibrating. Reaching my hand underneath I pulled out my phone, groaning at the bright light that burned my eyes.

"Hello?" I grumbled into the phone.

"Um...why do you sound like you're still asleep?"

Bee. Shit. It was Saturday morning and I had to drive her to her audition. After my mom yelled at me, I buried myself in homework and then crashed. I completely forgot about the promise I made.

"I'm up," I told her, not even attempting to actually remove myself from the bed or keep my eyes open.

"Jade, the audition is in three hours," she snapped. It was obvious the nerves had her on edge. "Wakey-wakey, woman!"

Thirty minutes later I was showered and dressed in white jeans and a light blue tank. My hair was done up its usual puff and my make-up was minimal, adding only what I needed to hide my lack of sleep.

Mom was making eggs for Taylor, who sat in her highchair drinking water from her sippy cup. I almost didn't want to approach my mother as she stood over the stove.

"Good morning." I tried to sound bright and happy, like last night never happened.

"Morning," she replied, scooping eggs onto a plate and setting it in front of Taylor.

When she turned to me I noticed she looked like she hadn't had much sleep either. "I called about the job at Kevin's office. My interview is on Monday."

A smile stretched across my face. "Really?"

She nodded, wrapping her yellow robe tighter around her. "About last night, I didn't mean to yell at you. I don't want you to think that I can't handle things on my own."

"Mom, I know you can handle things by yourself, but you don't have to."

"I know." She smiled. "I appreciate you wanting to help. It's just, this is your last year of high school. You should be out with friends making memories. Not worrying about a job."

I wanted to tell her that all I did was worry. That the bare cabinets, empty fridge and past due bills were all I could think about. As I looked at her face, the worry lines in her forehead and tired eyes, I knew telling her would only make her feel worse.

She was doing the best she could with what she was given. I didn't want her to doubt herself, not anymore at least.

Before I left to pick up Bee I made the choice to play the part of the typical teen who lived carelessly. If I could pull that off in between having a part time job and a part time boyfriend.

* * *

"Blue or red?" Bee held up two summer dresses. Both were the same style: cut just above the knee with off the shoulder ruffles up top. "The uniform color at Tri-Slice is blue, but I look damn good in red. Would the blue make me look like a kiss ass, though? Maybe red is too sexy."

I clamped my hands on Bee's shoulders to stop her from pacing. "Breathe. You remember how that goes, right? In and out."

"I'm freaking, J. What if I don't get the part?" Her eyes doubled in size. "What if I do get the part? My mom would bury me. Right under her roses!"

"You're still not breathing."

Bee let out a huge breath, like she hadn't taken one in while. Honestly, she hadn't. She'd been doing a lot a pacing around her room and mumbling worse case scenarios.

I glanced at the time on the clock that hung on her wall. We had less than two hours to get to her audition. I needed to get this situation under control.

"Bianca Yvette Sackler, you can do this. I promise."

Her green eyes peered up at me, unconvinced. She'd been there for me so many times before. Now that it was my turn to return the favor I was failing at the whole pep talk thing.

That moment in the car with Nolan came to mind just then, sparking something inside me.

I took Bee's hands in mine giving them a quick squeeze. "The longer you stand here thinking about it, the more time you have to talk yourself out of doing your dream job."

"Being the face of a pizzeria isn't really my dream..."

"You know what I mean." I grabbed the red dress from her bed, shoving it against her chest. "Now put on this dress and let's go before you're late."

Silently, she nodded taking the dress with her into the bathroom. Fifteen minutes later we were in the car ready to go. As I exited Bee's neighborhood, she turned on some music.

She seemed to relax as she got into the music. I had to remember to thank Nolan, since his words helped me with Bee.

"We should pick up Nolan."

My eyes widened, darting over to my best friend. Did I just say that out loud?

"What?" I asked innocently, turning back to the road.

"Do you know how many people from school hangout out at in that area? It'll be good for you and Nolan to make a public appearance."

"Did you forget what happened yesterday?"

"Even more of a reason to get him to come." She smirked. "You can use him as a human shield."

I laughed, shaking my head. "We're going to be late for your audition."

"How do you expect the school to think you're the perfect couple if you're only together during school hours?" She picked up my phone from the cup holder in between the seats. "Let's call him."

"I don't have his number."

She gave me a look of disbelief. "How do you not have his number? You don't even talk after school?"

I shrugged. It would've been a good idea to exchange numbers and discuss some of the details about this plan. "We'll just go to his house."

"How do you know his address?" she asked, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "What were you two doing?"

"Anyways," I said, pointedly. "You know what, he's probably at work."

"He doesn't work at the garage during the school year," she said matter-of-factly. "His mom's rule."

My gaze shifted to her. "How do you know that?"

"Because, unlike you, I actually talk to your boyfriend," she teased. "We have fourth period together and I annoy him with questions."

I had no idea she was talking to him. What else had he told her?

A few minutes later we arrived at Nolan's house. Surprisingly enough he was out front. His usual black attire was replaced with green pajama bottoms and a white shirt that had that parental advisory logo that was usually on music albums. He was pulling the trash bin in from the curb, barefoot as we walked up the driveway.

His eyes squinted in our direct curiously as I parked by the curb. Bee let down her window and waved to him.

"Get in, loser. We're going shopping."

His brow knit together in confusion, clearly not getting the reference. After setting the trash bins on side of the house he came over to my window.

He looked like he'd just woken up. His hair was a mess, one side was sticking up. His sleepy eyes cancelled out the effects of his glare he was trying to give me.

I let down the window, smiling. "Good morning."

"What the hell are you doing here?"

"Rude." Bee scoffed as she pulled out her phone.

Nolan kept his eyes on me. "What do you want?"

"We're going to into the city and thought maybe you'd like to join us."

"No."

I rolled my eyes, not even surprised by his answer. "Plus we need to go over the details of this arrangement and figure out how we're going to win the affection of our peers."

"And there will be pizza!" Bee chimed in.

Nolan blew out sigh. "Fine. Let me get changed."

I settled into my seat, looking over at Bee. She was practicing her faces again, eating invisible pizza and looking completely insane.

My phone vibrated in the cup holder and I picked it up. Yet another text from my father. It was the most he had tried to communicate with me since he left. Maybe even before that.

Something came up. Won't be able to make it tomorrow. Sorry.

I didn't want to see him. I hadn't replied back to any of his messages. We were never going to meet up. Yet, that those word were a stab to the gut.

Did something really get in the way or was it because I wasn't responding? Either way, it reminded me of how unreliable he was.

I pushed him out of mind, focusing on Bee's imaginary pizza eating.

Fifteen minutes later Nolan emerged from the house, locking the door behind him. He wore black jeans with slits at the knees and a black short sleeve shirt. On his still damp hair was a black hat.

Bee got out of the passenger seat before I could stop her. "Sit up front," she told Nolan. "I need to lie down before I start blowing chunks. "She climbed into the back, laying across the seat.

Nolan slid into the seat beside me looking like he'd rather be anywhere else. It was a far cry from how he acted around me at school. I guess he could be his true self since there weren't any witnesses.

"You ready?" I asked Bee, starting up the car.

"Just get there before I change my mind."