I kept making excuses for Sophie even though I knew she was using me. I let her do it because I was too scared. I needed to hide behind her.

But maybe this is the push I need to finally stand center stage.

“Yeah, I know.”

Ethan gets back up. “Stay here. I need to go do something.”

Whoever said that people don’t change was full of it.

That or they never had a friend who wanted to be famous.

Where the hell is Emme? I go to use the restroom and she disappears?

I’m waiting around for five more minutes and then I’m going to leave. I know that I’m going to nail that audition on Friday anyway.

I hear the door open. About time.

I turn around and see Ethan.

Great.

“Hey, Ethan, have you seen Emme?” I say sweetly to him. It kills me since I know he doesn’t like me, but I’d die to sing one of his songs. Okay, not die, but be nice to him and that’s bad enough.

He grabs my phone out of my hand.

“Excuse me?”

He smiles at me. “I’m answering your question. You want to know where Emme is, here’s your answer.”

He hands me back my phone and it’s showing Amanda’s texts.

“This is my personal property. How dare you —”

“Emme knows.”

“What? You violate my privacy and have the gall to come in here and say things like Emme knows. What, has she figured out that you have some sick obsession with her?”

“She saw the texts. She knows that you are not the friend you’ve been pretending to be this entire time. She finally sees who you really are.”

I can’t believe that Ethan and Emme think they have the right to go through my stuff and then get mad at me. Are they even serious?

“How did she see the texts? You know what, it doesn’t even matter. I can explain.”

Ethan laughs. “This I’d love to hear.” I want to punch that smug look on his face.

I try to think. This can’t be happening two days before the audition. I knew that Ethan would try to find a way to sabotage my spot in the showcase.

“Amanda is very sensitive about all the time I spend with Emme….”

“Right, Amanda, who you’ve known for two years, thinks she should get priority over Emme, who you’ve known since you were eight and is the only reason why anybody wants to hear you perform. It’s for her songs, but, please, do go on….”

Ethan’s such a pompous jerk. He and Emme deserve each other.

“You know what? I don’t owe you anything. Where’s Emme?”

“She’s gone.”

Whatever. All I need to do is apologize to Emme and all will be forgiven.

And I need to put a password on my phone.

I go to leave, but Ethan blocks the door.

“Do you have any idea how much you’ve hurt her? And not just today, but how many times I’ve had to literally wipe the tears away from her eyes because of something you’ve done? Since the day I met her, Emme has done nothing but praise you and run herself ragged to help you out. What have you ever done for her? Nothing. I almost hoped that I was wrong about you, for Emme’s sake.”

“Oh, please, it’s like Emme is the poor little lost soul who does no wrong.”

“No. Emme is an extraordinarily talented person with the biggest heart. She’s just been beaten down enough to think that she doesn’t belong in the spotlight. Because her supposed best friend pushed her back while taking something that doesn’t belong to her. Well, your time’s up. Stay away from Emme. You’ve done enough damage.”

He walks out of the room.

Ethan thinks he knows everything, but I know Emme. Everything is going to be fine.

She’d never let me down.

I’m trying not to panic, but Emme is giving me the silent treatment. I’ve called and texted, but she isn’t getting back to me. I can understand why she’d be mad about what happened today, but if she wants to make it in showbiz, she needs to toughen up. People in the business are going to say way worse things about you during auditions.

Really, when you think about it, I’m doing her a favor.

I head up the steps of her family’s brownstone. It seems that I have to do my groveling in person. I knock on the door, but from the look I get from Mrs. Connelly, I can tell that the cupcakes I have aren’t going to be enough.

“Hi, Sophie,” she says coolly.

“Hi, Mrs. Connelly. Can I speak with Emme?”

She shakes her head. “She’s not here. She’s spending the rest of the week in the city at a friend’s.”

I can’t believe that her mom would let her stay at Ethan’s. That’s where she has to be. Ethan is keeping guard over her.

“Oh. Well, I guess I’ll see her at school tomorrow. Thanks!”

I turn around and head the few blocks to my house. I want to think that this will blow over, but if Ethan has his fortress around Emme, there’s no way he’s going to let me get in.

Desperation starts to sink into every pore of my body. I have to think of something to do. And fast.

I’m waiting by her locker in the morning. She sees me and gives me a weak smile. But still, a smile.

Good old reliable Emme. I know I’ve been going a little crazy lately. My mind is continually racing with different scenarios, but maybe I’m just overreacting. I can fix this. I’ve always been able to make things fine between the two of us. Okay, so maybe I haven’t been the greatest friend to her lately, but she knows how much I need this. It’s not only my last shot, but the most important one.