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covered.
    “It’s so great you’re home.” Her voice is upbeat, friendly, like I didn’t just walk in on her and her husband going at it.
    Only when she shuts the door do I dare remove my hand from my eyes. Feeling a little dazed and in desperate need of a shower, I text my mom again. When she doesn’t respond, I give my dad ring, but he doesn’t answer, either.
    Since I have no idea where they’re living, I have only one option.
    I sigh. “Looks like I’m going straight into the fire pit of hell.”
     

Chapter 6
     
    I didn’t prepare myself enough for this. Being a city girl and all, I thought I’d be able to stick up my nose and hold my head high. But, as I stand in the middle of the crowd, which is decked out in leg warmers, neon colors, fluffed hair, bright makeup, and not to mention spandex—spandex everywhere—all I want to do is go old school, Lexi-style, and tug the hood of my jacket over my head and hunker down.
    I keep my head low as I search around for my dad. The Doo-Wop’s version of “Ordinary World” by Duran Duran hits my ears as the lovely scent of pie engulfs my nostrils.
    “Lexi Ashford? Oh, my word, is that you?” Carrie Lynn, an extremely peppy girl I went to school with, blindsides me. “My word. Little Lexi T-rexi grew up.” She pinches the bottom of my hoodie as she eyes my holey jeans and unlaced boots. “Is the grunge look a city thing? I always remembered you being more … well, clueless in the fashion department.” She laughs at herself. “Remember those big glasses you used to wear that made your eyes look three times their size? And that ratty shirt you had with the horse on it that you wouldn’t get rid of, even when we purposely ripped it? Oh, my God, that thing was so hideous .”
    This, coming from the girl standing in front of me, rocking poufy, blonde hair; baby blue eyes shadow; and alarmingly pink blush.
    “Thank God we finally stole it from your gym locker and cut it up so no one had to look at it anymore.” She says it like she did me a favor.
    “Yeah, I remember. I had to wear my sweaty gym clothes for the rest of the day.” My lip twitches. “And it wasn’t a horse. It was a kangaroo. And it wasn’t that bad of a shirt. It was just different.”
    She makes a pft sound, waving me off. “Kangaroo, horse. What’s the difference?”
    “Oh, I don’t know. How about the fact that one has four legs, a mane, and hooves, while the other has a pouch?” Before she can reply, I wave at her and start to walk away. “It was great talking to you, Carrie Lynn. Maybe I’ll see you around.”
    “Wait. How long are you going to be here?” she shouts after me. “Lexi? Did you hear me? Did you move back? I’m having a bachelorette party tomorrow! You should come!”
    Ignoring her, I push my way deeper into the crowd, getting stopped every other second by someone who knew Lexi T-rexi. By the time I get to the stage area where the contest is taking place, I’m socially exhausted and ready to get as far away from this tent as I possibly can.
    Once I make it to the front of the mob, I spot my dad on stage, wearing a leather vest and ridiculously tight pants, cheering on my mom.
    When he sees me, he gives me two thumbs up. “Lexi, you made it!”
    And just like that, the entire crowd is staring at me.
    “Lexi Ashford?”
    “Lexi T-rexi, is that you?”
    “Lexi, you’re back!”
    “Lexi Ashford, I can’t believe it.”
    “Man, you’ve changed. Hasn’t she changed?”
    “You look weird.”
    “What happened to you?”
    “Oh, my God, it’s the kangaroo shirt girl.”
    Oh, my God, just kill me now.
    “I’ll be down when this is over, honey!” my dad calls out from the stage.
    “I’ll wait in my car,” I shout back then head out.
    I want to add a “peace out, bitches,” but instead, I just bolt for the exit, freaking out.
    When I make it outside, I run around to the side of the tent and slump against the side.
    Letting my head fall forward, I take