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be me. The best me I could be. The problem was I didn’t actually know who Holly Scruggs was, besides being Heather and Randall Scruggs’ redheaded daughter.—the girl who didn’t look, or think or act like her perfect mother.
    Trying my best without having to be perfect—the thought was liberating. The churning that was always in my gut was gone for the first time.
    Locking myself in my room, I changed into jeans and t-shirt. I pulled out my computer to look up the play my monologue had come from. If I knew more about what Tillie was talking about and why, I could better understand her emotions during the monologue. I was going to try my best at drama and not worry so much what people thought.
    Perspiration gathered on my neck, so I pulled my hair up and raised my window. That’s when I heard two women in the side yard talking.
    “They haven’t changed a bit, especially Heather. She was always such a suck up in high school.”
    The other woman soon answered. “Fake, too. I don’t buy for one second that they moved back to simplify their lives. More like, came home with their tails tucked between their legs.”
    The other woman replied, “My sister Susan lives in Atlanta near Randall’s sister, Connie. She said Heather likes people to think she quit working to start a family. But Connie told Susan she got fired from her first job almost as soon as she got it.” The woman snickered. “I guess she couldn’t hack it.”
    ***
    I kept thinking about the ladies outside my window while I helped clean up the yard after the party. My mom undoubtedly wasn’t as impressive as she thought.  In fact, she wasn’t impressing anybody. So maybe I wasn’t as unimpressive as she made me feel either.
    Mom covered trays of uneaten food with foil. “I think the party was a success. Not as posh as the ones we used to throw back in Charleston. Well neither were the guest for that matter, but still a success. What do you guys think?”
    I looked at my dad who was picking up paper cups, then over at mom.
    “I overheard a couple of ladies talking about you guys.”
    Mom stopped what she was doing and turned her complete attention to me. For the first time, I saw a resemblance between us—the need for approval in her eyes. I’d planned to let her know exactly what was said, to let her know no one was buying her act. But looking at her—knowing how it felt not to measure up—I couldn’t do it. “They said you and Dad hadn’t changed a bit since high school. Especially you Mom.”
    Mom beamed and touched her face. “Well, that goes to show you the importance of exfoliating and moisturizing daily.”
    I nodded and got back to cleaning up. “Yeah Mom, I’ll try to remember that.”
     

Chapter 5
    After the party, I sat out on the porch studying my monologue. Mom and Dad had gone to dinner with some people from the party. A blonde girl about my age drove up to the house next door and got out. She was on her way inside when she saw me and walked over to my yard.
    “Hey! My grandma lives next door.” She gestured behind her. “She told me that she had new neighbors. I’m Shelby.”
    I sat up in my chair. “I’m Holly.”
    “I’ve got to go help my grandma with something. When I get done, you wanna go cruise Chesnee with me?”
    “Um…?” I couldn’t think of a reason not to. “I guess. Sure.”
    “I’ll be done in a few.”
    She was only inside about fifteen minutes. When she came out, I walked over and got in her car.
    I fastened my seatbelt and asked, “So what’s there to do in Chesnee?”
    “Not much. People drive up and down the one main street, honk, get out, and talk, text— nothing too exciting.”
    I’d already been up and down the one street. I couldn’t think of a reason to do it over and over, but I didn’t want to offend her by pointing that out. “I like your car?”
    “Thanks.” Shelby backed out of my driveway. “My Mimi and Papa gave me the money for the down payment, but I make the