It was yet another text message from Brandon.
“See? This is EXACTLY what I’m talking about. I’m really tired of your texts. Seriously!” I said, pointing to my phone.
ME, PUTTING BRANDON ON BLAST BECAUSE I’M SICK AND TIRED OF HIS SORTA WEIRD AND SLIGHTLY OFFENSIVE TEXT MESSAGES
“Um, Nikki! You have a problem. I’ve been HERE in the GIRLS’ BATHROOM talking to YOU for the past three minutes.”
“I have a problem?! Really? You’re the dude sneaking into the GIRLS’ bathroom! Obviously, YOU have a problem!! Have you considered counseling?”
“Nikki! How could I have just sent YOU a TEXT?! Did you see me do it?” he asked.
“Huh?” I muttered, staring at my phone.
Okay, now I was totally confused.
“Then WHO just sent me this text?!”
I opened the message on my phone and read it out loud: “I’m so sorry about the dance. But I just coughed up what looked like a big slimy greenish booger, and thought of you!”
Then I handed my phone to Brandon so he could read the text that had come from HIS phone.
He read the message, scowled, and shook his head.
“So that text is supposed to be from ME?” Brandon asked. “Come on! Do you think I would actually talk about something as crass and juvenile as boogers? And when have I EVER used a smiley face? I’m really sorry you had to go through all of this, Nikki.”
“Well, if these texts aren’t from you, then WHO is sending them? And WHY are they coming from YOUR phone?”
“I don’t know. But what I do know is that I COULDN’T have sent them because I lost my cell phone a month ago! It’s been missing since my party. Since Theo’s brother has a phone just like mine, we thought maybe he’d accidentally taken it back to college or something.”
A wave of relief washed over me.
So Brandon had NOT been sending all of those crazy text messages for the past month! Maybe we could actually salvage our friendship after all.
“Well, that makes me feel a lot better. But why didn’t you just tell me you lost your phone?”
“Because you never gave me a chance. I missed going to Crazy Burger with you the first time because Theo and I were searching all over the place for my phone. I tried to apologize and explain everything that next day at school, but you blew me off,” he said.
“Okay, so maybe part of the misunderstanding was MY fault. I’m sorry. But why were you hanging out with MacKenzie just now?”
“You’re right. I was talking to MacKenzie earlier tonight. But she came up to me, not the other way around. She told me you were home sick with the flu and wouldn’t be coming to the dance.”
“Wait a minute! I got a text message right before the dance saying the exact same thing! That YOU had the flu and couldn’t make it!”
“You’re kidding! So you thought I was just NOT going to show up?” Brandon asked.
“To be honest, I didn’t know what to think! I wanted to stay home, but Chloe and Zoey dragged me here. And when I saw you here with MacKenzie when you were supposed to be home sick, I got a little upset!”
“A little?!”
“Okay! I TOTALLY lost it!!” I admitted.
“Well, I knew you’d never just stand me up like that! That’s why I asked Chloe and Zoey if you were here. Zoey gave me the stink eye and Chloe went nuts and tried to dump a cup of punch over my head. It was scary!”
“I’m really sorry. That was probably my fault. I guess they were mad at you because of all the things I’d said about you.”
“Well, I’d feel a lot safer if you told your BFFs to back off. Anyway, I’m really glad we talked. Now maybe things can get back to normal.”
“Yeah, but we still don’t know who is behind those text messages or how they got your phone,” I said. “Although, I think I have a hunch who’s probably responsible.”
“Me too. My phone seemed to disappear around the same time MacKenzie left my party that night. But we need proof she has it.”
We just stared at my phone and racked our brains. And the more times we read that nasty text message, the more angry and frustrated we became . . . .
That’s when the most brilliant idea popped into my head.
It was the perfect prank and would expose the culprit.
And all I had to do was send a very simple text message. To . . . BRANDON!
*****
FROM NIKKI:
Hi Brandon,
I know you were happy about MacKenzie’s generous offer to help Fuzzy Friends. But I think buying her that diamond necklace from Tiffany & Co. as a thank-you gift was a bit much. Anyway, I went ahead and gift-wrapped it like you asked me. But I placed it in #1573 (behind the school), which is exactly where it belongs.
Sorry !
8:17 p.m.
*****
Now all we had to do was wait patiently for the perpetrator to take the bait.
Brandon smiled at me. “Nikki, you’re an evil genius. So, now that we’ve squashed all the drama, are you and I . . . cool again?”
“Sure! We’re cool!” I said, blushing.
“Great. Let’s get the heck out of here. Friends don’t let friends hide out in the girls’ bathroom!”
Then we both laughed really hard at Brandon’s joke.
Chloe, Zoey, Brandon, and I walked back to the dance together and joined Theo and Marcus at our table.
When I told my BFFs about the mysterious text messages and Brandon’s lost phone, they could hardly believe it.
Anyway, we pigged out on wing-dings. And the fancy catered dinner was fabulous too.
I couldn’t believe an evening that had started out so horribly wrong had turned out to be so . . . wonderful!
But mostly I was SUPERhappy that we were all finally getting along again, just like old times.
Okay! I had learned my lesson. I would NEVER, EVER doubt Brandon’s friendship again, I told myself.
“Oh, Brandon! There you are!” MacKenzie squealed. “I’ve been looking all over for you!”
She was really surprised to see me sitting there. “OMG! Nikki!” She sneered. “What are YOU doing here? I thought you were home sick. You’re obviously coming down with something! Your face looks like death on a STICK! I hope it’s not contagious.”
I just rolled my eyes at that girl.
“BTW, I have a little surprise for you. Apparently, a few of your so-called friends have been handing out copies of that hideous picture of you behind your back. I just wanted to let you know. Hey, with friends like those, who needs enemies? Anyway, I thought I’d give you this one to hang in your locker!” Then she shoved a poster right in my face . . . .
“We ripped down the posters YOU put up! No real friend of mine would do that to me!” I shot back.
“Oh, really?” MacKenzie said, and stared right at Brandon! “I guess you never know who you can trust! Right, Brandon?”
“MacKenzie, you’re such a liar! Brandon would never do something like that!” I argued.
Brandon looked really uncomfortable and glared at MacKenzie. But I noticed that for some reason, he avoided looking at me. Why was he acting so . . . guilty?
MacKenzie laughed. “He was giving them out to people right under your nose!”
“Brandon, WHAT is she talking about?” I was starting to get upset all over again.
“I had absolutely nothing to do with the posters that were plastered up last week. But MacKenzie’s right. I have to admit, this one is mine . . .,” Brandon said, hanging his head.
I stared at him in shock! Just when I had decided to trust him again, he was acting like a total JERK!
“How could you do this to me?” I cried. “The last thing I need is dozens more of those pictures floating around the school!”
“Dozens?! Marcus and I helped Brandon hand out at least three hundred of them. That picture is too hilarious!” Theo laughed. “Everybody wanted one.”
“Marcus, how could you?!” Chloe exclaimed in shock.
“Theo, that’s just CRUEL!” Zoey said, shaking her head in disgust.
I stood up abruptly to leave. “Sorry! I’ve had enough! I’m out of here!”
“Wait, Nikki. We’re coming with you,” Chloe said.
“Let’s go get our coats,” Zoey huffed.
“Wait, just let me explain!” Brandon pleaded.
“There’s NO excuse for what you did!” I scolded, blinking back tears for what seemed like the fifth time tonight. “It wasn’t funny!”
Suddenly the house lights came on and Principal Winston took the stage.
“Okay, students! May I have your attention, please? It’s time to crown our WCD Sweetheart Princess.”
“OMG!” MacKenzie shrieked. “They’re about to announce the Sweetheart Princess. I’m pretty sure I won. Anyway, I gotta go. They’re going to need me onstage. LATER, HATERS!” Then she sashayed away. I just HATE it when that girl sashays!
Mr. Winston continued. “First I’d like to thank our math teacher, Mrs. Sprague, for counting all of the ballots earlier today. Now I am very proud and honored to announce that our new WCD Sweetheart Princess is . . .”
MacKenzie Hollister, I grumbled inside my head. It’s ALWAYS MacKenzie Hollister!
“NIKKI MAXWELL!! CONGRATULATIONS!!”
OMG! I could not believe my ears! I just stood there in total shock with my mouth hanging open.
If Chloe and Zoey hadn’t been holding on to me, I would have fallen right over.
How could this have happened? And why would anyone vote for me, the BIGGEST DORK in the entire school?
That’s when Brandon brushed his shaggy bangs out of his eyes and gave me a crooked smile. Then he turned the poster over and handed it to me . . . .
OMG! My eyes almost popped out of my head! It said nice stuff about ME. Only no one had bothered to tell ME about it. Or my BFFs, Chloe and Zoey. Finally it all made sense why kids had been whispering about me at school today.
“Would Nikki and her date please come up to the stage?” Mr. Winston asked. “We have a special gift for you, young lady!”
As the entire student body cheered (well, everyone except MacKenzie, who was staring at her cell phone), Brandon and I made our way to the stage.
It felt like I was in a dream. I carefully opened a white box, and inside was the most beautiful tiara I’d ever seen!
OMG! Brandon was the perfect escort.
He even helped me with my tiara.
Okay, he placed it on my head totally lopsided!
But STILL! It’s the thought that counts.
After that, each couple at the dance got to pose for a really nice keepsake picture. It felt like we were at a senior prom or something . . . .
CHLOE AND MARCUS !
ZOEY AND THEO !
And last but not least . . .
ME AND BRANDON !!
I thought all of our photos came out SUPERcute!
Then, thanks to Jordyn, we FINALLY learned the identity of the mysterious person who had stolen Brandon’s phone and sent me those messages . . . .
Not that we were all that shocked and surprised . . . .
“WHERE’S MY PRESENT FROM BRANDON?!! IT’S JUST GOT TO BE IN HERE SOMEWHERE!!”
Soon the lights went down and the disco ball lit up for a slow dance.
Brandon kept staring at me with this strange look on his face. Then he nervously cleared his throat.
“Wow, Nikki! I’ve been wanting to tell you that you look . . . um, totally . . . !!” Brandon’s mouth opened but no words came out. I guess he was speechless.
“Thank you,” I gushed. “And I wanted to say that you look beyond awesome!”
“Thank you!” Brandon said shyly. “So . . . uh . . . do you wanna . . . ?” He nodded toward the dance floor.
“Sure. I’d love to,” I answered, and took his hand.
We danced, laughed, and spoke to each other in what probably sounded like gibberish for the rest of the evening. But we understood each other perfectly.
It was the most sweetly AWKWARD and insanely BEAUTIFUL moment of my entire LIFE!
It was like I was a princess in my very OWN fairy tale.
And Brandon was my handsome prince and a very cool friend. I was finally having my dorkily ever after, and I wanted this moment to last forever.
Suddenly I remembered that most of my favorite fairy tales ended with the prince and princess sharing a romantic KISS!!
So of course I TOTALLY FREAKED during our very last dance! And guess what happened?!! OMG! I was so nervous I thought I was going to pee my pants. Which, BTW, wasn’t the first time, and definitely NOT the last!
I can’t wait to share ALL of the exciting details! SQUEEE!!
TOMORROW!!
Sorry! I’m SUCH a DORK!
!!
Rachel Renée Russell is an attorney who prefers writing tween books to legal briefs. (Mainly because books are a lot more fun and pajamas and bunny slippers aren’t allowed in court.)
She has raised two daughters and lived to tell about it. Her hobbies include growing purple flowers and doing totally useless crafts (like, for example, making a microwave oven out of Popsicle sticks, glue, and glitter). Rachel lives in northern Virginia with a spoiled pet Yorkie who terrorizes her daily by climbing on top of a computer cabinet and pelting her with stuffed animals while she writes. And, yes, Rachel considers herself a total Dork.
ALSO BY
Rachel Renée Russell
Dork Diaries:
Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life
Dork Diaries 2:
Tales from a Not-So-Popular Party Girl
Dork Diaries 3:
Tales from a Not-So-Talented Pop Star
Dork Diaries 3 1/2:
How to Dork Your Diary
Dork Diaries 4:
Tales from a Not-So-Graceful Ice Princess
Dork Diaries 5:
Tales from a Not-So-Smart Miss Know-It-All
This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
ALADDIN * An imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division * 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020 www.SimonandSchuster.com * First Aladdin hardcover edition June 2013 * Copyright © 2013 by Rachel Renée Russell * All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. * ALADDIN is a trademark of Simon & Schuster, Inc., and related logo is a registered trademark of Simon & Schuster, Inc. * The Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau can bring authors to your live event. For more information or to book an event contact the Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau at 1-866-248-3049 or visit our website at www.simonspeakers.com. * Series design by Lisa Vega * Book designed by Jeanine Henderson * The text of this book was set in Skippy Sharp. * Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data * Russell, Rachel Renée. * Dork diaries 6: tales from a not-so-happy heartbreaker / Rachel Renée Russell.—First Aladdin hardcover edition. * p. cm.—(Dork diaries ; 6) * Summary: Middle-school drama queen Nikki Maxwell worries about asking a boy to her school’s Sweetheart Dance. * [1. Dance parties—Fiction. 2. Dating (Social customs)—Fiction. 3. Friendship—Fiction. 4. Middle schools—Fiction. 5. Schools—Fiction. 6. Diaries—Fiction.] I. Title. * PZ7.R915935Tai 2013 * [Fic]—dc23 * 2013005696 * ISBN 978-1-4424-4963-3 * ISBN 978-1-4424-4964-0 (eBook)
Contents
Acknowledgments
Saturday, February 1
Sunday, February 2
Monday, February 3
Tuesday, February 4
Wednesday, February 5
Thursday, February 6
Friday, February 7
Saturday, February 8
Sunday, February 9
Monday, February 10
Tuesday, February 11
Wednesday, February 12
&nb
sp; Thursday, February 13
Friday, February 14
Saturday, February 15
Sunday, February 16
Monday, February 17
Tuesday, February 18
Wednesday, February 19
Thursday, February 20
Friday, February 21
Saturday, February 22
Sunday, February 23
Monday, February 24
Tuesday, February 25
Wednesday, February 26
Thursday, February 27
Friday, February 28
Dork Diaries 6: Tales From a Not-So-Happy Heartbreaker Page 10
