New York Debut

by Melody Carlson

  But she also understood where Casey was coming from. She knew that Casey, like DJ, would have to find her faith on her own terms. Or maybe on God’s own terms. Rhiannon could talk all she wanted, but Casey would have to get to that place on her own. But at least she seemed to be listening.

  “I can’t promise to pray . . . but how about if I send good thoughts in Kriti’s direction,” offered Casey. “Will that work?”

  “I think it’s a great start,” said DJ.

  “Yeah, just try to send them via God, okay?”

  Casey laughed. “Fine, Rhiannon. I’ll try to send them via God.”

  DJ’s first class this semester was an advanced PE course called Personal Training. Of course, both Taylor and Eliza had teased her for this choice when she’d mentioned it last semester. Not that DJ cared what they thought. Mostly she wanted to make sure she stayed in shape for spring soccer. Swimming had helped a lot, but when the season ended, she was still ready for more.

  “Looking good, DJ,” said Ms. Jones as DJ completed her weight repetitions.

  “Thanks.” DJ smiled. “It feels good to get a solid workout after Christmas break.”

  “How’s your leg feeling?”

  “Just fine. It doesn’t hurt at all.”

  “Really?” Ms. Jones smiled. “Because Coach Henderson was asking about you.”

  “About me?” DJ knew that Henderson had just started coaching girls’ basketball this year.

  “Yeah. It seems the girls had a pretty slow start to basketball season, and he was asking me about some of my volleyball girls.”

  DJ nodded. “Oh, yeah, Casey is pretty good at hoops. Have you talked to her?”

  “No. But I told the coach I’d talk to you. What do you think? Are you strong enough to play yet?”

  DJ considered this. “I’d probably have to check with my doctor, but I’m sure there’s a possibility.”

  “Well, if you’re interested, I’m pretty sure that Coach Henderson would like to discuss this with you.”

  “Even though I missed the first few weeks?”

  “You were on swim team, DJ. Remember, we make exceptions when the athlete is involved in another sport. Plus there was your leg.”

  DJ brightened. “It’d be fun to do basketball . . . and it would keep me in shape for soccer.”

  “If it works, I know the team would love to have you.”

  “Do you think Coach Henderson would let Casey play too?”

  “I don’t know why not.”

  So by the end of the day, DJ had not only put in a call to her doctor, but she’d also talked to the coach, and he agreed to let Casey come out with DJ. “Just get me your doctor’s okay first,” he said. “We don’t want you reinjuring that leg.”

  “I’m on it,” said DJ. “I’ll get back to you.”

  He grinned. “And don’t say I said this, but we could really use some skill on that team.”

  She laughed. “I can’t make any promises, but I do like to play.”

  After school, she turned on her phone to discover a message from the receptionist at the doctor’s office, saying that the doctor had already signed DJ off for sports participation at her final appointment, so she was good to go. “Just don’t go too hard,” she warned. “The doctor says to use common sense.”

  “Good news,” DJ told Casey as they met in the locker bay.

  “I’m going out for basketball.”

  “Huh?”

  “And you are too.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  So DJ filled her in. “Come on, Casey, it’ll be fun. The season’s half over, so it’s not like a huge commitment.”

  Casey considered this. “It does sound kind of fun. And it’s a good way to keep the weight down. I swear I put on ten pounds during the holidays. It’s like there was food everywhere, and I just kept eating.”

  “So are you in?”

  “I’m in.”

  Just then, DJ spotted Rhiannon and Bradford walking toward them. “Hey,” called DJ as she waved them over.

  Rhiannon smiled. “What’s up?”

  DJ explained about basketball and asked if Rhiannon could find another way home. “Maybe you could catch a ride with Eliza and Kriti.”

  “I can take her home,” offered Bradford. And that worked for Rhiannon, so DJ and Casey were free to head on down to the girls’ gym, where they dressed down and joined the team.

  Unlike volleyball season, this time their reception from the team was pretty warm. So much had changed since then.

  “As you know,” announced the coach, “we do allow players to try out for the team in midseason if they’ve been participating in another sport in the previous season. DJ was on swim team, and Casey was in volleyball.”

  “So this is a tryout?” asked Casey.

  He nodded. “Yeah. But we’ll just do practice as usual. If you girls don’t cut the mustard, we’ll have to let you go.”

  Suddenly DJ felt pressure. But it was the kind of pressure she liked. Unlike practicing the catwalk and being teased by girls like Eliza, this was something that DJ was naturally good at. It took only a few times up and down the court before she felt herself falling into the rhythm of the scrimmage. She knew to take it easy and not put too much stress on her leg, but she also knew that she was playing well. So was Casey. By the end of practice, the other players were giving high fives and welcoming them to the team.

  “Our next game is Wednesday,” said the coach as the girls headed back to the locker room.

  “Sounds good,” said DJ.

  “Thanks, Coach,” added Casey.

  “Hey, you two,” called out Haley as Casey and DJ went into the locker room. “What are you doing here after school?”

  “Basketball,” said DJ. “You must be doing gymnastics.”

  Haley glanced around the crowded, noisy locker room as if she felt self-conscious, then lowered her voice. “I missed the beginning of the season . . . you know . . . but Coach Provost said it was okay to come out anyway.”

  “How’s it going?” asked DJ.

  “It feels good to be working out again.”

  “That’s great,” said DJ. “Is it hard to catch up?”

  Haley shrugged. “Not really. I’d been practicing while I was, well, you know . . .” She glanced around nervously. “Elsewhere.”

  “Good for you,” said DJ.

  “Yeah. And therapeutic too.” Haley smiled now. “And guess what?”

  “What?” DJ waited.

  “I’m going to come to your grandmother’s model training sessions too.”

  “Cool,” said DJ.

  “I think it’ll be fun.” Now she got a funny expression, and DJ wasn’t sure what it meant. “Guess what else?”

  “What?”

  “Madison Dormont and Tina Clark and some of their friends are coming too.”

  DJ cringed.

  But Casey actually cussed. “That means I have to spend every Saturday morning with stupid Madison and Tina!” She turned to DJ. “How is this fair?”

  DJ just shrugged. “Life’s not fair.”

  Haley’s mouth twisted into a half smile. “Anyway, I thought you guys might appreciate a little heads-up.”

  “Thanks . . . I guess.” DJ just shook her head. None of the Carter House girls would be too happy to hear that Madison and Tina were going to be spending Saturdays with them. Not only had they gotten off to a bad start with these girls last fall, but DJ had probably earned the number-one spot on Madison’s hate list during the last fashion show. They had both wanted to wear the same dress, but DJ had gotten it first. Then when Madison snatched it, Taylor had stepped in to help, and things had gotten ugly. Of course, DJ hadn’t made any more points with Madison when she’d won the title of homecoming queen shortly after that. In fact, DJ was pretty sure that Madison hated her.

  “I just don’t understand why Madison and Tina actually want to take Grandmother’s classes,” muttered DJ as she and Casey got dressed. “I mean, of the
ir own volition. I so do not get this.”

  “Me neither.” Casey shook her head. “And it’s not like anyone is forcing them to do it either.”

  “Well, it’s not going to make Saturday mornings any more pleasant for any of us.” DJ zipped her jeans and sighed.

  “Maybe Madison will do something stupid again — like the stunt she pulled at the Founders Day fashion show. Maybe she’ll get your grandmother riled up and get herself kicked out of the sessions.” Casey snickered. “Hey, maybe we could help her.”

  “No,” said DJ. “That would be wrong, Casey.”

  “I don’t see why. Everyone knows Madison and Tina are the enemy.”

  “And we’re supposed to love our enemies.”

  “Maybe you are . . . but I haven’t exactly signed up for all that yet.”

  “Yet.”

  Casey smirked at her. “Yeah, right . . . I’m working on it.”

  After dinner that night, DJ went to her room to do some homework. She expected to find Kriti doing the same, but to DJ’s surprise, Kriti was down on the floor by her bed doing abdominal crunches. However, she jumped to her feet as soon as DJ came into the room. She looked uneasy, and her face was flushed, but whether it was from the exercise or embarrassment, DJ wasn’t sure.

  “I didn’t mean to interrupt you,” said DJ quickly. “Don’t let me stop you from working out.”

  Kriti hesitated. “Well, okay.”

  “I mean, if anyone is into physical fitness, it’s me.”

  So Kriti returned to her position on the floor, doing crunch after crunch.

  “I think exercise is as good for the inside of a person as it is for the outside,” continued DJ as she opened up her geometry book. And, because she didn’t want to make Kriti uncomfortable, she pretended to ignore her. But she couldn’t ignore the fact that Kriti was doing like a hundred abdominal crunches. Or so it seemed. It wasn’t like DJ was counting. But finally she knew she couldn’t keep her mouth shut. “Wow, Kriti.” She set her math book aside. “That’s really a lot of crunches. Why so many?”

  Kriti paused on her back, answering breathlessly. “Eliza said it helps.”

  “Helps what?”

  “You know . . .”

  “No, to be honest, I don’t know. I mean, like I said, I’m into fitness. But I like a balanced workout, you know? What did Eliza say it helps to do?”

  Kriti sat up now. “You know . . . to trim your tummy and to lose weight.”

  DJ blinked. “But you don’t need to lose weight, Kriti.”

  Kriti firmly shook her head as she stood and patted her midsection. “You are wrong.”

  “What do you mean I’m wrong?” DJ frowned. “How much can you possibly weigh? I’ll bet that you’re barely over a hundred pounds soaking wet.”

  “You’re wrong about that too.”

  “So. You look great, Kriti.”

  “No. Eliza said I’m too heavy for my height.”

  “What does Eliza know?”

  “She knows that I’m fat.”

  “Fat?” shrieked DJ. “You are not fat, Kriti.”

  “You’re just being nice.”

  “I am not nice. And the truth is you are not fat, Kriti.”

  “Yes, I am. And during the holidays I put on a pound.”

  “A pound?” DJ laughed. “Well, you should be proud. I think I might’ve put on five. Casey thinks she put on ten.”

  “You’re exaggerating.”

  “No, I’m not exaggerating. Even though I don’t weigh myself, I’m sure I could’ve put on some weight.”

  “You don’t weigh yourself?”

  “No. Why should I?”

  Kriti looked confused.

  “I mean, who cares what you weigh . . . as long as you’re healthy?”

  “Eliza cares.”

  “Well, she’s neurotic.”

  Kriti didn’t look convinced.

  “Well, I don’t care,” declared DJ. “Really, I’m not worried about it.”

  “Why not?”

  “Why should I be?”

  “Because of modeling.”

  DJ rolled her eyes. “So?”

  Kriti shrugged. “Well, in your case, it doesn’t matter. You and the others are so tall, you don’t look short and fat like I do.”

  “You do not look short and fat, Kriti.”

  “At least Eliza was honest with me.”

  “Eliza is nuts.”

  “No. She’s been helping me.”

  “Helping you to do what?”

  “To get in shape. To lose weight.”

  “Oh, Kriti.” DJ groaned. “You’re taking this modeling stuff way too seriously.”

  “If you were me, you’d take it seriously too.”

  DJ felt like she was banging her head against a brick wall now. It was like Eliza had poisoned Kriti. Or brainwashed her. DJ just hoped it hadn’t gone too far. Kriti continued to do what seemed a pretty extreme exercise routine. She moved out into the hall, where DJ peeked to discover that Kriti was going up and down the stairs. Quietly, so that she wouldn’t disturb anyone.

  “How many times do you do that?” asked DJ as Kriti came down from the third floor for about the tenth time.

  “It depends.”

  “On what?”

  Kriti shrugged, then continued on down to the first floor.

  But DJ followed her. “What does it depend on, Kriti?”

  Kriti turned around and headed up again. “On what I eat.”

  “Meaning?”

  But Kriti didn’t answer. And she didn’t stop on the second floor, but kept going up. DJ returned to her room and shook her head. DJ wondered if it was time for another intervention. A different kind of intervention perhaps, but something needed to be done to help Kriti see that there was a problem here. Although DJ had no idea how to go about it. Kriti seemed stubbornly set in her opinions. Thanks to Eliza!

  One thing DJ knew for sure, she was going to be watching Kriti more closely now. And she was going to pay more attention to what Kriti was eating — or not eating! Or how much she was exercising — make that overexercising! If worse came to worst, she would speak to Grandmother about it.

  6

  “WHY ISN’T TAYLOR BACK YET?” demanded Eliza at breakfast on Wednesday. Grandmother had just excused herself to an early hair appointment, and Eliza seemed to be using this brief period of “freedom” to hammer on DJ again.

  “Because she’s not.” DJ poured herself a second cup of coffee then added milk, stirring slowly.

  “Where is she anyway?”

  “I already told you.” DJ frowned at her.

  “Are you saying she’s still in LA?”

  DJ gave her a blank look as she sipped her coffee.

  “Why is she there?” persisted Eliza.

  “Because she is,” said DJ.

  Eliza turned to Rhiannon now. “How about you . . . do you know why Taylor’s still gone or when she’ll be back?”

  “What difference does it make?” Rhiannon smiled as she reached for another piece of toast.

  “How about you, Casey?” Eliza was trying a more persuasive voice now. “Maybe you know why Taylor is still down — ”

  “Maybe it’s none of your business.” Casey narrowed her eyes. “Why do you care so much anyway? It’s not like you two are even friends.”

  “We are friends.” Eliza looked at DJ now. “Tell them about how Taylor and I got along in Vegas. Were we or were we not friends then?”

  “It depends on how you define friends. I’ll admit you two have had some common interests.” DJ sort of laughed. “Like drinking too much and wearing expensive clothes, and, oh yeah, guys. Or at least you had these things in the past. Maybe that’s changing now.”

  Eliza glared at them. “Taylor Mitchell is as much my friend as she is to any of you all.”

  “Then, if you’re so chummy with Taylor, why hasn’t she called you and told you where she is and when she’s coming back?” teased Casey.

  “Why don’t
you just let it go?” suggested DJ. “She’ll get here when she gets here.”

  “If she gets here,” added Casey.

  Eliza’s eyes brightened. “Meaning she might be gone for good?”

  “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” accused Casey. “If Taylor never came back, you’d think you were the hottest thing in Carter House.”

  Eliza gave Casey an icy look.

  “Seriously, Eliza,” said DJ with much more patience than she felt. “Why are you suddenly so obsessed over Taylor’s whereabouts?”

  Eliza looked indignant. “Because she happens to be my roommate.”

  Casey snickered. “Her stuff is in your room, Eliza. That’s all. I seriously doubt that Taylor will ever willingly agree to be your roommate.”

  “Something is going on here,” said Eliza with undisguised suspicion. “Taylor has gotten into some kind of trouble, and you guys are trying to cover for her. But I just know that something happened to Taylor. I can almost smell it.”

  “Give it a rest,” warned DJ.

  “No, I’m going to get to the bottom of this.”

  “Good luck,” said Casey.

  “I’ll bet she’s pregnant,” said Eliza suddenly. “I’m going to ask Seth. He’s been playing dumb too. But my guess is he — ”

  “She is not pregnant!” snapped DJ.

  “Well, then she’s in jail.”

  “She’s not in jail either!” DJ stood now. “Please, excuse me.”

  “You seem to know where she’s not, DJ,” continued Eliza, “and that must mean you know where she is. I promise you, I’ll find out.”

  “And I’ll get her, my pretty . . .” Casey cackled like the Wicked Witch of the West. “And her little dog too!”

  Everyone except Eliza and Kriti laughed as they all made an exodus from the breakfast table. This was followed by the usual last-minute get-ready-for-school rush, including much clomping up and down the stairs and the touching up of makeup as everyone got their bags and things and headed off to beat the bell.

  “Why is Eliza so obsessed with finding out about Taylor?” asked Rhiannon as DJ backed out of the driveway so that Eliza could get out.

  “I think Casey hit the nail on the head,” said DJ. “Because Taylor is her main competition in the fashion show.”

  “It’s not like it’s a competitive event,” said Rhiannon.