“That girl is so sweet that sugar wouldn’t melt in her mouth.”
DJ laughed. “I miss you!”
“You know, I miss you too.”
“When are you coming back?”
“Good question.”
“Do you have a good answer?”
“Well, it’s sort of up to me.”
“Meaning they’ll let you out now?”
“Well . . . I think I might still need another week or two.”
“Will you be back in time for Fashion Week?”
“That’s the plan. But here’s the deal, okay?”
“What?”
“Don’t tell anyone I’m coming back yet.”
“Why not?”
“Because I think it’ll be fun to make a big appearance. Kind of dramatic, you know.”
“When will you get here?”
“In time . . . just in the nick of time.”
“In time for New York, right?”
“For sure!”
“Because my grandmother is really worried that you won’t be back in time for the big New York debut,” said DJ. “In fact, she still kind of blames me that you’re gone now.”
“That’s a little harsh.”
“Tell me about it.”
“Well, don’t worry, and don’t tell her, but I will be there — with bells on.” She laughed. “Okay, maybe not the bell part. But I will be there!”
“I love it.” To be honest, what DJ probably loved best was that Taylor’s surprise appearance would put Eliza in her place. And, fine, it was one thing to love your enemies, but was it wrong to want them to get what was coming to them? Anyway, DJ would have to figure that one out later.
“Promise me, DJ, mum’s the word, okay?”
“Absolutely.” But this time DJ knew she would tell no one. Not even Rhiannon or Casey. “And you’re sure you don’t want to let my grandmother know you’ll be back in time for New York?”
“I don’t see why.”
Come to think of it, DJ didn’t either. As long as Taylor got back in time, there wasn’t a chance that she shouldn’t be in the show. Because, as far as Grandmother was concerned, Taylor was the show. Okay, Taylor and Eliza were both fashion stars. But Taylor was still in first place. After that was anyone’s guess.
“Well, I’m supposed to limit this call to five minutes.”
“Hey, what about Seth?”
Taylor let out a growl. “Tell that boy nothing.”
“You got it.”
“I’ll deal with him when I get back.”
DJ chuckled. “Well, it’s really good to hear your voice. You take care now.”
“You too. Don’t let Eliza walk all over you.”
“Like there’s a way to avoid it?”
“There will be,” said Taylor, “when I get back.”
DJ laughed, then told Taylor good-bye. But after she shut her phone, she wished she’d told Taylor that she loved her. Except that it sounded so weird. But the truth was DJ did love Taylor. That’s when it occurred to her — Taylor used to be DJ’s worst enemy! She used to totally hate her. So maybe it was possible to love your enemies.
8
“DO YOU KNOW THAT MADISON is telling everyone that she’s going to New York to model in Fashion Week?” said Casey as DJ joined her friends at lunch.
“What?”
“Eliza was just telling us.”
“That’s right,” Eliza said importantly. “I actually heard Madison bragging about it to someone in the restroom a few minutes ago.”
“Did you set her straight?” asked DJ.
“Not yet.” Eliza grinned mischievously. “But we will.”
“But how do you know she’s not going to be in the show?” asked Rhiannon. “Mrs. Carter already said she’s taking eight girls. And even if she took all five of us from the house, which she hasn’t promised, that still leaves three spots to fill.”
DJ wanted to correct her and say “two spots,” but stopped herself. No one was supposed to know that Taylor was coming back yet.
“Madison probably has as good a chance as anyone,” admitted Casey.
“Plus she was really buttering up Mrs. Carter,” pointed out Rhiannon.
“She did seem highly motivated,” added Kriti. “I watched her practicing the walk, and she was really focused.”
“Puh-leeze,” said Eliza. “Do not suggest that Mrs. Carter would choose Madison. Seriously, that will ruin everything.”
“I have to agree with Eliza on this,” said Casey. “Having Madison in New York would be messed up. I’d think of an excuse not to go.”
“You’d let someone like Madison squeeze you out of Fashion Week?” Eliza looked incredulous.
“Well, she’s about the meanest girl I know. Have you guys ever seen her MySpace blog?”
“Why would we look at that?” Eliza turned her nose up like she smelled something bad.
“Because she slams all of us on it?” Casey scowled darkly. “If I hadn’t promised never to use the Internet for, well, certain purposes, I’d get back at her for being such an online skank.”
“Don’t go there,” warned DJ.
“I just said I wouldn’t.” Casey shook her head. “But I wish someone would.”
“Why stoop to her level?” asked Rhiannon.
“If you knew what she said about us, you might understand.”
“Let it go, Casey,” said DJ.
“Yes,” said Eliza. “Madison’s so not worth it.”
“I still remember the time she picked on me,” said Kriti.
“Right here at this table.”
“I remember it too,” said DJ.
“All that may be true about Madison,” said Rhiannon. “But that doesn’t mean Mrs. Carter won’t choose her. She doesn’t know what Madison is really like.”
“I actually heard Mrs. Carter complimenting Madison on Saturday.” Casey rolled her eyes. “I tried not to gag.”
“And she is tall . . .”
“And some people, including Madison herself, think she’s good-looking,” added Casey.
“So, we just have to come up with a way to keep Madison out of the final lineup,” Eliza said quietly.
“What can anyone do?” Kriti dipped a fry in ketchup, then popped it into her mouth. It was good to see her eating normally again — and smiling too. Also, she’d switched her class schedule to take Personal Training along with DJ in first period. “That way you can eat more,” DJ had promised her.
“We need to do whatever it takes to make sure that the other girls stand out more than Madison,” continued Eliza.
“How?” Casey asked her.
“We’ll groom them ourselves.”
DJ frowned. “We? As in all of us?”
Eliza laughed. “Well, some of us are better suited than others for this kind of project.”
“Meaning I’m off the hook?”
Eliza studied DJ. “Not completely.”
“Why?”
“You need to bring in some more girls with model potential.”
“Huh?”
“You and Casey are on the basketball team. There must be some tall, thin girls there.”
“Grandmother isn’t only interested in tall, thin girls,” said DJ, careful not to look at Kriti.
“That’s right,” said Rhiannon. “Take me for instance.”
“Yes. But I want girls who will be shoo-ins.”
“I think your grandmother likes Haley,” continued Eliza. “We’ll help to make sure she gets a spot. But we still need two more.”
“What about Ariel Buford,” suggested Rhiannon. “She’s already taking the sessions, and Mrs. Carter seems to like her.”
“She likes her because Ariel’s grandmother is one of Grandmother’s best friends,” pointed out DJ.
“Meaning she’ll probably make the cut anyway?” asked Casey.
“Probably,” admitted DJ. “But she’ll have to prove herself too.”
Eliza seemed to consider this.
“She’s kind of mousy, but I suppose that could change. She did a good job on the catwalk.”
“And she’s pretty nice,” said Casey.
“Okay. Ariel and Haley are on our list. But who else? We need at least one more.”
DJ frowned. “It seems kind of wrong . . . I mean, to be hand-picking girls like this.”
“Do you want to share a room with Madison in New York?” demanded Eliza.
DJ grimaced. “Not especially.”
“Okay, so we agree on Haley and Ariel.” Eliza turned back to DJ. “You and Casey come up with a third girl. Someone with real model potential.”
“What if no one is interested?”
Eliza laughed. “Don’t be ridiculous. A free trip to New York?”
“Who says it’s free?” questioned DJ.
“I’ll pay the girl’s way, okay? And I’ll cover her session fees too. And I’ll even give her a free makeover. What girl could resist all that?”
“Me.” DJ pointed to herself, and everyone laughed.
“Just bring me someone I can work with,” commanded Queen Eliza.
“Yeah, yeah.” DJ rolled her eyes.
But later that day, as DJ and Casey were getting dressed after basketball practice, DJ noticed one of her friends from swim team — Daisy Kempton. DJ tried not to be too obvious as she watched Daisy zipping her jeans. Her hair was long and straggly, pulled back into a muddy-brown ponytail. Also, her complexion wasn’t that great, and she was even more clueless about makeup than DJ had once been. Not only that, but Daisy was totally gawky and clumsy. She usually had two left feet on the basketball court. If it wasn’t for her height and ability to stay planted near the basket, she would probably never get to play at all. Even today, she had fallen flat on her face while dribbling down court. DJ could relate to feeling clumsy sometimes, especially compared to Eliza or when she was on the catwalk. But for DJ it all changed when it came to sports. DJ was fairly coordinated and had even been called graceful before.
DJ nudged Casey. “Hey, how about Daisy?”
“She’s tall and thin,” observed Casey. “But she needs serious help.”
“Be nice,” said DJ.
“I’m just being honest.”
They both watched as Daisy pulled her baggie sports sweatshirt over her head. She wasn’t exactly the epitome of fashion. Not that DJ could talk, but at least she took a little more care in dressing for school. Daisy didn’t seem to have a clue. Still, she was tall and thin. And it would be fun to see what Eliza could do with her.
“Let’s talk to her about it,” suggested DJ.
Casey frowned as she peered across the steamy dressing room to where Daisy was now shoving sweats into a messy locker. “Seriously?”
“Why not?”
“I’m not seeing it, DJ.”
“Maybe not . . . but it would be fun to see what Eliza could do with her.”
Casey chuckled “That’s true.”
“I just hope Eliza isn’t mean to her.” DJ watched as Daisy split her raggedy ponytail in two and pulled it with both hands to tighten it. Not a particularly good look.
“Poor Daisy.” Casey shook her head. “Are you sure we should do this to her?”
“Come on.” DJ grabbed Casey’s arm and tugged her toward Daisy. “Hey, Daisy,” she called out. “Wait a minute.”
“What’s up?” asked Daisy innocently.
“Have you ever considered modeling?”
Daisy laughed so hard that she actually snorted. “Me, a model? Are you kidding?”
“No,” DJ answered quickly. “You’ve got the height for it.”
“And you’re thin,” added Casey.
Daisy made a puzzled face. “You guys are pulling my leg, huh?”
“Not at all.” Then DJ quickly told her about the Saturday sessions and Eliza’s offer to pay her fees and give her a makeover.
“You’re not serious.”
“Totally.”
Now Daisy looked suspicious “Hey, what’s going on here?
Are you guys punking me or something?”
“No way.” DJ held up her hand like an oath. “Honestly.”
“Why then?”
“Can we trust you?” asked DJ.
“I think the question is can I trust you?” Daisy glanced from DJ to Casey then back again.
“Do you have a few minutes?”
Daisy looked at her watch. “Not really. I’ll miss the activities bus.”
“I can give you a ride.”
Daisy nodded. “Okay.”
They stopped to get sodas on their way home, and DJ explained Eliza’s plan. “You see, we really don’t get along that well with Madison and Tina, and if we don’t do something, they might end up going to New York.”
“I don’t get along with Madison and Tina either,” admitted Daisy. “But I seriously don’t see how I could possibly edge out either of those girls as a model. I mean . . . have you looked at me? Get real.”
“We are getting real,” said Casey. “You actually have the right ingredients.”
DJ grinned. “You just need a little help with the recipe.”
“And Eliza wants to help,” added Casey.
“Wow . . . Eliza is so beautiful . . .” Daisy shook her head in disbelief. “I can’t imagine someone like her giving someone like me the time of day.”
“Not only will she give you the time, she’ll give you a great makeover too. She promised.”
“And the sessions my grandmother teaches are supposed to help girls to learn poise and things,” added DJ. Okay, she felt slightly hypocritical just then, but if anyone could use a little poise training . . .
Daisy laughed. “I’m such a klutz. Do you really think she could help me?”
“If anyone can teach you grace, it would be Mrs. Carter,”
Casey assured her. “Not that it’ll be easy.”
Daisy nodded as if taking this all in.
“So . . . are you interested?” DJ asked hopefully.
“I guess so.” Daisy frowned now. “As long as you two swear this is not a punk and there are no hidden cameras involved.
I mean, I have enough humiliation in my life without anyone helping me out.”
“We promise this is not a punk.”
“But what if I’m not good enough? What if I fail?”
“It’ll be mostly up to Eliza,” said DJ. “She’s sure that if we bring her the raw materials, she can make a masterpiece.”
“Well, I’m pretty raw.” Daisy did her snort laugh again.
“Most importantly,” said Casey, “you’re nice.”
“Thanks.”
“And hopefully, you’ll be just what we need to keep Madison and Tina from the starting lineup,” said Casey.
Daisy chuckled. “I can just imagine those two as bench-warmers. They’re not going to like it.”
Once again, DJ felt slightly guilty. Was it unfair that the Carter House girls were trying to manipulate Grandmother’s final cut? Or was it merely a matter of survival? Who could possibly survive the torture that it would bring if Tina and Madison were included in their group for Fashion Week? Sure, DJ knew she was supposed to love her enemies. And she’d been trying harder with Eliza. But when it came to Madison and Tina . . . well, that was a whole different challenge. Why did there have to be so many enemies anyway?
9
ELIZA DIDN’T SAY ANYTHING when Casey and DJ first presented Daisy to her on Thursday evening. Her expression was impossible to read, although DJ was certain that she saw her flinch ever so slightly when Daisy wiped her nose on her sweatshirt sleeve. But at least Eliza didn’t say anything mean or rude. Maybe there was something to those precious southern manners after all.
DJ glanced over to Kriti, who was quietly sitting on what used to be her bed. Eliza had asked all the Carter House girls to participate in this evening’s makeover project. Although DJ wasn’t too sure it was a good idea. She wasn’t too sure that Daisy would appreciate being observed by them.
> Eliza’s plan was to introduce Daisy to Mrs. Carter and to beg for Daisy to be included in the model training. This might be tricky since there were only two sessions left before Fashion Week.
“We’ll just have to convince your grandmother that it’s an act of mercy,” Eliza quietly told them while Daisy was using the bathroom. “We’ll tell her that Daisy is our good friend, and she really needs someone like Mrs. Carter to take her under her wing. Okay?”
They all agreed, but DJ still wasn’t so sure that Grandmother would buy this. Grandmother didn’t like it when someone else attempted to usurp her power and control. But maybe Eliza knew how to pull it off with her sugary sweet charm. Besides, this was Eliza’s plan, not DJ’s. And if the plan blew up in Eliza’s face, why should DJ care? Except that she did. Plus she felt like an accomplice now. Why couldn’t life just be simple?
Eliza sighed. “Well, I certainly have my work cut out for me.”
Casey laughed. “It might take a miracle.”
“Or magic,” said Eliza.
Casey had been hovering by the door and was suddenly reaching for the doorknob. “I’d stick around to see the fun and games, but I have homework tonight. Besides, it seems a little crowded in here.”
“Maybe I’ll go too,” said DJ.
“Not so fast, DJ,” commanded Eliza. “I might need you.”
Eliza pointed to Casey now. “Send Rhiannon in. She promised to help me.”
“Yes, your highness,” teased Casey as she closed the door behind her.
“This is going to be a major challenge.” Eliza was studying herself in the mirror now, smiling smugly as if perfectly pleased with her reflection. And why wouldn’t she be? Except that beauty was only skin deep.
“Just be nice to Daisy, okay?” DJ frowned. “Don’t hurt her feelings.”
“Well, I don’t know how I could be any nicer.” Eliza spun around. “A free makeover, fashion advice, and the chance to model in New York. How much nicer can a person get?”
“I mean, be nice as in not tearing her down,” DJ lowered her voice as she heard the toilet flush and the sink faucet running. “She already has low self-esteem. I don’t want to see her beat up.” DJ glanced over to where Kriti was quietly watching them with a fashion magazine open in her lap.
New York Debut Page 8
