Mackenzie Blue

by Tina Wells

  Marcus came over to the three friends. “Are you having fun?” he asked, putting an arm around Zee and Chloe.

  “Yes! This band is incredible!” Chloe told him.

  “Where did you find them?” Zee asked.

  “At UCLA,” Marcus shouted over the noise. “My mother teaches one of them.” He grabbed the girls’ hands and pulled them to the center of the dance floor. As they danced, Zee looked around at all of the people she didn’t know. Marcus had four brothers and sisters, and they had invited their own friends. A few bodies collided into Zee, but she was having so much fun, she didn’t care.

  There was just one problem keeping the party from being perfect. Kathi. She had managed to hog Landon all to herself. She even got him to dance the slow dances with her. Jen hovered nearby, looking like an awkward dancing shadow. When the band finally took a break, Zee wondered how she was going to get Landon away from Kathi.

  Marcus solved her problem. “I have an idea,” he announced. “Everyone who is competing in Teen Sing should perform here.”

  “Tonight?” Zee asked, a rush of terror zipping from her toes to her forehead. “My song isn’t ready yet.”

  “That’s okay,” Marcus assured her. “You can sing whatever you want. It’s just for fun.”

  “I guess I could sing ‘Umbrella,’” Zee mumbled to herself.

  “Rihanna?” Marcus said. “Cool. You can go first.”

  First? Yikes! “Maybe you should let someone else go,” Zee blurted.

  “But you said you’d sing it,” Jasper pointed out. True. But she had never performed it without shampoo in her hair and a showerhead in her hand.

  Chloe gave Zee an encouraging tug on her arm. “Oh, I’m just dying to hear you. Please. For your friends?”

  By now, Landon, Kathi, and Jen had joined the others. “Yeah,” Landon said with a friendly smile. “We’re here for you.”

  That was all the encouragement Zee needed. “Okay,” she said as she stepped up to the microphone. There was no band, no chorus, no one to back her up. Her legs trembled a little as she opened her mouth to sing.

  At first, Zee sang a little quietly, then as she repeated the words, a few kids joined in. She watched more and more kids sing along, and she smiled as she noticed Jasper actually begin stepping to the beat. Once nearly everyone had joined in, she moved on. And let loose.

  Zee hit every note. The words flowed out. All eyes focused on her as she built up to her favorite part, her voice getting stronger and climbing louder. “‘So go on and let the rain pour, I’ll be all you need and more.’” It was so much easier than she’d imagined.

  When Zee finished, the crowd clapped and cheered. Shrill whistles pierced the other noise. She looked over the rest of the audience to Chloe and Jasper. Chloe was jumping up and down excitedly, and Jasper was nodding his head and smiling.

  Zee left the stage. “Way to go!” one of Marcus’s brothers said.

  “That was great!” a Brookdale sophomore told her.

  The compliments continued as she passed through the party. Finally Zee reached her friends, who were standing near the pool. Chloe threw her arms around her. “You are so going to win Teen Sing.”

  Landon moved closer to Zee. “I knew you were good, but I didn’t know how good,” he told her. “Maybe you can help me with my singing sometime.” Whoosh! A rush of heat filled Zee, and she wondered if it were possible for a person to spontaneously combust.

  “Sure,” Zee agreed, afraid if she said any more she’d embarrass herself.

  “My turn,” Kathi said, pushing past. Before Zee knew it, she had lost her balance. Ker-splash! She landed backward in the pool.

  Kathi bent over. “Oh, I’m such a klutz,” she told Zee, without bothering to offer a hand.

  Jasper stepped in front of Kathi and reached toward Zee, soaked from her big splash. “I had no idea this would be such a dangerous party,” he said. Zee couldn’t help laughing as water rolled down his face. Luckily neither could Jasper.

  As Zee climbed out of the pool, Kathi took the stage. She sang like she was born to be there. Every note was perfect, and Kathi looked totally natural. Zee had competition!

  After a few other kids took turns, Marcus turned to Chloe and Zee. “Hey, Chloe! You should go next,” he said. “Brookdale’s never heard you sing before.”

  “That’s an awesome idea!” Zee exclaimed. “Go for it!”

  “Really?” Chloe gulped and looked at her group of friends, who stared back expectantly. She looked sick.

  As Chloe’s face got paler, Zee regretted mentioning anything.

  Then Kathi turned to Jen and fake-whispered, “She’s probably scared.”

  “I think she’s going to spew,” Jen said.

  Chloe’s expression went from terrified to determined. “I’ll do it!” she said boldly. But as Chloe stepped up to the microphone, her legs looked like noodles. Zee braced for disaster and closed her eyes.

  “‘Ooh-ooh.’” Chloe began singing so quietly her friends could barely tell which song she had chosen. But then all of a sudden—poof!—Chloe’s nerves seemed to evaporate. She started clapping her hands together, then motioned for the rest of the party to join in. “‘When you left, I lost a part of me,’” Chloe dived into the chorus of the Mariah Carey classic “We Belong Together” as her friends kept the beat. And best of all, she looked like she was having an amazing time. She couldn’t stand still. And neither could anyone else.

  When Chloe finished singing the last note, Zee couldn’t wait. She rushed up onto the stage. “You were so great! You should audition for Teen Sing,” she suggested—even though Zee knew that Chloe would be even more competition.

  Chloe bit her lip. “Maybe,” she said weakly.

  “Are you okay?” Zee asked. Had she said something wrong?

  “I think I just need some water,” Chloe said, rushing away.

  The band returned to the stage. “Awesome singing!” the lead singer told Zee.

  “Thanks,” Zee said absentmindedly, her eyes on Chloe.

  Zee moved through the maze of people, looking for Jasper. She stopped when her Sidekick beeped with a text message.

  >Have u found ur diary?

  She didn’t recognize the phone number. That was strange—the only people who knew about the missing diary were Ally, Jasper, Chloe, and her family.

  “What’s wrong?” Chloe asked, coming to Zee’s side. She took a sip from the big red cup in her hand.

  Zee showed Chloe the text message. “I don’t know who it’s from,” she said.

  “Do you think it’s a threat?” Chloe asked.

  “What else could it be?” Zee wondered.

  “It might just be a friendly question,” Chloe said sweetly, “from someone who’s concerned.”

  Zee had to admit, she hadn’t thought of that. Still, the mysterious number just didn’t make sense. “Maybe,” Zee said doubtfully.

  10 Ways to Know Who Your Enemies Are

  Zee held the pen over the blank page, then finally gave up and shut her diary. Who had sent her the mysterious text the night before? She had no suspects. No clue who could be torturing her. Maybe Chloe was right and it was an eighth grader. Or maybe Chloe was right and it was nobody.

  E-ZEE: Bonjour! Ça va?

  SPARKLEGRRL: LOL. Ur learning French fast.

  E-ZEE: I can’t w8 2 visit and do all the cool stuff ur doing.

  SPARKLEGRRL: 2day M, D, & I r going to Ladurée.

  E-ZEE:?

  SPARKLEGRRL: It’s a tea shop—even tho I’d rather have a Frap. They make delish macaroons tho. Raspberry is my fave.

  E-ZEE: Mmmmm.

  SPARKLEGRRL: It’s not all mmmmmm. 2day I 8 escargot, which is a fancy way 2 say snails. DISGUSTING!!!!!

  E-ZEE: Yuck!

  SPARKLEGRRL: I had 2 pretend 2 like it so the French kids would like me. Then I made my parents take me 2 McDonald’s. LOL!

  E-ZEE: There must b lots of other stuff to eat.

  SPARKLEGRRL: I woul
dn’t know. I’m afraid 2 order anything because I don’t know what it is. I feel like a freak here.

  E-ZEE: I know what u mean.

  SPARKLEGRRL: Y?

  E-ZEE: I had a great time at Marcus’s party, but I got a weird text.

  Zee told her about the message.

  SPARKLEGRRL: Who sent it?

  E-ZEE: That’s the problem. idk.

  Zee typed, Mayb u can help me come up with a list of suspects, but before she could send it, Ally wrote,

  SPARKLEGRRL: Mom is calling me. We’re going to Le Bon Marché.

  E-ZEE: Translate pls.

  SPARKLEGRRL: Shopping. It’s a huge old store. I hope she lets me get those high heels I’ve been begging ARFN.

  E-ZEE: K. ARFN.

  How could Ally think about shoes at a time like this?

  10

  Teacher Feature

  Hi, Diary,

  It’s hard having my BFF so far away. When we were both in Brookdale, we could talk about our problems and go shopping together. Now we can only talk when we’re on the computer at the same time—and Ally’s not too busy. It’s not her fault, but it still stinks.

  I may not have my best friend, but I definitely have my friends. Tonight is the Crew concert. Kathi, Jen, Chloe, and I have been planning it all week. Kathi keeps calling it our “girls’ night out.” She calls us “the gang.” I know Kathi gave Mr. P a hard time and thinks she’s God’s gift to Brookdale Academy. But it’s more fun being a part of a group. And being with them distracts me from my diary—the other diary—problems.

  Zee

  Adam stuck his head into Zee’s bedroom as she was snipping the last uneven hairs from her bangs.

  “Please, please don’t embarrass me,” Zee said to her brother’s reflection in her mirror.

  “Don’t you think I should be telling you that?” Adam asked.

  “No,” Zee answered, putting down the scissors on her cream-colored vanity.

  The night of the Brookdale Fall Music Festival had finally arrived. Zee, Chloe, Kathi, and Jen had planned where they’d meet up, what they’d wear, and where they’d sit—right near the stage, thanks to the people Kathi’s dad knew.

  “Remember our deal,” Zee told her brother as she slipped on a pair of hoop earrings. “You sit on the lawn for the concert. At all other times, keep at least ten feet back.”

  Adam leaned against the door frame. “No problem. As cool as it would be to hang out with a bunch of seventh graders,” he said sarcastically, “I know when I’m not wanted.”

  Zee turned around in her chair. “It’s not that you’re not wanted,” she said. “Tonight’s just a big deal for me. I want to hang out with my friends and not feel like I have a chaperone.”

  “C’mon. You’re lucky Mom and Dad let me take you instead of them. I promise not to act like a parent,” Adam said.

  “Or…?” Zee coaxed.

  “Or a big brother.”

  “Thanks.”

  Outside, Zee opened the door to Adam’s car. She carefully picked up an old cheese-globbed burger wrapper and added it to the collection in the backseat. There was no way she was going to mess up her brand-new denim miniskirt—Dad said it was okay to wear since she had on a pair of leggings underneath—because of her brother’s revolting habits. “You know, they actually make trash cans now,” Zee said.

  “If you’d rather not get a ride, that’s okay with me,” Adam said.

  “No, it’s fine,” she told him. “I’ll just avoid making contact with any surfaces.”

  As Zee buckled her seat belt, she got a text message. “It’s Chloe,” she told her brother.

  “We’re not late, are we?”

  Zee read the message. “We don’t need to pick her up for the concert.”

  “Why not?”

  Zee stared at the words—

  >I can’t go 2nite. Sorry.

  “She didn’t say.” Frustrated, Zee dropped her Sidekick into her purse and stared at the car window. Why couldn’t Chloe go? she wondered. Half the time, Zee could almost read Ally’s mind—and the other half of the time, Ally told her everything. It was different with Chloe. Was she hiding something from Zee?

  Just as the girls had discussed, Kathi and Jen were waiting by the main gate. Even from a distance, Zee could see the passes, spread out like a fan, in Kathi’s hands.

  “I loooooove your hair!” Kathi said as Zee got close. Zee turned around to look behind her, but besides Adam, no one else was there.

  “Me?” Zee asked, pointing to herself.

  “Of course, you,” Kathi said. “Who else would I mean?”

  Everybody, Zee thought. Although Kathi had been way nicer to her over the past week, she had never complimented Zee’s style before.

  “I’ve always admired the color,” Kathi said. “It’s…” She turned to Jen.

  “Vivid,” Jen said. “Like a penny!”

  “Exactly.” Kathi nodded and smiled. Then she looked around. “Where’s Chloe?”

  “She couldn’t come,” Zee explained.

  “Why not?” Kathi asked.

  “I don’t know,” Zee said.

  “Didn’t she tell you?” Kathi pressed.

  “No.”

  “You’re like her best friend.” Kathi made a face like she’d just bitten into a lemon. “Don’t you think that’s weird?”

  Zee did, but how could she say that? Chloe was her friend—at least she thought so. “I…uh…don’t think she had time.”

  Kathi handed Jen and Zee their tickets, then walked over toward where Adam was standing—ten feet away. “Oh no!” Zee shouted, chasing after her. “He has his own ticket for the lawn.”

  “He might as well use Chloe’s ticket since she’s not here,” Kathi said, flashing him a princess-perfect smile. “Besides, seniors shouldn’t have to sit on the lawn.”

  From behind Kathi’s and Jen’s backs, Zee looked at her brother and stiffly shook her head in an urgent no. Adam plucked the ticket from Kathi’s hand. “Thank you, Kathi.” Then he whispered to Zee, “You don’t expect me to pass up a front row seat, do you?”

  “Yes!” Zee hissed back, her eyes growing wide with panic.

  “I’ll make it up to you. I promise.”

  “Let’s go get some food before we sit down,” Kathi suggested.

  “Great idea!” Adam said.

  As they walked toward the concession stand, Zee nudged Adam in the ribs.

  Adam got the hint. “Get me some buffalo wings!” he called out, dropping behind. “With extra sauce.” Zee gave him a thumbs-up.

  When the girls got to the food line, Kathi turned to Zee and said, “You must have been soooo embarrassed by that note on the music room board.” Zee felt herself turn bright red. After all this time, she had thought everyone had forgotten about the note. It figured that Kathi would bring it up. “Why would someone write that?” Kathi asked. “It was really mean.”

  “Well…uh…ummm,” Zee stammered, trying to find a way to avoid telling Kathi it was a quote from her diary. “I don’t know.” Duh.

  “I’m just glad nobody’s done anything else to you.”

  “Actually…,” Zee began, “I think someone took my diary the first day of school.”

  Jen gasped.

  “No way,” Kathi said. “That’s awful.”

  Zee told Kathi and Jen about the text she had gotten at Marcus’s party.

  “That must have ruined your whole evening,” Kathi said. “Who do you think it was?”

  Zee shook her head. “I don’t know, but—”

  Kathi cut Zee off. “I think it was Chloe.”

  “Yeah,” Jen said. “She’s new and she carries a homemade bag.”

  Huh? It was the weirdest reason Zee had ever heard for accusing someone of theft. Owning a glue gun didn’t make Chloe a criminal! “Well…I think Chloe’s bag is really cool. I decorated mine, too,” Zee said.

  Kathi gave Jen a disgusted look, then stepped in front of her. “Oh, your bag is adorab
le! But it’s just decorated. Chloe’s is made from scratch.”

  Even though Zee didn’t get why sewing qualified a person for the FBI’s Most Wanted, she didn’t feel like arguing. Still, talking about the bags made Zee’s mind flash. She had let Chloe hold her bag on the first day of school. Then, the day the note appeared on the whiteboard, Zee and Mr. P had left Chloe all alone in the music room. Did Chloe really have to use Zee’s bathroom before Marcus’s party, or was she looking for something—to steal?

  Zee reached the front of the line and placed her order: “Buffalo wings and french fries, please.” Since Mrs. Carmichael almost never let Zee and Adam eat junk food, they looked forward to the chance to eat out and get what they wanted.

  Kathi and Jen got their food, too. As they headed back to their seats, Zee recognized a few older students from Brookdale Academy. Of course, Kathi actually knew them and talked to them like they were her best friends. The smell from the fries teased Zee’s nose, but with her snack in one hand and Adam’s in the other, even one bite was impossible. It seemed to take forever to get across the lawn as they creeped from one person to the next. Until finally they were on their way.

  “Hey, Kathi!” a voice called out.

  Screech! Putting on the brakes, Zee turned to see who Kathi’s latest fan was. Marcus! Finally someone she knew, too!

  “Did Landon come with you?” Kathi wondered. Of course, Zee had the same question, but there was no way she was going to ask.

  “No, he heard there were going to be some monster waves tonight, so he’s surfing.” Zee tried not to let on, but she felt as disappointed as Kathi looked. “I checked out the music blogs,” Marcus continued. “Someone said The Crew was amazing, so I got a ticket at the last minute. How’d you find out about the concert?”