by Cari Simmons
Bailey went to the kitchen and took three sodas out of the fridge. She didn’t feel like going back to her—Hannah’s—room yet.
She checked her phone, just to make sure she hadn’t noticed Olivia texting her back. But there was no message.
Finally! Baily thought the next morning when she checked her phone and saw there was a text from Olivia. She eagerly opened it.
cnt walk 2 skool 2day. c u there.
Bailey sighed. It felt like it had been forever. They’d hardly hung out at the party. Bailey had been too busy keeping up with the food and organizing the games, and then Olivia had taken off early. Bailey still didn’t know why. Well, they’d be able to talk before English.
But Olivia didn’t get to class until about thirty seconds before the bell rang. They didn’t have time to do more than exchange hi’s. Bailey thought about passing her a note, but Mrs. Hahn, their teacher, was kind of strict. If she got caught, she’d be in trouble. She’d have to wait until after class.
“Where were you yesterday?” Bailey burst out as soon as they stepped out into the hall after English ended. “And why’d you leave my party early?”
“I had to run some errands with my mom after church,” Olivia answered. She ignored the question about the party.
“You missed helping my granddad work on a meadow mural in Hannah’s room,” Bailey told her. They both liked helping Bailey’s grandfather paint. One year they’d painted a bunch of birdhouses with him, which had gotten put up all over Frank Liske Park.
“He did a meadow mural for Hannah?” Olivia asked.
“She thought it sounded cool,” Bailey answered.
“Of course she did.” Olivia’s eyes narrowed. “She knew it was your idea, right?”
“Yeah, and she thought it would be perfect for the room,” Bailey said.
“But you loved the meadow idea,” Olivia said. “Couldn’t your grandfather have done it in your room and done something different in Hannah’s?”
“None of us thought of it,” Bailey said. She wished she had, but it was too late. It didn’t matter. She could come up with another idea—although she’d made a list of fifty-two possibilities before she’d decided a meadow would make the very best mural. She felt a little pang again, like the one she’d had when she saw her grandfather working on the dragonfly. She pushed the feeling away.
“You should have seen how happy Hannah was. She—”
Olivia didn’t let her finish. “I have to go. I have gym. See you!” She strode off before Bailey could even say bye.
Okay, today Olivia and I will finally get to hang out, Bailey thought a week later. She and Oh had joined the Spanish club, and they were going to the first meeting that day at lunch.
It seemed like it had been a billion years since Bailey had gotten a chance to really talk to Olivia. Since she’d gotten to town, Hannah had been with them practically every second they were together. It wasn’t that Hannah wasn’t nice. But Bailey missed having some best-friend time without her cousin around. She and Olivia didn’t have the same kind of convos when Hannah was with them.
They’d texted some, but that wasn’t the same. And it seemed like Olivia was always saying she had to study or help take care of her little sister. Bailey knew something was bugging Olivia, and now she’d finally have the chance to find out what.
“¡Hola, chiquita!” Bailey called when she reached Olivia’s locker, where they’d agreed to meet up so they could go to the meeting together.
“I was afraid you were going to say a certain peelable fruit after chiquita,” Olivia said, sounding more like the regular Olivia than she had in a while.
“I wouldn’t do that to you. I know how you feel about the yellow fruit that shall remain unnamed,” Bailey answered.
“Wow, it feels like a billion years since I’ve talked to you,” Olivia commented as they started down the hall. “I know we’ve talked, but it’s just, I don’t know, different with Hannah.”
“Exactly.” It was so great to have a friend who practically shared a brain with you. Someone who knew everything there was to know about what you liked and hated and dreamed about. “So what’s up with you? Because I know there’s something.”
Olivia looked surprised. “You could tell?”
“Of course I could tell,” Bailey answered. “I’m your best friend.”
“I hope Hannah couldn’t,” Olivia said.
“Hannah? What’s Hannah got to do with anything?” Bailey asked.
“I thought you could tell!” Olivia exclaimed.
“I could tell something was wrong, but I didn’t know what. So tell me,” Bailey urged.
“It’s just . . . I know at the party you said you didn’t think it was weird that Hannah imitates you,” Olivia began.
“Because I don’t think she is,” Bailey said.
“Yeah, she is, and it’s weird, Bails,” Olivia told her.
“We just ended up liking a lot of the same things,” Bailey protested.
“It’s more than that. Do you want a Bailey-style list that proves it?” Olivia asked, and Bailey nodded. Olivia held up a finger. “One. She got herself put in almost all your classes.”
“But—”
Olivia kept going. She held up a second finger. “Two. She copied your signature style. She wears polka dots every day! And she got the same identical sneakers.”
“They were a different color, and—” Bailey started to explain.
Olivia kept right on going, putting up a third finger. “Three. The only friends she has are your friends. Me, Tess, Vivi, and since the party, Gus. Has she ever even talked to anyone you don’t know?”
“She must have—”
Olivia charged on, holding up another finger. “Four. She repeats things you say all the time. And whatever you say you like, she says she likes.”
“You make it sound so serious,” Bailey said.
Olivia pulled in a deep breath, then answered. “I think it might be serious. Maybe she does it because she’s so upset about her parents’ divorce or because she isn’t feeling settled here yet. Maybe it feels, I don’t know, safer or easier just to do what you do and hang out with just the people who are already your friends. But whatever reason she’s doing it, it’s just weird, Bails.”
“I think you’re making it into more of a big thing than it is,” Bailey said. “Like the polka dots. She told us she was into polka dots that day at the mall when she bought the scarf. She liked them before she met me.”
“But we don’t know that’s true,” Olivia said slowly. “It’s not like you know if she came to town with all those polka-dotted clothes—because she has more than the scarf. She could have gotten them all after she found out you wear polka dots all the time. Was she wearing anything polka-dotted before we went to the mall? Did she have her nails painted with dots, the way she has every day since then? What about the first day she got here?”
Bailey tried to think. She pictured the kitten at Kitty City kneading Hannah’s shirt. Bailey was pretty sure the shirt was pale green with little flowers. She didn’t think anything else Hannah had been wearing that day had dots either. She closed her eyes, trying to remember more. She could almost see Hannah’s hands holding the kitten. She thought she remembered light pink nails with shimmery silver tips.
Slowly Bailey opened her eyes. “She wasn’t, was she?” Olivia asked, caramel-colored eyes filled with concern.
“I don’t think so, but I’m not positive,” Bailey admitted. “But even I don’t wear polka dots every day. Only almost every day. And I think it was her mom who decided Hannah would like to be in classes with me, not Hannah. And anyway, it’s not like we like all the same things.”
“What about the school pizza? After you said you liked it, Hannah was all ‘It’s better than the pizza at any of my schools.’ But she didn’t even eat all of the little piece Tess gave her, so clearly she didn’t like it.” Olivia began speaking faster. “And there’s the thing with Mr. Moya’s jokes. When s
he thought you thought they were funny, Hannah did too. Then you said they were corny, and she backed off and said whatever joke you were talking about wasn’t that funny. Then you said the jokes were funny because they were corny, and she agreed, like she hadn’t just said she didn’t think they were funny. And she stayed with Gus—your practically brother—almost every second at your party. And, and! She’s having your grandfather paint a meadow mural for her, and that’s an idea you came up with.”
That stung a little. “I sort of wish she wasn’t getting that mural,” Bailey admitted.
“She might be imitating you because she’s feeling insecure or something,” Olivia said. “And I get that. She’s going through a lot. But if I were you, it would be making me crazy. It makes me a little crazy just watching. It’s like she’s taking over your life.”
Bailey felt her stomach trying to twist itself into a pretzel. Was Olivia right? She shook her head. “She’s not taking over anything. It’s just that we like a lot of the same things, including people,” Bailey mumbled, knowing she was repeating herself but feeling like she had to defend her cousin. Her phone buzzed almost the instant the words were out of her mouth.
where r u? i’m at our table.
“It’s from Hannah,” Bailey told Olivia.
Olivia opened her mouth to answer, then shut it.
“She wants to know where I am. She says she’s already at our table,” Bailey said. “I forgot to tell her about the club meeting.” She quickly shot a text back.
going 2 spanish club. see u in track.
“Maybe Hannah will find a club of her own to join,” Bailey said as they walked down the hall towards the room where Spanish Club was meeting. “Then she could make some new friends.”
“That would be great,” Olivia said as they stepped inside and found seats. “But I’m not sure she wants new friends. I think she’s happy with yours.”
“That’s kinda harsh,” Bailey said.
“Maybe a little,” Olivia admitted.
There wasn’t more time to talk, because Señora McAllister had stepped up to the front of the room. “Welcome! It’s great to see so many of you here. I know we’re going to come up with some great events where we can learn more about the cultures of Mexico and Spain and, of course, have fun!”
One of the boys let out a whoop.
“The first thing you need to do is elect your officers,” Señora McAllister told them. “I’ll take nominations for—”
The door burst open. Bailey felt her eyes widen when Hannah rushed in. “Sorry I’m late,” Hannah told the teacher, her face pink with embarrassment. She headed directly over to Bailey. “Would you mind moving to that desk so I can sit with my cousin?” she asked Olivia in a low voice.
Olivia looked over at Bailey. There were some questions it was almost impossible to say no to without being rude. Bailey gave a helpless little shrug. Olivia stood up without a word, moved to the empty desk, and sat down.
Bailey didn’t get why Hannah was even there. She wasn’t taking Spanish.
Bailey hesitated for a few seconds, then took a deep breath and raised her hand, just as Señora McAllister started talking about the election of officers. “Yes?” the teacher said.
“Um, is it okay to be in the Spanish club if you’re not taking Spanish?” Bailey asked. Hannah really did need some friends of her own. It wasn’t that Bailey didn’t want to hang around with her. She just didn’t want to be with her every second. She and Olivia needed some time by themselves.
“I don’t think that’s ever come up before,” Señora McAllister answered.
“I’m not taking Spanish this semester,” Hannah piped up. “I was taking it at my old school, though, and I’m a little ahead. The principal said I should start in the second semester. So even though I’m not in Spanish now, I will be soon.”
Señora McAllister smiled. “That’s fine, then. Welcome to our school. And welcome to Spanish Club. Why don’t you introduce yourself?”
“I’m her cousin.” Hannah pointed at Bailey.
CHAPTER 7
HOW TO WALK MORE THAN ONE DOG AT A TIME (FOR NEXT TIME, EVEN THOUGH THERE PROBABLY WON’T BE A NEXT TIME)
1.Walk in a no-squirrel zone.
2.If you’re right-handed, hold the leash of the dog that pulls the most in your right hand.
3.Have lots of treats for bribes.
4.Use a different-color leash for each dog, so you know right away which leash controls which dog.
5.Keep your elbows bent and your arms close to your sides. If you let your arms get pulled straight, you could get pulled right off your feet. (This should be moved to #1.)
6.Give the sit command if you feel like you’re losing control.
7.Make a list of how to get a dog to obey the sit command.
Bailey was a little relieved when she and Hannah reached the corner where Hannah turned to head to their grandparents’ house and Bailey continued straight to get to her house.
Just as she started up her walkway, she heard dogs. A lot of dogs. Some with high yips, some with low woofs, some with hound-dog howls, some with excited whines. She grinned. It was Gus out doing his dog walking.
Maybe she could talk to Gus about the Hannah situation! Suddenly it had become a situation. Bailey already knew what Olivia thought. She needed another opinion. Gus could be surprisingly good at helping with problems.
She broke into a trot, and the dogs got louder when they spotted her coming towards them. “Hi, hi. Hi, hi, hi!” Bailey exclaimed, waving to them. “Hey,” she said to Gus. “Want me to take some?” She usually didn’t offer. The dogs were sort of hard to control. But since she was here to get his help, she figured she should give him some help too.
He handed her two leashes, one attached to Bruce, a big, slobbery, slow Saint Bernard, and one attached to Franz, a hyper wiener dog. Gus still held the leash for Hans, Franz’s brother. It was best to keep them separated if you could. They got very competitive about being the last one to pee on the bushes and trees in the neighborhood.
“I’m not splitting my money with you,” Gus warned.
“I know, I know. I didn’t think you’d recently had a personality transplant,” Bailey joked. Gus always had something he was saving his cash for—some first-edition comic, or a new piece of electronics equipment, or new special-effects makeup for the monster movies he was always making.
“So what do you want then? Because I know you’re not a dog person,” Gus said. It was true. She was more of a cat girl. He volunteered at the Moss Street shelter and had convinced her to go with him once. She hadn’t even lasted an hour. Too much noise. And drool.
“And you’re not much of a people person,” she shot back. He was clearly in annoying almost-brother mode today, instead of fun almost-brother. Still, he was the only almost-brother she had. “Actually, I wanted to ask you something.”
“Yeah?”
“Okay, so, Olivia thinks my cousin Hannah is copying me,” Bailey told him. “Here’s the deal. She is in four of my classes, but that’s because her mom asked the school to put her in them. Also, she just joined the Spanish club, like me.”
“So?”
“There are other things too, like she always wears polka dots like me, and she thinks the same things are funny that I do, and sometimes she repeats things I say. And she’s having my grandfather paint her room the way I wanted it when it was my room, you know, when it was the room I always had when I slept over. Do you think it’s weird?”
Gus opened his mouth to answer, but before she could, Monsieur, the poodle he was walking, saw a squirrel and lunged for it, cutting in front of Bruce. Bailey had to duck under Monsieur’s leash to avoid being decapitated. Then she had to unwind Franz’s leash. Somehow it had gotten wrapped three times around one of his back legs.
“Somebody should make a device that makes squirrels invisible to dogs,” Gus muttered.
“Maybe that should be your next project.” Gus was always fooling around with inventi
ons.
Gus snorted. “You actually think that’s possible?” He shook his head.
“So getting back to my problem, do you think it’s weird? Or normal?” Bailey asked.
“Hannah seemed cool at the party. I don’t get why it’s bugging you,” Gus told her.
“Here’s the real question. I think I want to have some time with Olivia and my other friends without Hannah. Especially because she’s sort of started to make Olivia a little crazy. But I don’t want to hurt Hannah’s feelings. Because, really, nothing she’s doing is bad. Like you said, she’s cool. So is it okay for me to do things without her sometimes? Yes or no?”
“Although maybe some kind of spray that blocks the scent . . . ,” Gus mumbled. He got what Bailey thought of as his mad-scientist expression. “Scent is more important to dogs than sight.”
“Focus,” Bailey snapped at him. “Me not wanting to hurt Hannah’s feelings. Like on Olivia’s birthday!” She couldn’t believe she’d forgotten even for a few minutes that Olivia’s birthday was that weekend. She and Oh always spent their birthdays together, and there was no way Hannah could come. Not now that Bailey knew how much Hannah annoyed Olivia. “It would ruin the whole day if Hannah came with us. But how am I supposed to tell her that?”
“Don’t,” Gus said. “It’s not actually necessary to tell everyone everything. For example, I really didn’t need to hear any of this.” He shot her a teasing grin and she gave him a somewhat light punch on the arm.
“It’s not that easy. Hannah always texts me, asking where I am. She wants to sit next to me every day at lunch. And she and her mom come over to my house a lot,” Bailey told him.
“So it shouldn’t be a big deal that you do something without her. It’s not like you ignore her or anything. You gave her that party,” Gus said. “Can’t you just explain that you and Olivia always do your birthdays by yourselves? Your other friends don’t care.”
“Maybe. Yeah, I think this might be one of the rare times you’re right,” she joked. She felt Franz’s leash go taut and realized he’d stopped to pee on the Bakers’ garbage can.
“You’re not supposed to let them pee on people’s stuff,” Gus told her.
