Free Makeover Magic by Jill Santopolo Page B

believe it?”
    Sparkly whimpered and turned back around.
    Aly and Brooke exchanged a Secret Sister Eye Message that meant: Oh no!
    Princess Polish was a new nail salon across the street that’d had a COMING SOON sign in the window for the last month or so. It had worried Aly and Brooke’s mom for a while, but then it seemed like it might never open. Now it had. This was not good news for Sparkle Spa. Or for Mom’s salon, True Colors.
    â€œDoes it look any good?” Bethany asked. “My cousin told me there’s a Princess Polish in her town and it’s really awesome.”
    â€œBethany!” Jenica elbowed her. “It won’t be any better than Sparkle Spa.”
    â€œSheesh,” Bethany said, rubbing her arm. “I was just asking.”
    Aly had to bite her cheek not to smile. She loved how loyal a customer Jenica was.
    â€œBut I didn’t even tell you the craziest part yet!” Mia still hadn’t moved from the doorframe, and Anjuli was still behind her. “They’re offering a free Princess Pedicure to anyone under thirteen who goes into the salon! And a manicure, too, if you’re going to Auden’s Fall Ball. How did they even know about our school’s dance?”
    Aly gulped. This was even worse news. It wasn’t like they charged a lot at Sparkle Spa; in fact, thatwas one of Mom’s rules—there was no set price, just a donation jar for customers to pay whatever they could afford. Then, each time the jar reached $100, Aly and Brooke gave the money to a worthy cause. So far, they’d donated money to Paws for Love, an animal shelter on Taft Street. The jar was getting kind of full again. They’d have to pick another charity soon.
    â€œWow,” Bethany said. “That’s a really nice offer.”
    â€œRight?” Mia said.
    Jenica glared at them. Then she cleared her throat. “Aly, Brooke, I’d like to book my appointment for a manicure and pedicure for the Fall Ball. Here at Sparkle Spa. Can I book it now?”
    Aly smiled at Jenica. She let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding. “You definitely can,” she said, pulling out the new appointment book Mom had gotten them just for Sparkle Spa. Mom reviewedit every week to make sure there weren’t too many appointments for the girls to handle. “When would you like to come?”
    â€œNext Saturday morning at eleven,” Jenica answered, after thinking for a bit. “We have an early soccer game, but I’ll be free after that.”
    â€œYou got it,” Aly said, writing her into the book.
    â€œMe too,” Anjuli said from where she stood behind Mia. “I’ll come at eleven thirty.”
    â€œAnd me,” Mia said after Aly had finished writing. “I’ll come at the same time as Anjuli.”
    Bethany didn’t say anything, though, no matter how hard Jenica glared at her. And if Bethany, one of their regulars, wanted to check out Princess Polish, Aly knew they had a problem brewing. A big one.

two
Kiss and Tell
    T he problem followed the Tanners home. That night, Mom was not in the very best mood. The minute she and the girls and Sparkly arrived home, she grabbed the cordless phone, went into her bedroom, and called Aly and Brooke’s dad. He was away on a business trip and wouldn’t be back until the weekend.
    Brooke and Aly stayed in the living room, playing fetch with Sparkly. They’d trained him so that when Brooke threw a tiny ball, Sparkly would get it andbring it to Aly. And then when Aly threw it, he’d bring the ball to Brooke. It had taken ages for Sparkly to learn that.
    â€œYou think Mom is talking to Dad about Princess Polish?” Brooke asked as she threw the ball.
    â€œProbably,” Aly said, taking it from Sparkly’s mouth and throwing it again.
    â€œDo you think—” Brooke held on to the ball until Sparkly barked, and then she threw it. “Do you