Free Are You Thinking What I'm Thinking? by Belle Payton Page A

ever visited New York City, there was no way she was going shopping. She hated department stores.
    â€œMy house is behind there.” Charlotte pointed toward the row of tall trees lining the long driveway leading down to the high school. “If we cut through the back, it’s a lot faster than walking to the road. And then we don’t have to go through the gate.”
    â€œWhat gate?” Ava asked, following Alex and Charlotte across the school’s front lawn.
    â€œThe gate to our neighborhood,” Charlotte said.
    Ava shot Alex a meaningful look. There were only a few gated communities in Ashland, and they all had big, fancy houses. The Sacketts lived on a small road with no gate.
    â€œAre you going to Lindsey’s party tomorrow?” Alex asked as they rounded the tree trunks.
    â€œAre you?” Charlotte asked.
    â€œDefinitely,” Alex said. “But I don’t have a costume yet, and that’s stressing me out.”
    â€œIf I go—and I don’t know that I will—we could all be something together. The three of us,” Charlotte suggested. “Snap, Crackle, and Pop. Or the Three Bears.”
    â€œCount me out,” Ava said. “I’m not doing anything that cutesy.”
    â€œOkay, what if we’re East Coast baseball players?” Charlotte said. “The Yankees, the Mets, and the Red Sox. Those are the correct names, right?”
    â€œThat wouldn’t be so bad,” Ava conceded.
    â€œThat’s not dressing up enough. The whole point of Halloween is lots of makeup, a costume, maybe even a wig,” Alex protested. “Really go wild.”
    â€œMy mom has a whole separate closet with all these crazy vintage clothes,” Charlotte offered. They were cutting through a huge backyard with a massive swing set, a stone fire pit, a gleaming basketball court with regulation hoop, and manicured, bright-green grass. “I bet we’ll find something in there.”
    â€œYou live here?” Alex asked in awe, as they walked around to the sprawling front yard. The house was enormous. Two huge planters overflowing with purple flowers bordered an imposing dark-red front door.
    â€œSeems so,” Charlotte muttered. She jiggled a key in the lock and pushed open the door.
    An icy blast hit Ava as she stepped into the stone tiled foyer. The air-conditioning was on full force. She could hear the faint whirring of its motor in the silent house.
    â€œWow! It’s so big,” Ava said, staring up at the tall ceilings and heavy iron chandelier. She didn’t say it was also so quiet and cold. “Where is everyone?”
    â€œCarmen went to pick up my little brother, Ben, at school. I think she took Harvey.” Charlotte dropped her backpack on an antique-looking bench. Two large cardboard boxes rested alongside it.
    â€œWho’re Carmen and Harvey?” Ava asked.
    Alex shot her a disapproving look.
    Ava shrugged. Charlotte didn’t have to answer if she didn’t want to.
    â€œCarmen is our babysitter. She’s really more for Ben—I’m too old for that. And Harvey is our dog,” Charlotte explained. “He’s freaked out by all the nature out here. He hates to pee on the grass. He’s used to sidewalks. Like me. I mean the sidewalks part, not the peeing part. He’s always looking for concrete.”
    â€œWe have a dog too,” Alex said. “But Moxy loves to be outside. She falls asleep on the grass.”
    Ava wondered where Charlotte’s parents were—and why she didn’t mention them. But she didn’t ask. If she did, Alex would probably give her another death stare.
    â€œWant to see my room?” Charlotte led them up the stairs. Large boxes lined the hallways. Ava guessed they were still unpacking. Charlotte opened a door to an oversize bedroom, chicly decorated in black, white, and hot pink.
    â€œI love it!” Alex squealed. “Are all these perfumes