Free The Secret Crush by Tina Wells Page B

“How much are the jeans?”
    Kathi checked the tag. “Only a hundred dollars.”
    â€œA hundred dollars?” Zee looked for herself. Someone had neatly written $1.00 in blue ink. Ohmylanta! Zee silently groaned. “You’ve definitely never been to a thrift shop. It’s only a dollar.”
    Kathi laughed at her mistake. “Thank goodness you’re here to help me with this!” she said, crushing Zee in a hug.
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    E-ZEE: K strikes again!
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    SPARKLEGRRL: OMG! What did she do?
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    E-ZEE: She ws NICE!
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    SPARKLEGRRL: A trick?
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    E-ZEE: Nt sure. It doesn’t feel fake.
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    SPARKLEGRRL: Y?
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    E-ZEE: She hardly notices L anymore—like she doesn’t like him.
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    SPARKLEGRRL: So who does she like?
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    E-ZEE: Don’t know. Mayb it’s nt about boys. Mayb it’s b/c she doesn’t like Missy.
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    SPARKLEGRRL: Jealous?
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    E-ZEE: She thinks M can’t b trusted.
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    SPARKLEGRRL: Y? What did she do?
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    E-ZEE: Nothing. Yet.
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    SPARKLEGRRL: K’s the 1 I don’t trust.
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    Â 
    It was good to talk to Ally. She knew Kathi as well as Zee did—almost. Still, Zee wasn’t sure if Ally was right about Kathi or not.
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    Hi, Diary,
    I’m so confused! Is Missy’s sleepover just part of her plan to take over Brookdale Academy? Is helping in the classroom just part of Mom’s plan to make sure I never, ever have a boyfriend? Is Kathi really a friend now? With the musical keeping me so busy, I don’t have time to figure any of this out.
    Maybe if I separate the good stuff from the bad stuff, it will help.
    Â 
    Good Stuff
    Ally will always be THE BEST bff ever! (I know I totally overreacted about her “being equal” comment.)
    I get to spend more time with Landon.
    Â 
    Bad Stuff
    Mom doesn’t understand what it’s like to be 12.
    Still no boyfriend.
    Still no boobs.
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    Zee looked at her list, wondering where to put Kathi. Kathi could be a lot of fun, but Zee knew that could change faster than she could say, “Who just stuck that knife in my back?”
    Then Zee had an idea. She added a third column especially for Kathi.
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    2 Good 2 B True Stuff
    Kathi
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11
Sleepover Disaster
    Z ee shoved a pair of heart-printed pajama pants and a plain red tank top into the overnight bag she was packing for Missy’s sleepover. She grabbed a pair of green pants from a hanger. Just before she dropped them into the bag, she stopped herself. These would be perfect for Friends’ Day. She quickly substituted a shirt and a pair of denim capri pants that Zee had converted from an old pair of jeans by cutting off the bottoms and adding a wide ribbon trim.

    â€œClothes for tomorrow.” Zee began her mental list. “Check.Toothbrush and toothpaste? Check and check,” she said, adding them to the bag. “Oops! I almost forgot the most important thing.” She rushed over to her dresser. “Clean underwear. Checkity check check.” She pulled the zipper closed on her bag.
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    Zee and Chloe arrived at the party together and rang the doorbell. Instead of a simple ding-dong , the Vasis’ doorbell boomed four notes. It sounded as if a bell choir were performing right in the foyer. A woman in a simple black dress and white apron opened the door, then bowed her head slightly.
    â€œHi,” Zee said. “Is Missy here?”
    â€œRight this way, miss,” the woman said formally. She led Chloe and Zee into a room with a black grand piano. Heavy red, black, and orange silk curtains hung at the windows, and colorful wool rugs covered the floor. “May I take your bags?” the woman offered.
    Zee and Chloe handed theirs to her. “Where are you taking them?” Chloe called out. But the woman just smiled and walked away.
    â€œGreat!” Missy’s cheerful voice came into the room as