Free Mixed Messages by Tina Wells

like it?” Conrad asked.
    â€œI don’t think that’s what she’s saying,” Missy told him.
    â€œYou’ll need to practice that one extra-hard on your own, or it will definitely not be ready by Saturday,” Ms. Vardolis explained.
    â€œI have an idea!” Kathi blurted out. “Everyone can come to my house tonight to practice. We can order pizza for dinner.”
    Ms. Vardolis smiled for the first time since they’d started the song. “What a great idea, Kathi. I’m sure knowing how you’re helping out would make your parents very proud.”
    Kathi turned to Zee and smirked.
    Zee ignored her. She couldn’t worry about Kathi at that moment. She grabbed her guitar and walked offstage before Landon could say anything to her about the romantic duet. A jumble of thoughts bounced around in her head. Instead of being excited about singing with Landon, she wasn’t sure she wanted to at all. Before Ms. Vardolis suggested their duet, The Beans sounded fantastic. But now the song was closer to being a disaster.

Chapter 9
Baby. Proof.
    I can’t wait to see how you fixed Bluetopia last night,” Zee told Jasper as they entered the Carmichaels’ house that afternoon. Ally was with them.
    â€œFirst, we eat, then we go on Bluetopia,” Jasper insisted.
    Ally giggled. “I guess you need your energy to type,” she said.
    â€œNo problemo.” Zee zoomed across the foyer and into the kitchen, expecting to see her mother and a platter of snacks.
    Instead, her mother was leaning over the open cabinet door under the sink. A tall man with gray hair stood next to her.
    â€œUh . . . hi,” Zee said to her mother, but she was looking at the stranger.
    Mrs. Carmichael said hello to Zee and her friends. “This is Mr. Sterling,” she continued. “He’s helping me baby-proof the house.”
    Jasper looked confused. “You want to keep the babies out of the house?” he asked.
    Mrs. Carmichael laughed. “To keep them safe,” she explained. “I had no idea that our home was so full of dangers.”
    â€œBut you’ve already had two babies,” Zee reminded her. “What did you do about us?”
    Zee’s mom laid a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry. I looked out for you,” she assured her. “But now I’ll have two babies at once. I’ll need to be doubly safe.”
    Zee didn’t even bother to ask about snacks this time. She reached into the cabinet and pulled out a pack of popcorn and put it in the microwave. “We have to be at Kathi’s house at four o’clock,” Zee reminded her mother as she pushed the buttons.
    A rush of panic rose in Mrs. Carmichael’s face. “Oh no!” she said.
    â€œI texted you at lunch, and you said you would drive us,” Zee reminded her. “Did you forget?”
    â€œI’m afraid so, and Mr. Sterling is not even halfway done here.”

    â€œBut we can’t miss the rehearsal!” Zee told her.
    â€œThat’s okay, Mrs. Carmichael,” Jasper told her, taking his cell phone out of his pocket. “My mother can take us.”
    â€œThank you, Jasper. Please tell her I’ll pick everyone up.”
    Really? Zee thought.
    â€œI promise,” Mrs. Carmichael said, reading Zee’s mind.
    Beep. Beep. Beep. The microwave signaled that the popcorn was ready.
    Zee poured the snack into a giant bowl, then lifted it off the counter with two hands. “We’re going up to my room until Mrs. Chapman gets us.”
    As Zee moved up the steps to the second floor, she turned to her friends. “I’m going to change my clothes,” she said, passing the bowl off to Ally. She pulled her arms out of her navy blue cardigan. “I picked out the coolest skirt and leggings for the rehearsal this afternoon.”
    â€œI’m checking out my Bluetopia page. I sent a ton of people bunnies this