Free Crush Alert by Annie Bryant Page A

afternoon—for something more glamorous and grownup. Avery’s mom had once told her she should try a curler, at least for the ends.
    Avery’s mom! Charlotte leaned her head against the locker. I still have to break the news about my dad’s date to Avery!
    “What’s up, Charlotte?” a familiar voice called behind her. A voice that for some reason made her insides turn into lime Jell-O.
    Her heart jumped as she turned around to look at Nick. He stood there with a nervous smile on his face.
    “Yes?” she asked, and chewed her bottom lip.
    “You wanna meet tomorrow morning at Montoya’s before school?” He smiled and waited, his backpack slug over one shoulder.
    Charlotte felt her own expression brightening. She couldn’t keep her excitement inside! He wants to meet me tomorrow morning? Yes! Yes! Maybe the whole Nick-and-Chelsea thing was just a figment of her imagination! “Sure,” she told him. “I think I can make it.”
    This is it! she thought. Tomorrow morning, he’s going to ask me to the Valentine’s Day Dance, and I’m going to say yes!
    She turned to shut her locker, but accidentally caught her finger in the locker door. “Ouch!” she shouted, rubbing her finger as she felt her face turning red.
    “Are you okay?” he asked.
    Charlotte gritted her teeth. “Uh…yeah. I’m fine.”
    Nick looked concerned. “Tomorrow morning at seven thirty. Okay? Want to walk home together?”
    “I can’t!” Charlotte regretted the words as soon as they came out. But it was true—she couldn’t leave before talking to Avery. “But I’ll see you in the morning!” She blew on her sore finger as Nick nodded and waved good-bye.
    Charlotte found Avery after a fifteen-minute-long search through the hallways. She was in the gym, shooting baskets with Dillon and the Trentini twins.
    “Ave! Can you stop for a second?” Charlotte called out.
    Avery landed a perfect layup, then trotted over. “Hey, Char. What’s up?”
    “I need to talk to you.” Charlotte twisted her hair around her fingers.
    “Okay, shoot!” Avery tossed a pretend basketball to her friend.
    “Not now!” Charlotte lowered her voice. “Can you come to the Tower later this afternoon? Just you.”
    “I’m practicing with these guys till four, but I can come right after. Is that cool?” Avery frowned. “Is everything okay?”
    “Yes…fine. See you later?”
    The Ultimate Makeover
    Charlotte walked home looking forward to a few minutes of quiet time curled up with a good book and Marty. That’s just what I need after a day like today.
    But there was Katani, already sitting on the front steps, wrapped in a stylish wool coat, a hand-appliquéd messenger bag resting by her feet.
    “Where have you been, girlfriend?” Katani tapped her watch. “I was just about to leave.”
    “Oh!” Charlotte exclaimed. “I’m so sorry….” She unlocked the door, realizing maybe Katani’s kind advice and style tips would be more helpful than escaping into a book. “I got caught up after school.” She couldn’t tell Katani about meeting with Avery, because their parents dating seemed like the kind of thing that deserved some privacy—even from best friends. She was sure Avery would feel the same way.
    “No problem.” Katani took off her coat and opened the messenger bag so Charlotte could see the neat rows of little pink containers, brushes, and spray bottles inside. There was even a curling iron! “Let’s go up to the Tower,” Katani suggested. “I’ve got everything we need right here!”
    Katani unloaded her bag on the windowsill behind the lime green swivel, her favorite styling chair. Charlotte thought there seemed to be plenty of makeup items lined up there already, but what did she know about makeovers?
    Katani folded her arms just so. “Okay, Char, let’s get this show started!”
    Charlotte sat down and touched her hair. “What’s your game plan?”
    Katani grinned. “Charlotte Elizabeth Ramsey is in need of a new,