Free A Formal Affair by Veronica Chambers

e-mail on their phones.
    â€œHey,” Maya said, not looking up from her fanzine.
    â€œ Hola ,” Dorinda waved as she scrolled through her Facebook wall.
    â€œYoo-hoo,” April trilled as she touched up her manicure.
    â€œLook,” Carmen said, as she slammed her books down on the table. “I know you guys are fabulous and that you usually have someone else doing your bidding. But my being assistant coordinator does not mean that I’m going to do all the work for you. The winter formal is a huge event, and everyone has to pitch in.”
    Carmen reached into her bag for a sheaf of papers and passed them out. “Here are your assignments. Maya, you have all the music connects. You’re in charge of booking the band. My friend Gaz can help you figure out who’s local, who’s good, and who’s affordable. In that order.”
    Maya made a face. “But I am so swamped .”
    Carmen raised her hand as if she were a traffic cop directing a car to stop. “I have three words to say to you: Cute. Boy. Musicians. Now, stop complaining.”
    Maya smiled and pretended to salute Carmen. “Yes, sir. I mean, yes, ma’am.”
    Carmen walked over to April. “You are now in charge of food.”
    April began to fiddle with the pearls around her neck. “But I’m not into food. And my dad did hook us up with the room at the hotel. And—”
    Carmen interrupted. “Before you start to make a lot of noise, I have three words to say to you: Cute. Boy. Chefs.”
    â€œWell, when you put it that way…” April acquiesced.
    Dorinda, the queen bee of the SoBees, looked imperious and unimpressed in her sky-high stilettos, white jeans, and jacket—which Carmen could tell was a real one.
    â€œWho died and left you the boss of everything?” Dorinda asked.
    â€œWell, when you decided to do absolutely nothing to plan this party, you did,” Carmen retorted.
    Dorinda stuck her hand out and waited for Carmen to hand her a folder similar to the ones that April and Maya had received. “Fine,” Dorinda conceded. “What’s my assignment?”
    Carmen smiled. If she’d only known that being bossy could yield such incredible results, she really would have tried it sooner. “Since you’re so into it, your job is to secure all the flair for the queen and her court—everything from crowns to sashes.”
    Reaching into her bag, Carmen took out a simple silver tiara and placed it on Dorinda’s perfectly coiffed head.
    â€œWhat’s this?” Dorinda asked.
    â€œA sample from one of the vendors that Amigas Inc. has worked with in the past.”
    April gave her friend an appraising look. “I like it,” she said.
    Carmen grinned. “I thought you would.”
    As the SoBees walked out with their marching orders, Carmen let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. Then she cracked open her Latin American literature book and looked at her watch. She could squeeze in half an hour of studying before her next meeting. But just as she was getting into it, she was approached by Ms. Ingber.
    â€œThat was some impressive delegating,” the teacher said, patting Carmen on the shoulders. “I told you C. G. High needed those leadership skills.”
    And, for the first time since she’d begun this whole crazy thing, Carmen had to agree.
    The next day was Saturday, and after a busy week of studying, wrangling SoBees, and quinceañera planning, Carmen was ready for a break. For the first time in the two months since she and Domingo had parted, she was feeling like her old self and ready to have some serious fun. She texted Jamie and Alicia: Where my girls at? Let’s hang tonight.
    Two hours later, when she hadn’t heard back, she texted again: Code blue, code blue, where is my crew?
    This time, the response was immediate. Alicia wrote: Sorry, chica . My parents are hosting some