Free Mia the Magnificent by Eileen Boggess Page A

tell that you think it,” I replied, praying I was right.
    “Even if I did,” Mike said, “it’s not like I can do anything about it. There’s no way I can hurt Mandy’s feelings by breaking up with her for no reason. And it’s not like Lisa and me are ever getting back together. She totally hates me. I can tell by the way she always glares at me in the hallway.”
    I paused, debating how much information I should divulge. After all, there was a best friend code of conduct. But if I shared a little bit of Lisa’s true feelings, it might benefit both Lisa and Mike. Taking a deep breath, I said, “You know, Mike, Lisa really doesn’t—”
    “Mia, where have you been?” Lisa said as she came running into the parking lot. “The car wash is about to start.”
    I almost groaned.
    “Hey, Lisa,” Mike said, rearranging the wood chips around the tree with the toe of his shoe. “How have you been?”
    “Fine,” Lisa replied curtly.
    “That’s good,” Mike said with a somewhat discouraged shrug. “I haven’t seen you in a while.”
    “Considering we both attend the same school, I believe that is an inaccurate statement,” Lisa said. “You have seen me, but we haven’t spoken, which is completely appropriate considering I have nothing to say to you.”
    “OK, then,” Mike said, giving me an “I told you so” look. “I guess I’ll see you later, Lisa, and it was good talking to you, Mia.”
    As I watched Mike’s disheartened form trudge across the parking lot, I turned to Lisa and said, “Did you have to be so mean to him when he was trying so hard to be nice to you?”
    “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.” Lisa sighed. “It’s like my brain won’t let me be nice to Mike because it’s afraid if I do, I might start liking him again.”
    “Again?” I asked. “Lisa, you never got over Mike in the first place.”
    “But I will get over him... eventually,” Lisa said, “just as soon as I figure out the correct variables to my equation.”
    “You and your equation are driving me crazy,” I said.
    “Then let’s not talk about it anymore.” Lisa held out a towel and bucket to me. “What do you want to do? Wash or dry?”
    Deciding to drop the Mike issue until I came up with a better strategy, I grabbed the bucket. “How about I start on washing and see how it goes?”
    “Great.” Lisa pointed to the side of the store. “The faucet is over there. Fill up this bucket and I’ll meet you out front.”
    “Aye, aye, Captain,” I said, saluting her, momentarily forgetting I had a bucket in my hand.
    As I rubbed my sore forehead, Lisa giggled. “I’m so happy you’re here today.”
    “I’m here to amuse,” I replied as I left Lisa’s side and headed toward the faucet.
    As soon as I turned the corner of the building, I was immediately accosted by Cassie Foster. Grabbing my arm, she demanded, “What are you doing here, Freak Queen? You’re not even on the student council anymore.”
    “Um,” I said, relieved I was still holding the bucket in case I had to use it to defend myself, “Lisa asked me to help.”
    “Yeah, right,” Cassie said with a sneer. “I bet you’re here to seeTim. You probably think that kiss you had at rehearsal actually meant something.”
    “No, really,” I said, “I’m not—”
    “Mia?” Alyssa said as she rounded the corner. “Lisa told me you were back here. I was wondering if you had a few minutes so I could talk to you about Tim.”
    Oh great, I thought. The bucket was looking more and more useful with each passing moment.
    “Excuse me,” Cassie said snidely, “but I’m talking to Mia the Freak right now—wait a minute, did you say you wanted to talk to her about Tim?”
    “Yeah, but,” Alyssa said, backing away from Cassie like she was a rabid dog, “I, I, I guess it can wait.”
    “No, go ahead.” Cassie crossed her arms across her chest, which was currently spilling out of her hot pink bikini. “I want to hear what you have to