Free The Queen Bee of Bridgeton by Leslie DuBois Page B

"At a party, never drink anything you haven't seen poured out of a previously factory sealed container."  I thought he was joking so I laughed a little, but then I noted the ominous look on his face.  His eyes changed to a dark mysterious blue as if he knew from experience.
     
    "Okay," I said, retreating from the cup.  Will looked in the refrigerator and found an unopened can of Coke which he handed to me.
     
    "I don't think we're gonna find your sister," he said as we circled the house for the third time.
     
    "Yeah, I think you're right.  I'm not worried though.  She's probably just with Des."
     
    "Well, let's head out before it gets too late. Wait a minute. We left your ball. I'll get it." Will scampered away leaving me by the refrigerator holding my Coke with both hands like a two year old holding a sippy cup. Then someone hugged me from behind and said, "There you are, Darling.  I've been looking everywhere for you." I spun around and found myself being groped by Desmond.
     
    "Sorry, Des, wrong sister," I said, twisting out of his arms.
     
    "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry.  I didn't realize how much you look like Sasha, especially from behind.  Oh, not that I'm looking at your behind.  It's your hair, you never wear your hair down." 
     
    Desmond continued blubbering his awkward profuse apology until I said, " It's fine, Des.  So you don't know where Sasha is either?  I've been looking for her too."
     
    "She probably drove some intoxicated students home.  She does that sometimes.  Will you have her call my cell when you see her?"  It struck me the way he said 'intoxicated students'. What high school kid talks that way?  He was so proper it was ridiculous.  He was like an accountant hiding in a teenager's body. I wondered what Sasha saw in him besides his money and his great car.  But then again, with her proclivity for perfection, they were an excellent match. 
     
    "Why is she avoiding me?" I heard a voice say after Des had wandered off.  I turned around and found Colbert staring at me.  She looked a lot less like Eloise or Madeline or whichever one I was thinking of now that she was not in her uniform. 
     
    "Who?"
     
    "Your sister."   Colbert gave me her patented "duh" look, which Sasha had also adopted.  I shrugged, not knowing what she was talking about.  "Has she told you anything? What is she up to?"  I shrugged again.  Colbert twisted her lips and eyed me skeptically. "Look, just tell her...it didn't mean anything.  Tell her...it's not like I'm in love with him or anything.  And tell her..." Colbert bit her bottom lip and shifted her eyes then said, "Just tell her I'm sorry." Then she scampered away.
     
    Sorry for what?
     
     
     

Chapter 12:

First Kiss
     
    "So tell me about dancing in Spain," Will said once we were in his car.
    "Well, a few years ago Ms. Alexander told me about this festival that takes place every six years in Barcelona. It's extremely prestigious.  Dancers from all over the world come and take part and offer master classes and even give personal critiques of some of your work.  I worked for months on my audition pieces.  One of my numbers was an exact replica of Natalia Karleskaya's solo to a Shostakovich concerto.  They not only accepted me to the festival, but I received a personal note from Natalia saying she enjoyed my rendition of her solo and then she gave me some suggestions on how I could make it better.  Can you believe that?  Isn't that amazing?  That's like Michael Jordan writing you and telling you how you can improve that loop up shot thing that you do." 
     
    Will laughed and said, "It's called a lay-up, and I'm surprised you know who Michael Jordan is."
     
    "Of course I do, he's like the Baryshnikov of basketball.  Anyway, I was so excited I spent the next two months completely obsessed with the Spanish language.  I wanted to be able to speak at least a little before I got there.  By the end of the summer, I was fluent."  I continued