Free Mackenzie Blue by Tina Wells Page A

parent,” Adam said.
    â€œOr…?” Zee coaxed.
    â€œOr a big brother.”
    â€œThanks.”
    Outside, Zee opened the door to Adam’s car. She carefully picked up an old cheese-globbed burger wrapper and added it to the collection in the backseat. There was no way she was going to mess up her brand-new denim miniskirt—Dad said it was okay to wear since she had on a pair of leggings underneath—because of her brother’s revolting habits. “You know, they actually make trash cans now,” Zee said.
    â€œIf you’d rather not get a ride, that’s okay with me,” Adam said.
    â€œNo, it’s fine,” she told him. “I’ll just avoid making contact with any surfaces.”
    As Zee buckled her seat belt, she got a text message. “It’s Chloe,” she told her brother.
    â€œWe’re not late, are we?”
    Zee read the message. “We don’t need to pick her up for the concert.”
    â€œWhy not?”
    Zee stared at the words—
    >I can’t go 2nite. Sorry.
    â€œShe didn’t say.” Frustrated, Zee dropped her Sidekick into her purse and stared at the car window. Why couldn’t Chloe go? she wondered. Half the time, Zee could almost read Ally’s mind—and the other half of the time, Ally told her everything . It was different with Chloe. Was she hiding something from Zee?
    Â 
    Just as the girls had discussed, Kathi and Jen were waiting by the main gate. Even from a distance, Zee could see the passes, spread out like a fan, in Kathi’s hands.
    â€œI loooooove your hair!” Kathi said as Zee got close. Zee turned around to look behind her, but besides Adam, no one else was there.
    â€œMe?” Zee asked, pointing to herself.
    â€œOf course, you,” Kathi said. “Who else would I mean?”
    Everybody, Zee thought. Although Kathi had been way nicer to her over the past week, she had never complimented Zee’s style before.
    â€œI’ve always admired the color,” Kathi said. “It’s…” She turned to Jen.
    â€œVivid,” Jen said. “Like a penny!”
    â€œExactly.” Kathi nodded and smiled. Then she looked around. “Where’s Chloe?”
    â€œShe couldn’t come,” Zee explained.
    â€œWhy not?” Kathi asked.
    â€œI don’t know,” Zee said.
    â€œDidn’t she tell you?” Kathi pressed.
    â€œNo.”
    â€œYou’re like her best friend.” Kathi made a face like she’d just bitten into a lemon. “Don’t you think that’s weird?”
    Zee did, but how could she say that? Chloe was her friend—at least she thought so. “I…uh…don’t think she had time.”
    Kathi handed Jen and Zee their tickets, then walked over toward where Adam was standing—ten feet away. “Oh no!” Zee shouted, chasing after her. “He has his own ticket for the lawn.”
    â€œHe might as well use Chloe’s ticket since she’s not here,” Kathi said, flashing him a princess-perfect smile. “Besides,seniors shouldn’t have to sit on the lawn.”

    From behind Kathi’s and Jen’s backs, Zee looked at her brother and stiffly shook her head in an urgent no. Adam plucked the ticket from Kathi’s hand. “Thank you, Kathi.” Then he whispered to Zee, “You don’t expect me to pass up a front row seat, do you?”
    â€œYes!” Zee hissed back, her eyes growing wide with panic.
    â€œI’ll make it up to you. I promise.”
    â€œLet’s go get some food before we sit down,” Kathi suggested.
    â€œGreat idea!” Adam said.
    As they walked toward the concession stand, Zee nudged Adam in the ribs.
    Adam got the hint. “Get me some buffalo wings!” he called out, dropping behind. “With extra sauce.” Zee gave him a thumbs-up.
    When the girls got to the food line, Kathi turned to Zee and said,