Free Peas and Carrots by Tanita S. Davis Page B

mom practically in protective custody. Did that mean somebody was protecting Dess—like she’d have a bodyguard, or “witness protection” people? Hope wished there was someone she could ask about Dess’s father. What had he done to be put into jail? She wondered if Miss Odessa LeAnn knew the whole story, and felt a smug warmth building. She would bet anything that Dess didn’t know as much as she did.
    The bell rang. Mr. Workman quickly took attendance and then sat on the corner of his desk, reading out loud his “weird news item of the day.”
    During announcements, Ms. Aiello’s voice sounded scratchy and tinny over the loudspeaker. “Good morning, Headwaters Academy! Donation boxes will be going up today in the cafeteria for our gift-card drive. We’re collecting for the Embrace Kids Foundation….Freshmen, please be sure to have your permission slips to Mrs. Stevenson by Thursday if you’d like to be included in the symphony trip on Monday….Don’t forget that the lost-and-found…”
    As Ms. Aiello droned on, Hope felt a folded paper being shoved under her arm. She slid her hand around and picked it up and opened it.
    doing hdwters tour for new girl. not 2b nosy, but is she staying with you?
    Hope frowned and twisted in her seat. Two seats behind her, Kalista wiggled her fingers.
    Hope scribbled back,
Yes, staying idk how long.
She hesitated. She didn’t want to be unkind, but Kalista needed to be warned about Dess….
tty after?
She folded the note and shoved it back under her arm toward Carey, sitting behind her, to wait until he noticed it and passed it back.
    Ms. Aiello got through the Headwaters pledge—“Capable of meeting any challenge, we learners will be leaders. Headwaters Academy, it all starts today!”—just before the bell rang. Hope ignored whatever Mr. Workman was shouting over the bustle of movement and hurried toward Kalista, who was making a beeline for the door.
    “Kalista—wait,” she called, trying to hurry up the sea of students going the opposite direction.
    Kalista was already in the hallway, waving an arm clattering with bracelets. “Ms. Aiello? I’m here!” Heads turned, and she bounded down the hall toward Dess, who stood, shoulders hunched, outside Ms. Aiello’s office. The vice principal was beaming as Kalista came toward them.
    Dess was looking over Kalista’s outfit—skinny jeans and a tan Headwaters T-shirt under a blazer—and Hope was suddenly worried. Dess was giving her the same narrow-eyed once-over she’d given Hope, and she was going to say something—no doubt, about Kalista’s wildly curly brown hair, her wide mouth, or her long, sharp nose. Hope pinched her bottom lip between her teeth unhappily. Even though Kalista drove her nuts, she wouldn’t wish Dess on her worst enemy.
    “So, Kalista, right?” Dess said, and then glanced up at Ms. Aiello with a shrug. “Okay. I’m ready. Thanks, Ms. A.”
    Ms. A?
Hope blinked at Dess as she walked past, then looked again, more closely. Since Mom had dropped them off, Dess’s messy ponytail had been changed to two braids that just brushed her shoulders. Over her gray tank she wore one of last year’s pink button-down uniform shirts, tied at her waist, emphasizing her cleavage, which Hope was now positive was helped along with a bit of padding. Her jeans were cuffed into capris, and her black skater shoes had been replaced by the white ballerina flats she must have had stuffed into her backpack. Even her makeup looked lighter, less Goth stark and more smudged and smoky. The tiny, subtle changes made Dess look like a whole different person.
    “Thanks for showing me around,” Hope heard Dess say as Kalista walked her down the hall.
    “No problem!” Kalista gushed. “I love meeting new people.”
    Hope shook her head as Dess smiled and gave a little wave at a group of students who were all staring at the new girl.
    Okay,
that
was weird.
    And things only got weirder.
    By lunch, Kalista’s table was full