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cinnamon bun,”I added. “Any chance you’d make some for the bake sale, Michael?”
    â€œAlways thinking, Martone,” said Michael. “I love that about you.”
    I couldn’t look Hailey in the eye, because I knew she was thinking, Ooooh, Michael Lawrence said love ! It did make my heart skip a little bit, but I didn’t want him to see that.

    The next day Mr. Pfeiffer didn’t just approve the idea; he offered to wash some cars himself! The car wash/bake sale was going to be a big hit. Everyone wanted to see the principal get covered in soap bubbles, so they’d make sure their parents and every grown-up they knew would get to the event.
    I had another big event to plan for too. Ms. Fields and I had exchanged a few e-mails, and I was going to the Gazette offices after school on Friday. I felt a little bad about not asking Michael, but he was kind of off on his own planet lately. Besides, Ms. Fields had invited me, not both of us. In any case, Michael probably didn’t even want to go. But I was nervous,of course, about what to wear. As much as I hated to admit it, this situation called for a little Allie Martone advice.
    I knocked on Allie’s bedroom door on Thursday night.
    â€œI’m doing my homework, Mom,” Allie whined. “I swear I’m not texting!”
    â€œIt’s not Mom; it’s me.” I snickered. “Can I come in?”
    â€œIf you must,” Allie declared.
    I opened the door to Allie’s room and peeked inside. Allie had pulled her backpack onto her bed, just in case it had been Mom, but she had her phone in her hand and could barely make eye contact with me.
    â€œCan you possibly be nice to me for five minutes?” I asked. “I know it’s asking a lot, but it’s been a tough couple of weeks.”
    â€œCougar Curse getting to you?” Allie suggested.
    â€œSomething like that,” I replied. “Tomorrow I have my big visit to the Gazette , and I don’t know what to wear. Mom’s picking me up right afterschool, so I don’t want to stand out too much, but I do want to look professional and not like a kid at the meeting.”
    â€œHmmm, sounds like a case for layering,” Allie remarked. “Let’s go take a look in your closet.”
    Allie pulled out a pair of navy blue leggings, a taupe long-sleeved T-shirt, and a pair of navy ballerina flats.
    â€œThis is what you’re going to wear to school,” she announced.
    Then she shuffled through the closet and pulled out a dark chocolate–colored blazer.
    â€œThis is what you’re going to keep in your locker,” she continued.
    She rushed across the hall to her room and returned with a patterned scarf. It had taupe, navy, and brown accents.
    â€œThis is what you’re going to toss in your backpack,” she declared. “Neatly folded, of course.”
    I tried the combination on and looked in the mirror. Allie was soooo good at this. I jumped up and gave her a big squeeze.
    â€œYou know, you’re amazing sometimes,” I admitted.
    â€œTake it easy.” Allie coughed. “It’s just some leggings and a blazer. Get over it.”
    â€œYeah, well, thanks,” I mumbled. “Now you can get back to your . . . homework. ”

    At the end of school on Friday, I grabbed my things and headed into the bathroom for a three-minute makeover. Blazer . . . check. Scarf . . . check. A nose for news . . . double check.
    Mom was waiting for me outside of school with a bottle of water and a granola bar. “I know you don’t want your stomach growling during a big news meeting,” she said.
    â€œOh, that would be beyond embarrassing.” I laughed. “It might even qualify as mortifying.”
    â€œI see you’ve been putting that vocabulary app to good use,” Mom noted.
    It took about a half hour to reach the offices of the Gazette