In Over Her Head

by Melody Fitzpatrick

  “But your mom isn’t here.”

  “She’s never here! What’s your point?”

  “Um …”

  “Look! If you have something to say, just say it!”

  “Okay. You and I both know that I found it.” I whisper.

  “Found what?” She smiles innocently as a few people from the camera crew come into the galley for their own pre-supper snack.

  “The crown,” I whisper again.

  “Who cares?” she shrugs, blank-faced.

  “I care!” I whisper loudly. “I out-swam a shark to get that!”

  “It could have been worse, right … I mean you could have been eaten.” She chuckles.

  “It’s not right!” I hiss as quietly as I can.

  Val raises an eyebrow and shakes her head warningly.

  “I found the crown fair and square,” Piper chirps, happily.

  “No you didn’t! You took it!” I hiss.

  “Found it, took it, whatever,” she whispers, chucking the banana peel beside the plate.

  “Is there a problem here?” Captain Steele bellows as he marches into the galley.

  “Nope,” I lie, shrugging.

  “Is that … pastry?” the captain asks, looking down with disgust at the plate in front of me.

  “Hannah … really?” Piper scolds. “And this close to supper?”

  “And I assume, judging by the peel in front of you, that you were somehow able to smuggle a banana on board.”

  “It’s not mine,” I protest pointlessly.

  “Another rule broken, and this close to the end. I’m disappointed, Hannah.” The captain wags his finger. “If you want to succeed in life, you have to think very hard about your decisions, especially your food choices. Look at my Piper here, a dedi­cated athlete who, each and every day, pays strict attention to her diet. This is one of the reasons why she excels in every single thing she does. Do you think this kind of success just happens? It doesn’t. Piper is the driver of her own life.”

  “Really? Is she the driver or are you?” I shockingly find myself barking at the captain. “I mean, she’s not even allowed to eat a silly banana, for heaven’s sake.”

  The captain’s eyes grow cold as his face burns red with anger.

  Ooops … I may have gone too far this time.

  “It is a good thing that I am in a particularly good mood today, because my daughter, who, I can assure you, is fully capable of making her own decisions, has discovered a treasure far more important than you could ever understand.”

  “Yes, I believe she is very capable of making her own decisions,” I say, glaring back into the captain’s livid eyes. “But is she allowed to?”

  “Hannah Smart! I’ve had quite enough! Take that junk you call food sitting in front of you, and go to your room at once.”

  “But —”

  “And I would suggest you stay in there for the rest of the evening. Massimo will bring you up a proper supper later. Are we clear?”

  I look over at Piper, who appears to be in shock herself, and reply, “Yup, we’re clear.”

  14

  Bathroom Confessions

  The press conference is being held in the American Museum of Marine Disasters. The place is filled with priceless artifacts found during shipwreck expeditions spanning hundreds and hundreds of years. A stage, lined with chairs and a podium, is set up at the front. There is a large table off to one side with all of our treasure displayed on lovely, black velvet pedestals. Individual spotlights shine down on each piece making them sparkle and shimmer — the perfect reward after three hundred and fifty years of darkness. Positioned in the middle, sitting on the highest pedestal and under the brightest light, is the most magnificent of them all — Queen Isobel’s crown. Dazzling with rubies, emeralds, amethysts, and diamonds, it’s absolutely breathtaking!

  Okay, focus … you can do this, Hannah. Just think positive … I think I can … I think I can. I think I can let that mean, spiteful girl, who’s been plotting against me since day one, take all of the credit for finding Queen Isobel’s crown!

  When I picture her up there at the podium all smug, bragging about how she just stumbled upon this priceless treasure, it just burns me! Like, really ticks me off!

  But … I’ve already decided to let it go, be the bigger person, yada, yada, yada, so I’ve got to figure out a way to get through the next couple hours.

  Obviously, I need to shift my thinking. I have to keep focusing on the fact that Piper’s life isn’t easy. Actually, it kinda sucks, and mine, it’s, well, way better.

  A new mantra! That’s what I need. I open my phone and Google mantras for angry people. The first one I find seems perfect: I am in control of my feelings, and today I choose happiness.

  I am in control of my feelings, and today I choose happiness. I am in control of my feelings, and today I choose happiness. I am in control of my feelings, and today I choose happiness. I am in control of my feelings, and today I choose to be really, really, really, really, really ticked off at Piper!

  Humph! It’s not working, but I can’t give up. Something has got to get me through this day. Maybe I should meditate … just shut down my brain.

  I head to the ladies’ room, which is marked Mermaids. I open the door and find that it is empty — awesome!

  So, if I remember how to do this right, I take in a nice deep breath and, “Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaauuuuuuuuuuuuuuuummmmmm … aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaauuuuuuuuuuuuuuuum mmmmm … aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaauuuuuuuuuuuuuuuum mmmmm …”

  “Oh my gawd, Hannah!” Piper says, coming out of a stall. “What are you doing? You’re so weird!”

  I am in control of my feelings, and today I choose happiness. I am in control of my feelings …

  “Hannah, forget it; no one will believe you.”

  “Please just leave me alone,” I bark, and then continue to meditate. “Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaauuuuuuuuuuuuuuuummmmmm …”

  “Hannah, you and I both know that you want your crown back! That’s why you’re here, cornering me in the bathroom.”

  “Oh my gosh, Piper! I’m not cornering you in the bathroom; I’m meditating, and for your information, it’s not my crown. It belongs to the museum … aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaauuuuuuuuuuuuuuuum mmmmm …”

  “Why do you need so much attention, Hannah? Aren’t you famous enough already?”

  “Piper, I’m not that famous.”

  “Well, you will be when the show airs. You, like, totally took over the entire show, and now you want to take credit for the crown, too!”

  “I found the crown!” I yell back angrily. Is she for real?

  “Who cares?”

  “I care!”

  “See, I told you! You’re so selfish, Hannah.”

  “Me, selfish?”

  “Okay, go ahead then. Tell everybody I stole the crown from your poor, pathetic little hands. With your track record, they’d never believe you anyway.”

  “My track record?”

  “Hannah, you’ve been lying since the day you got on board.”

  “No, I haven’t!”

  “Well, it really doesn’t matter if you have or if you haven’t. The point is, everybody thinks you’re a liar, and that’s all that counts.”

  “That meeting on the first day when I was late! You switched my memo, didn’t you?”

  Piper smiles. “You may have gotten a different one than everyone else.”

  “So, how did you …”

  “How did I switch it back?” She laughs. “It was easy. You know they put locks on doors for a reason.”

  I am in control of my feelings and today I choose happiness.

  “Look, just keep your mouth shut. Otherwise, you’ll end up looking stupid. After all, you h
ave zero proof.”

  “Whatever, Piper. It’s not worth it.”

  “Of course it is! The crown is getting international attention! The whole world is watching! Do you know what that means?”

  “You’ll be famous?” I say, shrugging.

  “World famous!”

  “So?”

  “Don’t you want that?”

  “No. Not really.”

  “Oh, come on, Hannah! Now you’re really lying!”

  “Maybe someday, but right now, honestly, I just want to be a regular kid.”

  “What?” Piper looks dumbfounded. “Why would you want to be regular?”

  “Well, why don’t you?”

  “What, me … be a regular kid?”

  “Regular is not that bad.” I smile.

  “Regular people aren’t special. They’re no­­bodies,” Piper hisses.

  I shrug. “Piper, I feel sorry for you.”

  “Seriously, you feel sorry for me? That’s a laugh and a half.”

  “Being regular means being a nobody?” I can’t help but shake my head. “And who taught you that … your dad?”

  “My dad!” Piper barks. “What does he have to do with anything?”

  “Must be tough living up to Captain Steele’s high expectations every second of the day.”

  “My dad loves me!” Piper screeches.

  “But are you ever allowed to have any fun?”

  “Yes!”

  “Not from what I can see.”

  “Well, that’s rude, and it’s not true!” Piper grabs a Kleenex and dabs the corner of her eye.

  “It is true, and it was rude of you to steal the crown.”

  “Girls! Are you in there?” I hear Patrice calling from outside the bathroom.

  “Um, yeah … one sec,” Piper calls back sweetly.

  “Five minutes!”

  “So, we’re clear, then,” Piper says, her hand pressing on the door. “You’re not going to cause trouble.”

  “Well, it’s not like I have much choice. Like you said, there’s no proof. Plus, it means way more to you than it does to me.”

  “Obviously, it must.” She shrugs, pushing open the door. “And you’re wrong, you know,” she adds, looking back.

  “About what?”

  “My life is perfect!” she snarls.

  The door closes behind her, and suddenly, from somewhere in the bathroom, I hear a girl’s voice.

  “Je ne peux pas le croire!”

  “Who’s there?” I ask.

  “Surprise,” Gabby says, frowning as she emerges from the stall.

  “Oh my gosh! You’re supposed to be in France! I can’t believe you’re here!” I run over to hug her, but her hateful expression makes me stop in my tracks.

  “I can’t believe what I’ve just heard!” she says, angrily pumping soap into her hand. “This isn’t the Piper I told you about. The Piper I know would never do this.”

  I shrug. “Well, somehow she did.”

  She looks up from washing her hands. “Hannah, I don’t know what to say …”

  “There is nothing to say.”

  “Well, I told you she was great, ’cause I really thought she was. Obviously, I was wrong.”

  “Gabby, it’s fine. Now can you please tell me why you’re here?”

  “We can talk about that later,” she says, yanking sheet after sheet of paper towel from the dispenser. “Right now, we have to fix this problem once and for all!”

  “Gabby, it’s over.”

  “It can’t be over!”

  “Trust me; it is. No one saw me with the crown. They were all too busy looking at the shark.”

  “The shark!”

  “Yeah … I’ve got so much to tell you! Oh, and you have to meet my friend Henry!”

  “Henry?”

  “Phillip’s nephew from Australia.”

  “Is he cute?”

  “Um … um … yeah, I guess. If you’re into that tanned surfer-dude look.”

  “Hannah!” A.J. yells from the other side of the door. “Two minutes!”

  “What are you going to do?” Gabby asks, smearing on some lipgloss.

  “Nothing.” I shrug.

  She frowns. “I don’t get it. Why would you let her get away with it?”

  “Gabby, I’ve made mistakes before.”

  “So?”

  “I’ve done things I’m not proud of.”

  Gabby shakes her head angrily. “Oh my gosh, Hannah, so what?”

  “Well, I was forgiven,” I say.

  “You’re not saying that you actually forgive her for what she’s doing to you?”

  “I don’t know, Gabby. It’s just weird. I don’t want to forgive her, but …”

  “Well, Hannah, I’m not as nice as you. If you’re not going to do anything, I guess it’s up to me.”

  15

  Better Late Than Never

  Most of the cast and crew are already seated on the stage. I sit down between A.J. and Henry, and look out over the crowd, which is immense! There are friends and family, photographers, reporters, treasure hunters, Navy personnel, and dignitaries, not to mention the hundreds of spectators who have flown in from all over the world to see our discoveries! This really is a big deal!

  “You know she’s going to make this whole press conference about her,” Henry whispers in my ear.

  “Probably,” I whisper back.

  “How awesome is this?” A.J. exclaims. “Captain Steele smiled three times today. He’s really happy Piper found the crown!”

  “Wow … cool,” Henry sneers.

  I nod. “Yeah, super awesome.”

  “Hannah, what’s wrong?” A.J. asks.

  “Nothing,” I answer.

  “You’re not saying much. Are you bummed that Piper is getting so much attention?”

  Grrr! “No,” I answer.

  “She deserves it, you know. It’s not every day a teenager finds a priceless piece of history.”

  “True,” I say, attempting a smile.

  A.J. grins. “She’s just lucky that way. I don’t know how she does it.”

  Henry scowls at him.

  “Not you, too?” A.J. chuckles. “Guys, we all found the treasure together. It really doesn’t matter who found what. Everything is going to the museum anyway, right?”

  “Exactly!” I smile — for real this time.

  “Okay, places, everyone!” Patrice shouts.

  Piper walks onto the stage, taking a seat beside A.J.

  Beaming with pride, the captain makes his way to the podium.

  “Good afternoon friends, family, and distinguished guests. My name is Captain John Steele, leader of the Queen’s Jewels Treasure-Hunting Expedition. I am delighted to be here today, along with the cast and crew of Teenage Treasure Hunters, to share our amazing discoveries with you. When we started our little quest back in early July, I thought we might find a few gold and silver coins. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever expect to find such an important and priceless piece of history — the Queen’s Crown. As a matter of fact, quite amazingly, until my daughter made the discovery, no one knew this exquisite artifact even existed.” The captain laughs heartily as he waves Piper over to his side. “Please allow me to introduce my pride and joy, the girl with the eagle eye who found this virtually priceless treasure, my cherished daughter, Piper Steele.”

  “How can something be ‘virtually priceless’?” I whisper to Henry.

  Henry shrugs. “I have no idea. If something is virtually priceless, it must have a price.”

  “Quiet. Piper is about to speak,” A.J. scolds.

  “Good afternoon, everyone,” Piper says into the microphone (more quietly than expected). “I’d like to thank my father, Captain Steele, for his ver
y warm welcome. I’m so happy to be here today to tell you about all of our amazing discoveries. As you can see,” she saying, pointing over to the table filled with treasure, “they are all quite stunning pieces, especially … uh … the Queen’s Crown.”

  “The crown that you found?” a voice cries out from the back of the room.

  Piper puts her hand to her forehead and peers out over the crowd. “What?”

  OMG … it’s Gabby, meandering her way up through the spectators and past the press!

  “Gabby!” Piper’s face breaks into a delighted smile. “What are you doing here? I’m so happy you made —”

  I jump up from my seat in panic.

  “Hannah, sit down!” Gabby demands angrily. “I’ve got something to say!”

  “Gabby, it’s fine,” I plead. “Please don’t.”

  “What’s going on?” Piper asks, looking like she’s just had the wind knocked out of her.

  “Yes, what is going on here?” the captain bellows.

  “Nothing is going on.” I laugh. “Gabby, please sit down.”

  She points at my chair and yells, “No, you sit down!” Her face is wild with anger.

  I plunk back down in my seat. I have no idea how this is going to end, but I know it’s not going to be good.

  Flashbulbs are going off like crazy — this is bad.

  “Who really found the crown, Piper?” Gabby yells, grabbing it off the table. “It wasn’t you, was it?” She shakes it high in the air.

  Everyone gasps.

  “Gabby!” the captain yells, jumping from his chair. “What has gotten into you? Give me that crown this instant!”

  “No!” Gabby yells back. “It doesn’t belong to you. It belongs to the museum!”

  “Well, actually, Gabby. That’s not entirely true,” the captain continues, plucking it from her fingers.

  “What?” Piper exclaims.

  “What!” Gabby cries.