The Gossip File

by Anna Staniszewski

  Copyright © 2015 by Anna Staniszewski

  Cover and internal design © 2015 by Sourcebooks, Inc.

  Cover design by Regina Flath

  Cover image © Michael Heath/Shannon and Associates

  Sourcebooks and the colophon are registered trademarks of Sourcebooks, Inc.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems—except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews—without permission in writing from its publisher, Sourcebooks, Inc.

  The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

  Published by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, an imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc.

  P.O. Box 4410, Naperville, Illinois 60567-4410

  (630) 961-3900

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  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Staniszewski, Anna.

  The Gossip File / Anna Staniszewski.

  pages cm

  Summary: Rachel Lee has looked forward to relaxing for two weeks at a Florida resort with her father, but when his girlfriend asks her to help in a cafe, Rachel adopts a “cool” new persona, Ava, to fit in with her older co-workers, until they ask her to help with their Gossip File.

  [1. Gossip—Fiction. 2. Conduct of life—Fiction. 3. Popularity—Fiction. 4. Fathers and daughters—Fiction. 5. Dating (Social customs)—Fiction. 6. Single-parent families—Fiction. 7. Waiters and waitresses—Fiction.] I. Title.

  PZ7.S78685Gos 2015

  [Fic]—dc23

  2014030985

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  Contents

  Front Cover

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Back Cover

  For anyone who’s ever wished to be someone else.

  Chapter 1

  “Rachel, how many rocks did you put in this suitcase?” Mom asks as she drags my luggage out of the back of her dented minivan. Evan, my too-cute-for-words boyfriend, rushes over to help ease the ancient bag to the curb in front of the airport terminal. The suitcase used to belong to Mom, back when she still traveled to places other than Connecticut to visit her sister.

  “Here you go, Booger Crap,” Evan says as he brings the bag over.

  I’m so used to his goofy nickname for me that I don’t even roll my eyes this time. Instead, I give him a shy smile and say, “Thanks.”

  When Evan grins back at me, his green eyes don’t twinkle like they usually do. We’re both pretending that me being away for two weeks won’t be a big deal, but it stinks that I’m leaving when things are finally good between us. Plus, I think he’s been gearing up to kiss me all week. But I guess that will have to wait until I get back from visiting my dad in Florida. I seriously doubt my first kiss is going to happen at the airport in front of my mom.

  Oh my goldfish. What if that’s what Evan’s planning? My mom will never let me live that down! My hands are shaking as I grab the suitcase and hurry through the parking garage.

  I don’t slow down until I get to the airline check-in counter. I’ve been trying not to freak out about the idea of traveling by myself, but seeing all those strangers with suitcases makes my nerves go into overdrive. With my luck, I’ll accidentally wind up in Omaha instead of Orlando.

  Mom must notice that my eyes are about to pop out of my head because she puts her hand on my shoulder and asks, “Are you sure about this?”

  I push the ball of fear as far down into my stomach as I can. I’ve been dreaming of going to Disney World with my dad since I was six years old. I can’t pass that up just because I’m scared of flying alone. “Yup. Chances are I won’t die in a fiery plane crash, right?”

  Mom shakes her head. “Is that supposed to be comforting? By the way, I checked the weather report in Florida this morning. It’s going to be near a hundred degrees.” She wipes her forehead as if the very thought is making her sweat.

  “It was ninety here the other day,” I point out. “Besides, I’m sure Dad has air-conditioning.”

  Okay, Florida in the summer might not be ideal, but with school starting in a few weeks, it’ll be nice to finally get a vacation. I’ve spent all summer working for my mom’s cleaning business, taking pastry classes, and organizing baking competitions (not to mention pulling pranks on people and making a general mess out of everything). It’ll be a relief to hang out by the pool, relax, and spend some much-needed quality time with my dad.

  Evan hangs back while my mom and I go check in at the airline counter. We stand in line for a few minutes until the ticket agent waves us forward without even looking up at us.

  “What’s your destination today?” he drones.

  “Omaha,” I blurt out, handing over the flight confirmation my mom gave me.

  The man finally glances up at me. “What was that?”

  “I mean Orlando,” I say. “Orlando! Where SeaWorld is with all the whales!”

  He raises an eyebrow and then looks at my mom. “And who’s this?”

  “I’m her mother,” Mom jumps in. “I’ll be escorting her to the gate, so I believe I’ll need a pass to get through security.”

  The man takes her driver’s license and studies it for a long time. Then he looks at Mom again, and I can tell they’re coming, the words that always make my stomach clench into a ball.

  “She doesn’t look like you,” he says.

  “She’s my daughter,” Mom says, putting a protective arm around me. “But she looks like her father. He’s Korean.”

  The man nods, but I can tell he’s still not sure about us. Does he think my mom stole me or something? Or that because I don’t have blond hair like she does, that means we’re trying to sneak her into the airport?

  Just when I think my stomach might clench itself into a black hole, the man sighs and grabs my suitcase. Then he hands me an enormous badge that I have to wear around my neck. It practically screams UNACCOMPANIED MINOR FLYING ALONE.

  Finally, we get to the security checkpoint. That means it’s time to say good-bye to Evan.

  As I shuffle over to him,
it hits me that I haven’t thought through this dropping-off-at-the-airport plan. When Evan volunteered to come along, I was excited that he wanted to see me off like a real boyfriend would. I didn’t consider the fact that he’s going to have to ride all the way back to his house alone with my mom. What on earth will they talk about?

  “So,” he says. “I guess you have to go now, huh?”

  I nod. “They’re going to start boarding soon.”

  “Well.” He looks down at his sneakers. “Text me when you land so I know you got there, okay?”

  “I will.”

  When he glances up at me, I suck in a breath. He has a total “I’m going to kiss you” look on his face. This is really going to happen!

  But wait. My mom is right there. Even though she’s not looking in my direction—probably to give us some privacy—it still feels like her eyes are lasering into me.

  Evan takes a step forward, and I start to panic. What do I do?

  “If you need something to talk to my mom about on the way home,” I find myself saying, “ask her about music from when she was a kid. She won’t stop babbling for hours.”

  Evan’s forehead crinkles. “Okay. Thanks for the tip.”

  Gah! Why does this have to be so awkward? Why can’t I be brave like my best friend Marisol? She’d kiss the guy and be done with it, no matter who was watching.

  “Anyway,” he adds. “Have fun. I’ll—I’ll miss you.”

  My face goes hot. “I’ll miss you too,” I whisper.

  And then I feel it. Evan’s face inching toward mine. The scent of peppermint on his breath and the heat off his skin getting closer and closer. My mind goes blank for a second. I can’t believe it. My first kiss is really going to happen…in front of my mom!

  Just as Evan’s lips are about to brush mine, I jerk my head sideways. All Evan’s mouth finds is my ear.

  Holy poached watermelon. Evan Riley tried to kiss me. And I turned away!

  He coughs and steps back. “Um, so have fun,” he says, his face flushing bright pink.

  “I–I’m sorry. It’s not…with my mom here…”

  Why did my stupid head have to flinch? So what if Mom’s right there? She’s not even watching! This could have been the perfect moment, and I ruined it!

  Maybe I can fix it. If I lean in and kiss him, then everything will be okay. Do it, I tell myself.

  “Rachel!” Mom calls over her shoulder. “It’s time to go.”

  The moment shatters like a dropped candy cane. Evan and I look at each other for a long second.

  “I wish I didn’t have to go,” I say softly. “I wish…” If only I could be the kind of person who doesn’t care what people think, the kind who does what she wants. But I think that Rachel only exists in an alternate universe where everybody eats cupcakes for breakfast and nobody ever has to go to gym class.

  “It’s okay,” Evan says, reaching out his finger to give my nose an affectionate tap. “Two weeks isn’t that long.”

  I know he’s right, but it still feels like I took our perfect airport good-bye and turned it on its ear. Literally.

  I’m still shaking as my mom and I go through the security checkpoint. When we get to the gate, it’s time to say yet another good-bye.

  My mom pulls me into a hug and starts sobbing into my hair.

  “Mom,” I say meekly. I try to think of something comforting to say, but I always freeze up when people get really emotional. “Um, at least there aren’t any sharks in Orlando, so you don’t have to worry about me being a shark-attack victim, right?”

  She lets out a little laugh and pulls away. “It’s not even on the water,” she says, wiping her eyes.

  “Exactly. No sharks. So I’ll be fine. Will you be okay?”

  Mom nods as she keeps sniffling. “I’ll have plenty to keep me busy with apartment hunting and all the new Ladybug Cleaners clients.” She leans in and kisses the top of my head. “Don’t worry about me. Just have fun with your dad.”

  I feel bad that Mom is going to be working her buttons off and looking for apartments for us while I’m on vacation, but I couldn’t say no when my dad asked me to visit. Besides, it might be months before we actually sell our house, so I doubt Mom will find a new place without me.

  “I love you,” she adds. “You know, I was about your age when I went on my first trip away from home. I found out so much about myself that summer. The experience showed me what kind of person I could be.”

  Oh boy. Now Mom’s really getting cheesy. “Okay. I should go.” I give her one last hug. If we draw this out any longer, I’m going to start crying too.

  When Mom finally lets me go, I can’t help peering back the way we came, even though Evan must be halfway across the airport by now.

  I should feel like I’m at the start of an adventure. I should be excited to finally be leaving home and seeing my dad. But I can’t help wishing I could have one more minute in my regular life before I go.

  Chapter 2

  After I spend the first hour of the flight to Florida replaying the world’s worst kiss over and over in my head—ugh!—I finally switch to worrying about meeting my dad’s girlfriend. What if she’s an evil stepmother type, complete with British accent and nasty dog? Or what if she’s a crazy Elvis impersonator? I can’t deal with my dad kissing someone who has bigger sideburns than he does. Really, I don’t think I can deal with my dad kissing anyone. Period.

  Mom’s new boyfriend is my middle school principal, which was awkward at first, but at least I had an idea of the kind of person he was. Ellie is a total question mark.

  I try to distract myself by thinking about all the places I can’t wait to visit with Dad over the next two weeks. When I was little, my perfect Florida vacation involved both of my parents taking me to every possible Orlando theme park. It didn’t factor in the fact that my parents would be legally separated or that I’d be flying there by myself. Even though it’s not the exact trip I always imagined, I’m determined to make the best of it.

  By the time we land, I’m so anxious and excited that my stomach feels like it’s a big bowl of jiggly pudding. It doesn’t help that my “unaccompanied minor” badge has made the flight attendants treat me like a toddler throughout the whole flight. I’m starting to wonder if I’m even capable of walking out of the plane on my own or if it’s better if they put me in a stroller.

  I’m seriously considering darting back to the plane and begging the pilot to take me home when I spot my dad waiting for me at the gate. All my nervousness melts away the instant I see him grinning back at me.

  “Dad!” I squeal. Even though I saw him a couple of weeks ago, his quick visit didn’t do much to cure my withdrawal. I drop my bag and launch myself into his arms.

  “I’m so happy to see you, Rachel Roo,” he says, squeezing me tight. Then he shows one of the flight attendants his pass and ID, like he’s checking me out of the library.

  “Where’s Ellie?” I ask as Dad grabs my carry-on. After all those hours of worrying, I’m almost disappointed not to have met her yet. Maybe she’s outside with her pack of evil dogs. They probably don’t let you park those in the garage.

  “She’s waiting for us by the baggage claim,” he says.

  I practically count each step as we make our way there, part of me enjoying that for now I have my dad to myself, the other part of me anxious to get the Big Meeting over with. I notice, suddenly, that my dad looks a lot more put together than he usually does. Instead of faded khakis and a wrinkled polo shirt, his clothes look pressed and brand-new. I have a feeling this must be Ellie’s influence.

  “Wow, look. Palm trees!” I cry, spotting a cluster of them through the airport window.

  My dad smiles. “I’m glad you’re finally getting to see the world outside New England.”

  When we get to the baggage claim, my dad waves to a petite woman st
anding nearby. “Rachel,” he says, “this is Ellie.”

  She looks head-to-toe fancy, from her perfectly bobbed hair to her flowy blouse and linen pants. My fashion-obsessed best friend, Marisol, would totally approve. I’m suddenly self-conscious about my faded T-shirt and wrinkled shorts. Why couldn’t I have put on a dress or something?

  Ellie rushes over, smiling like the sun. “I’m so glad to meet you!” she says with a slight southern accent as she furiously shakes my hand. Even her perfume smells expensive. I can tell right away why my dad likes her. She’s as bubbly and friendly as he is. No sideburns or demon dogs. I feel myself relaxing as she beams at me.

  Then Ellie turns and waves to a skinny boy who’s about twelve, with a mop of hair hanging in his eyes and an iPad clutched in his hands.

  “And this is my son, Caleb,” Ellie says.

  My mouth flops open. What the Shrek? Ellie has a son?

  Caleb does a one-shoulder shrug-wave without actually looking up from his tablet. I guess I would think it was rude if I wasn’t also being totally rude from shock. I look at my dad, but he’s grinning back at me like everything is normal. Did he purposely not tell me about Caleb, or did he forget to mention him? Dad can be pretty scatterbrained sometimes, but this is big even for him.

  “Hey,” I finally manage to choke out.

  Caleb shrugs again and starts frantically clicking something on his screen. I assume he’s playing a game, although I can’t tell what kind.

  “Now,” says Ellie, clapping her hands. Considering how many rings she’s wearing, I can’t help wondering if it hurts. “Let’s get you all settled at my place.”

  “Your place?” I say as we start walking toward the exit. “I thought I was staying at my dad’s apartment.”

  “Not anymore!” Ellie chirps over her shoulder. “I told your father there was no way I’d let you sleep in that tiny box on my watch!”

  “It’s not that bad—” Dad breaks in, but Ellie keeps going.

  “The resort is next door to where Caleb and I live, so you’ll be able to relax there while your father and I are at work.”

  “Rachel, anything you want to say to Ellie?” my dad asks softly.