The Doggy Divas: Roxy’s Rules

by Lauren Brown

  To make it even worse, the bag of poop she had been collecting throughout the walk went flying. The smell of doggy doo wafted toward her, and she started to gag. Roxy willed herself not to throw up.

  “Uh, missing something?” a deep voice asked from above.

  Roxy opened one eye. A hand was stretched out in front of her.

  “Roxy? Are you okay?” The voice was a lot more urgent and worried now. “Let me help you up.”

  Roxy slowly opened both eyes—it was Matt Billings!

  “Matt, what are you doing here?” Roxy rubbed her eyes and looked around. She was so confused. “Where are the dogs?”

  “Don’t worry, Roxy,” Matt laughed. “The dogs are fine. This troublemaker Chloe is torturing Tyler while everyone else is enjoying their treats. I see Chloe and Tyler get into it at the dog park all the time.”

  “Where did you come from?” Roxy asked.

  “I’d just started my morning run when I noticed a doggie pileup over here. I thought that was you underneath them all, but I wasn’t sure,” Matt said while helping Roxy get untangled. “Did you kidnap all these puppies?”

  “Matt! I didn’t steal these dogs. Don’t you remember that I have a dog-walking business?” Roxy blushed.

  “I’m kidding. Remember when we used to be able to joke?” he asked softly, and his eyes clouded over for a second. “I still have to hire you to walk Banjo.”

  “I don’t know…you may want Kim to take care of him instead of me,” Roxy said while quickly taking a head count to make sure none of the dogs had escaped. “She’s much better at handling these guys.”

  “I don’t know about that,” Matt said. “I want you.”

  Roxy smiled and didn’t say anything in return. She felt lighter than air.

  “Well, well, well! What do we have going on here, Roxy?” Liz’s voice boomed out of nowhere. “Flirting and socializing is not what I pay you to do. I think that’s at least another five dollars off my walk this morning”

  Liz and Jessica were standing on the street corner with their hands on their hips. They had obviously been spying on Roxy and had heard the entire exchange between her and Matt.

  “Didn’t we discuss that Matt is off limits?” Liz asked curtly. “When will you ever learn?”

  “Is Matt your personal property?” Roxy demanded. She was sick of being nice. She didn’t care anymore how mean Liz could be. “I think he can speak for himself.”

  “I know that Matt didn’t kiss you on purpose. I know that you made him do it because you were jealous,” Liz sneered.

  “Jealous of what?” Roxy asked.

  Matt just stood there and stared at the ground. He didn’t say a word. The silence was deafening until someone yelling in the distance caught everyone’s attention.

  “Roxy! Hey, Roxy! Wait up! Rooooxxxxyyyy!”

  It was Kim and Georgia. Georgia had on a Mets baseball cap, black yoga pants, and a red T-shirt. She was walking Melody, a big, shaggy white dog that looked like a giant mop. Kim was right behind her, and Roxy could barely look at her ensemble.

  Kim was wearing a stained T-shirt with a faded picture of a Labrador retriever ironed onto it. A tool belt hung from her waist and held all her doggie supplies. To complete the look, a whistle—like the gym teacher’s—dangled around Kim’s neck. Roxy was dumbfounded. She wanted to pretend she didn’t see Kim and Georgia, but it was too late.

  “Roxy, what’s going on here?” Georgia asked breathlessly as she ran over. Kim barely said hello. Instead, she dashed over to Chloe, stroked her head, and whispered in her ear. In less than thirty seconds, Chloe sat obediently for the first time all morning.

  “I thought you guys were dog walkers, not plumbers!” Liz said while laughing hysterically at Kim’s outfit. Jessica pulled out her phone and snapped a picture.

  Kim pretended she couldn’t hear and just continued to calm down the dogs. Roxy was sure she saw a flash of hurt cross Kim’s face.

  “Oh, so do our outfits not meet beauty-pageant standards?” Georgia lashed back. “Or sorry, my bad, did we forget to consult the Fashion Bible this morning?”

  “That’s it. You’re walking my dog for free from now on,” Liz insisted. “Insulting your clients? Wasting valuable time when you could have had little Roxie home by now? You’re lucky I don’t tell Principal West…and I can’t promise I won’t tweet about this incident unless my walks are on the house.”

  Roxy didn’t move a muscle. She wanted to stand up to Liz. She wanted to defend Kim and Georgia. But she just couldn’t get the words out.

  “Well, then, I guess we agree. I’ll bring little Roxie home since it would take you another eight hours at this rate and it’s almost time for school,” Liz said as she grabbed little Roxie away from Kim. “This better not happen again.”

  Liz and Jessica headed toward the house. Roxy, Kim, Georgia, Matt, and the rest of the dogs just stood there and stared at each other in silence.

  “Well, guys, I have to go,” Matt said quietly. “I need to walk Banjo, but I’ll ask my mom if you can start walking him. Roxy, I’ll talk to you later?”

  Roxy nodded and watched him run off.

  “What was that all about?” Georgia asked. “Why were you so quiet? Nice of you to stand up for us!”

  “I thought we were going to ‘train her with kindness,’” Roxy cried. “And I’m sorry, but no more T-shirts with animal pictures, Kim!”

  “Oh, I’m sorry that we don’t follow Roxy’s Rules when it comes to fashion, friends, or anything else for that matter,” Georgia exclaimed. “I think that Kim can do whatever she wants and absolutely wear whatever she wants. We’d be lost without her.”

  “That’s not true…there’s no such thing as Roxy’s Rules.” Roxy felt tears start to well up in her eyes. She tried to fight them because the last thing she needed was for Georgia to think she was a crybaby on top of everything else she probably thought about her.

  “No, but you still care way too much what that teen queen Liz Craft thinks about you,” Georgia huffed. “Well, guess what? I don’t care how many tiaras she has in her bedroom—she is not the ruler of the Doggy Divas! Right, Kim?”

  Kim was silent for almost a full minute before she spoke. “Does it matter what I think? Liz is awful, but she could care less about me. I just want to walk dogs. In fact, I have a few notes about the way you two were handling your dogs for later…”

  Roxy and Georgia tried to suppress their laughter. Leave it to Kim to care more about the dogs than their social status!

  “Okay, guys, I have to take the rest of these dogs home so I can get to school.” Roxy stood up and started untangling the dogs, with Kim’s help. “I’m sorry—I really am, but let’s just try to get past this. Liz wants us to fight, and we can’t let her win. Let’s catch up at lunch, okay?”

  “Yeah, I’m sorry too,” Georgia said. “I just don’t like having Liz all up in our business.”

  “Just give it time,” Roxy sighed. “Let’s just try to stay positive until then.”

  DOGGY CONFESSIONAL

  TYLER

  Did Cupid come to town? First I have that little minx Chloe following me around with love-struck eyes. I've told her that I don't want anything serious. Girls! It's not that she isn't a cutie-pie, but I like to keep my options open. Commitment is definitely not for the weak at heart.

  But what's the deal with my new dog walker, Roxy, and that jock Matt Billings who keeps hanging around? You can tell that Matt wants her to be his girlfriend, but I can smell the fear on him. In the dog world, you go after what you want. Fight or flight! If Matt likes Roxy, he's going to have to fight for her. If not, he should just let her go.

  Humans! They're so complicated!

  Chapter Eleven

  Roxy raced home from her dog-walking disaster, took the stairs two at a time to her room, and threw on a pair of black tight
s and the first oversized tunic that she saw hanging in her closet. She dabbed on a hint of mascara in a desperate attempt to make her eyes look brighter and less tired.

  The Doggy Divas had been in business for two weeks, and Roxy wasn’t sure how much longer she could handle waking up early to walk dogs, spending all day at school, coming home, walking even more dogs, and keeping up her grades. At least Principal West was allowing the Doggy Divas to get to school a few minutes late because the regular dog walkers were still on strike.

  Roxy logged onto her laptop to quickly update the Doggy Diva Twitter feed before dashing out the door to meet her dad at the car.

  @MissDoggyDiva: See you at lunch to book appointments, sell our super-sweet sweaters, and more!

  Roxy then quickly attempted to repair the nail that the dogs had broken that morning by filing it down and plastering a thick coat of nail polish on it. The polished nail looked so thick and uneven that she just removed the polish from all of her nails. Roxy admitted nail defeat—there was no use trying to maintain a manicure around so many dogs.

  Her laptop let out a little ring, announcing a response to her post!

  @TIARALIZ: DDs are lame. Dogs peeing on my terrace = bad!

  Roxy wanted to hit “Delete” and get rid of Liz’s comment, but she decided to leave that up to a vote with the other two girls. After all, there were three VPs in this business.

  “Roxy!” her dad called from the bottom of the stairs. “We’re leaving now, or you’re walking—your choice!”

  Roxy ran a quick brush through her hair and glanced in the mirror. She dabbed more blush on each cheek.

  Good enough! she thought as she ran down to the car. Roxy was way too tired for any more walking, so she needed to make sure she got a ride. Her dad was already in the driver’s seat with the engine started.

  Phew! Just in time!

  Roxy got in the backseat, and her dad rolled his eyes. With a second thought, she threw open the door and jumped into the front seat next to him. He gave her a quick smile.

  As soon as they pulled out of the driveway, Roxy’s BlackBerry lit up with emails and texts from prospective clients.

  She was so focused on reading and responding to every message that she didn’t realize her dad was trying to talk to her.

  “Earth to Roxy! Come in…earth to Roxy!” her dad laughed.

  “Huh?” Roxy barely raised her head as she typed fast and furiously on the tiny keypad of her phone. “I have a lot of emails here. I’m sorry!”

  “That’s okay, Pumpkin,” her dad said. “I was just saying that the neighborhood looks a lot better, and I’m proud of you for lending a hand. You must have gotten the business genes from your grandpa!”

  “What are you talking about?” Roxy asked. She had known her parents would worry about her grades, ask way too many questions, and want to get involved.

  “The Doggy Divas? Isn’t that you?” her dad asked with a chuckle. “You could have told your mother and me. We’re so proud of you for taking the initiative to help out the town!”

  “How did you know? It wasn’t a secret. I just wasn’t sure what you and Mom would say…”

  “I may seem like I was born in the 1800s, but I do log onto the Internet every now and then,” her dad admitted. “I assume that Liz and little Roxie are a part of this too?”

  “Well, not exactly,” Roxy admitted. “I’m not sure that we’ll be hanging out so much anymore. She’s involved with her pageants, and I have this business…”

  “Well, friendships do change. It’s only natural to grow apart as you get older and develop new interests,” her dad said. “I don’t think that you should worry about it too much. It happens to the best of friends.”

  Roxy thought about her dad’s words as she walked from his car to her locker.

  It happens to the best of friends…but were Liz and I ever truly best friends?

  Kim and Georgia were both waiting for her. Roxy was surprised at how happy and excited she was to see them.

  I guess I’ve made some new friends after all!

  Roxy couldn’t help but notice that Kim was wearing a splash of perfume and a hint of clear lip gloss. That was a much needed improvement after her catastrophic outfit two weeks ago. Roxy decided she didn’t want to embarrass Kim by calling attention to it, but she was impressed by the effort.

  “I saw Liz’s response to your tweet,” Georgia said hurriedly. “I think we should keep it up there but respond with all the ways that she is a fake, a pageant fraud…maybe send an anonymous letter to the officials of her next pageant.”

  “And stoop to her level?” Roxy asked. “No. My email has been blowing up all morning with new business requests. I don’t really think we have to worry. Liz can try all she wants to ruin this for us, but her attempts aren’t working.”

  “I’m almost finished with my new treat recipe, so we can sell treats soon too,” Kim said as she set down a bowl of water for a stray mutt roaming the halls. Dogs were still all over the school, even though technically Principal West had never allowed that beyond the one disastrous Bring Your Dog to School Day.

  “With all this business, we’ll have a lot to discuss at our meeting today!” Roxy declared. “I’ll see you all at Georgia’s after your last walk.”

  Roxy spent the rest of her day booking appointments and scheduling services. The Doggy Divas were still mini-celebrities at Monroe Middle School, and Roxy loved every minute of their newfound fame. It was way better than being co-ruler of the seventh grade with Liz. Roxy finally had a real say in her own life.

  Roxy’s after-school walks were a breeze compared to her past few morning walks. Chloe had gotten into the garbage during the day and, according to her owner, wasn’t feeling well and needed to stay home. Roxy found the dogs much easier to manage without Chloe and Tyler running circles around her.

  But the biggest relief was that Liz was at pageant training. Rosie, the Crafts’ housekeeper—who barely spoke English—handed Roxy little Roxie and didn’t say a word. Needless to say, Roxy was in a great mood when she knocked on the front door of the Sweeney house for the latest Doggy Diva meeting.

  “Hello!” Georgia said with a smile as she swung the heavy oak door open. “Come in. Do you want a cup of coffee?”

  Roxy only had a sip or two of coffee every now and then during breakfast when her parents weren’t looking. The bittersweet taste wasn’t exactly her most favorite thing. Roxy smelled a pot brewing as she followed Georgia into the kitchen. Kim was sitting at the table with Izzy, Dixie, and Jazzy curled up on her lap. The Chihuahuas were nipping at her untied shoelaces from their spot on the floor.

  “You drink coffee?” Roxy asked. “I don’t even know how to use the machine.”

  “I love coffee. My parents get home from work super-late and still have a ton of work to do, so I make it for them every night. I liked the smell so I started drinking it too.” Georgia shrugged as she added cream and sugar to a cup, poured in the fresh brew, and handed the cup to Roxy. “Try it—I make the best coffee in Monroe County, according to my mom.”

  “I believe her,” Roxy said as she pushed the piping-hot cup away with a giggle. “But, no thanks.”

  “I’m surprised Liz never made you hang out at trendy coffeehouses while sipping lattes and nibbling on scones,” Georgia said as she sat down with the girls at the table. “I know how sophisticated Liz is supposed to be and all.”

  “Do we really have to bash Liz every five minutes?” Roxy asked. She wasn’t defending Liz—she was just sick of always talking about her. “We have a lot of more important and way more interesting things to discuss.”

  “Well, sorry,” Georgia said as she took Dixie from Kim and let the dog lap a few sips of coffee from her mug.

  “Um, Georgia…coffee really isn’t the best thing…” Kim interjected as she slid the cup away from Dixie’s reach. Dixie w
himpered and jumped off Georgia’s lap and ran into the other room.

  “I think we’re doing so great—even with Liz trying to interfere with our success—that it really hasn’t mattered,” Roxy explained. “I know you don’t like her. We should just let it be.”

  “Then can you just explain why you’re here with us and not ruling the school with that tiara-wearing champ?” Georgia asked as she cupped her mug in both hands and took a slow sip. “I mean, the second you guys become BFFs again, the Doggy Divas is over, right?”

  “Do you think you’ll ever be friends again?” Kim asked with a bit of panic in her tone before Roxy could answer Georgia.

  “I honestly don’t know if we’ll ever be friends again, but if we are, that definitely doesn’t mean the end of the Doggy Divas,” Roxy said. “Do you really think I would do that to you guys?”

  “Well, let’s be honest here—you and Liz didn’t exactly help my social life blossom last year,” Georgia said. “I wasn’t trying to be the weird new girl that no one ever talked to.”

  “You weren’t nice to me either,” Kim said softly. “I mean, no one is ever really that nice to me…but you guys were the worst.”

  Roxy sank down in her seat and put her chin on the table. She knew that Kim and Georgia were right. She had wondered if they would confront her about this one day. She just hadn’t thought that would happen so soon.

  “Look, I apologize. I really do,” Roxy said softly. “Liz and I had been best friends since elementary school, so I just always followed her lead. I guess I really didn’t know any better or realize she wasn’t very nice. I wanted to be popular. I’m starting to realize that maybe everyone didn’t think we were so amazing after all.”

  “Liz is just really mean,” Kim said. “She’s what they would call the alpha dog. She’s the leader, and the other dogs accept it whether they want to or not because they like having someone tell them what to do.”