Last Dance

by Melody Carlson

“So anyway,” Daisy continued, “Madison is feeling really confident, and according to Lucy, my little sister, she is pulling out all the stops tomorrow. Lucy says Madison is going to win prom queen.”

  “Lucy says?” DJ made a face. “No offense, Daisy but Lucy is in middle school…how can she possibly know who’s going to win?”

  Daisy kind of shrugged. “I don’t know…but I just thought everyone should know.”

  “The point is,” Eliza said, “I’m going to have to work hard to get votes tomorrow. And I appreciate any help you guys can give me. I had planned to have some really awesome giveaways for the last day, but because of, well, everything…that’s not happening.” She pointed to a couple of grocery bags. “But I did grab these things this afternoon.”

  “What did you get?” DJ asked.

  Eliza reached into the bag and pulled out some packages of candy. “Not very polished, but I thought it was better than nothing.”

  “Hey, a lot of kids will think it’s perfect,” DJ assured her.

  Then Kriti and Daisy began scheduling the girls to manage the campaign tables before school and at noon. After that, the voting would begin.

  “I just want to thank you all,” Eliza said finally. “You have no idea how much your support means to me. And even if I don’t win, I’ll always remember that you girls were backing me. Thanks!”

  On Friday morning, to help get things set up for Eliza, they all left for school earlier than usual. As she drove, DJ tried to ignore Casey’s complaints from the backseat. “I don’t see why we’re all suddenly doing backflips for Eliza,” she groused. “I mean, just because she’s all goodness and light now. You can bet she’ll return to her old spoiled self as soon as that crown’s on her head.”

  “It’s just one day,” DJ told her. “Can’t you let it go?”

  “I just don’t get why you’re all being so—”

  “We understand that you don’t get it,” Taylor told her. “But why don’t you just chill, okay?”

  Casey growled, but kept her mouth shut.

  “That’s better,” DJ told her.

  “Yes, little Miss Sunshine,” Taylor teased, “if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.”

  The girls went into school together and immediately began setting up Eliza’s tables. Rhiannon arranged the colorful packages of candy, fanning them out to make a rainbow. Everyone had on an Eliza button and some of the girls were even wearing the pink Queen Eliza T-shirts. As students began to arrive, it was clear that they were surprised to see that Eliza was back in the running. Rumors had abounded that she was out of the race for good.

  DJ smiled at Monica as she picked up a bag of M&Ms. “Eliza is back and she’s strong. But she needs your vote.”

  “Don’t forget to vote,” Taylor told a guy who was pocketing a Snickers bar.

  “The grocery store candy seems to be more popular than the fancy stuff,” DJ said quietly.

  “You know what they say.” Taylor winked. “Ninety percent of the people have ten percent of the taste. And ten percent of the people have ninety percent of the taste.”

  DJ considered that. “I guess that puts me in the ninetieth percentile.”

  Taylor just laughed.

  “Oh, oh.” DJ nodded toward Madison, who was approaching. “Trouble this way comes.”

  “What are you guys doing?” Madison demanded.

  “Campaigning.” DJ gave her a big smile.

  “But Eliza’s out of the race.”

  “What made you think that?” Taylor asked.

  “The fact that she left town and wasn’t coming back.”

  “Well, she’s baaa-ack,” DJ said in a bad Schwarzenegger imitation.

  “She might be back, but she’s not on the ballot.” Madison smiled smugly and walked away.

  DJ and Taylor looked at each other.

  “She’s not on the ballot?” Taylor frowned. “How can that be?”

  “I don’t know.” DJ stood. “But I’m going to find out.”

  Taylor nodded. “And I’ll stay here and keep giving goodies to the kiddies.”

  DJ hurried down the hall to the table that Daisy and Eliza were manning and told them what Madison had just said.

  “No way!” Daisy stood up and clenched her fists.

  “That’s what she said.”

  “But that’s not fair,” Eliza told them. “I never asked to be removed from the ballot. How can they take my name off just like that? I’m going to get to the bottom of this.”

  Eliza had a fair amount of people gathered around her table, so DJ told her to stay put. “I’ll go to the office and try to find out what’s going on. You keep campaigning.”

  “Thanks.” Eliza gave her a bright princess smile.

  DJ ran into Conner on her way to the office. “Hey, what’s the hurry?” he asked. She quickly explained, and he offered to come with her. Soon they were standing in front of the vice principal’s desk.

  “Can we speak with you, Mr. Van Duyn?” DJ began.

  “Two of my favorite students.” He smiled. “Of course. Take a seat.”

  They sat down, and DJ quickly explained the situation, trying to give enough details without giving away too much.

  “I was aware that Eliza Wilton’s name had been removed from the ballot,” he admitted.

  “But why?” demanded DJ.

  “It was brought to our attention that she has been truant.”

  DJ blinked. “Truant?”

  “She has quite a number of unexcused absences.”

  “You mean this last week?” asked DJ.

  “I couldn’t say for sure.”

  “Well, that has to be it,” DJ told him. “Because Eliza hasn’t missed any school until now. And those should be excused.”

  “Apparently, they’re not.”

  “But what if they were?” Conner asked.

  “I’m afraid it’s too late for that.” Just as he said this, the first bell rang. “And speaking of late…” He stood and smiled sadly. “I’m sorry I can’t be of more help.”

  DJ and Conner both stood. DJ felt like screaming at the thick-headed vice principal, but she knew that wouldn’t help. “Thanks anyway,” she told him crisply.

  “What now?” Conner asked as they left the office.

  DJ thought for a moment. “I’ll talk to Mrs. Seibert,” she said. “You go ahead to class and I’ll see what I can do.”

  Fortunately, Mrs. Seibert was much more reasonable. DJ had barely begun to explain the dilemma when Mrs. Seibert got the whole picture. “Of course Eliza will be excused. Under the circumstances, it’s completely understandable.”

  “And her mother is here in Crescent Cove,” DJ told her. “I’m sure she could write a letter.”

  “I’m not even sure that’s necessary. A phone call should be sufficient.” Mrs. Seibert looked puzzled. “In fact, I’m surprised that Eliza’s absences even made it onto the radar…” She paused to look out the one-way glass window, then chuckled.

  DJ turned to see Tina Clark working the front desk. Her first class must be as an office assistant. That’s when the light went on. “I get it!” DJ smacked her forehead. “Tina must’ve turned Eliza in.”

  “We don’t know that for sure,” Mrs. Seibert said. “But don’t worry, Eliza’s name will be on the ballot.”

  “Thank you!”

  Mrs. Seibert smiled at DJ. “Eliza is lucky to have such a good friend.”

  DJ just shrugged. “I haven’t always been such a good friend.”

  “Friendship is one of those things…where there’s always room for improvement.” She handed DJ a slip of paper. “Here’s your tardy excuse. You better scoot off to class.”

  DJ thought about what Mrs. Seibert had just said about friendship. It did seem to be true. It was like you could never really get being a friend down pat—probably because people were always changing. As a result, friendships changed too. In fact, it seemed that the friendships that didn’t change, the ones that remai
ned stagnant and old…they were probably the most at risk of disintegrating.

  14

  DJ DECIDED TO KEEP HER SUSPICIONS TO HERSELF. at least until they were sure Tina was the one who’d “ratted out” Eliza for truancy. And considering how tight the tensions about the prom queen race were getting, waiting was probably for the best.

  “It’s too bad that the election got so vicious,” Rhiannon said at lunch. They’d been discussing the fact that someone had defaced a lot of Eliza’s posters by drawing black mustaches, eyebrows, glasses, and spots on her photos.

  “I agree,” Eliza said. “In fact, I’m going to attempt a peace offering.” She then stood up and walked over to the next table, where Madison and her friends were sitting. Suddenly the whole cafeteria got very quiet and it seemed that all eyes were on Eliza. Everyone probably expected to witness a hair-pulling catfight.

  “Madison,” Eliza said in a clear voice. “I know we’ve had our differences, but I just want to say that I harbor no ill feelings.” Then Eliza stuck out her hand.

  Madison was clearly caught off guard, but then she smiled in a catty way. “Very smooth, Eliza,” she said loudly. “A last-minute attempt to get attention and gain a few votes.” She shook Eliza’s hand. “Unfortunately, I’m sure that most people will see through your little sham. We all know that you only care about one thing.” She turned to her friends. “Isn’t that right?” They laughed. “Your only goal is to have every single one of us bow down and kiss your feet.” They laughed even louder. “Well, that ain’t gonna happen!” And then her table cheered.

  Eliza looked flustered. Without saying a word, she turned and walked out of the cafeteria. DJ felt sorry for her. But she knew that Eliza must’ve stepped into that knowing it could blow up in her face. And again, DJ wondered what made girls choose to campaign for things like prom queen. Oh, sure, DJ had been elected homecoming queen. But she’d had little to do with that crazy last-minute write-in campaign, and she’d been more shocked than anyone when she’d actually won—beating both Madison and Eliza. But to run for a queen’s crown on purpose? Well, wasn’t that sort of asking for trouble?

  “Excuse me for being late,” Grandmother said as she joined them at the breakfast table on Saturday. “I just had a phone call from Dylan Marceau. He called to say that DJ and Taylor’s prom dresses should arrive here by noon.”

  “Well, that’s a relief,” Taylor said as she refilled her coffee cup. “I thought I was going to have to wear my new Jimmy Choos with my slip.”

  “I hope they’ll fit properly,” Grandmother said as she opened her napkin. “If not, perhaps Rhiannon could help out.”

  “That’s cutting it pretty close,” Eliza said.

  “Knowing Dylan, the gowns will fit perfectly,” Rhiannon assured them. “He has all your measurements.”

  “Unless someone has put on weight.” DJ elbowed Taylor in a teasing way.

  “Speak for yourself.”

  “Where is Casey?” asked Grandmother.

  “In our room,” Kriti said quietly.

  “Is she unwell?” Grandmother asked.

  “It was hard to tell.” Kriti looked uncomfortable.

  “Why is that?”

  “She was still asleep.”

  “Oh…” Grandmother looked around the table. “Now, girls, don’t forget that we have modeling practice in fifteen minutes.”

  “And don’t forget,” Eliza reminded them, “we have to skedaddle over to Yobushi’s by eleven. They worked really hard to schedule all six of us. And Mrs. Carter already said it was okay if we leave practice early to make it there.”

  “That’s right,” Grandmother agreed. “The other girls need more work than you do anyway.”

  “And we don’t want to be late for practice,” DJ reminded Taylor as they went upstairs. “Not after catching it last week.”

  “That’s right,” Taylor said in a mock serious tone. “Miss Walford might kick us out of the fashion show.”

  Eliza laughed from behind them. “Like that’s going to happen.”

  “You never know,” DJ shot back. And just to be on the safe side, DJ and Taylor both made a point to be on time. Of course, the other girls—Madison, Tina, Ariel, Jolene, Daisy, and Haley—must’ve come early. Because when the Carter House girls arrived, they were already there, gathered around Miss Walford and chattering away like groupies.

  DJ and the other Carter House girls simply took their seats and waited. It seemed that Miss Walford was showing the girls her new necklace, and they were acting like it was an Olympic gold medal. She was eating it up. DJ actually wished that Grandmother would enter the room and loudly clear her throat. But then the little fan group broke up, and Miss Walford stepped onto the runway and clapped her hands. “Is everyone here?”

  That’s when DJ realized that Casey wasn’t there yet. She was tempted to run and get her, but DJ didn’t want to be late. Besides, Casey might be in a snit…she might refuse to come.

  “All right,” Miss Walford said briskly, “let’s get this thing started. Girls, please line up.”

  Taylor glanced at DJ with uncertainty as they stood and went over by the runway.

  “Didn’t you hear me?” Miss Walford was looking at Taylor and DJ. “I said line up.”

  Taylor started to go for the front of the line and DJ followed, but Miss Walford came down from the runway and stopped them. “Where are you two going?”

  “To the front,” Taylor said casually.

  “Why?”

  “Because that’s how Dylan—”

  “Is Dylan here?” demanded Miss Walford.

  “No, but—”

  “That’s right. No buts”

  “Where do you want us to go?” Taylor asked crisply.

  “Where were you last week?”

  “Fine.” Taylor glanced at DJ, and they both went to the end of the line.

  “It’s okay,” DJ whispered. “Dylan will—”

  “There will be no talking!” Miss Walford snapped. “Get ready, girls. On the count of three, I am turning on the music and we will begin.”

  DJ could tell that Taylor was seriously ticked at Miss Walford. For that matter, so was she. Not that there was much point in going to battle over this. DJ felt fairly certain that Dylan would iron out the wrinkles by next weekend. Or Grandmother would. As DJ took her turn on the catwalk, she wondered where Grandmother was and why she wasn’t at least supervising the power-hungry Miss Walford.

  The girls took directions, walking and moving and doing some crazy-looking poses that DJ felt certain Dylan and Grandmother would both hate. But the whole while she kept her mouth shut. Still, as they went through their paces, DJ could tell that Miss Walford was definitely showing favoritism to her dance team girls—her groupies. And DJ suspected that Madison and Tina had been telling her all kinds of stories about the Carter House girls and why they needed to be knocked down a peg or two, because it seemed Miss Walford was determined to do that.

  “Good grief, Eliza,” Miss Walford said. “Can’t you walk in a straight line?”

  Eliza looked like she was about to retaliate, but stopped herself. She simply continued walking in a line that was as straight as her mouth.

  “DJ,” snapped Miss Walford, “quit slouching.”

  “But I’m not even on—”

  “Doesn’t matter.” She shook her finger at her. “Good posture is a must for everyone!”

  And on it went until it was finally a quarter until eleven. DJ elbowed Eliza and nodded to the clock. “Yobushi’s?” she whispered.

  Eliza smiled in relief. “Thank goodness.” Then she went over to speak to Miss Walford.

  “Leaving early?” Miss Walford demanded. “1 don’t think so.”

  “I’m sorry,” Eliza said politely, “but Mrs. Carter gave us permission. We all have appointments at Yobushi’s and—”

  Miss Walford’s laughter cut her off. “As if that’s even possible. Yobushi’s taking six girls at once? You must think I was born yesterda
y.”

  “It is possible,” Eliza told her. “And we have to leave right now.’“

  “That’s right,” Taylor said. “Eliza set the whole thing up for—”

  “Anyone who leaves this room can forget about being in the Mother’s Day fashion show,” Miss Walford announced.

  “Where’s your grandmother?” hissed Eliza.

  “I don’t know.” DJ frowned at the clock.

  “It’s your decision.” Miss Walford put the music back on.

  “No brainer,” Taylor told the others as she led the way out. DJ followed, and the rest came scurrying along. On the second floor they met Grandmother coming out of Kriti and Casey’s room.

  “Is Casey okay?” DJ asked with concern.

  Grandmother nodded, but her expression was somber.

  “You guys head on over to the spa,” DJ told Eliza. “I need to talk to Grandmother first.”

  “Okay,” Eliza said. “See you there.”

  The four of them hurried down the stairs, and before DJ could tell Grandmother about Miss Walford’s power trip, Grandmother was telling DJ about Casey. “I think I’ve convinced her to talk to her mother,” Grandmother began. “But it will take a lot of encouragement from you and the other girls to keep her on track. The poor girl is very distraught over all this.”

  “I know. She’s been really moody.”

  “Still…I think we had a good talk.”

  “Good.”

  “Now, you go in there and convince her to go to Yobushi’s with you, DJ. I think that will be just what the doctor ordered.”

  “Okay, but—”

  “Hurry, dear, you don’t want to lose your appointment.” Grandmother was already halfway to her room. “And have fun!”

  “Thanks.” DJ turned and knocked softly on Casey’s door, then let herself in. She didn’t know what to expect, but to her relief Casey was dressed and sitting in the window seat. “Are you ready to go?”

  Casey shrugged.

  “Come on, Case, it’ll be fun,” urged DJ.

  “I don’t know…”

  “And have I got a story to tell you,” DJ said mysteriously.

  “What?” Casey looked intrigued.