anybody else for once.”
Colin flushed. “Bree,” he said.
“Dare,” she said promptly.
“Um.” Colin picked at the carpet. “I dare you to tell us who the hottest guy
in the room is.”
“That’s just a truth dressed up as a dare,” Bree complained.
“That’s my dare,” Colin said stubbornly.
“Fine,” Bree said. “I pick Riley. Now it’s my turn. Lexie, darling, truth or
dare?”
Riley was grinning. He looked for the first time like he’d noticed that Bree
was interested in him. Lexie was surprised Bree hadn’t picked Jake as the hottest
guy, but she wasn’t surprised that she was the next to go. She had a feeling that
that was where this had all been leading up to. “Um, truth,” she said. She did not
want to do anything Bree might dare her to do.
“Figures,” Bree said, rolling her eyes again. “Okay, let me think.” She
tapped her chin with a manicured fingernail. “Lexie, Lexie. All right, tell us the
truth.” She leaned forward. “How long have you been in love with Jake?”
Cold prickles ran down Lexie’s spine. Now what? Should she lie and say it
had only been a couple of weeks? Should she tell the truth and admit it had been
years? Would Jake figure she was lying no matter what she said? Or would her
voice give her away?
“Go on, Lexie, tell us,” Bree said.
Lexie’s eyes went to Amy, who was pretending to look bored. Would it be
embarrassing to admit that she’d liked him while he had been dating Amy? She
tipped her head back and looked at Jake.
His smoky-gray eyes were watching her. He leaned his head against hers
and whispered, “Don’t worry.”
Whatever that meant, it decided her. She would tell the truth.
“As long as I’ve known him.” she said, lowering her gaze to meet Bree’s.
She felt his arm tighten around her, and he rubbed her shoulder in a way
that she found reassuring.
“Aww,” Bree said. “How adorable. Or perhaps I mean pathetic.”
“I don’t think so,” Jake said. “I feel the same way.”
“Whatever, it’s not your truth,” Bree snapped. “Lexie, hurry up.”
“Riley,” Lexie said. A great idea had just occurred to her. If Jake did think
anything had been happening with Riley, this should convince him otherwise.
“Dare,” Riley said, smiling crookedly.
“I dare you to kiss Bree,” she said.
He looked surprised. So did Bree. So did Jake. A perfect trifecta of startled
expressions.
But Riley got up without protesting and sauntered over to their couch. As
he leaned over Bree, Jake whispered to Lexie, “Let’s get out of here.”
She nodded and pulled herself up, tapping Colin on the shoulder.
“Where are you going?” Bree said, shoving Riley away mid-kiss. “Jake, you
can’t leave your party – it just started.”
“Sorry,” Jake said. “I promised my parents I’d be home for a birthday
dinner.” He lifted his palms up as the others groaned.”What can I do? If I’d known
about this, I would have planned differently.” He helped Lexie to her feet.
“Well, then Lexie should stay,” Bree said with narrowed eyes. “Since she
didn’t schedule you better.”
“She’s invited for dinner,” Jake said smoothly. “You know...because she’s
my girlfriend.”
Bree scowled, and Lexie hid her smile. How did he manage to be so
perfect?
“Have fun, guys!” Jake said. “Thanks for the party!”
“Bye,” Colin said with a wave. Claire wiggled her fingers at him and he
blushed.
“See you tomorrow,” Lexie said. Riley half saluted at her. He looked lazy
and carefree, as if their intense conversation earlier hadn’t happened.
The flustered maid let them out, and as the front door closed behind them,
all three let out relieved sighs. Lexie started laughing.
“What’s so funny?” Colin asked.
“We’re such freaks,” Lexie said. “Normal kids would be psyched about a
party, but we can’t wait to leave.”
“That’s cause it’s a Bree party,” Jake said. “I’d rather not be normal than be
like those boring people in there. Oh, oops – I forgot my present.”
“The expensive leather jacket?” Colin asked.
“Yeah, the one Bree just happened to have lying around,” Jake said. “Quick,
let’s go before she realizes and chases after us with it.”
“But it’s your birthday,” Lexie said. “Don’t you want you hang out with
everyone?”
“Yes,” Jake said, “if by ‘everyone’ you mean you guys.”
“Sadly, I can’t,” Colin said. “I’ve, uh, hot stuff to do.”
They had reached their bikes now. Colin’s was hidden in back of the garage,
next to a couple of others.
“What stuff?” Lexie said. “What stuff could you possibly have to do in the
middle of summer?”
“Just stuff, okay?” Colin said defensively.
“Our hard working friend Colin,” Jake said. “Is it film-related?”
“No,” Colin said. “And maybe if I weren’t a moron, I wouldn’t have to work
so hard.” He kicked off his bike and pedaled away fast.
Lexie and Jake exchanged puzzled glances.
“Any idea what that was about?” she said.
“Nope.”
“He’s been acting like that for a week,” she said. “I wish he’d tell me what’s
going on.”
“At least you’re not ditching me yet,” he said. “Want to get ice cream?”
“You don’t really have to be home for dinner?”
“Not till nine,” he said. “Mom’s on call until then.” His mother was a burse
at the local hospital. “And I assume you told yours you were going to a party.”
Lexie laughed. “She couldn’t have been more excited if I’d told her I’d won
an Oscar. ‘My Lexie! A party!’ If I’d given her time to shop, I can’t imagine what
she would have come up with.”
“But then I’d have been suspicious,” Jake said.
“Exactly,” Lexie said. “So instead you got a chlubby T-shirt-and-shorts
girlfriend.”
“You mean adorable girlfriend,” he said with a grin, and pushed off.
Lexie’s heart ached as she watched him sail down the block. Why does he
have to be so cute? Why can’t this be real? When is it going to end?
And...what’s going to happen to me when this is over?
Chapter 13
Friday morning arrived.
“Are you ready?” Jake said as Lexie walked down the steps of the porch.
“Ready?” she asked.
“For the pool volleyball finals!” he said. “We’re going to win! Rarrr!” He did a cute
goofy victory dance, crashed into his bike, and tipped over onto the lawn. She
giggled.
“It’s like I always say,” Jake said from the grass. “Coordination, grace, the
ability to stay upright...all totally unnecessary in the pool.”
“I think our team would have a better chance of winning if I didn’t play,”
Lexie said.
“No way,” he said, scrambling to his feet. “You have to play. You’re
essential. You’re the heart and soul of the team! Besides, we need five players or
Cynthia will disqualify us.
You know her; she’s a stickler for rules.” He grinned and
she smacked his shoulder.
“Oh, it’s nice to be so vital,” Lexie said.
As he pedaled down the driveway, she checked her shoulder bag again. Her
black bathing suit, a book to read, sunscreen a change of clothes were all there.
Why did she have the weird feeling that something was missing?
She must be imagining things. She waved to Colin, who was standing in his
window, and took off after Jake.
During tennis, she left her bag, as usual, with the other bags over by the
benches under the shelter. She could see it from the courts, but she didn’t pay
much attention to it, since she was focusing on trying to hit the ball.
It wasn’t until the girls went into the changing room at the pool that Lexie
opened her bag again.
A sick, nervous feeling shot through her stomach.
Her bathing suit was missing!
She shoved the rest of her things aside, feeling around at the bottom of the
bag. Then she sat down on the bench and dumped it out, putting everything back
in piece by piece.
It was definitely, definitely gone.
Her breathing seemed to have sped up and she felt on the verge if panic.
Without the bathing suit, she couldn’t play, which meant letting down Jake and
the team. Sure, it was only a dumb volleyball game, but she would still feel awful
about it. And Cynthia was going to be mad. Lexie wondered if you could get
detention at summer camp.
“Oh, dear,” Bree said, and Lexie turned to find her leaning against the
nearest mirror. “What on earth’s the matter? You look so pale, Lexie, dear.”
Sally popped her head out of a stall a few doors down, as if the tone of
Bree’s voice had aroused her suspicions.
“My bathing suit,” Lexie said. “It’s gone, but I’m so sure I packed it this
morning...” A horrible suspicion hit her. She looked up at Bree, whose fake
concerned expression couldn’t hide the smirk in her cold blue eyes. “Did – did y –”
“And it’s your only one, isn’t it?” Bree said sweetly. “That is so sad. What
are you going to do? Your poor boyfriend is so excited about winning this
tournament. Oh, dear.”
“Bree!” Sally said, stomping over. “What did you do?”
“I didn’t do anything,” Bree said, batting her eyelashes. “Poor Lexie has lost
her bathing suit. And I’m still not speaking to you. Oh, I have a great idea, Lexie.”
“’Great’ meaning ‘humiliating’, I’m sure,” Sally said, her arms crossed.
“Why don’t we check the lost and found?” Bree said, ignoring Sally. She
pranced over to a large cardboard box in the corner. “Maybe your bathing suit is
here... or maybe there’s another one you can wear!” With a flourish, she yanked a bathing suit out of the box and brandished it at Lexie.
It was the most hideous thing Lexie had ever seen. It was a mustard yellow
with giant bright pink flowers all over it. There were ruffles at the sleeves, ruffles around the waist, ruffles at the thigh. And it was obviously about three sizes too
big for Lexie.
“Perfect!” Bree exclaimed. “I mean, considering you don’t have anything
else. I guess you either wear this, or you ruin everything for your boyfriend.
Hmmmm.” She touched one of her long, manicured fingernails to her chin and
pretended to look thoughtful, which on Bree looked more like she was trying to
pick a new nail color.
“Bree, give her back her bathing suit,” Sally snapped. “Give it back right
now.”
“I don’t have it,” Bree said. “I suppose you could search all over
Summerlodge for it.... It must be around here somewhere, right?” She smiled, and
Lexie felt cold all over.
What was she going to do? She’d never get Bree to give her the suit, and it
must be somewhere hard to find. But she did not want to wear the yellow
flowered monstrosity. If she had any chance of Jake ever wanting to really date
her, his seeing her in that would definitely kill it.
Sally looked as worried as Lexie felt. A whistle blew out by the pool.
“Lexie, I have to go out there,” Sally said. Her team was up first, playing
another team for third place. “You have a little while before your team has to
play. You’ll think of something, don’t worry.” Sally started toward the door, then
turned and hurried ack. She dug into her bag, pulled out her cell phone, and
pressed it into Lexie’s hand. “In case you need it,” she whispered. “And I’ve
changed my mind. Bree is crazy and evil.” She gave Lexie a quick hug and ran out to the pool.
Bree dropped the yellow bathing suit on the bench next to Lexie. “See you
out there,” she said smugly, and strolled after Sally, winding her lavender towel
around her waist as she went.
Lexie stared down at the phone in her hand.
There was one other option....
She touched the yellow bathing suit and pulled back her hand with a
shudder. Had Bree planted it in the lost and found box? Was it just her luck that
there really was something so hideous in there? Did that mean someone else had
worn it before? It gave her the heebie0jeebies just thinking about wearing it.
She switched on the phone and dialed home.
She was hoping Colin would answer, but instead it was her mom’s cheery
voice that said, “Hello, hello, Willis residence!”
“Hi, Mom,” Lexie said, wincing. “Um – is Colin there?”
“No, he’s not, sweetie,” Mrs. Willis said. “Is everything okay? Aren’t you
supposed to be in some activity class right now?”
“Yeah,” Lexie said slowly. Where the heck was Colin again, in the middle of
the day? If only he were there, she wouldn’t have to let her mom know what
she’d done with the red bikini. But she had no choice.
With a sigh, Lexie said, “Mom, can you do me a favor?”
“Sure, honey. What is it?”
“I, um,” Lexie said, “I forgot my bathing suit.”
“And you have the pool volleyball finals today, don’t you?” her mom said.
Lexie could never predict what her mother would remember and what would just
fly out of her brain the minute it went in.
“That’s right,” Lexie said. “So I need the red bikini. Could you bring it to
me?”
“Absolutely,” her mom said. She sounded so pleased to be able to help.
Lexie felt extra guilty about what was going to happen next. “Where is it?”
“In my room,” Lexie said. She could hear her mom’s footstep going up the
stairs, and the creak of her hinges as Mrs. Willis went into her room.
“Is it in the closet?” Mrs. Willis asked.
“Um. No,” Lexie said. “It’s... under the bed.”
There was a pause. Lexie heard rummaging noises, and then another pause.
Finally her mother said. “Lexie, it still has the tags on.”
Lexie could picture her mother standing in her bedroom, holding the red
bikini with a crestfallen look on her face.
“I know, Mom,” Lexie said. “I’m sorry.”
“You haven’t worn it?”
“I’ve been wearing the black one,” Lexie said, “but I really want to wear
that one today.”
“Oh, Lexie,” her mom said. “You don’t have to we
ar it if you don’t like it.”
“I do!” Lexie said. “I mean, I need it. As soon as possible. Please, Mom?”
“I’ll be right there,” her mom said.
Lexie hung up the phone with a sigh of relief. She dreaded the thought of
wearing the bikini, but it couldn’t be as embarrassing as the mustard-yellow
ruffles.
Out by the pool, Bree was lounging on the bleachers next to Riley, She
raised her eyebrows at Lexie and made ruffling motions with her hands next to
her shoulders.
Lexie scooted up to Cynthia, who was watching the volleyball with the
intensity of a bird of prey.
“I forgot my bathing suit,” Lexie said. “My mom’s bringing it. Can I go meet
her?”
Cynthia barked, “Yes! Hurry, but don’t run! And don’t do it again!” without
taking her eyes off the game.
Lexie ran down the path to the parking lot, ignoring Cynthia’s instructions.
She had been standing there for only a minute when her mother pulled in. Lexie
nearly threw herself through the driver’s-side window, she was so pleased to see
her.
“Thanks you, Mom!” she cried. “You saved me, you really did.”
“Are you sure you want this?” Mrs. Willis said, holding the bikini out of
arm’s reach. “We shouldn’t cut off the tags if you just want to return it.”
“I do want it,” Lexie said, leaning in the window. “I do, I promise. Please,
please, please.”
“All right,” her mom said, cutting off the tags with a pair of scissors. “But,
Lexie, you should always tell me if I get you something you don’t like.”
“Impossible,” Lexie said, grabbing the bikini and kissing her mom on the
cheek. “Thank you! Bye!” She ran back across the parking lot and all the way back
to the swimming pool, although she remembered to slow down as she passed
Cynthia.
Had that been a surprised look on Bree’s face as she went by? Lexie hoped
so. She couldn’t wait for Bree to realize that her evil plan had been foiled. Unless,
of course, the bikini looked as terrible as Lexie was afraid it would.
She jumped into a stall and undressed quickly, carefully putting her bead
necklace in the zipper pocket of her bag. The top of the bikini was a halter top,
but luckily not the kind you had to tie in the back. Lexie was always afraid those
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