“Is there a problem here?” demanded DJ from behind her.
Madison turned with narrowed eyes. Then she peered more closely as if trying to remember DJ. “Yeah, the problem is that this is our table.”
DJ stood taller as she simply shook her head. “I don’t think so.”
“It is so,” insisted Tina.
“Sorry, but it’s our table now. My friends and I already put our stuff here.” DJ pointed over to where Taylor and Eliza were waiting in line and watching rather intently. “See,” she said as if speaking to very young children, “those are my friends and these are our bags and this is our table.”
Madison and Tina both looked over at the lunch line now. Just then Eliza smiled and cupped her hand in a cute little wave and Taylor waved too, although not nearly as sweetly, and her expression was totally serious and somewhat intimidating.
“Whatever!” snapped Madison. “But just because you and your Barbie-doll friends got this table today, doesn’t mean you’ll get it next time.”
“I guess we’ll see about that,” said DJ.
Then she and Kriti watched as the intruders went to save another table. DJ turned to Kriti, who still looked a little upset. “Those girls are so lame.” DJ shook her head. “Why don’t I stay with our things for now.” Then she dug a five-dollar bill out of her purse and handed it to Kriti. “Just order me a cheeseburger and fries and a coke, okay?”
Kriti nodded with an uncertain expression.
“Eliza will give you cuts in line,” promised DJ.
“Okay.” Kriti went over and DJ sat down, ready to ward off any more interlopers.
Before long, Rhiannon showed up. DJ told her to leave her stuff and go get some lunch. “Did you see Casey?” she asked as Rhiannon hung the strap of her large carpet bag over the back of a chair.
“Not since third period. I have art with her.”
“How did she seem then?”
Rhiannon’s brow creased. “Not happy.”
DJ kept an eye out for Casey, but she didn’t see her anywhere in the commons. DJ wondered what she’d do if she did see her. Would she invite her to join them? And if she did, would the others get mad? Not Rhiannon, of course, but Taylor would. And Eliza might not show it, but she’d be irritated too. Maybe Casey had made some new friends by now—freaky kids who needed to make a statement to the world by making themselves look ridiculous.
Finally, Eliza, Taylor, and Kriti came back to the table, setting down their lunches and getting seated.
“I can’t believe you’re going to eat that.” Taylor eyed DJ’s cheeseburger with undisguised disgust. “Do you have any idea how many calories are in that greasy meal?”
“Fat too,” warned Eliza. “You really should be more careful, DJ.”
“Thanks for the nutritional counseling session,” said DJ. “But don’t worry, I’ll burn off all the calories and more at volleyball practice after school.”
“You are seriously going out for volleyball?” asked Taylor.
“Well, it’s not that serious, but I am going out.”
“You actually want to hang with the jock girls and go around smelling like Deep Heat and old sweat socks?”
DJ made a face at Taylor before taking a big a bite of her cheeseburger.
“Just when I thought there was hope for you.” Taylor turned to Eliza now. “See, you can take the grunge outta that girl, but you can’t take the girl outta the grunge.”
“Volleyball is fun,” insisted DJ. “And good exercise.” She pointed a fry at the salads that Eliza, Taylor, and Kriti were picking at. “And if you guys went out for sports, you could indulge in some real food instead of grazing on greens all the time.”
DJ looked at Kriti now. “And what about you? You mentioned that you’d think about going out?”
Kriti’s brow creased. “I don’t think so.”
“But you’re good.”
She nodded. “Yes, but I’m considering something else.”
“What?” demanded DJ.
Kriti looked down at her salad and mumbled, “Debate team.”
“Hello, geek squad,” said Taylor.
“My forensics teacher thinks I’d be good. He’s already encouraging me to try out for it.”
“Why wouldn’t he?” said Taylor. “I’m sure it’s not easy to recruit kids, even the geeks, enticing them to put on those shapeless debate team jackets and stand in front of a live audience and make total fools of themselves.”
Kriti scowled at Taylor now. “I wonder what you’ll be saying ten years from now, Taylor, when I am an attorney or maybe even a judge and you’re serving cocktails in an airport lounge.”
Taylor laughed. “Yeah, right.”
Eliza lifted her hand in a big wave now, and DJ looked up in time to see Harry and Conner strolling their way. Harry was smiling, but Conner looked as if he was seeking another quick escape route. And this just made DJ just plain mad. She knew it was because of her, but she didn’t know why. And if Conner was this uncomfortable with her, maybe he should just get it out in the open. This whole avoidance, running away, and hiding from her business was getting beyond ridiculous. Good grief, the way Conner was acting, you’d think she had some contagious disease or cooties or something. What was wrong with the boy?
“Maybe I should just leave,” she said quietly to Eliza.
Eliza turned and looked at her. “Why?”
“Because Conner obviously has a problem with me,” she whispered.
Then Eliza sort of nodded. “Now that you mention it, I did notice that you two seemed to be at odds last night.”
Taylor laughed loudly. “At odds? Don’t you get it, Eliza? Conner just isn’t into DJ anymore. Isn’t that obvious?”
Naturally, Taylor made this flattering statement when the guys were close enough to overhear her. Humiliated once again by Taylor, DJ looked down at her barely touched, calorie-laden cheeseburger and fries, which suddenly looked totally unappetizing. But that might’ve had to do with the rock that she felt lodged in her stomach just then. So, scooping up her Hermès bag and unfinished soda, she quickly stood. “Excuse me,” she said, without looking up. She didn’t want to see Conner’s face. Face burning, she turned and walked straight toward the door. Look who was running now.
Carter House Girls Series from Melody Carlson
Mix six teenage girls and one ‘60s fashion icon (retired, of course) in an old Victorian-era boarding home. Add boys and dating, a little high school angst, and throw in a Kate Spade bag or two…and you’ve got the Carter House Girls, Melody Carlson’s new chick lit series for young adults!
Stealing Bradford
Book Two
Softcover • ISBN: 978–0–310–71489-7
The Carter House girls are divided when two of them go after the same guy. Rhiannon and Taylor are at serious odds, and several girls get hurt before it’s over.
Books 3–8 coming soon!
Pick up a copy today at your favorite bookstore!
A Sweet Seasons Novel from Debe Viguile
They’re fun! They’re quirky! They’re Sweet Seasons—unlike any other books you’ve ever read. You could call them alternative, God-honoring chick lit. Join Candy Thompson on a sweet, lighthearted, and honest romp through the friendships, romances, family, school, faith, and values that make a girl’s life as full as it can be.
The Summer of Cotton Candy
Book One
Softcover • ISBN: 978–0-310–71558-0
Sixteen-year-old Candace thinks her vacation is ruined when her father forces her to apply for a job at the local amusement park, but when she meets a mysterious “Lone Ranger” there, she finds love and learns the value of true faith and friendship.
Books 2–4 coming soon!
Pick up a copy today at your favorite bookstore!
Forbidden Doors
A Four-Volume Series from Bestselling Author Bill Myers!
Some doors are better left unopened.
Join teenager Rebecca “B
ecka” Williams, her brother Scott, and her friend Ryan Riordan as they head for mind-bending clashes between the forces of darkness and the kingdom of God.
Dark Power Collection
Volume One
Softcover • ISBN: 978–0-310–71534-4
Contains books 1–3: The Society, The Deceived, and The Spell
Invisible Terror Collection
Volume Two
Softcover • ISBN: 978–0-310–71535-1
Contains books 4–6: The Haunting, The Guardian, and The Encounter
Deadly Loyalty Collection
Volume Three
Softcover • ISBN: 978–0-310–71536-8
Contains books 7–9: The Curse, The Undead, and The Scream
Ancient Forces Collection
Volume Four
Softcover • ISBN: 978–0-310–71537-5
Contains books 10–12: The Ancients, The Wiccan, and The Cards
Echoes From the Edge
A New Trilogy from Bestselling Author Bryan Davis!
This fast-paced adventure fantasy trilogy starts with murder and leads teenagers Nathan and Kelly out of their once-familiar world as they struggle to find answers to the tragedy. A mysterious mirror with phantom images, a camera that takes pictures of things they can’t see, and a violin that unlocks unrecognizable voices…each enigma takes the teens further into an alternate universe where nothing is as it seems.
Beyond the Reflection’s Edge
Book One
Softcover • ISBN: 978–0-310–71554-2
After sixteen-year-old Nathan Shepherd’s parents are murdered during a corporate investigation, he teams up with a friend to solve the case. They discover mirrors that reflect events from the past and future, a camera that photographs people who aren’t there, and a violin that echoes unseen voices.
Books 2 and 3 coming soon!
Pick up a copy today at your favorite bookstore!
The Shadowside Trilogy by Robert Elmer!
Those who live in lush comfort on the bright side of the small planet Corista have plundered the water resources of Shadowside for centuries, ignoring the existence of Shadowside’s inhabitants, who are nothing more than animals. Or so the Brightsiders have been taught. It will take a special young woman to expose the truth—and to help avert the war that is sure to follow—in the exciting Shadowside Trilogy, the latest sci-fi adventure from Robert Elmer.
Trion Rising
Book One
Softcover • ISBN: 978–0-310–71421-7
When the mysterious Jesmet, whom the authorities brand as a Magician of the Old Order, begins to connect with Orianon, he is banished forever to the shadowside of their planet Corista.
Books 2 and 3 coming soon!
Pick up a copy today at your favorite bookstore!
About the Publisher
Founded in 1931, Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Zondervan, a division of HarperCollinsPublishers, is the leading international Christian communications company, producing bestselling Bibles, books, new media products, a growing line of gift products and award-winning children’s products. The world’s largest Bible publisher, Zondervan (www.zondervan.com) holds exclusive publishing rights to the New International Version of the Bible and has distributed more than 150 million copies worldwide. It is also one of the top Christian publishers in the world, selling its award-winning books through Christian retailers, general market bookstores, mass merchandisers, specialty retailers, and the Internet. Zondervan has received a total of 68 Gold Medallion awards for its books, more than any other publisher.
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Table of Contents
Cover
OTHer BOOKS BY MeLODY CarLSOn
Title Page
Copyright Page
Contents
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
Teaser
About the Publisher
Share Your Thoughts
Mixed Bags Page 18