Double Trouble by Tia Mowry

’em, Cait,” she said. “Breakfast is on.”
    â€œComing.” I climbed out of bed and headed for the kitchen.
    Since Mom was around, Cassie and I didn’t have a chance to talk until we left the house. For once I was glad for the long, hot walk to school.
    â€œAny new ideas?” I asked as we trudged along.
    â€œNot really. You?”
    â€œNo.” She’d told me about her latest vision, of course. Even though it didn’t seem connected to the rest, it just added to my anxiety. “Maybe we should cancel. We could blame it on Mom, say we got in trouble and she grounded us.”
    â€œWe can’t,” Cassie responded immediately. “The party’s tomorrow, and everyone is superpsyched. It’d be social suicide to call it off now.”
    â€œBut—” I began.
    â€œBut that’s not all,” she cut me off. “Megan is in full-out hostess mode, and Lav is in a frenzy, decorating and planning food and stuff. Even if we pulledout, I bet the party would go on without us.”
    â€œBut would Liam still be invited?” I countered.
    She glanced at me. “If Lav had her say? No way. But Megan’s different. She’d still let everyone come.”
    I sighed, knowing she was right. The party train had already left the station, and it was way too late to stop it now. All we could do was try to prevent it from crashing.
    â€œOkay, then we have to figure out what we’re going to do,” I said.
    â€œI was thinking about that.” She kicked at a stone on the sidewalk. “At this point, it seems like our only option is to play defense. You make sure Liam is never out of your sight, and I stick close to the B Boys.”
    Despite the serious situation, I couldn’t help smirking. “That’s awfully selfless of you,” I said. “I’m sure it will be terrible for you to be forced to spend tons of time with that cute Brayden Diaz.”
    She shot me a scowl. “Grow up, Caitlyn.”
    I grinned. Clearly I’d struck a nerve. Once this was over, I was going to have to figure out what wasgoing on with Cassie and Brayden.
    My smile faded as I saw the school looming on the horizon. “Anyway, it’s the best plan we’ve got so far. Let’s keep thinking, though.”
    I WALKED INTO homeroom. Ms. Xavier was standing at her desk shuffling through some papers. Most of the other kids were there, too, including Liam. He was bent over some homework in his usual seat in the first row.
    â€œWhere’s Bianca?” I asked as I took my seat beside him.
    He looked up from his homework. “Not here yet, I guess,” he said. “I thought maybe you weren’t going to show up either. Ms. X never gets here before you do.”
    â€œI know. Cass and I left a little late this morning.” I sat down and glanced at Bianca’s empty desk. “It’s not like Bianca to be late, though. Do you think she missed her bus?”
    Liam shrugged. “There’s a first time for everything.”
    He didn’t seem concerned, but that empty seat was giving me a bad feeling.
    Don’t jump to conclusions , I told myself. She probably has a dentist appointment she forgot to mention to us or something.
    â€œSo are you all ready for the party?” Liam asked. “I looked at the weather report this morning, and it’s supposed to be hot again tomorrow.”
    I forced a smile. “Yeah, the weather should be perfect.”
    â€œIt must be weird,” he said with his loud, snorty laugh. “Having your birthday this time of year, you’re probably not used to having a pool party, right?”
    Ms. Xavier looked up sharply. She took a step toward us.
    â€œBirthday?” she said with interest. “Is your birthday coming up, Caitlyn?”
    â€œIt’s tomorrow,” I told her, still distracted by Bianca’s empty seat.
    Ms. Xavier raised an eyebrow. “I see!”