Mixed Messages by Tina Wells Page A

interrupted, “I’ll forgive you for inviting Missy to join Bluetopia and overloading the site.”
    â€œDeal!” Ally agreed quickly. She turned around in her seat and didn’t complain about getting up early again.

Chapter 13
Some Gum
    Z ee did a double take as she, Jasper, Chloe, and Ally walked through the main doors of Brookdale Academy on Friday morning. “Hey, look!” She stared straight ahead at a girl with short black hair putting books into a locker. “A new student.”
    Chloe squinted her eyes. “Isn’t that the same teddy bear backpack as Missy’s?”
    â€œAnd that’s Missy’s locker,” Ally pointed out. “That’s Missy!” She rushed ahead toward Missy, and the others hurried to catch up. “Oh my gosh! I love your hair so much,” Ally told Missy when she got to the locker.
    Pools of tears formed in the corners of Missy’s eyes. “I don’t like it at all.”
    Thud. Missy closed her locker hard, but because it was made of wheat board it didn’t make much noise.
    â€œWhy did you get it cut?” Zee asked.
    â€œMy brothers put gum in my hair,” Missy explained.
    Chloe gasped. “On purpose?”
    Missy nodded.
    â€œCouldn’t you just cut the gum out?” Zee asked.
    â€œIt was right at the top of my head,” Missy said. “My father tried to cut it out, but my hair looked horrible.”
    â€œUgh!” Ally said. “How long do you think it’ll take to grow back?”
    â€œI have no idea,” Missy told her. “I’ve had long hair practically my whole life.”
    Ally and Missy walked slightly ahead of Zee, Chloe, and Jasper toward their first-period classroom. “I’m glad I don’t have little siblings,” Ally said.

    â€œYou should be,” Missy assured her.
    A shudder ran up Zee’s back as she touched her hair. Would her new siblings do horrible things to her? With two against one and Adam away at college, she wouldn’t stand a chance. Luckily, Zee could forget her worries during first period. “One, two, three, four!” Zee counted off the beat for one of the songs the band would play at Brookdale Day. The Beans followed her lead and started out strong. As she sang, Zee decided to have a little fun. She weaved her way across the stage, leaning in with her guitar to play along with Marcus and Jen. Then she walked over to Missy and Kathi and sang into their microphone.
    Next she moved between Landon and Conrad. Landon flashed Zee a big smile. She smiled back, but she noticed that she didn’t feel any different than when Conrad took his sax out of his mouth and did the same.
    When Chloe and Ally had a short duet, Zee stood beside them in a ta-da pose. It all came so naturally. Zee felt like a real rock star.
    The most fun came when Zee and Jasper spontaneously broke away from Ms. Vardolis’s arrangement. Zee sidled up to Jasper and strummed the melody on the guitar. Jasper looked her in the eyes and thumped out a response on his bass.
    And when the song was over, everyone cheered. “I don’t see any reason to rehearse that one again,” Ms. Vardolis told them. “Play it just like that on Saturday, and it will be perfect.”
    â€œGo, Zee!” Ally cheered and the others joined in—except Kathi, who stood with her arms crossed.
    Jasper beamed at Zee. Suddenly, the easiness she had felt when she was singing disappeared. She looked at her feet to hide the red rising to her face.
    â€œAlly, are you sure you have to go back to France?” Ms. Vardolis joked. “You’re definitely one of The Beans.”
    Ally smiled and looked down at her casual clothes. “Except for the uniform.”
    Everyone laughed. Then Ms. Vardolis slapped her hand across her mouth. “We haven’t even talked about what to wear tomorrow.”
    â€œI think—” Jasper began.
    â€œDon’t you