Sewing in Circles (4 page)

“What do you wear on a date to the state fair with your date's parents, carnival rides that are wardrobe malfunctions waiting to happen, and lots of delicious fried food?” Zoey asked her friends at lunch on Monday. “I'm so nervous!”

“Aren't you excited?” Libby said.

“Oh, definitely!” Zoey said. “But I've never been
on a date. I still can't believe a guy I like actually likes me back!”

“Of course he likes you,” Priti said. “You're fabulous!”

Her friends all laughed, nodding in agreement.

“Just relax and be yourself,” Kate said. “Think of it as hanging out, rather than as a date. That's what I've done the few times I've gone on dates.”

“Thanks,” Zoey said. “I'll try to remember to do that. But . . . you guys still haven't helped me answer the all-important outfit question!”

“Something comfortable,” Kate said. “And a top that won't flip up on a ride.”

“And cute,” Priti added. “But parent friendly, so not too low-cut.”

“Maybe a denim skirt?” Libby suggested. “Or cute overalls?”

“Good idea!” Zoey said. “With a chambray shirt or something like that. Or maybe gingham? Sounds a little costumey, but I'll try to make it feel more modern.”

“I knew you'd think of something,” Priti said.

“Well, that's because I have such good friends
to help me,” Zoey said, smiling at the girls sitting around the table. “Otherwise, I'd still be panicking!”

“You and Ezra seemed to be having a lot of fun at Libby's house on Saturday night,” Kate said to Zoey on the bus ride home that afternoon. “I wouldn't worry too much about going to the state fair with him. I bet you're going to have a really good time.”

Kate had more experience on the dating front than Zoey did—but she'd just broken up with Tyler, for reasons Zoey didn't entirely understand.

“I know,” Zoey said. “Kate . . . I hope you don't mind my asking, but . . . can you explain more about why you broke up with Tyler? It just seems kind of . . . sudden.”

“Oh . . . well, it's no big deal, really. It's just . . . when we talked more about the fight we had at Libby's Bat Mitzvah, I realized that Tyler was always noticing how Libby dressed—and just noticing Libby, period. I was worried it might create tension between her and me,” Kate said. “I mean, I like Tyler a lot, but Libby's one of my very best friends, and
the last thing I want do is compete with my best friend for some guy's attention, right?”

“That
would
be really awkward—for everyone,” Zoey said.

“So I figured that even though I liked him, it wasn't worth risking the potential drama,” Kate said.

“I can see that,” Zoey said. “I guess I've just been confused, because you seem so unfazed by breaking up. Like it doesn't upset you at all.”

“Oh . . . yeah. About that . . . I didn't want Libby to find out why we broke up, because I was afraid she'd think it was her fault. So I've been trying to play it cool,” Kate said. “But to tell you the truth, it hasn't been that bad.” She fiddled with the fastening on her backpack. “In fact, I've been feeling kind of guilty that I
haven't
felt more upset.”

“You shouldn't feel guilty,” Zoey told her. “That's probably a sign that it just wasn't meant to be.”

Kate gave a relieved smile. “Maybe you're right,” she said.

“It's too bad things got weird with you two,” Zoey said. “Tyler seemed like a nice guy.”

“He
is
a nice guy,” Kate said. “But I guess . . . Well, part of what I liked about him was that he seemed to want to get to know the real me. But then once we started going out, he kept suggesting that I change my style to become more girly—even if, like he said, it was just because he liked the way Libby dressed, not because he wanted me to be more like Libby. But still . . . it felt like he was trying to change me—and I didn't like it.”

“Of course not!” Zoey exclaimed. “You should never change for anyone, unless it feels right for you and it's something you really want to do. Okay, lecture's over.”

“Right now, I'm happy to just be me, without a boyfriend,” Kate admitted. “I'm looking forward to having to think about just school and sports!”

Looking Fairly Fabulous

Yee-haw! I'm going to the state fair with a friend and his family. I've never been, but the theme of the fair is “Udderly Amazing!,” so I figured there are going to be cows and other farm animals there. Dad went to the state fair when he was younger, and he said that it's not
just farm animals and tractors—there are fair rides, too. He also said I should bring a good appetite, because there's every kind of fried food you could possibly imagine—even
fried Oreos
! I can't wait!

“Okay, kids—I've leaving you money so you can order in. I've got a date tonight,” Dad said, putting down some crisp bills onto the kitchen counter.

“Is it with the same person?” Zoey asked. She noticed her father was wearing aftershave, and the shirt she'd helped him choose a few months ago when they went to New York to meet Daphne Shaw, Zoey's favorite designer and fashion fairy godmother, at her design studio.

Dad blushed and then started wiping nonexistent crumbs off the counter. “Yes, it is,” he said.

“Are we ever going to meet her?” Marcus asked.

“Of course,” Dad said. “I just don't want to rush things.”

Marcus glanced at Zoey. “
Rush things?
You've been out on plenty of dates already,” he said. “It's hardly
rushing
things.”

“Soon, Marcus,” Dad said. “Just . . . be a little patient, okay?”

“Okay, but I don't understand the secrecy, that's all,” Marcus complained.

“All in good time, I promise,” Dad said. “I've got to run. Don't want to be late! See you later.”

As soon as the door closed behind him, Marcus exploded. “It's so silly,” he exclaimed. “Why won't he introduce us to this Mystery Lady?”

“He seems shy about her,” Zoey said. “Or maybe
she's
shy.”

“But they've been dating for a while,” Marcus argued. “And it's not like we're that scary. Okay, maybe
you
are, but I'm not.”

“Ha-ha, very funny,” Zoey said. “To tell you the truth, I'm not even sure I
want
to meet her now. Between Priti's parents getting divorced, and you and Allie breaking up, and now Kate and Tyler not being together, I don't think I can handle any more relationship drama in my life. Especially when it's grown-up, affecting-me-personally drama.”

“But . . . she seems to make Dad so
happy
,” Marcus observed.

Thinking about it, Zoey realized that Marcus had a point. Since Dad had been dating the Mystery Lady, he was more cheerful, smiling when he thought no one was watching. He certainly seemed to be paying more attention to what he was wearing!

“I think this is the real deal,” Marcus continued. “And just in case Dad is worried we'd be freaked out about him being involved with someone other than Mom, we should tell him we'll be fine with him being in a serious relationship that makes him happy.”

“I guess,” Zoey said.

But deep down, she wondered if she
was
okay with it. Of course, she wanted her dad to be happy. But was she ready for a stepmom?

As was her habit, as soon as she'd finished her after-school snack, Zoey checked her blog and her e-mail. One name stood out in her in-box—DAPHNE SHAW!

Dear Zoey,

I hope school—and all your exciting sewing projects—are
going well. I've got a proposition for you that I hope you'll find exciting, too!

I'm doing a pop-up store at a major department store in New York City—and this one will have a tween focus—inspired by
you
! I've had so much fun making pieces for you and your friend Libby, so this is a way to test the idea of a new Daphne Shaw tween line in a limited way.

The department store is already onboard—especially after the success they had with Cecily Chen's tween line not long ago. Since you and Sew Zoey are my inspiration, I had this great idea, and I hope you like it: I'd love to feature one of your pieces in the pop-up shop. What better place to spotlight an actual tween designer's work than in a designer's tween fashion line pop-up shop?

What do you think? If you're interested, I'd need you to express mail me a box with a few sample pieces you can produce in multiple sizes, right away (I'll give our account number to your dad so he can arrange the shipping)—so I can select which one will work best alongside my
own collection. I hope you are as excited about this as I am!