The Doggy Divas: Roxy’s Rules (2 page)

Roxy winced with every step she took, but she ignored the pain because nothing mattered right now except making her grand entrance at school. Her breathing returned to normal as she finally made her way onto the Monroe Middle School grounds.

She was all set to break into a mad dash to the front steps—but she couldn't. The normally peaceful front lawn looked about as insane as the mall on the day after Thanksgiving—that is, if the mall were overrun with dogs (and a few cats for good measure).

Dogs used notebooks as Frisbees and backpacks as chew toys and annoyingly begged every student, teacher, and janitor for affection and treats. The pets all looked lost and confused—and that just irritated Roxy. She crossed her arms in a huff as she stood in the middle of the chaos, and frantically tried to spot Liz or
anyone
she knew.

Principal West stood at the front entrance. He tried to guide the dogs back outside and the students inside, but it was no use. Dark stains of sweat pooled around his armpits, and his bushy eyebrows wiggled up and down. Poor Principal West was more frazzled than ever.

“Move along, everyone!” he yelled into a megaphone with exasperation. “I will not hesitate to give a detention to any student who's not sitting in homeroom by the last bell.” After two golden retrievers ran through his legs and into the building, he finally sat down on the steps with his head in his hands.

Roxy made a mental note to ask Liz at lunch if she thought Principal West wore a toupee and then sat down on a bench to adjust her boots. At this point, she didn't care if she got detention. She was in agony and wondered if she could get into trouble for showing up to class barefoot. Roxy was about to try walking again when a mob of dogs led by Kim Pierce blocked her path.

Kim, known as the “Dog Whisperer” by the students of Monroe Middle School, cared for dogs more than anything else in the world. Dogs were her only friends, and Roxy and Liz thought she was super-weird.

“Excuse me! Watch where you're going!” Kim demanded as she tried to steer some mutts away from the dumpster. Roxy wasn't sure if Kim was talking to the dogs or to the students that almost stepped on them. “Animals can and will have panic attacks if they don't have enough space!”

Roxy wished Liz was with her to witness this. It was almost as good as the day last year in Algebra when the room suddenly began to smell like wet dog food. Nobody was certain where the stink was coming from, but when Kim walked to the chalkboard to demonstrate the solution to a tricky equation and a big open packet of smelly dog treats fell from her pocket, the class's suspicions were confirmed.

Liz and Roxy had burst out laughing. When Liz asked if Kim was wearing “Eau de Dog-ay,” Roxy had thought she just might pee her pants. The rest of the class started howling and barking. Kim didn't cry—she just went back to her seat with a stone face. Now, at
least
ten dogs surrounded Kim, and, of course, she had more than enough treats for them all.

This must be like her birthday and Christmas all in one!
Roxy laughed to herself as she watched Kim try to stuff a teacup poodle into her backpack. Kim stood and started walking backward, and all the dogs followed as she called out commands. With each step she took, Kim inched closer and closer to a smoldering pile of fresh poop. The words “Look out!” popped into Roxy's head, but she couldn't get them out in time. Roxy heard a “squish,” and Kim Pierce was knee deep in dog poop.

“
Gross!
” a loud voice boomed, followed by several gagging sounds. “I'm totally going to throw up, Kim!”

The commotion drew a crowd. Kim, however, cared way more about the pug eating someone's Biology book than that her pink Converse sneakers were now brown and stinky. Kim left sloppy, smelly footprints as she ran over to stop the pug.

“Seriously, Kim…” The voice was loud and harsh. “Can't you smell that?”

The crowd had doubled in size, and everyone was laughing—and pinching their noses. Roxy even noticed one of the janitors trying to hold back a smirk. The voice belonged to none other than Georgia Sweeney. Roxy should've known; that girl said whatever came to her mind. It was like she had no filter in her brain to stop herself.

“It's not my fault. These dogs are off their schedules, and routine is very important for a dog's well-being,” Kim said. The growing crowd laughed louder. “Dogs have sensitive digestive systems and they don't deal well with stress, so they poop…It's their way of communicating.”

Hearing the word “poop” was too much for the boys to handle.

“Maybe you need a diaper!”

“Stink bomb!”

“Dog freak!”

Roxy wished she had some popcorn for this show.
Where is Liz?
Roxy knew things were out of whack today, but it wasn't like Liz to miss out on a spectacle—especially one like this. Liz had a sixth sense about when drama was unfolding.

“If you're such a dog expert, why don't you have a pooper-scooper?” Georgia asked with a gag.

Kim tried to wipe off the dog poop with a small dog-treat wrapper, but it was no use. She was flustered from all the laughter, and she was much more concerned with helping the dogs than with herself.

“I seriously have to go and puke,” Georgia said as she ran toward the front entrance. “This has been the most wretched morning ever!”

The final bell rang, and everyone—including the dogs—scattered. Roxy didn't move. She wanted to delay the pain from walking in her boots for as long as possible. Principal West was now in the faculty parking lot directing traffic so teachers could park their cars without running over any dogs. Roxy knew he was far too busy to give out detentions. Many dogs had followed their owners to school, so a lot of kids were still outside trying to command their pets to go home. Roxy texted Liz:

Where R U?!

It wasn't like Liz to go so long without texting her back. Their BlackBerries were practically attached to their hands.

“Come here, Bella. Yes, that's a good girl,” Kim cooed to a fluffy, little Havanese. “Yes, if you get in my bag, I promise to take good care of you.”

Roxy shook her head while Kim smuggled the dog into her book bag and threw treats at the sad-looking dogs she was leaving behind. The janitor had let Kim dip her feet into his bucket of water to get them cleaned up. Now her shoes sloshed and left small puddles with every step—but that was much better than a trail of poop.

Roxy stood, steadied herself, and took slow steps toward homeroom. She prayed she had at least one morning class with Liz. There was no way she could wait until lunch to fill her friend in on all the drama that had gone down this morning!

My, my! I do like that Kim Pierce. She knows how a purebred deserves to be treated.

I don't know why all of those mangy kids were laughing at her. Don't they know good manners and etiquette? They certainly are not from a genteel breed, such as the Pomeranian!

I've seen some downright untrainable pooches at the dog park, but they make these girls look tame. Before Kim scooped me off my delicate paws, this nippy group of girls started yap, yap, yapping at me for sitting on one of their “designer” purses! And then the leader of their ferocious pack said I was much more civilized than someone else they know
...
who doesn't have the excuse of being a dog. A girl named Roxy. She must have done something totally fierce. The pack went wild talking about it!

W
here in the world is she?
Roxy panicked as she paced anxiously by the entrance to the cafeteria. She desperately scanned the crowd looking for Liz and the rest of their friends so they could grab food and claim their picnic table for the year. Ever since Poop Gate (as it was known throughout school) had erupted that morning, Liz had stayed MIA and not returned a single one of Roxy's text messages. Dogs were popping up everywhere—from classrooms to lockers to even bathroom stalls—later in the day. Teachers didn't bother teaching. Roxy had finally given in to her aching feet and traded her chic, stylish boots for her gym sneakers. Liz would be disgusted, but Roxy feared a sprained ankle would have been in her future. Gym shoes for the day were a much cuter option than crutches for a month.

Principal West and a blockade of teachers, janitors, and a few muscular jocks stood at the cafeteria doors in a desperate attempt to keep the dogs out.

“Kids! We'll take care of the dogs—you worry about getting your lunch!” Principal West scolded the students that stopped to pet the dogs. “Move along or detention! The choice is yours!”

Roxy had no choice but to make her way to the lunch counter—alone. Liz and Roxy should have arrived together. Roxy had visualized this moment all summer long. They would link arms and claim their picnic table for the year.

I hope Liz wasn't kidnapped by one of the striking dog walkers!
Roxy thought as she picked up a salad, an apple, and a celebratory “first day of school” cookie.
Maybe they're holding her as ransom for better wages.

But when Roxy stepped outside, she immediately realized Liz was out of harm's way. Roxy couldn't believe it. Liz was already holding court at a picnic table under the big tree. She was laughing hysterically and flipping through magazines with the rest of the girls.

“Liz! I've been looking all over for you.” Roxy rushed over and tried to squeeze into the spot next to Liz on the bench. “Can you believe these dog walkers? Did you get my text about rescuing little Roxie?”

Liz was petite with wavy blond hair that cascaded perfectly to the middle of her back. Her lips were so red that she didn't need lip gloss—just a dab of something clear to make them shine. Liz was always poised and in control of every situation. Her years of competing in beauty pageants made it hard sometimes to tell if she was being real or practicing one of her acts. Her bedroom was covered from wall to wall with sashes, crowns, and trophies that she had been winning since she was a little girl.

Most of Liz's weekends were consumed with traveling across the country to compete for those coveted crowns. Liz spent a lot of time during the week prepping: she had regular spray tans, got fitted for wigs in every color and hairstyle, and took all sorts of classes—from ballet to improv—to give her a “talent” in the competitions.

Liz's deep-blue eyes were her trademark. She had won “Prettiest Eyes” at five pageants in a row. When she smiled, her eyes twinkled like stars. But when she was angry, they turned into gray, stormy little slits. Roxy had never seen them look as small and frightening as they did right now.

“I don't know
what
you did because my housekeeper Rosie found little Roxie shivering in a corner,” Liz said coolly. “Not that it's any of your business, but Rosie has the afternoon off so she had no choice but to bring Roxie here. She's in my bag.”

Roxy heard scuffling in Liz's hot-pink dog carrier, which most people would mistake for an oversize purse. Roxy swallowed hard.
Am I having an out-of-body experience?
she wondered.

“None of my business?” Roxy asked. She was shocked and confused. “What's going on?”

The lunch table went silent. The other girls put their heads down and pretended to check their cell phones.

“You're a liar. That's what's going on,” Liz seethed. “And you'd better get up from this table because we have no room for traitors here.”

“
Traitor? Liar?
” Roxy stammered. This was a nightmare. It had to be. Her alarm would ring any minute so she could wake up and start her first day of school for real. “What are you…?”

“You lied about being my best friend,” Liz cut her off and stood up. Liz was a tiny girl, but she suddenly appeared larger than life. “Because my best friend would never betray me the way you did this summer.”

Everyone at nearby tables stopped eating. They all stared at Liz and Roxy. The queen bees were already at each other's throats on the first day of school? It didn't get juicier than this. And Liz loved an audience, so Roxy knew this was about to get even uglier.

“Betray you?” Roxy asked quietly. “What are you talking about?

“Did you or did you not kiss Matt Billings this summer?” Liz pounded her fist on the table for dramatic effect. “When I was at pageant camp? Ring any bell?”

Roxy gulped. Roxy and Liz both worshipped the ground that Matt Billings walked on—every girl in school had a major crush on him. His brown hair was thick and just a little too long. When it fell into his eyes, he whipped it to the side with a swift flip of his head, better revealing big brown eyes rimmed with long, thick lashes.

Matt also had an irresistible smile, and the best part about it was the set of dimples that popped up every time he laughed. (Roxy also had noticed that lately his trademark T-shirts looked a little snug. The result of long hours at baseball camp, she assumed.)

Over the summer, Matt had played baseball every afternoon in the park. Roxy and Liz had spent hours sunbathing near his field just to catch a glimpse of his cute butt in those tight pants. They pinky-swore over the Fashion Bible that they wouldn't let a boy come between them.

So when Liz got the guts to ask Matt to hang out, Roxy tried her hardest to act happy for her friend. But then Liz had to leave town for three weeks for pageant camp, delaying her date with Matt. It wasn't Roxy's fault that she kept bumping into Matt at the park.

Everything had started so innocently. After the third time they ran into each other, Matt had suggested that they grab some frozen yogurt at the mall. Talking to him had been so easy and fun. He was such a goofball that Roxy soon started to forget she had a crush on him.

He teased her mercilessly about the too-tight shoes that Liz made her wear, or he hid her cell phone and sometimes waited hours to reveal that he'd had it all along. Roxy couldn't wait for Liz to get back from camp so the three of them could hang out. How great that she got along so well with Liz's boyfriend! Right? Wrong.

On the night before Liz was due back in town, Matt unexpectedly stopped by Roxy's house.

“Hey, Loser,” Roxy said with a smile when she saw him standing on her porch. His muscles glistened with sweat—something she and Liz would have spent hours daydreaming about—but now Roxy barely noticed. “I was just going to the bakery to pick up a welcome-home cupcake for Liz. You wanna come?”

“Um, sure,” Matt said nervously. “I guess I should get Liz something too.”

Roxy shrugged, and the two of them headed to the bakery. Roxy thought he was a little quieter than normal, but she didn't think anything of it—until they reached the counter. The bakery was deserted and no one was there to take their order. Roxy pressed her nose to the glass case to check out the cupcake options while they waited.

“Should we get Liz chocolate or vanilla frosting?” Roxy asked, and Matt answered by leaning over and kissing her.

It happened so fast that Roxy didn't know what to do except panic. The guy her best friend had claimed for herself had just kissed
her
on the lips…in public.

“This never happened, Matt!” Roxy squealed. “Liz is my best friend!”

“Roxy, come on…you can't tell me you didn't feel something this summer,” Matt insisted.

“You're my
friend,
and so is Liz!” Roxy pleaded. “Please, don't tell her. You have to swear!” Roxy begged Matt to keep the kiss a secret, and after much convincing, he reluctantly swore on his baseball glove that he would never tell Liz—or anyone else.

So,
who in the world told on us?
Roxy wondered.

“So, is it true?” Liz demanded. “It's a simple yes-or-no question.”

“Liz, you're my best friend…” Roxy stammered. She had no idea how to fix this. “It was no big deal!”

“I
knew
it,” Liz said while pausing to scan the crowd that had now gathered. Matt stood off to the side with his arms crossed. He kept looking like he was going to say something and then like he'd thought better of it.

“You couldn't find a boyfriend of your own, so you had to steal mine the second I left town? Pathetic.”

I can't cry
…
please don't let me cry in front of everyone—especially Matt!

Jessica Stevens stood by Liz's side with a smug look plastered on her face. She shot Roxy daggers with her eyes. All summer long, Liz had threatened to ban Jessica from the group because she was too needy and called Liz every five minutes.
Now she's in my spot!
Roxy wished one of the dogs would lick that smug look right off Jessica's face.

“What can I do to fix this?” Roxy pleaded. She knew she sounded desperate—and even scared. Liz was like a wolf: she smelled fear and attacked when her opponent was down. But Roxy couldn't help herself. “Can't we just put this behind us?”

Liz looked at Roxy like she had just suggested they run naked through the school yard.

“We're finished,” Liz sneered. “
You're
finished.”

Roxy felt paralyzed. She stood in front of the picnic table unable to move a muscle. Everyone was staring at her. Roxy could tell they felt sorry for her—and relieved they weren't in her place. Where was she going to eat lunch? No one would ever want to be friends with the girl who stole Liz Craft's guy. Roxy's reign as queen bee was over before it had even started. She turned to walk away.

“Oh, Roxy?” Liz cooed. “Just one more—um, wait…are you wearing gym shoes in broad daylight?”

“The boots were too tight…” Roxy tried to get the words out, but she didn't even know why she bothered. Liz and all the girls at the table burst out laughing.

“It doesn't matter that you kissed Matt because I would never be seen in public with you in those shoes outside of the gym!” Liz fumed. “I mean, violating the Fashion Bible on the first day of school? Really, Roxy!”

Come on, tears…stay in. Don't make this even more humiliating for me!
Roxy prayed, but it was too late. A single tear slid down her cheek.
Who is this awful girl, and what did she do with my best friend Liz?

“I didn't violate it. I have the boots in my bag…” Roxy stammered.

“You better have the Fashion Bible in there too,” Liz responded. “It doesn't belong to you anymore! Good luck getting dressed without my help. I'm sure a
skort
would look lovely with those smelly sneakers!”

Roxy heard the shrieks of laughter as she ran off. She desperately searched for a spot far, far away from Liz. Roxy still didn't want to cry, but before she knew it, a gush of tears plopped onto her ugly gym shoes like big, fat raindrops.