The Secret Crush (5 page)

Z
ee's fingers typed quickly in the glow of the computer screen under her comforter.

Mr. P had set up a blog for the Beans, so they could share scenes, songs, pictures, and videos. Zee was eager to get as much done as possible. Getting the script right was so important.

Click.
Zee's door opened.

“Zee?”

Busted!
Zee closed her laptop and peeked out from under the covers. “Yes, Mom?” she said as cheerfully as she could manage.

“Why are you still awake?” Mrs. Carmichael asked. “Are you doing homework?”

Zee looked at the clock, which flashed 11:37. “Sort of.”

Mrs. Carmichael crossed her arms. “Go on,” she said skeptically. “I'm listening.”

“We're nearly finished with the script for the musical,” Zee explained. “I was just working on one of my scenes so it will be perfect.”

“I'm sure it can wait.” Mrs. Carmichael bent over and took the laptop. “You'll do better when you're rested anyway.”

Zee pulled her covers up to her chin. “Good night, Mom,” she said, although she was certain all the thoughts spinning in her head would keep her awake.

 

In study hall the next day, Kathi tapped furiously on the class computer. “What do you think?” she asked when she finished.

Zee read the script out loud.
“Dylan leans toward Lily. Slowly, his face moves closer to hers.” Zee's heart pounded. “Just as their lips are about to meet,” Zee continued, “Brianna appears and stops them.

“Ummm…that doesn't seem realistic to me,” Zee said. “Wouldn't Brianna be happy for her friend—you know, that she's going to kiss the boy she likes?”

Kathi shook her head. “No way,” she said. “It's just like
Romeo and Juliet
. Brianna knows their crush is doomed, so she's keeping them apart for her friend's own good.”

Zee was suspicious. “Are you sure it's not because her best friend is
jealous
?”

“I'm sure. No one was jealous in
Romeo and Juliet
.”

“I guess you're right,” Zee mumbled.

 

After the final period of the day, Zee met Chloe at her locker.

“I've got a
ton
of homework,” Chloe said, looking lopsided under the weight of her homemade patchwork book bag.

Zee looked at her assignment book. “Me too,” she said. “Math, science,
and
French. Plus, we have that English quiz tomorrow.”

“Are you still coming over to my house to study for it?” Chloe asked.

“Yup. I told my mom I would go home from school with you.” Zee grabbed her books out of her locker and shoved them into her bag. The lockers were made of recycled wheat board, so the door made a soft
thud
when she shut it.

Zee could barely lug her heavy bag down the hall. She hadn't gotten far with Chloe when she spotted Landon approaching.

Great!
Zee groaned silently.
Just when I'm looking like the Hunchback of Notre Dame. Maybe he won't see me.
She looked at the ground in the opposite direction.

“Hey, Zee!” Landon called out.

Darn it!
Zee stood up as straight as she could. “Oh, hi, Landon,” she said, trying to sound casual. “What's up?”

“Mr. P just told me he wants us to work on the scene
where Lily and Dylan first meet,” Landon began. “Do you have time now?”

“Sure.”

“But we were going to study for the English test,” Chloe reminded her.

“It's just a quiz,” Zee said. “Landon and I won't take long. I'll come over in an hour.”

Chloe adjusted her book bag strap on her shoulder. “All right. It'll probably take me that long to drag this thing out of the building,” she said.

 

“You're not going anywhere,”
Mr. P boomed, grabbing Zee's arm.
“I'm calling the police!”

“Let go of me!”
Zee yelled, trying to break free from her teacher's grip. Mr. P was playing a store owner who accuses Lily of shoplifting.

“Halt!”
Landon protested loudly. “Uhh. Ummm. Eh.” He heaved a sigh and threw up his hands. “I have no idea what to say.”

“Don't sweat it, Landon,” Mr. P reassured him. “What would you say if it happened in real life? Just pretend you're really Dylan, and you need to convince me to let Lily go.”

Landon looked at Zee.
“Let her go!”
he shouted, getting into character.

“Why? What's it to you?”
Mr. P snarled. Zee tried not to giggle. She didn't want to ruin Landon's concentration.

“Because I know she would never steal anything,”
Landon went on.
“I can tell just by looking at her. I've never seen such an honest face in my life.”

Zee could feel a blush fill her cheeks.

“All right,”
Mr. P said, releasing his grasp.
“But if I ever see either one of you in my store again, I'm going to call mall security.”
Then Mr. P turned into their teacher again. “See? You rocked it.”

“Cool.” Landon flipped his bangs back with a flick of his head.

“You guys are off to a good start,” Mr. P said. “Why
don't you try revising the rest of the scene on your own? Then show me.”

“Ahem.” Kathi cleared her throat. She'd been in the room the whole time. Zee could see she'd put on a fresh coat of lip gloss while they'd been practicing.

Ohmylanta! Here it comes!
Zee thought. She knew Kathi's good behavior had been too good to be true. Now what was she going to do to sabotage Zee's time with Landon?

“If you guys don't need Mr. P's help anymore,” Kathi continued, “I have a few questions for him.”

“We're done,” Landon said to Kathi. Then he turned to Zee. “Do you want to work on this some more?”

Zee stopped herself from screaming, “Fantabsome! You want to hang out alone with me? Cool beans!” Instead she super-casually said, “Sure.”

As Zee and Landon worked on the script at one of the computers in the back of the music room, Zee couldn't help overhearing Kathi's questions. “Which scenes am I supposed to write?” “What date is the performance?” “Are we going to sell tickets?” Mr. P answered all of them—even though he had already posted all of the information on the blog.

Landon pointed to the computer screen. “Here Dylan
could say something like, ‘I've never met anyone like you.'” Landon turned and his blue eyes stared intensely at Zee.

“You're a great writer, Dylan.”

“Huh?” Landon said.

“Umm…I said, ‘That's great, Landon.'”

“You called me Dylan.”

“Did I?”

A beep from Zee's Sidekick interrupted them. A text from Chloe.

Oh, no!
Zee had completely forgotten. She was supposed to be at Chloe's house to study for the English quiz! She looked from her Sidekick to Landon. She couldn't stop now.

Zee was relieved that Chloe wasn't mad. She'd make it up to her.

 

 

“Maybe I should get him some cologne,” Zee said, heading toward the perfume counter at the mall the next weekend. It was Brookdale Academy's fall break, which meant four days off. Zee was glad to have the time to work on the script and a few new songs, but she'd been so focused on the musical, she'd nearly forgotten her dad's birthday.

Chloe scrunched up her face. “Cologne? For your dad's birthday? That's not very original.”

“I know, but I'm desperate.” Zee picked up a tiny bottle. But before she could squirt herself, Chloe grabbed it away.

“No, not that one. They test on animals.” She placed a new bottle in Zee's empty hand.

“I waited until the last minute,” Zee said as she sprayed her wrist, then gave it a sniff. “Mom is
so
not happy. She wanted everyone to give Dad his presents at his birthday breakfast this morning, but I've been working so hard on the musical, I haven't had a chance to get him anything.”

Zee sighed and turned to Jasper. “What do you think I should get my dad?” she asked. “You're a guy.”

“Thank you for noticing,” Jasper said, shuffling his feet. He was still getting used to his new sneakers.

Zee rolled her eyes. “You know what I mean.”

Jasper adjusted his glasses. “Tickets to a Galaxy
game?” he suggested.

“Soccer?” Zee asked. “Dad's not a big fan.”

“Your dad will like whatever you get for him,” Jasper said. “You don't have to make a big deal out of it.”

“That's it!” Zee shouted.

“What?” Jasper asked, confused.

“I should
make
something for him.”

“Did I say that?” Jasper asked.

Chloe shrugged. “Only sort of. But it doesn't matter. It's a great idea.”

“Like decorate a picture frame,” Zee suggested.

“Awesome! I'll make one for my mom, too. Her birthday is in two weeks,” Chloe added.

“Cool beans!” Zee said. “You want to join us, Jasper? We can talk about your part in the musical.”

“I'd rather not be reminded,” Jasper declined.

What's up with Jasper?
Zee wondered. Then her Sidekick beeped with a text. “Darn it!”

“What?” Chloe asked.

Zee showed the screen to Chloe.

“Landon's family went out of town for break. I asked
him to rehearse with me,” Zee said. “I have so many lines to learn. I'm afraid I'll never get them all memorized in time unless I practice every day.”

Jasper began to walk slightly ahead of the girls.

“You've got some big scenes with Jasper, too,” Chloe pointed out. “Why don't you run lines with him?”

“That's a good idea!” Zee said. Then she called to him, “Will you help me, Jasper?”

“That would be brilliant,” Jasper told her. “And I think I
will
make prezzies with you. My nana's coming for a visit from England soon. She'd love a homemade frame with a picture of her favorite grandson.”

“Aren't you her only grandson?” Chloe asked.

“You don't have to nitpick,” Jasper said, smiling.