Ruby Reinvented (13 page)

I
WAKE UP to the sound of rain. It's so dark outside that Summer and I have a hard time getting out of bed. We're even late for breakfast, so we each grab a bagel and bring it into our first period class, science. Luckily Mr. Desmond isn't here yet, so we have time to eat. I take my seat behind Connor, who gives me a cute little smile as I scoot past him. I unwrap my bagel and take a bite but almost spit it out when Cassandra walks in.

Cassandra is decked out like I've never seen her before. And not in her usual designer clothes and heels. She's covered—head to toe—in Boston Red Sox gear. Her red sweatpants have the words “RED SOX” embroidered down the leg. She has a blue T-shirt on with a big red
B
in the center of it. Her blue baseball cap matches her shirt. And
she's wearing sneakers. Of course, these aren't regular sneakers—they're dressy sneakers with a cute little wedge heel—but
still.

Summer's eyes don't leave Cassandra from the minute she walks in until the minute she sits down. Unfortunately, neither do Connor's.

“What are you wearing?” I hear Summer whisper to Cassandra.

“It's opening day today.” Cassandra's bright red lip gloss matches the
B
on her shirt perfectly. That girl sure knows how to accessorize.

“You like the Sox?” Connor asks.

“Of course,” Cassandra says. “Big Sox fan.”

“Really?” Connor smiles.

“Didn't you know that?” Cassandra takes her baseball hat off and flips her hair, which still looks perfect even after it was smooshed under a hat in the pouring rain. I touch my own hair, which feels damp and frizzy and completely icky.

Mr. Desmond jogs into class before Connor can answer. He shakes off his umbrella and hangs it on a coatrack in the corner of the classroom.

“Sorry I'm late, gang.” He slips into the chair behind his desk. “It's a mess out there.”

I pull out my notebook, but there's no way I can concentrate on science, so I stare at Cassandra. I know she's not really a Red Sox fan. Yesterday at lunch she admitted
that she doesn't even like baseball. So is this all for Connor? I hear my pulse pounding in my ears. I can't believe she's such a faker. Does she really think Connor will ask her to the Spring Fling just because he thinks she likes baseball?

I shake off the feeling that Connor could actually like Cassandra and remember my promise to Mom and Dad—I'll keep up with my grades. I focus my attention on Mr. Desmond and the reproduction process of plants and plod through all my morning classes. I can't let myself be distracted by a boy. Especially a boy who might like Cassandra. Even if he is a super-sweet boy who likes baseball.

Cassandra and Katie are already eating by the time we get to lunch.

“Hey, Captain Obvious.” Summer smiles at Cassandra.

“What's that supposed to mean?” Cassandra peers up at Summer through her Red Sox baseball cap.

“Oh, come on. We know why you're dressed like that.”

“Yeah, because it's opening day. Duh.” Cassandra takes off her cap and puts it on the empty seat next to her. Her hair
still l
ooks perfect.

“And you know about the Red Sox? Or anything about baseball?” Summer stabs her fork into a piece of pineapple.

“Of course not. But Connor doesn't need to know that.” Cassandra raises her perfectly plucked eyebrows at Summer.

“I'm staying out of this.” Summer pops the pineapple
into her mouth. “Hey, you guys have to see the dresses Bea made!”

“You make dresses?” Katie's eyes are as big as watermelons. “That's so cool.”

“Bea's going to do a fashion show for Parents' Weekend. You want to model?”

“Well, we don't know that for sure—” I say.

“For real?” Katie interrupts. “We can be models?”

“Yeah, it's going to be awesome,” Summer says. “So you'll do it?”

“Of course!” Katie says.

Cassandra jumps in with “I might do it too.”

“What do you mean, you might? Didn't you hear me say it's going to be awesome?”

“I have to see the dresses first.” Cassandra flips her hair.

“Believe me, they're incredible.” Summer takes a bite of a strawberry. “Why don't we run up right now and you can take a look. We still have twenty minutes of break left.”

“That sounds great,” Katie says. “What about you, Cassandra?”

“I guess.” Cassandra looks around the cafeteria. “Where's Connor anyway?”

Summer shrugs. Cassandra looks around the cafeteria again, rolls her eyes, and sighs. “Fine,” she says. I guess since there's no sign of Connor it's safe for her to leave.

The rain cleared up, and Summer is jumping over puddles as she goes on and on about the dresses. My
cheeks are burning, and I make sure to keep my head down as we walk so nobody can tell. I'm staring at the ground in front of me, which is how I happen to walk
right into
Connor.

“Yikes, I'm so sorry!” I try to smooth my hair down a bit.

“It's okay,” Connor says. “I kind of snuck up on you guys.”

“Hey, Connor.” Cassandra jumps in front of me, and for once I'm grateful. This will give my face some time to go back to its normal color.

“Hi, Cassandra.”

“Are you gonna watch the game tonight?” Cassandra takes her Red Sox hat off and shakes out her hair.

“Yeah. What do you think their chances are?” Connor asks.

“Whose chances for what?”

“The Sox. For winning.”

“Oh, they'll totally win.” Cassandra puts her hands on her hips.

“You think?”

“Of course. Why wouldn't they?”

“Well, you do know who they're playing.” Connor raises his eyebrows.

Cassandra shifts her weight from one foot to the other. “Of course.”

Connor nods. “Tough team. Especially with who's pitching.”

Cassandra doesn't say anything.

“And you know, the Sox have a few guys—”

“Whatever. They'll totally win.” Cassandra puts her hand on Connor's shoulder.

“You seem awfully sure.” Connor tilts his head. “What do you think the score will be?

“What?” Cassandra's smile is unsteady.

“The score?” Connor raises his eyebrows. “Any predictions?”

Cassandra's face goes blank, until she blurts out, “Oh, you know, it will be high.”

“Like thirty-two to forty-seven?” Connor asks, straight-faced. I purse my lips to stifle a giggle.

“Yeah, something like that.” Cassandra stands up taller, smiling.

“Yeah, that's what I thought.” Connor steps forward, and Cassandra's arm drops to her side. “Well, I gotta run. See you guys.”

Summer laughs when Connor's out of earshot. “You're so funny, Cassandra. If you're going to fake like baseball, at least study a little!”

“What do you mean?” Cassandra tilts her head.

“Thirty-two to forty-seven? Baseball scores aren't that high.” Summer laughs.

“I didn't think he'd really want to
talk
about it,” Cassandra says, her hands flying up to put her cap back on.

Summer shakes her head, and I bite my lip to keep from smiling. Connor is too smart for Cassandra's games.
I knew there was a reason I liked him. Besides the dimples, I mean.

We get to our dorm room, and I pull the dresses out of my closet. I hand them to Summer, and she holds them up in front of her and prances around the room like a runway model.

“Wow, Bea.” Katie takes one of the dresses out of Summer's hand. “These are amazing!”

“I told you!” Summer says.

“You actually
made
these?” Katie holds the dress at arm's length, looking it up and down.

“It's not that hard.” I point to Ellie's sewing machine. “I use this.”

“You know how to use a sewing machine?” Katie sounds amazed.

“Ell—” I stop myself and remember that nobody calls their grandmother by her first name. “My nana taught me.”

Cassandra's holding up my silver dress, the one I wore to Sarriette's on my birthday. “This one's not bad.”

“Not bad?” Summer stares at the dress. “It's incredible. I think it's my favorite.”

“Okay, I'll be in your fashion show.” Cassandra throws the dress on my bed. “We'd better go or we'll be late for language arts.”

“We'll meet you there in a few.” Summer picks up the silver dress Cassandra threw on the bed and hangs it up.

“Sometimes I wonder why I'm even friends with her,” Summer says after Cassandra leaves.

“Why are you?” I'm glad she said something, because I was wondering about that myself.

“She wasn't always like this—she used to be really nice and fun. Now she's just selfish and fake. I know she's going through a rough year. Her parents are getting divorced so I try to give her a break.”

“You're a good friend,” I say. I can't imagine that Cassandra was ever nice. But then again, she's nowhere near as selfish and fake as Sophie was.

“Hey, you want to come to my house this weekend?” Summer asks on our way back to class.

I grin. “Sure, I'd love to—if you're sure it's okay.”

“Of course it's okay.” Summer jumps plop in the middle of a gigantic puddle. “Connor will probably come too.”

“That's nice.” My stomach does a little flip.

“Yeah, my parents like to have us home once in a while. And Connor loves coming to my house because my parents feed him well. Plus, he's got a huge man-crush on my dad.”

I laugh. “A man-crush?”

“Yeah, you know—when a guy totally idolizes another guy? That's Connor with my dad.”

I laugh again.

“It's fun for both of them,” Summer says. “My dad only has daughters, so it's like Connor's his son. And Connor
needs a father figure. Since his uncle's never around and all.”

“Poor Connor,” I say under my breath. I'm not even sure if Summer hears me.

“You're lucky you have your nana.” Summer smiles at me. “Could you imagine what your life would have been like without her?”

“No,” I say. And I mean it. I can't imagine my life without Ellie.

And then it hits me. Even though my parents aren't really dead, Connor and I do have something in common. We were both raised by people who aren't our parents. I know I can't compare us, not really. My parents love me, but sometimes I wonder if they love their careers just a little bit more.

 16 

T
HERE'S A KNOCK on the door, and Ms. Goldberg peeks her head in.

“Hi, girls. Bea, this came for you.” She hands me an envelope with the Midcoast Academy logo and address in the top left corner.

Summer runs over to me. “Open it, quick! It's probably about the Spotlight Project application.”

My hands shake as I gently tear open the envelope and pull out the letter inside. Summer reads over my shoulder.

Dear Ms. Miller:

Congratulations! We are pleased to inform you that you have been selected as one of the finalists for Midcoast Academy's Parents' Weekend Spotlight Project.
The next step in the process is to set up an interview with the selection committee.

Please be prepared to discuss your project in more detail.

Please check your school e-mail as your invitation will be sent to you electronically.

Again, our congratulations, and I look forward to meeting you soon.

Sincerely,

Betsy Banks

Selection Committee Chair

Summer screams and jumps up and down. “You're a finalist, Bea!”

I'm still standing there, holding the letter. I'm pretty sure my mouth is hanging open, but no words come out.

“Aren't you excited?” Summer's still jumping up and down.

“I—I just can't believe it.”

“I told you! You're definitely going to win.”