Mixed Messages Read Free Page A

Beans,” Mr. P said to the girls. “Plus, you wouldn’t have anything to look forward to—or talk about.”
    â€œExcuse me, Mr. Papademetriou,” the Wink receptionist interrupted the conversation. “Your stylist is ready for you.”
    Relief washed over Mr. P’s face. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to get my hair cut.”
    *  *  *
    When Zee and Ally got back to the Carmichaels’ house, Zee logged onto her computer. She wanted to email Jasper a list of the ideas for Bluetopia that she, Chloe, and Ally had come up with at Wink.
    â€œIt would be a lot easier if Jasper were a girl,” Ally said.
    â€œWhy?” Zee asked.
    â€œBecause then he would have been at Wink with us.”
    Zee typed in her password. “True.”
    â€œAnd you could talk to him about you and Landon.”
    â€œI can talk to him about me and Landon,” Zee said defensively.
    â€œHave you?” Ally asked.
    â€œWell . . .” Zee hesitated. “No.”
    â€œThat’s what I thought.”
    â€œIt’s only because I don’t think he’d be interested,” Zee answered quickly. “And right now I’m not sure there’s anything to say.”
    The computer dinged. Zee had an IM.
    Â  BRAH13: Hey!
    â€œWho’s Brah13?” Ally asked.
    â€œLandon,” Zee explained as a wide smile spread across her face. “It’s what surfers call one another.”
    â€œLooks like he does like you,” Ally said, plopping onto Zee’s bed next to her best friend. “He’s thinking about you.”
    Â  E-ZEE: Hey!
    Â  BRAH13: Wassup?
    Â  E-ZEE: Ally and I r hanging.
    Â  BRAH13: Cool.
    Zee waited.
    And waited.
    â€œSay something,” Ally urged.
    â€œLike what?”
    Ally thought. “Ask him what he’s doing.”
    Â  E-ZEE: What r u doing?
    Â  BRAH13: Not much.
    Zee waited again. Then she looked at Ally.
    â€œMaybe he’s tired,” Ally suggested.
    Zee shrugged. And waited. Finally, another message came.
    Â  BRAH13: I downloaded a cool vid by Silent Noise. They r my favorite band. Do u like them?
    â€œEwww!” Ally said. “They’re awful.”
    Zee knew what Ally meant. She didn’t like Silent Noise, either. Not even a little. But she didn’t want to insult Landon by telling him that.
    As Zee thought about how to respond, an IM came from Jasper.
    Â  BRITCHAP: R u there?
    Â  E-ZEE: Yes.
    Â  BRITCHAP: Bz afternoon.
    Â  E-ZEE: 411.
    Â  BRITCHAP: Dad & I went 2 a meeting.
    Â  E-ZEE: What kind?
    Â  BRITCHAP: A bunch of volunteers are going to plant trees around Brookdale town hall to help fight global warming.
    Â  E-ZEE: Cool beans!
    Â  BRITCHAP: Then I watched Manchester City play Manchester United.
    Â  E-ZEE: Soccer?
    Â  BRITCHAP: Right.
    Â  E-ZEE: Xellent.
    Â  BRITCHAP: Then I worked on Bluetopia.
    Â  E-ZEE: A, C & I did 2. We have ideas.
    Â  BRITCHAP: K. Let’s talk. 2mor @ my house?
    Â  E-ZEE: K. bbfn
    Bloop. A new IM came in.
    Â  BRAH13: ????
    Oh no! Zee had forgotten all about Landon!
    Â  E-ZEE: Sorry! Got another IM.
    Â  BRAH13: K. g2g.
    Â  E-ZEE: K. ttfn.
    â€œThat was kind of weird,” Ally pointed out.
    â€œWhat?” Zee asked.
    â€œYou like Landon, but you guys don’t really have much to talk about, and you’re just friends with Jasper, but you don’t have a problem IMing at all.”
    Zee snorted. “That doesn’t mean anything!” she said. “You and I have a lot to talk about, and we’re just friends.”
    â€œI’m just saying it’s too bad that you and Landon don’t have more in common,” Ally said, then gave Zee a curious look. “Did you think I meant that Jasper should be your boyfriend?”
    â€œUh . . . no,” Zee said. “Why would I think that? That would be ridiculous.”
    â€œMaybe,” Ally said. Then more