Stitches and Stones Read Free Page A

overdressed.”
    Zoey liked that Gabe was enthusiastic about getting dressed up for Spirit Week. When she looked over at Lorenzo Romy, her on-again, off-again crush, he had barely made any effort at all. Okay, he was wearing a hat, but it was just a regular old baseball cap, and he had it turned backward, just like he normally would. Nothing in the least bit special or spirited about it.
    For today, at least, she figured that crush was off again.
    All students were required to take off their hats for class, anyway, which was good because Gabe’s top hat was kind of an obstruction to Zoey’s field of vision. She was worried she might have hat hair, until she remembered today was Hat Hair Day as much as it was Hat Day. If she had hat hair, everyone would.
    She talked to Kate and Priti in the hall on the way to gym. “Looking good!” she said.
    â€œYou too!” Priti said. “I just wish we didn’t have to take off our hats for every class.”
    â€œWell, I have gym next,” Zoey said. “I can’t imagine playing basketball with a veil. I’m bad enough at scoring without something blocking my vision!”
    Kate and Priti laughed.
    â€œJust keep your eyes on the ball,” Kate said, giving Zoey a hug. “And have fun. I wish I had gym now!”
    â€œYou wish you had gym all day!” Priti chuckled.
    â€œHa-ha. Good one, Priti! See you at lunch, guys,” Zoey said. She didn’t have the heart to tell Kate that gym was her least favorite class of the day. Zoey’s father was a physical therapist for Eastern State University’s athletics teams, so she kind of liked watching sports. She had to! But gym class was another story.

    Zoey arrived at the locker room and placed the pillbox hat on a nearby bench while she changed into her gym clothes. She could hear Ivy and her friends Shannon Chang and Bree Sharpe in the next row of lockers. They were singing a song Zoey had heardeverywhere lately called “Get Your Cool On.” It was simple but catchy, and starting to grow on her.
    â€œWe’re going to rock it on Friday!” Shannon said enthusiastically.
    â€œYou better,” Ivy replied coldly, then added a halfhearted, “Just kidding!”
    The song was okay but still not Zoey’s favorite. Well, it’s perfect for them, Zoey thought as she stuffed her backpack into her locker and hung her clothes on the hook inside. That’s when Zoey felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned around.
    â€œHey,” said Bree. “You forgot your hat.”
    Zoey was confused. “Um, thanks?” she said, watching in awe as Bree placed Zoey’s hat in her locker for her. That’s weird, Zoey thought. Why is Bree being nice to me?
    Then the bell rang and it was time to go to the basketball court. Zoey tried to follow Kate’s advice and just have fun, but it seemed like Ivy was making a lot of intentional fouls on her—and the teacher didn’t see any of them. Another typical day in gym class . . .
    When gym was over, Zoey changed back intoher regular clothes and headed to lunch. She was too hot and sweaty to put her hat back on. Zoey shuddered at the thought of having to return Mrs. Holbrooke’s ladylike hat with post-gym sweat stains on it after she’d made the girls swear to keep the hats in perfect condition. Besides, she and Libby were going to switch hats at lunch in a few minutes, and Libby probably wouldn’t appreciate a sweaty hat either. Yuck!
    In the cafeteria, Zoey sat down next to Priti, set her hat down on the lunch table, and pulled out her lunch bag.
    â€œWhat’s for lunch?” Zoey asked Priti.
    â€œ Saag paneer calzone, I think,” Priti answered, eyeing her lunch suspiciously. “My mom’s been trying some hybrid recipes for her food blog, and I’m the guinea pig. Last night we had lamb burritos with naan instead of tortillas for dinner. ”
    â€œLucky