Viva Vermont! (18 page)

DJ actually laughed now. “Well, take it from me, that is highly overrated.”

“So … when I get out of here, DJ, well, I hope we can be friends.”

“Absolutely!”

They talked awhile longer, but DJ could see that Haley was getting sleepy. “I'll see you tomorrow,” she promised her.

“Yeah, see ya.”

As DJ walked through the waiting area, she noticed Bethany and Amy coming her way. She started to smile and wave to them, but they just narrowed their eyes, stepping aside to let her pass and then hurrying from her as if she might contaminate them. As they went by DJ, she heard Bethany whisper, “Poison.”

Sure, it hurt. But DJ decided to shrug it off. Really, what did silly Bethany know? DJ felt genuinely hopeful about how it had gone with Haley just now. Why let anyone spoil that? As Grandmother liked to say, “Rome wasn't built in a day.” DJ knew that repairing every single broken relationship wasn't going to happen in one day either. Still, she felt that with God anything was possible. Really, what couldn't God do? Shooting up a silent prayer, she turned around and followed Bethany and Amy back to the waiting area.

Read chapter 1 of
Lost in Las Vegas
,

Book 5 in Carter House Girls.

“Remind me to never, ever star in another high school musical again.” Eliza sighed dramatically as she poured her coffee. It was the Sunday morning after the final performance of
South Pacific
and DJ suspected that Eliza was just fishing for compliments. Not that she hadn't already gotten plenty. And last night, she'd been presented with a huge bouquet of roses. DJ knew they were from Eliza's parents, but Eliza received them like an Oscar.

“But what if Mr. Harper really does
High School Musical
in the spring?” asked Kriti with wide, dark eyes. DJ could tell by the way Kriti said this that she was hoping he would. Eliza probably was too.

“That is so last week,” said Taylor.

“Meaning you wouldn't participate in it?” Eliza pushed a long strand of blonde hair over her shoulder and sat up straighter, looking directly at Taylor like this was a personal challenge.

Taylor rolled her eyes, then reached for the fruit platter. “Meaning I don't really want to think about it right now. Sheesh, Eliza, didn't you just ask us to remind you
never
to be in another musical?”

“Eliza is probably just trying to secure her next starring role,” said Rhiannon. Then she frowned like she hadn't really meant it to sound like that. “And why shouldn't she?” she added quickly. “Eliza was absolutely fantastic as Nurse Nellie. Everyone said so.”

“And it's obvious that Eliza never wants us to forget that she was a star,” teased Casey.

“Was.”
Taylor chuckled. “As in she's a has-been now.”

Some of the girls snickered, but Eliza just glared at Taylor.

Then as if she'd just started listening, Grandmother cleared her throat and closed the open date book that she'd been studying. She looked at the girls. “I see there are only two weeks remaining until winter break, ladies.” She shook her head sadly. “I just can't believe that it's already December. It seems like only yesterday that you girls arrived at Carter House. My, my, how time flies.”

“And the Winter Ball is next Saturday,” Eliza reminded them. As if anyone could've forgotten with all the posters plastered all over the school. But DJ was still unsure. Conner had asked her to go, but she hadn't agreed. Even though Haley hadn't returned to school yet, it still made DJ uncomfortable to be seen as more than “ just friends” with Conner. And DJ knew that Haley's swim-team buddies were probably reporting to her.

“My mother and I are shopping for gowns today,” continued Eliza. She glanced at her roommate. “And Kriti too, of course.”

“I already have my dress,” said Taylor. “A little something my mother sent over from Milan while she was performing there last month.”

DJ could tell this little dig was aimed directly at Eliza. The two girls had been going at it steadily for the last couple of weeks. It had started when Eliza's boyfriend, Harry, had made what Eliza interpreted as a flirtatious move toward Taylor during a rehearsal for the musical. Actually, DJ had seen it herself and, although she hadn't told anyone, she felt certain that Harry had been flirting too. But he'd been unaware that Eliza had been watching at the time. Yet, in a way, DJ was glad Eliza and Taylor were at odds again. They had all experienced those two “power forces” united during last month's ski trip—and it had been a rather frightening experience. Sort of like it might be if Russia and China ever got together.

“My mother offered to shop for a gown for me in Paris,” said Eliza, her attempt at one-upping Taylor. “But I told her to wait. I wouldn't want to risk having a dress that fit poorly.”

“That's why God invented alterations, Eliza,” said Taylor. “Or perhaps you don't have such conveniences down south.”

“I don't see why girls think they need to go out and spend a bunch of money on something new for a silly dance,” said Casey. She glanced at Rhiannon, and DJ suspected that Casey was trying to make her feel better. “I mean you'll wear that dress like one time. What a waste!”

“So what do you intend to wear?” asked Eliza with a bored sort of interest. “Your Doc Martins and something with spikes?”

Casey made a face. “Actually, I might go eighties retro. Like Madonna or Blondie.”

“Right.” Eliza turned up her nose. “The Winter Ball theme is ‘White Christmas' and we're supposed to dress in a fifties style of Hollywood elegance.”

“You take those posters literally?” asked Casey.

“They suggested dresses in Christmas colors of red, green, or white.” Eliza continued like she was reading it from a brochure.

“I think it'll be pretty,” said Kriti.

“I intend to look for something sparkly in white to show off my tan,” said Eliza.

“Fake tan.” Taylor pushed a curly dark strand of hair away from her face and laughed. “My dress is black.”

“It figures.” Eliza snickered.

“I'm going to wear green,” said Rhiannon quickly, like she was trying to keep this from escalating.

“What do you mean ‘it figures'?” demanded Taylor.

“Everyone else will look Christmassy in red, green, or white, and the vamp will show up wearing black.” Eliza laughed.

“Speaking of Winter Break,” said Grandmother loudly. “What exactly are your plans, ladies?” She opened her date book and picked up her silver pen. “I'd like to make note of it now, if you don't mind.”

“I'll be in France for Christmas,” Eliza announced proudly.

“So you'll be flying directly to France from Connecticut?” inquired Grandmother.

“Actually, I'll spend the first week or so in Kentucky,” admitted Eliza. “Visiting with friends and family. Then my older siblings and I will travel together just before Christmas. My mother said the rooms aren't completely renovated yet. Her designer, a well-known Parisian, promises to have it completed before Christmas Eve.”

“La-di-da,” said Casey.

Grandmother frowned at Casey. “So, how about you, Miss Atwood? When will you be departing for California?”

“The same day that school is out.”

Grandmother made note of this.

“And I'll be leaving the day after school is out,” said Rhiannon.

Grandmother's brows lifted with curiosity. “To go where, dear?”

“To an aunt who lives in Maine.”

Grandmother smiled. “That's nice. I didn't know you had an aunt, Rhiannon.”

“I didn't either. She's actually a great aunt and …” Rhiannon paused as if unsure. “My mother may be joining me up there.”

“Really?” Grandmother looked a bit skeptical, and everyone else got quiet. They all knew that Rhiannon's mother was in drug rehab—the lockdown kind.

“Yes. If my aunt signs something, they'll release her for the holidays.”

“Very interesting.” Grandmother looked at Kriti now. “I assume you'll be in New York?”

Kriti nodded happily. “Yes. We have some relatives coming from India to visit. My mother is very excited.”

“Well, I'm sure you'll have a delightful Christmas.” Grandmother frowned with realization. “I suppose you don't call it Christmas, do you, Kriti?”

Kriti looked slightly embarrassed. “It's a different sort of holiday, Mrs. Carter. We celebrate things like love, affection, sharing, and the renewing of family bonds.”

“That sounds lovely.” Grandmother looked at Taylor now. “And what will you be doing during the holidays, dear?”

Taylor sighed. “My mother has invited me to tour with her.”

Grandmother's eyes lit up. She was a huge fan of Eva Perez. “Where will she be touring? Europe still?”

“I wish. No, she'll be in the southwest by then. And it looks like we'll be spending Christmas in Las Vegas.”

Eliza snickered. “Charming.”

Taylor tossed her a warning glance. “Hey, Las Vegas has its perks.”

“Most importantly is that you're with family, Taylor.” Grandmother smiled. “Isn't that what Christmas is all about?”

Taylor shrugged. “I guess.”

Now Grandmother looked at DJ. “Now, you're still certain you don't want to join your father and his family for Christmas, Desiree?”

“No, Grandmother.” DJ tried not to show frustration. But she and Grandmother had already been over this. The last place DJ wanted to be during Christmas break was with her father's happy little family. It was bad enough that this would be her first Christmas without her mother. But to be stuck playing the live-in babysitter to the toddler twins was unimaginable.

“Well, I'm sure that we'll have a delightful time right here at home.” Grandmother smiled at DJ. “Perhaps we'll have the general over.”

DJ got sympathetic glances from Rhiannon and Casey, and maybe even Kriti. Not that she wanted their pity. But Eliza just smiled smugly. And Taylor, well, she was a hard one to read.

But later that day, after DJ and Rhiannon got back from church, Taylor asked DJ if she was happy about her “holiday plans.”

DJ groaned as she flopped onto her bed. “Holiday plans? Like I planned any of this?”

Taylor laughed. “Yeah, I guess not.”

“I'll be fine,” DJ assured her. “I'll catch up on sleep and reading.”

“Maybe Conner will be around to keep you entertained,” Taylor said in a sexy-sounding, teasing tone.

“Conner is going with his family to Montana for two weeks.”

“Bummer.”

“Tell me about it.”

“I know!” Taylor exclaimed. “You'll come out to Las Vegas and visit me for Christmas.”

DJ just laughed. “Oh, yeah, like that's going to happen.”

“Why not?” Taylor looked slightly hurt.

“Seriously, Christmas in Las Vegas?”

“Why not?”

“Well, besides the fact that it sounds totally crazy, I know that my grandmother would never—in a million years—agree to something like that.” And the truth was that DJ was secretly relieved for this excuse. Because, really, the only thing she could imagine being worse than spending Christmas with Grandmother in Connecticut or her father's family in California, would be to spend Christmas in Las Vegas with Taylor Mitchell.

Carter House Girls Series

from Melody Carlson

Mix six teenage girls and one ‘60s fashion icon (retired, of course) in an old Victorian-era boarding home. Add boys and dating, a little high school angst, and throw in a Kate Spade bag or two … and you've got the Carter House Girls, Melody Carlson's new chick lit series for young adults!

Mixed Bags Book One Softcover • ISBN: 978-0-310-71488-0 Stealing Bradford Book Two Softcover • ISBN: 978-0-310-71489-7 Homecoming Queen Book Three Softcover • ISBN: 978-0-310-71490-3 Lost in Las Vegas Book Five Softcover • ISBN: 978-0-310-71492-7 New York Debut Book Six Softcover • ISBN: 978-0-310-71493-4

Books 7–8 coming soon!

Pick up a copy today at your favorite bookstore!

Visit www.zondervan.com/teen