Winter White (30 page)

“What are you going to tell Mrs. Fitz?” Violet asked as she examined one of her purple nails for a chip. “She’s not going to be happy when she finds out we have nothing booked but dessert and a DJ.”

“At least it’s an awesome DJ,” Nicole said a little too loudly as she checked messages on her phone.

Izzie saw Mira glance their way, and she shushed her. “Shock and awe, remember?” Nicole nodded. “We’ll save that info for when Mrs. Fitz lays into me for accomplishing little else.”

“We’ve got a location,” Nicole reminded her, and dropped her phone into her bag.

“No one knows about that yet, either,” Violet whispered. “But the new digs do kick the Monica Holbrook Arts Center’s boring butt.” Izzie shushed them again and looked at Mira out of the corner of her eye.

Mira was definitely listening to their conversation. How could she not? They were the only four in the room so far and Mrs. Fitz was nowhere to be seen. Izzie was surprised more people weren’t late to things when they had to walk almost a quarter of a mile to get to some of the buildings. She was so busy quieting her friends that she didn’t see Savannah, Lea, Lauren, and Millie glide in and go straight for Mira as if she had a bull’s-eye on her forehead.

Savannah leaned on the desk and pressed her hands into Mira’s notebook. “Hi, Mira. Have a good weekend?” Her minions stood behind her like a firing squad.

Violet, Nicole, and Izzie looked at one another. Izzie had no idea what Mira could have done to face the wrath of Savannah, but it had to be huge if Mira had fallen that far from her good graces. Hayden said the two had been best friends for years.

“Why don’t you talk to someone who cares?” Mira snapped, and turned toward the window. It was a nice view. The entire boys’ soccer team was jogging by, and most of them were shirtless.

“Is that any way to talk to your best friend?” Savannah asked, and Mira looked at her strangely. “You do still want to be my best friend, don’t you, Mira?”

“I thought I was being bumped up to best friend,” Lauren mumbled.

Savannah must have felt Izzie and her friends staring because she turned and glared at them. “Do you mind? This is a private conversation.”

“Then maybe you should have it in
private
.” Violet flipped her dark brown hair à la Savannah.

Savannah motioned to the others, and Izzie tried not to laugh as they formed a circle around the desk to block Mira and Savannah from view. Izzie could still hear them.

“So?” Savannah said again. “Do you want to be my best friend or not?”

Mira sort of laughed. “After the way you treated me Saturday night? I don’t think so.”

“I’m sorry, but you had to be taught a lesson,” Savannah said simply. “You knew how I felt about helping
her
, and yet you gave
her
crucial information. What was I supposed to do?”

“She also knew about
her
and B, right?” Lea asked. Izzie heard a stomp, and then Lea yelped.

“I told you not to bring that up,” Savannah said. “Brayden and I are fine. Mira and I aren’t, but we could be.”

Mira sighed. “What do you want, Savannah?”

“I want you to help me get what I want,” she said matter-of-factly. “Follow my lead in the meeting. If you can do that, all will be forgiven, and neither of us has to get our daddies involved.”

Izzie, Nicole, and Violet exchanged looks.
What was that supposed to mean?

“Do you think you can manage that?” Savannah asked as Mrs. Fitz walked in and several girls slipped in the door behind her.

“Hello, Social Butterflies!” Mrs. Fitz practically sang, preventing Izzie from hearing Mira’s answer. Savannah and the other girls sat down near Mira.

Mrs. Fitz opened her planner, and Izzie felt a knot form in her stomach. She had tossed and turned all night trying to come up with a solution to the party problems and around 3
AM
, she finally came up with an idea. It was kind of crazy. Probably social suicide. But if she pulled it off, the party would be the talk of EC. She hadn’t shared the idea with anyone yet, including Violet and Nicole. She wanted to make sure she could make it happen first. Izzie had made phone calls during lunch and had several things booked by gym class, but was still waiting on a few more replies. Her phone stayed in her lap all day as she waited for a final text that would seal the deal. Then she needed to suggest her idea in front of the group.

“Girls, we are in crunch mode,” Mrs. Fitz told them. “Invitations have gone out, we already have two yeses, and flyers will go up this week to announce the Butterflies’ first event of the season.” She looked at Izzie, Mira, and Savannah. “Now, I just need the details. I can’t wait to hear what you’ve got!”

Savannah motioned to Izzie with a sick smile on her face. “I’m sure Izzie wants to tell you everything. She
is
event chair.”

Mrs. Fitz looked at Izzie expectantly, and Izzie’s cheeks began to burn. All eyes were on her. Where should she start? Should she launch in with her proposed fix or explain what went wrong first?

“The truth is, Mrs. Fitz, Izzie has run into a huge problem,” Savannah said before Izzie could answer. “I’m not sure how to say this, but the only thing she has booked is cup-cakes, and the DJ she did have, I know for a fact Izzie canceled over the weekend. The town restaurants turned her down for catering. I called around to try to help, but no one else has an opening that night.” Savannah lowered her eyes sadly. “I don’t know why she didn’t come to you sooner to tell you herself.”

Mrs. Fitz glanced at Izzie worriedly. “I don’t understand. We have a list of vendors we work with. Why would they all turn you down? You’ve had a week to work on this. I’m supposed to give Headmaster Heller a report this afternoon,” she mumbled to herself, starting to sound crazy. “What am I going to say? Senator Monroe is coming and making a huge donation! And the press… the press!”

“Breathe, Mrs. Fitz!” Nicole told her. “It’s okay. We have a location.”

“Actually”—Savannah sounded apologetic—“the Monica Holbrook Arts Center has been double-booked. Izzie should have known that, too.” Her face was so self-satisfied that Izzie could have punched her.

“Girls, how could you not come to me sooner and tell me you had a problem?” Mrs. Fitz reprimanded them, looking aghast.

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Fitz,” Savannah said. “We tried to cover for Izzie, but we realize that was a huge mistake.” She glanced at Izzie. “She knows nothing about how Emerald Cove works the way Mira and I do. That’s why we think Izzie should be removed as chair immediately, and we should be put back in charge. Mira?” She stared at her former best friend. “Do you have anything to add?” Izzie noticed Mira was spinning her pearl bracelet around and around on her tiny wrist.

“Mrs. Fitz?” Izzie spoke up, and all eyes were on her. “I have something to say. I did run into problems, but I’ve worked them out. I haven’t botched the whole party. I booked an alternate location last week. We have the barn on campus.”

“A barn?” Savannah’s heart-shaped face was skeptical.

“What better place to have a hoedown?” Izzie asked Mrs. Fitz, who looked curious. “We made a deal with the guy in charge, and he said we could have it for the whole weekend. It’s big enough for a dance floor and seating, and it has a great vibe.” Savannah squirmed in her seat, her plaid skirt getting more wrinkled by the second. “We are even working on getting horse-drawn carriages to take guests from the main campus to the barn for an extra donation.”

“That’s kind of cool,” Izzie heard a girl whisper.

“What about catering?” Savannah asked. “Mira and I know for a fact that you don’t have anything booked yet. Right, Mira?” Mira looked so conflicted, Izzie almost felt bad for her.

“Izzie booked a DJ,” Violet said hastily.

“Oh really? Who?” Savannah asked.

Izzie pulled the contract out of her binder and held it up. She was starting to feel more confident. “I booked DJ Backslide. I think you’ve heard of him.” The color drained from Savannah’s face. “You tried to book him for your sweet sixteen, right? He told me he said no because he thought your theme was tacky.”

Savannah looked momentarily flustered. “But you…
you
? You couldn’t have booked DJ Backslide. He’s booked for a year! Why would he work with you?”

“Didn’t you hear?” Izzie said smugly. “DJ Backslide grew up in Harborside. We went to the same high school.” It looked like steam was going to come out of Savannah’s ears. Izzie noticed that Mira was trying not to laugh.

“But she still doesn’t have any food,” Lea said, trying to help out Savannah, who looked like she needed oxygen. “We can’t have a party without food, and no one in town will work with her. Apparently, Izzie and her friends tried to bully them into donations.”

“You skinny little liar,” Violet snapped, starting to stand up. Lea’s face paled. “The reason no one would work with us is because you and your friends told them not to!”

Mrs. Fitz wiped her brow as she looked anxiously from girl to girl. “I am so confused! What is the real story, girls? I’ve never seen you so divided before! Are you really telling me we’ve sold tickets to a party that has no food?”

“We’re sorry, Mrs. Fitz, but it’s the truth,” Savannah said contritely. “We’d
never
humiliate another Butterfly, but Mira and I wanted you to know what was happening, even if Izzie is her cousin. If you’d just put Mira and me back in charge, I know we could wow you.”

“Don’t,” Mira spoke up. “Izzie didn’t screw up; we did. Violet’s right. She couldn’t book any of the food because the shops were blackmailed out of using her. Same goes for the DJ. He was purposely double-booked so he’d cancel on Izzie at the last minute.” Mira looked at her cousin apologetically. Izzie was so stunned by Mira’s confession, she just sat back and listened. “Izzie was set up to fail, and none of it is her fault. If you want to fire anyone, it should be me and Savannah.”

“She’s lying,” Savannah said, her mouth agape. “Mira and Izzie must have been conspiring behind my back, Mrs. Fitz….”

“Enough!” Mrs. Fitz said, her breathing irregular. “I can’t listen to any more of this fighting! I feel like I’m watching an episode of some crazy reality show! What has happened to my beautiful Butterflies? This party is a disaster! I mean, the barn is cute, and this DJ Blackjack—”

“Backslide,” everyone in the room said.

“Backslide,” Mrs. Fitz corrected herself. “He is a good get, but everything else…” She bit her lip, smudging her pink lipstick, and looked at Izzie. “We can’t have a party without the rest.”

Izzie heard a ping and looked at her phone. It was a text from Antonio, the owner of Harborside’s supermarket. Antonio was a great guy. He had always been there for Izzie and Grams when they needed some extra help buying groceries. His wife always sent meals over, too.

ANTONIO’S CELL: The whole block is in! Call me to discuss details.

“Mrs. Fitz?” Izzie said, unable to hide her glee. “I have a solution.”

“Good.” Mrs. Fitz slumped in her chair. “Let me hear it.”

“None of the caterers in town will work with me on the event—that’s true,” Izzie said, “And it doesn’t matter why; it’s just not happening. But I found other restaurants and stores that will work with us, and I think they make a lot more sense.” Mira looked at her curiously. “Since we’re raising funds for my old community center, I called some people from my neighborhood to see if they’d donate.” Izzie’s voice grew animated. “They’re all in! I can guarantee Southern food that will make your mouth water—ribs, barbecue chicken, sweet-potato fries, chicken-fried steak…” Izzie listed half a dozen more options, all of which would come from restaurants in Harborside. Antonio had agreed to provide all the beverages from his supermarket and he had spoken to several restaurants Izzie knew and loved that signed on when they’d heard what the cause was for.

“You want EP to have a party catered by restaurants in Harborside?” Savannah said condescendingly.

“What’s wrong with that?” Violet asked, her oval eyes like slits.

“I love the idea,” Mira said boldly. Several girls, many of whom had never given Izzie a second glance, murmured their agreement. Everyone started talking about how different the idea was, as if using anything non-EC-related was so groundbreaking.

“So do I,” said Mrs. Fitz, regaining some of her natural color. Savannah still looked like she might pass out. “I was getting tired of the same filet mignon and red roasted potatoes at every event. This is genius, Isabelle! I’m so relieved you came through for us! Headmaster Heller will love it! I can see the school press release now: ‘Harborside gives back to their own with EP’s help.’ It’s perfect.”

When the meeting ended, Izzie was so busy taking congratulations from some of the girls that she barely noticed Savannah arguing with Mira. But once she did, she hovered nearby.

“What’s wrong with you?” Savannah seethed. “I was offering you an olive branch back there, in case you didn’t notice.”

“I noticed,” Mira said calmly. “I just didn’t take it.”

“Do you know what you’re doing, Mira? If you side with her, we’re done,” Savannah hissed. “I will—”

“What will you do, Savannah?” Izzie strode across the room, and Savannah sort of blanched when she realized Izzie was still there. “You’re all talk. Mira is the one who has the real guts in your friendship.”

“I’m not going to listen to this,” Savannah said, her eyes darting from one girl to the other. “I was obviously wrong about you, Mira. You and your cousin deserve each other.” She picked up her things. “I hope your dad finds a new cash cow for his campaign.”

“What was that supposed to mean?” Izzie asked Mira, immediately thinking of Lucas.

“Nothing. It doesn’t matter.” Mira glared at the door shutting behind Savannah. “But thanks for sticking up for me just now. I don’t deserve it.”

“True, but you had my back in here today, too. That took real guts,” she said, trying not to smile.

“Thanks,” Mira said, looking sort of pleased. She pulled her notebook to her chest. “So you’ll let me help you guys?”