Skylar Robbins: The Mystery of the Hidden Jewels - Carrie Cross (most popular novels of all time TXT) 📗

one thing I was thankful for: Crew Gang was going to jail for attempted robbery, weapons charges, and assaulting an officer, so I didn’t have to worry about them anymore.

“I’m so proud of you,” Alexa said, when we met at our locker at the break. “I knew you’d figure it out. Thanks for calling me your smart best friend on TV,” she said, and her eyes misted up.

“You are my smart best friend.”

By lunchtime my fame had faded and everybody was tired of the subject of Xandra Collins’s jewels. Something more important was on everyone’s minds. The backwards dance was Friday night! Alexa and I sat down at an empty table and started eating our sandwiches.

“So is Brendan picking you up or meeting you there?”

She put her hand over her mouth to hide the food in her smile. “He said he’d meet me there. What about Dustin?”

“We haven’t talked about it since he’d told me he’d go, but I’ll ask him to meet me there too so you and I can get ready together. Then maybe your mom can take us there and my mom can bring us home or something.” That was the best idea I’d had yet. I’d been panicking thinking about Dustin’s parents picking me up on our first date and trying to make conversation with him in the backseat of their car.

I finished my sandwich and wiped my mouth, then threw away my paper bag and sat back down. Taking my little makeup mirror out of my purse, I checked my teeth and popped a breath mint. My nerves felt jumpy as I thought about the dance.

 

34

Friday Night

Before we knew it, Friday night had arrived. Alexa came over for dinner, and after forcing down some meatloaf we ran up the stairs to my room to get ready. I took the first shower and put on plenty of deodorant and lots of lotion.

“Want to see my dress?” Alexa asked. I nodded and she pulled a thin plastic sheet off of the hanger, showing me an emerald green dress with a tropical flower print.

“That’s so cute. My mom bought me a new outfit too.” I took the dress out of my closet and pulled it down over my head. It was kind of tight fitting and came down to just above my knees, and it was the same deep blue as the ocean on a really sunny day.

“It matches your eyes perfectly,” Alexa said.

I carefully put on my first pair of nylons, hoping I wouldn’t get a run in them. Then I stepped into a new pair of shoes and walked awkwardly around my room, trying to break them in a little. “Hope I don’t stumble on the dance floor and make a fool of myself in front of Dustin.”

“You won’t.”

“Do you think I’ll be taller than him in these heels?”

Alexa looked at the top of my head seriously. “No. I think you’ll be just the same height.”

“Good. As long as I’m not taller. And guess what? My dad locked most of Xandra’s jewels in his safe, but I was allowed to pick out a couple of her smaller pieces. My mom let me wear one of Xandra’s rings tonight since it’s a special occasion. Follow me.” We went upstairs into my office. “Close your eyes,” I said, pulling out the center drawer of my desk. Reaching behind it, I slid the panel sideways, revealing the secret compartment. I reached past Grandpa’s badge and pulled out a tiny velvet box.

Lifting the lid, I took out the sparkling sapphire ring. It wasn’t actually so little after all, and it matched the blue of my dress perfectly. I slipped it onto my finger and hid something else in my other hand. “Look.”

Alexa opened her eyes. “That’s beautiful,” she breathed, gazing at my ring.

“I have a surprise for you too,” I said, my fingers curling around a delicate gold bracelet. “Hold out your hand.” She opened her palm and I dropped the gift into it. “This is for you.”

In between two lengths of gold chain there was a small emerald imbedded in a gold heart. “Oh my God,” Alexa said, sucking in her breath. “To wear to the dance, or for keeps?”

“For keeps. My parents said I could give you something for helping me find the jewels. I thought you’d like this bracelet.”

“I love it.” Alexa hugged me, and then I hooked the clasp while she stared at the bracelet. Then she looked up at me. “You would have figured out where the map started without me, Skylar.”

“Maybe. But maybe not. The important thing is, you figured out where it started and I found the jewels because you helped.” I looked at my desk clock. “Hey, we better finish getting ready. It’s almost time to leave.”

We walked carefully to the bathroom in our heels and took turns brushing on a little eye shadow.

“Want some perfume?” Alexa asked. “It’s new. Smell.” She held it out and I breathed in the scent of fresh flowers.

“Yum. That smells great,” I said, dabbing some of her perfume on my neck. Then we both bent forward and looked into the mirror. Alexa put on lip gloss, and I took out a light pink Ultrashine Lipslick and smoothed the glistening cream over my lips. When we were finally ready to go, we went back to my bedroom and stood close together. I held my cell phone in front of us, took our picture, and posted it on Instagram and Facebook. Then we left the house to go on our very first date.

Fifteen minutes later we climbed out of my mom’s car and walked across the campus toward the gymnasium where the dance was being held. “School looks so different at night,” Alexa said. Grass crunched beneath our shoes as we crossed the dark lawn, heading toward the lunch area.

“I know. It’s kind of creepy.” Our heels clacked on the cement hallways and echoed. It sounded menacing. I wondered if someone was following us.

“Let’s hurry,” Alexa said, and we walked faster. Echoed louder. Light from a dim bulb cast long shadows under the tables as we passed the cafeteria.

Suddenly someone hissed at us from around the corner of the building. “Hey, Snitch.” I recognized that harsh, ugly twang.

Oh no. Alexa and I looked at each other and hobbled faster in our new heels.

“Hey, losers,” a second voice growled.

“Come on,” Alexa said, grabbing my arm.

“I can’t run in these shoes!” Please don’t let anything ruin my date with Dustin.

Emelyn Peters and Pat Whitehead stepped out from behind the wall. They stood in front of us under a circle of weak yellow light with their arms folded, blocking our path to the gym. “What do you want?” I hoped they didn’t notice my voice was quivering.

Emelyn leaned into me. “I want you to go home because I’m going to the dance with Dustin,” she threatened. “Or you’re dead meat.”

“You aren’t allowed to be here,” Alexa said, sticking up for me.

“Shut up,” Pat said, giving Alexa an aggressive little push in the chest. My BFF staggered backward, awkward in her new heels.

“I know what else I want.” Emelyn was right up in my face. Her breath smelled like rotten garbage. “I’ll take that ring you’re wearing.” She laughed a nasty, high-pitched giggle and grabbed my hand, trying to wrestle Xandra’s sapphire ring off my finger. “I saw you on TV, you wannabe detective. You got a whole jewelry box. You won’t miss this little ring, now will you?” She twisted my ring angrily, but I made a fist so she couldn’t get it off my finger. “I’ll end up taking the rest of your jewelry collection too.”

“Oh no you won’t,” I said furiously. “It’s locked up, like you’re about to be.”

Emelyn hadn’t noticed the security guard walking up behind her until it was too

late. “Problem ladies?” he asked. She turned around to run and he caught her

by the wrist. Pat stood there stunned, too surprised to move.

“Yes, Sir,” I said. “Emelyn Peters just told me that I was ‘dead meat’ if I didn’t let her go to the dance with my date, and then she tried to steal my ring.”

“Plus she’s not even allowed on campus except for classes,” Alexa said. “She was caught stealing and they’re the ones who vandalized the snack machine.”

“You’re such liars,” Emelyn sneered.

“They’re both full of it,” Pat agreed.

“Oh we’re not lying,” I replied. In one smooth motion I fished my cell phone out of my purse, touched the screen twice, and showed it to the guard. His eyes widened as he watched Pat and Bart rock the vending machine back and forth until snacks started to fall off their hooks. My video ended when Emelyn stuffed the treats into her backpack and then looked over her shoulder, right into the camera, guilty as charged.

“Let’s go, Miss Peters,” the guard said. Emelyn struggled for a minute, trying to free her arm, but he just gripped it tighter. “You too,” he barked at Pat.

“Why me?” Pat whined.

“Probably because you helped break the vending machine,” I said.

“Oh right, Skylar.” Pat squinted at me with her mouth open. “That isn’t even me on your stupid phone.”

“Sure looked like you to me,” the guard said.

“It’s not,” she lied.

“Pat Whitehead’s peacock’s eye fingerprints are all over the left side of the vending machine, and Principal Martinez has a copy of them on file if you need more proof,” I told him. Now Pat’s mouth fell open for real. “Ready Alexa?” We headed for the gym as the guard led Emelyn and Pat away.

“Hey, I hear music,” Alexa said, cocking her head.

“Let’s hurry. The dance is starting!” I grabbed Alexa’s arm, and we hurried through the shadows toward the pulsing lights behind the gymnasium door.

 

35

The Backwards Dance

Puffy cotton clouds hung from the ceiling, and a shiny sliver of glitter-covered moon winked at us from a far corner. Colored spotlights lit up a sparkling rainbow, and a disco ball swirled, reflecting dots of light that danced around the gym. Alexa and I walked around slowly, looking for Brendan and Dustin. “They know we’re coming together, right?” I asked.

We crossed the slippery wood floor in our new heels and Alexa grabbed my arm so she wouldn’t fall. “Yes. Brendan said they were coming together too, so hopefully they’re both here.” The band took the stage and played the first melodic chords in the dark. Then cymbals crashed, guitars wailed, and a spotlight shined on the stage, lighting up our side of the room. I saw Brendan and Dustin standing by the wall and cupped Alexa’s ear. “There they are.”

“Let’s go freshen up our lip gloss before they see us!”

We ran into the crowded bathroom and wiggled between the girls and up to the mirror. I pulled out my new pink Lipslick. “Want some?” I asked Alexa, but she shook her head and put on some pale peach lip gloss that looked great against her light skin.

Sharon Greenburg was brushing her frizzy hair in front of the mirror but she stopped and turned to us when we walked in. “Hi, Skylar. Hey, Alexa.”

“Hi, Sharon,” I said.

“I got my pen back.” Sharon tried to smile, but she looked sad. “I got Emelyn in lots of trouble.”

“You did the right thing,” Alexa told her.

“Yeah, but I lost my best friend.” Sharon searched our eyes.

“Anyone who steals from you isn’t your friend,” I said. “You can do better than Emelyn, Sharon.”

Sharon stared at me through her thick glasses and finally nodded. “Thanks, Skylar,” she said, and we walked out into the dark gym together.

Brendan and Dustin weren’t standing where we last saw them, so we wandered over to the punch table and got cups. Mark Oglethorpe walked up to us and asked Sharon to dance. I’d never seen a bigger smile.

All of a sudden I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned around and there they were. “Hi, Skylar,” Dustin said. He looked a little nervous, like he couldn’t decide what to say. Dustin took a look around the dark room, and then smiled shyly at me. “You look really nice tonight.”

My heart thudded and I felt my cheeks flush. “Thanks. So do you,” I answered, looking at his black button-up shirt and new jeans.

Brendan said something to Alexa right as the band started a new song. She leaned into him and a little punch dribbled out of her glass and splashed on the floor.