The Grass Is Always Greener, Page 2

  “Miss the metal detectors?” Violet asked with more than a touch of scorn.

  “Vi?” Hayden said. “Just a hunch, but I think Kylie’s joking.”

  “Oh!” Violet’s oval eyes flooded with relief. “For a minute there, I thought she was actually suggesting Izzie ditch Emerald Prep for Harborside.”

  Kylie looked at Violet, and Izzie scored. “What’s wrong with Harborside?”

  “Nothing.” Hayden nudged Kylie, and she seemed to relax. “But if you think we’re giving Izzie back to you already, you’re mistaken. Even bribing me with a chance to drive the Charger wouldn’t change my mind.” He turned to Izzie. “Don’t you miss that snazzy uniform of yours?” Izzie smiled. “Admit it. Despite how warped EP can be, you kind of miss it.”

  “Maybe.” Izzie thought about the swim team. She shot the puck across the board, and it became airborne. “I just dread the ‘I’m sorry about your grandmother’ comments.” Her brow creased. “If I took the semester off, no one would remember come fall.”

  Nicole leaned over the air-hockey table and her blond hair blew all around. “Do you think anyone forgets anything in Emerald Cove? Just go back and get it over with.”

  “If you don’t go back till fall, you’ll be a grade behind us,” Brayden said, as if she needed reminding. “We’d graduate first and you’d be all alone. How fun would that be?”

  “No fun,” Hayden replied as if she didn’t know the answer already.

  Izzie put her hockey piece down. “I’m tired, okay? Going to class, talking to people, getting dressed. It’s too much.”

  Kylie scored and started to cheer. Violet glared at her. “Sorry. Competitive nature.” Kylie looked at Izzie. “You may not be ready, but I don’t think you have a choice. It’s time to go back to snobville.”

  “Baby steps,” Brayden reminded her. “We’ll all be there to help you.”

  “Besides, you don’t want to miss Founders Day,” Mira added. “The Butterflies plan a huge part of the two-week-long celebration.”

  This did not surprise her. Emerald Cove didn’t do anything small scale.

  “Please come back so I don’t have to take orders from Savannah in Butterflies meetings anymore,” Violet begged. “If I get another e-mail from that girl—”

  Izzie’s eyes narrowed. “What e-mails?”

  “Aren’t you checking e-mail?” Nicole asked. “I sent you a funny YouTube clip—”

  “Oh, Savannah’s doing more than e-mailing.” Violet cut Nicole off and ignored Mira, who was furiously shaking her head. “She’s pitching ideas for the Founders Day festivities so she can get them approved before you get back to school.”

  “What?” Izzie cried, starting to turn red. Savannah fired her up in a way few things could. “She can’t take over the whole club! We’re cochairs.”

  “You’re only cochairs if you go to Emerald Prep….” Brayden started to smile.

  Izzie could feel her blood pumping through her veins. She was alive. She had to remember that. The others were right: It was time to get back to her life. She could hear Grams’s snappish voice in her head. “You’re here and I’m not. So do something about that girl. Get her good for me, toots.”

  “No one is taking my chair just yet.” Izzie picked up the air-hockey piece again and ricocheted the puck toward Kylie. “Someone better warn Savannah I’m coming back.” The group cheered. If Izzie had her way, Savannah would not be the only one in charge for long.

  Two

  Mira pressed the full-body-massage button on her pedicure chair. As the massager moved up and down her back, she placed her feet in the bubbling footbath and sighed. There was nothing better than a mani-pedi on a Sunday afternoon.

  “If Mr. Preston taught biology class at the nail salon, I would definitely remember the full life cycle of an amoeba,” Charlotte said from the chair beside Mira’s. Her eyes took on a mischievous glow. “Maybe I should ask my dad to donate funds for a spa classroom at EP.”

  “Yes, please! I’d like to take all my classes in this chair.” Mira flinched as the technician used a scrub brush on the bottom of her foot. “I’m glad you talked me into this today. It’s nice to not think for a little while.”

  “Yeah. Your life has been all drama lately!” Charlotte’s voice vibrated slightly as the massage rollers pounded her back. “Izzie’s finally coming back to school after losing her grandmama; Kellen is leaving; your dad is still getting killed in the media. I would be holed up in our shore house crying my eyes out.”

  “Don’t think I haven’t considered it,” Mira said with a sigh. She was glad she and Charlotte had hit it off during cotillion. After a huge fight left her friendless, Mira had felt like a champagne bottle ready to explode with just one tiny twist. Now she felt like she had someone to confide in again. “But disappearing would make things worse. I want to be with Kellen as much as I can before he goes. And it’s not like he’s leaving for forever. He says he’ll be back all the time.”

  Charlotte leaned forward to see Mira better, and her long, red hair touched her knees. She looked skeptical. “He is moving several states away,” she reminded her. “I guess that’s why every time I see you, he’s glued to your side by your locker, you’re kissing in the cafeteria, or you’re hanging out. Does he live with you now, too?”

  “No.” Mira watched the woman drizzle brown-sugar scrub and lemon on her legs. “We’re just trying to do as much together as we can. Last weekend his mom drove us to Raleigh and we had dinner at this Italian restaurant while she went shopping. Next Saturday we’re having a movie marathon, and Sunday we’re going to sneak into the school art lab and paint each other something.” She blushed. “Is that lame?”

  “Lame?” Charlotte repeated. “You’re going to make me throw up from all the over-the-top cuteness you two have going on. Be careful you don’t overdo it,” she warned. “The last thing you need is to fall in love with him right before goes.” Mira didn’t say anything, and Charlotte’s eyes widened. “No! Tell me you did not fall in love with him.”

  “I didn’t.” Mira swallowed hard, feeling the lump in her throat. Just because they weren’t in love didn’t mean she didn’t like him a lot. “That would be stupid. He’s leaving right after Valentine’s Day.”

  She and Kellen had barely been together a month, but they had hung out for a while before that. He had helped her through her breakup with Taylor Covington, and persuaded her to give painting a real shot by signing up for classes at EP. Kellen was the push she needed to be herself and not follow people who dragged her down (like Savannah). Now he was leaving. Just when she was getting to know herself and him.

  “He won’t be here for Founders Day or the annual summer clambake,” Mira realized aloud. “We had so many plans and now we won’t get to do any of them.” She was not going to cry at the nail salon. It seemed so uncivilized. Like wearing sweatpants out to dinner at Buona Terra. “We’ve talked about taking a class together at Emerald Arts for months, and now it won’t happen.”

  “You don’t need a silly boy for an art class. I’ll take one with you instead.” Charlotte popped a piece of gum into her mouth and offered some to Mira. Her new friend was almost never without gum or a mint.

  Mira watched Charlotte’s mouth try to work the gum into a bubble. “You will? I didn’t know you were into art classes.”

  Charlotte’s bubble quickly popped. “I’m not, but I guess it’s time to get into them.” She flashed Mira a huge smile. “If I want to become a world-famous fashion designer by the time I’m twenty-one, my sketches could use some improvement.”

  Charlotte was crazy. Her dress sketches were gorgeous! Still, Mira wouldn’t turn down her friend’s offer. Charlotte was right. Just because Kellen wasn’t going to be here didn’t mean she couldn’t take a class. “Okay, I’ll swing by Emerald Arts after this and get us registration forms.” She felt more upbeat already. “Some of the classes require art submissions to be considered, but it’s nothing we can’t handle.”

&
nbsp; “Of course not!” Charlotte sounded insulted at the thought. “Once we become amazing artists, you’ll forget all about Kellen. Yes, he is darling, and he actually knows how to treat a girl, unlike most of the goons at our school, but I will not let you spend all spring crying over him. There are lots of guys out there who would die for a chance to go out with Mirabelle Monroe.”

  Mira tried not to laugh. Her friend tried to act fierce, but she was so petite and delicate that sometimes it was hard to take her seriously. “Like who? More guys like Taylor Covington? I’m over being a trophy girlfriend, and that’s what most of the guys at EP are looking for,” she said, getting wound up. “I want a guy who cares about my standing mani/pedi date with you and who will watch Project Runway with me….”

  Charlotte frowned. “You might have a tough time finding a guy who will do that.”

  Mira ignored her. “I want a guy who will give me five minutes to talk about what I painted or will listen to why I’m dying to spend the night in the Museum of Modern Art.” Her list was getting long, and she knew why. She already knew “that guy.”

  “You’re describing Kellen, and Kellen is no longer for sale,” Charlotte said quietly. “But by your birthday you’ll have a new Kellen, and that one will be even better.” She bit her lip. “But maybe we shouldn’t call him the new Kellen. It sounds bad.”

  Mira’s laugh came out garbled since the shiatsu setting on the massage chair had jumped to high speed. “My birthday isn’t until the end of May, so I guess I have some time. I still need to come up with a theme, though! My mom is going to be overwhelmed. She lives for big parties, but she has two this spring between me and Izzie. Her birthday is in March.”

  Charlotte held up her Vitaminwater in a toast. “Well, it’s time to get cracking. Here’s to a spring full of hot guys, awesome parties, and zero drama.”

  Mira clinked Vitaminwaters with her. She would certainly drink to that.

  A fresh manicure and pink pedicure had a way of changing Mira’s perspective. So did the weather. February was just days away and already North Carolina was warming up. Snow was a figment of the imagination; scarves and gloves had all but disappeared. At fifty degrees, Emerald Cove felt almost springlike. Mira wanted to wander around all afternoon in this weather. She could get an iced coffee or see what clothes had come in at Prepsters, her favorite boutique. But first she had a date with her new favorite haunt—and it had nothing to do with clothes or shoes.

  Pushing the door open to Emerald Arts, Mira felt her heart pump an extra beat at the sight of all those art supplies. She had passed the store a zillion times in her life and had never gone in till that past fall, when the art bug had bitten her. Now there wasn’t a week that went by that she didn’t pop in for something.

  “Mira, darling!” Clarissa Cage, Emerald Arts’s owner, gave a little wave from behind the register. “What could you possibly still need, sugar?”

  Mira had dropped a large portion of her Christmas money at Emerald Arts the day before. “Actually I’m here about classes. Is it too late to sign up for the next session? My friend and I want to take one together.”

  Clarissa grabbed a green flyer from the counter. “It’s not too late, but you better get going on your submission piece if you want to be considered for the best class. Selma Simmons’s is the one everyone wants.” Mira’s eyes widened. “She’s a tough cookie, but I guarantee you’ll learn a boatload.” Clarissa passed Mira the class flyer.

  WARNING:

  If you’re looking for an intro to painting that comes with a lot of hand-holding, this is not the class for you. But if you’re ready to take your painting skills to a whole new level, then Emerald Cove artist Selma Simmons is the person to take you there. Open to painters age 14 and up, Selma’s class is by INVITATION only. To be considered for the spring semester, applicants must submit a contemporary painting by February 21.

  February 21 was only a few weeks away. That didn’t give her much time to wow one of the most well-known artists in North Carolina. “I’m in,” Mira said, feeling excited by the challenge. This was exactly what she needed to take her mind off Kellen’s leaving and to kick her paint skills up another notch. “I can’t believe she’s teaching here.”

  “Third time back,” Clarissa said. “Selma’s class and Art Equals Love are the two most popular programs we have at this store.”

  “What is Art Equals Love?” Mira asked with curiosity.

  “An art therapy program for children,” Clarissa explained. “It’s gotten quite popular. We have four classes a week now. Teen volunteers with an art background help the children with their work. If you ever have some extra time, we could always use some more volunteers.”

  Mira had a feeling she would like working with kids. It had never occurred to her that art could be used as therapy, but it made sense. “Thanks. I’ll get back to you about that,” Mira said, glancing at the schedule for dates. She smiled. “But I guess since I’m here now, it couldn’t hurt to look around to see if I need anything.”

  Clarissa laughed. “You go right ahead!”

  Mira quickly disappeared down the first aisle determined to find palette cups for her easel. She was so busy scanning the shelves that she bumped into another shopper and sent her items spiraling to the ground. She reached down to pick up a wetting agent for a darkroom. “I’m so sorry!”

  “It’s my fault.” The woman loaded the items in her arms. She smelled like Mira’s favorite perfume. “I have some photography projects I’m working on and I guess I grabbed more than I could carry. I feel like I’m here on a daily basis.”

  “Me, too. I live in this store.” As Mira handed her a package of photo enlargement paper, she made eye contact, and her breath got stuck in her throat. “Zoe.”

  “Mira! I didn’t recognize you,” Zoe said. “Cute coat. Jen Aniston has one like it.”

  Mira’s coat was charcoal and had amazing buttons, but she was too busy staring to say thank you for the compliment. She never could get past how much Izzie looked like her aunt Zoe, and how much Zoe looked like the pictures she had seen of Izzie’s mom. Zoe’s hair was much longer and straighter than Izzie’s, but there was no denying they were related. The only difference Mira could see between them was body type. Izzie was more muscular, and that probably had a lot to do with her being a swimmer. Zoe looked almost fragile, like one of those expensive china dolls Mira used to have on a shelf in her bedroom. The kind you looked at but didn’t dare play with.

  “Jen is a sweetheart,” Zoe said, still chatting about Jennifer Aniston. “She’s always giving me free clothes, like this coat.” Zoe pointed to the trendy raincoat she was wearing. “She is so generous. So is the other Jen, who always flies me down to Miami.”

  “J.Lo?” Mira was flabbergasted.

  Zoe laughed. “She doesn’t actually call herself that, but yeah, the one and only.” She leaned in conspiratorially. “She’s even prettier in person. Unfair, but true. They’re not all like that, though. If I told you about the case of acne one star has, you would flip.”

  “I can’t believe you hang out with celebrities.” Mira was in awe.

  “It’s cool.” Zoe did not even attempt to be modest. “People are always flying me somewhere to hang or take pictures. I can’t stand Paris.” She wrinkled her nose. “Crowded and overrated.”

  “I can’t wait to travel,” Mira said. “My parents have taken us all over the U.S. and to the Caribbean, but we haven’t done Europe. We’re waiting until Connor’s a little older.”

  Zoe nodded. “Younger siblings can be a real drag. At least I was.”

  Mira wasn’t sure how to respond.

  “I’m teasing,” Zoe said. “Sort of. I got under Chloe’s skin.” Her brow wrinkled at the memory. “I had to be wherever she was, which my mother shouldn’t have allowed, but I would have done anything to get out of that house and that town and…” She slapped her own cheek. “God, I totally forgot to ask! How is Isabelle?”

  Mira had been wondering
when Zoe would get around to asking about her niece. “Izzie is doing better.”

  “Great!” Zoe looked relieved. “Maybe she’ll let me stop by and see her, then. I’m not sure how much longer I can afford this hotel. I’m not used to paying!” She stared at Mira’s art supplies. “So you’re a painter?”

  “Oh, it’s just a hobby,” Mira said, “for now.” She thought about Selma’s career.

  Zoe eyed her with interest. “Well, if painting doesn’t pan out, have you ever thought about modeling? That’s how I finally got out of Harborside.” Zoe circled her. “Someone offered me a contract to go to New York, and I never looked back.” Mira felt like she was at the tailor being measured for a gown. “You’ve got a great look.”

  Mira tried not to get excited by Zoe’s vote of confidence. “Thanks. Someone gave me a name at Justine to call about modeling, but I haven’t done it. I feel silly.”

  “I’ll call Justine personally and tell them to use you if you want,” Zoe said. “But don’t stop there. You should be in Marie Claire and Glamour and do runway work, too. I can’t believe no one has ever told you that before.”

  Mira felt like she might fall over. “I’ve never seen myself as a model, but…”

  Zoe was clearly no longer listening. She frowned at a text message on her phone. “I should jet. We’ll talk modeling again soon. Great running into you.”

  “You, too, Zoe.” Mira was disappointed to see Zoe go so abruptly, but she was also upset with herself for being disappointed. If Izzie knew Mira had been speaking to her aunt, she’d be furious. But as Mira watched Zoe walk away, she still couldn’t help hoping she’d bump into her again.

  Three

  Was Emerald Prep always this big?

  That’s what Izzie wondered the first day back after her “extended” winter break.

  It turned out the most torturous part of being back was not dealing with the clique of girls who thought the universe worshipped them. It was the major upper-and lower-body workout she got racing from building to building. She felt like a Ping-Pong ball as she bounced from her final class to the Bill Monroe Sports Complex to talk to Coach Greff, and then to the administration building for a Social Butterflies meeting. And she had only a half hour to do it all. Thankfully Brayden was up for a jog.