That's What's Up! by Paula Chase Page A

instead on tomorrow’s Algebra II exam.
    Nothing like a good algebraic equation to numb your brain, she thought, letting the familiarity of the numbers lull her to the homeworkzone.
    She jumped when the phone rang beside her, breaking her concentration.
    Frowning at the number shining back at her on the screen, it took a full two seconds to recognize it was Jacinta calling. In the four months they’d been friends, Jacinta had never called her house before.And even though Lizzie had known Cinny was going to call tonight, hearing Jacinta’s “Hey, girl” on the other end was still odd. They IM’d all the time, but never talked on the phone.
    â€œHey,” Lizzie said, dumbstruck, as if the call were coming from another planet.
    â€œYou cool, right?”
    Lizzie caught herself nodding, then whispered, “Yeah.”
    â€œOkay. Let me talk to your moms real quick.”
    Heading for her bedroom door, Lizzie froze when Jacinta’s voice hollered, “Hey, Lizzie!”
    â€œWhat?” Lizzie whispered.
    Jacinta laughed. “Why are you whispering?”
    Lizzie chuckled. “I did tell you how bad I am about schemes, right?”
    â€œI see. No, I was just going to say, remember to act surprised that I’m asking you to my house.”
    â€œDon’t think that’s gonna be a problem,” Lizzie muttered. “Okay, I’m heading downstairs. Hold on.”
    Her voice was still tinged with surprise when she walked into the family room and handed over the phone. “Mom. Cinny wants to ask you something.”
    â€œCinny?” Her mom’s eyebrows caterpillared together in confusion.She took the phone. “Hi Jacinta. It’s Mrs. O’Reilly.”
    Lizzie sat beside her on the couch and continued playing dumb, gazing at her mom throughout the one-sided conversation.
    Lying she was bad at. Acting, she could handle.
    Blank. Blank. Keep your mind blank, she chanted to herself.
    â€œA sleepover huh?” her mom said into the phone. She trained her deep green eyes on Lizzie when she said, “I swear, you girls never get enough of each other.”
    Lizzie smiled and shrugged. Her mom ran her hands through Lizzie’s hair. “Well Cinny, you’re proof that Lizzie isn’t the only personin the world not going to the Extreme.”
    Lizzie’s cheeks flashed pink.
    â€œShould we drop her over to your house on Friday?” her mom said, making Lizzie’s heart stop for a second. It galloped on when her mom said, “Oh, I guess that’s fine. He’s going to drop you guys straight to your house, right?”
    They talked on for a few more seconds before her mom said, “Okay. I’m sure you girls will have a good time. Do you want to talk to Lizzie? Hmm ... oh, okay. Bye, sweetie.” She hung up. “Cinny’s going to call you back in about ten minutes.”
    With a mix of skepticism and hope in her voice Lizzie asked, “So I can stay?”
    â€œYes. I’m glad you have some plans for the weekend.” Her mom folded her arms. “See, now this won’t be the worstspringbreakever, Miss Drama Queen, USA.”
    â€œMaybe not the worst,” Lizzie agreed.
    Her mom laughed. “Well, how does Mina feel about you guys sleeping over without her? Does that break one of her friendship rules?”
    â€œThis has all met her approval,” Lizzie assured her. “She even gave us some suggestions. We’ll probably go see the new Nick Cannon movie.”
    â€œWell don’t run Miss Jacqi to death, Friday night,” her mom warned.
    â€œWe won’t.” The phone rang and Lizzie picked up before the second ring. She went to her room, taking two steps at a time as Jacintagave her an update.
    â€œOkay, I still need to call and ask Mrs. Lopez,” Jacinta said. “But I think she’ll let Kelly go.”
    â€œTo O.C.?” Lizzie scowled.
    Jacinta sucked her teeth.