Double Trouble by Tia Mowry Page A

it.
    I tuned back to the rest of the room. Cassie, Megan, and Lavender were chattering about food and decorations and invitations. Liam was listening with interest.
    â€œWe don’t have much time,” Megan said, “if we’re throwing this party a week from today.”
    Cass nodded. “I’ve got a good design program on my laptop,” she said. “I’ll start working up an invitation. That way I can e-mail it to everyone as soon as Megan’s parents give the official okay.”
    â€œWait,” I said. “Aren’t we going to talk about the other ideas we all had?”
    â€œWhat’s the point? The pool party is perfect.”Lavender checked her watch. “Come on, Megs. Let’s go back to my store. We can get some of the stuff we need there, then take Amigo to the park while Cassie works on the invitation.”
    Bianca stood up as soon as the two girls left. “I should go, too,” she said softly. “I have, um, stuff to do at home.”
    â€œI’ll walk you,” Liam offered. He tossed me a sloppy salute. “Thanks for the lemonade, Caitlyn. I can’t wait for the party!”
    Soon they were gone, too. Cassie was at the dining table, already leaning over her laptop. I stomped over and glared down at her.
    â€œWhat was that all about?” I demanded.
    She blinked up at me. “What?”
    â€œYou know what.” I crossed my arms. “You and your friends totally took over! It’s supposed to be my party, too. Don’t I even get a vote?”
    She shrugged. “So why didn’t you say something?”
    â€œI tried!” I exclaimed. “The trouble is, Lavender never listens to anyone but herself. And maybe her dog.”
    I noticed Cassie touching the key-shaped necklace that had come in the package. She’d been wearing it nonstop since it had arrived.
    â€œAnd, by the way, that’s supposed to be for both of us, too.” I pointed at the pendant. “I haven’t even had a chance to touch it yet. Hand it over.”
    Cassie frowned, and for a second I thought she might refuse. Then she pulled the necklace off over her head.
    â€œWhatever,” she said, tossing it at me. “Be my guest. Just try not to lose it, okay? You’re not exactly famous for keeping your stuff neat.”
    Ignoring that, I checked out the pendant. It really was pretty cool. There was an etching of a tree on the top part, and little scratches and dents in the metal that made it look really old. I slipped it on over my head, and the pendant settled against my skin, feeling oddly warm.
    When I glanced at my sister, she was watching me with narrowed eyes. Then she turned back to her computer.
    â€œLet me know who else you want to invite to the party besides the king and queen of the dweebs,” she said as her fingers flew over the keyboard. “I need to send this out soon.”
    BY THE NEXT morning, my annoyance had worn off. Most of it, anyway. I was still peeved that Cass and her friends were railroading me into this pool party. But it was too late to worry about that now. The vision about Bianca, on the other hand, might still be fixable. My sister and I needed to get over our petty disagreements and figure out what to do.
    Cassie had already left the room by the time I woke up, so I pulled on some clothes and went looking for her. She was eating breakfast while Mom puttered around in the kitchen.
    â€œOh, Caitlyn, you’re up,” Mom said when I entered. “Good. I was about to come wake you. I don’t have to be at work until tonight, so how about a trip to the mall—the three of us?”
    Cassie looked up in surprise. “The mall?”
    Mom nodded. “You keep telling me about all the shopping you’ve been doing there,” she said with a smile. “Reckon I should see for myself.”
    I stared at her. She was acting as if nothing had happened. That wasn’t like her.