Girl Z: My Life As A Teenage Zombie by CA Verstraete Page B

me crazy.
    The car next to us turned right as we shot ahead and around the corner. I adjusted the hood and zipped the front as the car stopped at the curb.
    â€œGirls, lock the door after you go in.” Tia said. “I’ll be back in at least fifteen minutes. I only have to pick up a few things at the market. I’ll call you when I leave the store.”
    â€œ
Tia,
take your time. We have to get Carm’s books and her clothes for school. It’s going to take us a while.”
    â€œAunt Imelda, you can have my key to let yourself in.” Carm held out her bunch of keys. “I’ll get the other key out of the flowerpot. Then you won’t have to wait for us.”
    â€œ
Muy bueno,
Carm.
Sí,
this will work perfectly. I’ll have a cup of tea when I get back, but be ready to leave in a half-hour, all right? I don’t want to be here all day and I think we should make sure we get home before dark.”
    We hurried up the steps. I waved once after Carm grabbed the extra key and we stepped into the dimly lit entrance hall. I watched
Tia
drive off, then slammed and locked the front door, anxious to check out Carm’s new wardrobe. My cousin was such a
fashionista
, I knew she still had a few things she’d worn only once or twice and gotten tired of. Seeing we were still the same size, I knew she wouldn’t mind letting me borrow some stuff since I didn’t have the chance to go shopping.
    Our moods sober, I followed Carm into the kitchen where she glanced at the little black answering machine on the wall. The red digital zero mocked us. I gave her shoulder a squeeze. “Hey, maybe they’ve been out of range or it’s been too dangerous to call. I’m sure we’ll hear from them soon.”
    She took her time answering, her voice sounding dejected. “I sure hope so. C’mon, let’s go upstairs.”
    We took the stairs two at a time to her room on the second floor. “Wow.” My gaze fell on the pile of clothes hiding what I knew should be the bed. “Where do you sleep?”
    â€œFunny, cuz. I pulled out some stuff I didn’t want to wear anymore. I knew you’d ask. I’m sure you don’t want to wear the same hoodie and jeans all week.”
    â€œ
Gracias,
cuz. Ooh, I like the purple hoodie,
muy bonita!
You don’t want it?”
    â€œTake it. I bought a new blue one.” She tossed the sweatshirt at me and then stopped, her head tilted.
    â€œHey, cuz? You make me think of that old spotted dog with the tilted head, you know the one sitting next to that big horn?”
    Now Carm gave me a blank stare, no idea what I was talking about. “Oh, you mean the Dalmation and the Victrola?” she asked.
    â€œMy
Abuela
has the statue on the shelf in her bedroom. She’ll show you next—” She stopped again.
    â€œWhat is it?”
    â€œDid you hear that?”
    I listened, stared at her like she was crazy, and went back to checking out her awesome clothes. “I didn’t hear anything.”
    â€œOh, never mind.” She went to the closet. “Guess it was nothing.”
    Carm pulled out a few more things like the
cutest
plaid skirt with a red lining and some green leggings. I squealed to see the yellow and black skirt with the black tulle underskirt sticking out. I’d so loved it the one and only time she’d worn it.
    â€œYours,” Carm mumbled, disappearing inside the closet. “Here, grab this.”
    I shuddered seeing the ugly olive backpack she handed over. I grabbed it and set it aside. The last time I’d seen it…
    â€œHey, cuz, you okay? You’re kind of green.”
    My eyes met hers. Well, they both did once she tapped my arm. “How can you tell? Never mind, I-I’ll be fine. I’ve felt so much like my old self, sometimes I forget, you know?”
    Her gaze was just as serious. “It still doesn’t seem real. But it is.” She