Sloane Sisters by Anna Carey Page B

were studying a treasure map of Barneys’ secret floor.
    â€œYou’re new here,” the girl said, opening up a packet of Sweet’N Low and pouring it over her macaroni and cheese.
    â€œUm, yeah,” Stella said. Mustache Girl took a bite of macaroni covered in white powder.
    â€œI’m Myra, Myra Granberry.”
    Stella sunk into her chair. She could suddenly imagine her life at Ashton Prep—she wouldn’t be alone after all. She and Myra would be best mates. Stella would get a matching L.L. Bean backpack, eat Chef Boyardee with Equal, and spend Friday nights waxing Myra’s mustache or feeding Myra’s sea monkeys—or, if she was lucky—both.
    Â 
    Across the lunchroom, Cate watched Stella as Myra Granberry petted her furry upper lip.
    â€œCome on, Cate,” Priya said, following Cate’s gaze. She broke up a neon green wasabi ball with her chopsticks. “You can’t let her sit in Loserville with M.U.G. the Slug.”
    â€œActually, I can,” Cate snapped. She glanced at Blythe for support and caught her rolling her eyes. “That’s funny,” Cate growled, staring down at her sushi. “I didn’t order an eye roll.”
    â€œSorry.” Blythe shrugged, looking to Priya and Sophie. “But what’s the big deal about her sitting with us?”
    Cate gripped the edge of the table. “We have rules!” she snapped. She stared across the crowded lunchroom. Beth Ann Pinchowski was picking a tray off a giant stack by the door, herConverse All Stars barely covering her ugly ankle socks. “Doesn’t anyone remember Beth Ann? We let her hang out with us in sixth grade and a week later she was dragging us to Finding Nemo on Ice !”
    She’d tried to get them all to wear bright orange hats that looked like Nemo, with little fins sticking out the sides. But it was Cate who’d had to plan Operation Phase-Out, eventually forcing Beth Ann to leave the group.
    â€œThat was different,” Sophie said, shaking her head. She was staring at Stella sympathetically, as though Myra were about to force-feed her boogers.
    â€œIt was pretty bad, though,” Priya noted. The girls watched as Beth Ann took out a Kleenex and blew her nose. It sounded like a motorcycle revving its engine. “I really don’t want to see any more shows on ice—do you?”
    Sophie shook her head slowly.
    Blythe shrugged. “Okay, so it’s just us. Whatever.”
    Cate sat back in her chair, satisfied. Ashton Prep was her school, the Chi Beta Phis were her friends, and she made the rules. And from now on Cate was enforcing a strict closed-door policy: No Brits allowed.

THE FROG PRINCE
    L ola strolled down Eighty-second Street Monday after school. She hadn’t seen Andie since she dropped her off at homeroom, and she’d spent the day feeling helpless and alone, like the geeky girl in some after-school special. In world history, a cute blond girl had asked the teacher if the Ashton Prep uniform included days-of-the-week knickers. Everywhere she went, it seemed like people were whispering about her and giggling behind her back.
    The afternoon sun warmed up her body and she smiled as she turned down Fifth Avenue, remembering where she was headed. She couldn’t wait to see Kyle. He’d promised her a “first day of school” ice cream after his band practice, just like old times.
    Lola approached the Mister Softee truck on the corner, where a little boy with a fruit punch mustache waited in line with his mother. Across the street, two muscular guys were break dancing on a sheet of cardboard outside Central Park. Lola waited patiently. Any minute, Kyle would be pulling his baritone hornup the street on his hand trolley, with his too-big-for-his-face glasses. She smiled just thinking about him.
    â€œSticks!” an unfamiliar voice called out her old nickname. Lola turned back to the ice cream truck. In front of it