Take Charge by Melody Carlson

front door,” said Chelsea as she waved to the girls in the driveway. “Come on over here and enter the house like civilized folks.”
    Carlie laughed nervously as she walked over to Chelsea. Then trying to be polite, she started to introduce her friends.
    “I already know who’s who,” interrupted Chelsea. She pointed to Morgan first. “You’re Morgan, and I already met your mom down on the waterfront.” Then she pointed at Amy. “You’re Amy, and I met both your sisters at your family’s restaurant.” Finally she nodded to Emily. “And that means you’re Emily.”
    “And you didn’t meet any of my family?” teased Emily.
    “Nope. Not yet anyway.” Chelsea studied the four girls then smiled. “Well, come on in to my humble abode.”
    Carlie noticed Emily rolling her eyes, and Amy actually snickered.
    “Thanks for inviting us over,” said Morgan as they went inside. “This is a beautiful house, Chelsea.”
    “It’s okay, I guess,” said Chelsea in a tone that sounded like a cross between snobby and bored. “Our other house was lots nicer.”
    “Are you going to introduce me to your friends?” asked Mrs. Landers as she came down the stairs wearing a pale pink jogging suit. Carlie could tell Chelsea’s mom was studying the girls carefully. And Carlie suspected by the slightly raised brows that she was surprised. But she just smiled politely as Chelsea did some quick introductions.
    “So have you decided, Chelsea? Pizza or sub sandwiches or what for lunch?”
    “Pizza?” asked Chelsea as she glanced at the others, and they nodded their approval.
    “Good,” said Mrs. Landers. “One-ish okay?”
    “Sounds great,” said Carlie.
    “You girls have fun. I’ve got to run some errands. I’ll call in the pizza while I’m out. And Maria is here if you need anything before I get back.”
    “Does she mean your aunt?” whispered Emily.
    Carlie nodded, watching as Mrs. Landers whooshed away.
    “Is Maria the maid?” asked Amy.
    “Yes,” said Chelsea.
    “Not exactly,” Carlie corrected her.
    “Yes, she is,” insisted Chelsea.
    “Sure, she’s been coming every day the past couple of weeks, but that’s only to help them get settled and unpacked,” explained Carlie. “After that, she’ll come
once a week
to clean.”
    “Meaning that she’s our maid,” said Chelsea.
    “She’s your weekly cleaning lady,” said Carlie.
    Then Chelsea laughed. “See, you can tell we’re old friends because we’re already fighting half the time.” The other girls laughed too. But Carlie didn’t think it was all that funny.
    “Your house is absolutely gorgeous,” said Amy after Chelsea completed the full tour.
    “That pool looks really nice too,” said Emily. The five of them were standing around on the tiled deck now. Everyone seemed unsure of what to say or do next as they gazed out over the turquoise blue pool.
    “There’s a Jacuzzi too,” said Chelsea, pointing to a smaller round pool off in the corner. “We’ll use that more in the winter time. And my dad is going to put a pool table and some funky old video-game machines in the basement,” she continued. “After it gets finished up down there.”
    “Cool!” said Amy with enthusiasm. Carlie could tell that Amy was really impressed by all this. But then who wouldn’t be?
    “Want to get on our suits and take a dip in the pool?” asked Chelsea.
    “Sounds good to me,” said Morgan, and the others agreed.
    “Your bedroom is totally awesome,” said Amy as the girls changed into their suits. “I would so love to live in a house like this.”
    “It’s okay,” said Chelsea.
    “But your other room was lots nicer?” teased Carlie as she tugged on her swimsuit. She was getting tired of Chelsea’s superior attitude.
    “No.” Chelsea firmly shook her head. “It wasn’t nicer.”
    “Oh.” Carlie felt dumb now.
    “But I would’ve gladly stayed in my old room if we hadn’t had to move here. I would’ve lived in the garage if that