The Secret Crush by Tina Wells

school today.”
    â€œReally?” Zee asked. “You’re going to work on the musical with Landon—voluntarily?”
    â€œDon’t act so surprised,” Jasper said.
    â€œI just didn’t think you guys were getting along very well,” Zee said.
    â€œI can’t let my fellow thespians down,” Jasper replied.
    â€œI’m sure you know what that big word means,” Chloe said, “but you might want to talk more like a seventh grader so the rest of us can understand you.”
    â€œActors,” Jasper said. “I can’t let the other actors down. Besides, Mr. P says this performance will be a major part of our grade.”
    â€œThat’s okay,” Chloe said. “Zee and I will just have to hang out all by ourselves.” She laid the back of her hand across her forehead and swooned. “I hope we can make it.”
    Zee smiled at Jasper. Maybe she’d only imagined tension between Jasper and Landon.
    When the three friends reached the science room, Landon was already sitting on the tall stool beside his lab table. Kathi, his lab partner, was there, too.
    â€œLandon—” Jasper said, walking over to the table. “I had a few ideas about our first scene in Act One. Do you want to work on it with me today after school?”
    Landon looked from Jasper to Zee. “I was going to ask Zee if she wants to work on our duet.”
    â€œYes,” Zee blurted out. Oops. She felt bad about changing plans with Chloe, but she couldn’t give up the opportunity to rehearse with Landon. Right?
    â€œI thought you wanted to go over to Chloe’s,” Jasper said.
    â€œThat was before I needed to work on this,” Zee explained.
    â€œWell, at least Jasper can come over now,” Chloe said as she and Jasper walked to their lab table together.
    But Zee thought she heard some sarcasm in Chloe’s voice.

    ----
    Hi, Diary,
    I told my teacher I had to go to the bathroom, but I really just needed to talk to you. I have to make it quick, though—since it’s not so much fun sitting in the girls’ room.
    Chloe and Jasper are acting like I chose Landon over them. But I didn’t! Landon and I are the LEADS. If we’re horrible, the entire musical will be bad.
    And when Jasper said he was going to work on the musical, no one cared. But when I said it, it was like I’d committed some major crime. I know I’m right. So why do I feel so crummy?
    Zee
----
    Â 
    Zee hid her diary under her vest and walked out of the bathroom stall.
    Â 
    When Zee got to the music room after school, Landon was already there. Yay! Sitting right next to Missy. Boo! Had Landon invited the new girl to work with him, too?
    â€œWhen did you move to Brookdale?” Landon asked Missy.
    â€œJust last week,” Missy said. “We moved from South Africa. That’s why I started late this year.”
    â€œAfrica?” Landon looked surprised.
    Missy nodded. “My mom was working for Doctors Without Borders.”
    â€œHey, guys!” Zee interrupted, trying to squeeze between Landon’s and Missy’s desks.
    â€œOh, hi,” Landon answered.
    â€œI didn’t know you were staying late, too,” Zee said to Missy. She tried to sound casual.
    â€œMr. P wanted to help me get caught up on the musical, so he asked me to stay after school,” Missy explained.
    Their teacher entered the room and pointed at Missy. “I’ll fill Missy in on the Beans and all the excitement that’s in store for her this year”—he moved his finger back and forth from Zee to Landon—“then we’ll talk about your big duet. Deal?”

    The three students nodded. “Deal,” Zee said.
    As Missy walked toward Mr. P, Zee turned to Landon. What would they do now?
    â€œUmm…do you know what you’re going to wear for Friends’ Day yet?” Zee asked Landon.
    Landon shrugged. “No.”
    O- kay.