11 A HAPPY REUNION

Zee was waiting patiently by the door, checking her phone every now and then. Ally had texted her five minutes ago to say she was en route. This would finally be the reunion Zee had hoped for: Ally, Chloe, and her, all together in person for the first time since the summer. Zee really didn’t care if anybody else showed up at this party so long as the three of them were together.

She paced back and forth in front of the window by the door and touched her nose up to the glass. I wonder what Ally’s wearing? Zee thought to herself. Is Ally going to be as well groomed as she was when she came to London? Finally, the doorbell rang, and Zee sprinted to it. She flung the door open.

“Hiii!” Zee said, jumping up and down like a ping-pong ball on a table.

Ally stood at the door with a broad smile. Her hair fell around her face and was held back with a sparkly hairband, and she had on a black mini dress and black sandals with a few bangles. “Hi!” Ally said, giving Zee a hug. “Wow, look at this place! It’s so… big! And look at the decorations!”

“Yeah, it’s my mom’s doing. Wait, where’s your mom?”

“She was tied up,” Ally said. “My aunt dropped me off. She had to jet, so she told me to tell your family thanks and happy holidays.”

Zee blinked a few times, surprised that Ally’s mom opted out of the party, but quickly refocused on Ally. “Come in! Come in! Come in! Everything is ready, Chloe’s on her way, and then we can partaaayy!”

A party staffer offered to take Ally’s bag, and Zee grabbed Ally by her free hand and tugged her toward the living room. “Once everyone leaves, you, me, and Chloe can watch holiday movies here. This couch is sooo comfortable. You are staying the night, right?”

“Um, I don’t know. I have to ask my mom,” Ally replied.

“But you should have asked before!” Zee said anxiously. “I asked you before to clear it with her! I have a whole plan!”

“I know, I just never got a chance to ask. I’ll text her.”

Riiing! Another buzz at the door. “Maybe that’s Chloe!” Zee said, running to the door. Chloe had arrived with her parents and walked quickly through the foyer into the house to greet her friends.

“Hey, hey, hey! Allyyy!” Chloe said.

“Chloeee!” Ally screamed.

The three hugged as tightly as human beings could hug one another. They squealed so loudly that the twins waddled over toward the front door to see what was going on. “OMG, OMG, I’m so happy we’re finally all back together again!” Zee said. “Let’s take a selfie!”

The girls took photos of each other hugging and making funny faces at the camera, then with their backs against one another, then kicking out their legs like the Rockettes, then giggling. “We are baaackk!” Chloe declared. “Ooh, girls, guess what? I brought pajamas! Candy cane–striped ones!”

“Wait,” Zee said. “Are those the ones—”

Chloe nodded. “We decided to buy them together, remember? We saw them online and we said we had to have these for holiday photos. Ally, did you bring yours?”

Ally looked blankly at the girls. “No, I forgot,” she said. “Sorry, there’s been so much going on at home.”

“That’s okay,” Chloe said, “because I brought an extra pair for you! Black Friday, baby! I went IN!”

Chloe tossed the PJs at Ally, who smiled and held on to them as the threesome made their way to the backyard. Chloe and Ally gazed at the decorations and food on display. “This looks amazing!” Ally said. “Look at the snow! Of course everything is picture perfect.”

“Mom actually wanted to go over-the-top ridiculous, but I helped her create something more chill. You know, so we can celebrate but also not hurt the earth,” Zee said.

“Right,” said Chloe. “And wear matching PJs and get amazing photos and eat the most delicious cookies. Priorities, Zee.”

“Is Santa coming?” Ally asked.

Ally and Chloe looked expectantly at Zee. Zee felt a pit in her stomach. D’oh! Why didn’t I get Santa to show up? How could I have a party without Santa? Great, now Ally’s going to be totally disappointed and really never stay the night! Have I ruined this entire party?

“I’m just kidding!” Ally said. “C’mon, let’s check out the sled run.”

• • •

Ring riiing riiiiing… The doorbell blared throughout the house as if someone were leaning on the button. It took no longer than three seconds for Camilla to open the door.

“Finally,” a sour-faced thirteen-year-old said, peering around Camilla to see herself inside.

“Hi, I’m Mrs. Barney,” Kathi’s mom said politely. “Nice to meet you. Kathi, come and introduce yourself please.”

Kathi looked quickly at Camilla and said, “Hi, I’m Kathi. Where’s Zee?”

Camilla nodded to them both. “Zee’s in the backyard. Please come in.”

Just then, Mrs. Carmichael walked up to the front door. “Hi there, long time no see! Thank you, Camilla. I can take them myself.”

Mrs. Carmichael walked Mrs. Barney and her daughter toward the back of the property, Kathi spinning her head left and right to take in every detail of the house along the way. “Ooh. Oh. Wow. Is this yours?” she said, pointing at every interesting artifact or decoration they walked past. “That looks expensive. Is that rented or is that yours?”

“Kathi!” her mother scolded her. “Just relax, you’re not a reporter!”

“I just want to know what’s, like, real,” Kathi said.

“It’s all real,” Mrs. Carmichael said. “I know, right? This house seemed to come with everything.”

Mrs. Carmichael walked the pair through the living room to the doors that opened to the backyard and pool. Kathi stopped in her tracks and took in the expansive backyard covered with snow and holiday goodies. “Wow,” she said. “This is better than Disneyland.”

“Thank you, Kathi,” Mrs. Carmichael said. “Why don’t you find Zee? I think she was with her friends by the gazebo.”

Kathi’s eyes wandered across the patio. She walked purposefully toward the gazebo and saw Zee, Chloe, and Ally singing and gabbing away like old pals. “The three amigas,” Kathi said as she got closer to them.

Zee turned around as Chloe and Ally looked on. “Ahem,” Zee said through pursed lips. “Kathi Barney. Welcome.”

“Ally!” Kathi said excitedly. “How long’s it been, like, two years?”

“A while,” Ally replied. “How are you?”

“Same,” Kathi said, leaning back and looking at Ally’s complete holiday look from head to toe. “You look good. You’re living in Paris now, right?”

“Yes, and thanks, Kathi. How nice of you to say.”

Kathi looked back at Zee. “So, how’s London, Zee? Have you seen Big Ben? The Palace? The Queen?”

“Nope, none of them,” said Zee. “I go to school outside of London, so I spend most of my time in the countryside.”

“Got it,” Kathi said. “It must be awesome to live at school. Living away from your parents. No rules to follow. Getting to do what you want.”

“Not exactly!” Zee said. “I have more rules at school than I do at home. And my roommate is a ballet dancer who wakes up before dawn and has a rigid schedule. She dances right up until dinner most nights.”

“What’s her name?”

“Jameela Chopra,” Zee said.

“Is she nice?” Kathi asked.

“When she wants to be.”

“Does she have a cool family?”

“Dunno, I’ve only seen her parents once or twice.”

“Do you guys stay up late talking and watching movies?”

“Um, no,” Zee said, turning her head to the side and wondering where this line of questioning about her roommate was headed. “She’s in bed pretty early. I might stay up studying, but usually I fall asleep listening to music on my headphones.”

“Does she sneak in fun snacks to your room?” Kathi asked.

“Um, not really?” Zee said. “But I keep a stash of candy in my nightstand.”

“Wow,” Kathi said. “She sounds like less fun than I do!”

Zee looked at Kathi. “Oh, don’t worry, Kathi. I don’t think anyone could ever be less fun than you.”

Chloe and Ally giggled. “Ooh, snap!” Chloe said, cheering on her friend Zee. Kathi stood still, smirking as the girls laughed. Zee cocked her head to one side, smiled, then turned on her heel and walked away toward the snack table.

• • •

Marcus Montgomery was going places. At least he wanted people to think he was going places. The budding entrepreneur prided himself on starting his own business trading sports memorabilia when he was eleven (with help from his older brother) and was eager to become a member of the Forbes 500 before he turned twenty-one. Now, Marcus ran a lawn mowing business called LawnCuts with his best friend Conrad Mitori. They even have custom company uniforms and their own lawn mowers. The duo also started a tutoring business for middle schoolers. When he wasn’t running his empire, Marcus liked reading biographies of famous business leaders and constantly checked Yahoo Finance in his spare time.

Marcus’s entrepreneurial ways made Chloe swoon, but of course she never told Marcus how she felt. Meanwhile, Marcus was more intrigued by Zee. He liked Zee’s creativity and thought she could be a complementary creative right brain to his more practical left brain. He was all business, she was all fun.

Marcus was eager to catch up with Zee since seeing her at school earlier this week. He put on his crispest button-down collared shirt and a pair of sharply pressed dark-green slacks. His sneakers were fresh out of the box—he also collected sneakers and prided himself on having the most unique kicks of his friends. Marcus showed up with his parents and Conrad promptly at the start of the party with a nice wreath in hand as a gift. After ringing the doorbell, Marcus quickly spotted Mrs. Carmichael as she came out of the kitchen.

“Hi, Marcus! It’s been a while!” she said.

“Greetings, Mrs. Carmichael,” Marcus said. “Thanks for having us.”

“Zee and the girls just went to the gazebo in the backyard. Why don’t you join them there?”

Marcus straightened his posture and followed a staffer to the gazebo while Conrad looked for the snack table. Marcus’s parents made polite conversation with Mrs. Carmichael.

Zee, Chloe, and Ally were still huddled together, making short videos on their phones and giggling about Kathi Barney’s awkward social behaviors. Marcus, ever the polite gentleman, cleared his throat as he neared them. “Am I interrupting something?” he asked.

“No, you’re not interrupting!” Chloe said eagerly. “It’s so good to see you!”

Zee turned toward him. “Hey, Marcus! Wow, look at you!”

Marcus smiled, his cheeks growing round. “I’m in a holiday mood, what can I say? How are you? How’re things in London? Or should I say, cheerio!”

“London’s great,” Zee said. “And I don’t think I’ve said ‘cheerio’ to anyone, even in London, Marcus!”

Marcus looked intently at Zee before Chloe interrupted. “Can we get you something to drink? Some hot chocolate or something?” she asked him.

“Nah, I’m good,” Marcus said, not breaking his gaze at Zee. “Wow, Zee, the house looks amazing.”

“Thanks, I helped organize it,” Zee said.

“You did?” Marcus asked, surprised.

“Yeah, the food, the decor, the gift bags. The biodegradable cups you’re gonna sip a frozen chocolate out of. Want one?”

Marcus smiled and nodded, seemingly impressed by her attention to detail in addition to her creative spirit. “Yeah, I’ll try one,” he said. Zee handed him the drink. “So, what’s up with boarding school? You still playing music there?”

“Yep,” Zee said. “I just performed in our school’s annual talent show on my own.”

“You did a solo?” Marcus leaned back from her, looking impressed. “Look at you! It’s like when Beyoncé broke out from Destiny’s Child.”

“Funny, Marcus. Not quite, but it was fun!”

Chloe tried to offer Marcus a snack. “Some brownies or some Christmas cookies?” she asked.

“I’m okay,” he said politely again, quickly going back to Zee.

Zee turned to Chloe to try to include her in the conversation. “Chloe, how’s soccer going?”

“Good! I scored two goals in the last game,” she said proudly.

“Wow, Chloe! That’s awesome,” Ally said.

“Yup,” Marcus said. “Nice work.”

“I appreciate that, Marcus,” Chloe said, her voice lowering an octave. Zee and Ally looked at each other, smirking. Marcus turned to Ally. “Ally, I haven’t seen you in, like, two years. How’s Pare-ee?”

“It’s fine. It’s very French,” Ally said as Chloe walked off to grab some food.

“It’s got to be a little more than that,” Marcus said. “My parents always talk about going to Paris. I think they went there for their honeymoon. Everyone talks about Paris in love stories and stuff. What’s so great about it?”

Ally rolled her eyes and smiled. “It is pretty romantic, I guess. Cute cafés, people walking slowly on the sidewalks hand in hand. You know, rom-com stuff. I write about some of it for my school journal. But I personally haven’t done any of that. Yet.”

Chloe came back from the kitchen. “Maybe you just haven’t found the right person to do that stuff with,” she said, putting snacks she got for Marcus down on the table in front of him, winking as she walked away.

Zee looked around her backyard. The party was getting into full swing. Music filled the house and kids flocked to the backyard, tossing snowballs at each other and sipping on hot chocolate. Some of the parents gathered with Mr. Carmichael by the barbecue grill, while Mrs. Carmichael strutted around the party greeting guests. Zee had her friends and they had smiles on their faces.

Strong start so far, Zee thought. But I wonder if Landon’s going to show up.