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you?”

    â€œHmmm. Stealing your diary? Well, that would be lots of fun, but right now I’ve got more important things to do—like work on these college applications,” he said. “Now quit bothering me.” Zee knew Adam was telling the truth. He’d been obsessing over college applications for weeks. Princeton and Berkeley were his top picks.
    Zee had been only two places that day—her house and school. Oh no! If the diary was at school, maybe someone had found it and read it. Zee imagined the next day’s morning announcements:
    â€œAttention, students! Today’s lunch is chicken salad and green beans. Mackenzie Blue Carmichael sometimes dreams that she shows up for school wearing only her underwear. Also, she has been crushing on Landon for years. Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.”
    The thought of public humiliation was unbearable. Zee had to find her diary. She went back to the TV room and searched again.
    â€œWhat’s going on?” Mrs. Carmichael asked as a flying couch cushion nailed her in the face.
    â€œSorry, Mom,” Zee said, then quickly added, “I can’t find my diary.”
    â€œWhen did you see it last?” her mom asked, concerned. That was one of the great things about Zee’s mom. She understood that a missing diary was a real crisis.
    Zee thought. “On my way to school.”
    â€œI bet it’s in Dad’s car.”
    Of course! Maybe she had accidentally left it on the seat.
    Mr. Carmichael stepped into the room and surveyed the mess. “Should we call the police? They’ll want to catch whoever did this before he hits another house.”
    â€œI need to look in your car for my diary, Dad,” Zee explained. “Can I have your keys?”
    Mr. Carmichael’s eyes grew wide. “Ummm…I’ll help you look, sweetie,” he offered. Zee knew he only wanted to save his car from the same fate as the TV room. But she didn’t care if he searched, too, since she could use the help.
    Zee and her dad looked under the seats, in the glove box, and even where the spare tire was stored, but they couldn’t find the diary. After having torn up both the house and the car, Zee had to admit, the diary wasn’t at home.
    That night, Zee had trouble sleeping. Her mind raced. When had she lost the diary? Before school? Lunchtime?Was it in her book bag when she’d gotten home? It was no use. She just couldn’t remember.
    Zee climbed out of bed and reached for a notebook. On a piece of paper, she scribbled a new heading for her list:
    Top Ten Most Embarrassing
    Confessions in My Diary
    or
    Why I Should Consider
    Being Homeschooled

6
The Message
    Â  E-ZEE: R u there?
    Zee IM’ed Ally the next morning.
    Â SPARKLEGRRL is offline
    She’s probably in school, Zee decided. Would she ever get used to the new schedule?
    Zee pulled a piece of paper out of her printer.
    Â 
    Hi, Diary Piece of Paper,
    I didn’t think it was possible for me to miss Ally more than I did yesterday. Or the day before. Guess what? It is. Best friends and crises go together. But we’re so far apart. And I have no idea how to get through this without her.
    Zee
    Â 
    Â 
    Zee stared at the nothingness in her locker. She’d had her father drop her off in the exact spot as the day before, then slowly followed the same path to school from the SUV, past the giant solar tracking panels that helped power the school, up the front steps, and to her locker. She’d found a ruler, a hair clip, and a tofu-and-banana sandwich— interesting —but no diary.

    Zee pulled out the textbooks she’d placed on the top shelf, and flipped through the pages for the hundredth time. Discouraged, she shut her locker with a soft thud . Like the other lockers at Brookdale, it was made out of boards from recycled wheat straw. She stared at the golden-colored door, trying to figure out what to do next.
    â€œLose