Read Mackenzie Blue for Free Online Page B

work.
    â€œI can’t remember the next line.”
    â€œDid you write it down?”
    â€œWell…yes,” Zee said. “But I lost the…um…notebook—maybe at school.”
    Mr. P stood up from his desk. “You still have time to check the lost and found before the bell rings. I’ll go to the office with you,” he said, picking up a sheet of paper. “I have to make some copies there.”
    Â 
    â€œMackenzie Blue Carmichael!” Mrs. Sayles cheerfully greeted Zee across the long counter in the main office. “What can I do you for?”
    â€œI think I lost something yesterday,” Zee explained. “May I look in the lost and found?”
    Mrs. Sayles motioned toward a box on the floor near her desk. “Sure. It’s right there.”
    Zee went behind the counter. As she rifled through the container, searching for her diary, Kathi came into the office.
    â€œGood morning, Kathi,” Mrs. Sayles said.
    â€œIs Dr. Harrison here?” Kathi asked. Dr. Harrison was the upper school’s head of school. Most kids dreaded a trip to the principal’s office, but Kathi loved it. She always bragged about how much money her family contributed to Brookdale Academy and how that meant the administration had to pay attention to whatever she said.
    â€œShe’s expecting you,” Mrs. Sayles assured her. “Go right in.”
    Zee held her breath, hoping Kathi wouldn’t notice her as she walked to the private office door. She didn’t! Whew! Unfortunately Zee’s trip to the lost and found was not so successful. The only items in the box were a couple of iPods, a Nintendo DS, a retainer, and a few phones. She gave up and returned to the music room.
    By the time Zee got back to first period, all the students were there. Something was definitely weird. Everyone was staring at the front of the room.
    Â 
    MACKENZIE BLUE WONDERS WHEN
    SHE’S GOING TO DEVELOP.
    WE DO TOO!
    Â 
    Bold purple letters were printed on the dry erase board.
    Mr. P stepped into the room behind her and rushed to erase the note while Zee hurried to her seat. She looked at the ground, but as she passed Landon, she caught his friendly smile out of the corner of her eye. “Develop what?” he said, shrugging.
    Jen placed her hand over her mouth to hold back a giggle.
    As Zee turned to Chloe, she could see the concerned look on her face. They were both thinking the same thing: Someone had Zee’s diary!
    Kathi walked into the room and handed Mr. P a late pass. Then she sat in the seat Jen had saved for her.
    â€œWhat’s going on?” Kathi whispered to Jen.
    â€œI’ll tell you later.”
    Zee was sure they were not the only ones who would be talking about it.

7
Rock-and-Roll Teacher
    â€œ O kay!” Mr. P got everyone’s attention. “Let’s warm up.” He pointed to Zee, Jasper, and Landon. “You three—stay right there and form a group. I’ll get you started.”
    Next, Mr. P pointed to Kathi, Chloe, Jen, and Marcus. “You four—set up near the piano. You’ll work on scales.”
    All the students took their places, and Mr. P moved between groups. As she played, Zee peeked over at Chloe’s group. Jen had set up next to Marcus. Kathi’s high violin notes and Chloe’s deep cello notes climbed the scales together perfectly. Kathi had been the lower school’s star musician. In the talent show, Kathi’s amazing solo was always the final performance—the best was saved for last. Now Chloe would definitely be competition. Kathi knew it.
    But Zee could see Kathi had a bigger problem. She couldn’t decide what to be more upset about—the fact that Chloe was an awesome cello player or the fact that Zee was grouped with Landon. Zee could feel the heat of Kathi’s glare across the room.
    It was all too much for Kathi. She lost her place and started missing notes. Marcus’s