The Third Coin by J. A. Howard

Author:J. A. Howard [Howard, J. A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Apple Island Press
Published: 2014-07-12T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 27

The Makeover

As the car pulled away from the curb, Charlotte turned to Bea with a broad, perfect smile. “This is going to be so much fun!” she bubbled, and Bea couldn’t help but smile in return. It was easy to see why Charlotte was so popular. She had the uncanny ability to make you feel as if you were the most charming person in the world, yet at the same time lucky to be in her presence.

Bea knew she should be excited and even flattered to be spending the afternoon with the very top Top Pops. But the truth was, she would have rather been with Indy and Nisha on the stoop trying to figure out The Prophecy. Unfortunately, there hadn’t been any way out of it. She’d already cancelled on Charlotte the week before, and there were only so many times you could say no to someone like Charlotte before your popularity status was downgraded to Almost or worse.

“My parents always send the car for me,” Charlotte was saying as they turned the corner onto Park Avenue. “Mother and Father are worried I’m going to be kidnapped or something… you know, because my father is so rich,” she added, as if it needed clarification.

When they pulled up in front of what Bea presumed to be Charlotte’s building, Charlotte turned to Bea and clapped her hands together delightedly. “I have the best surprise,” she said, pausing dramatically, “Today, we are going to have the most awesome makeover party ever.”

Bea smiled politely in response. She wasn’t sure what a makeover party was exactly, but she gathered it had something to do with makeup, required only three people, and carried the not-so-mild suggestion that Bea needed some fixing up in the looks department. She allowed herself to be pulled from the car, but was now wishing more than ever that she were walking home with Nisha instead of heading into Charlotte’s building.

Bea wondered again where Nisha was. She’d been planning to explain about Charlotte when they saw each other after school but Nisha hadn’t been there. Bea hoped Nisha wasn’t mad at her.

As Bea expected, Charlotte’s building was very fancy. A pleasant doorman in a dark red uniform greeted them as they entered. Another, dressed in blue, operated the elevator that took them upstairs. Bea couldn’t image what purpose he served. Was pressing a button really too difficult for someone to do themselves?

Charlotte’s apartment was larger than any Bea had ever seen, and walking into to it was like stepping into a vacuum. Sounds of the city outside were silenced by the soft soothing hush of luxury. The only colors were creamy shades of beige and white. Bea felt the sudden desire to wash her hands for fear of accidentally dirtying something.

Charlotte led the girls to the kitchen for a snack. Green grapes and ripe strawberries were waiting for them, freshly washed and piled high in a pretty white bowl.

“I never eat processed sugar; mother says it makes you bloated,” Charlotte explained.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.