Stealing Bradford

Unfortunately, that would probably be the case with Casey. Going to Crescent Cove High dressed like Goth Girl meets Punk Rocker might not go over too well. Just this morning, DJ had tried to warn Casey of this, but the stubborn girl was not ready to listen to anyone. Still, it seemed a little unfair that DJ and Rhiannon were stuck walking into the building with Casey. It was her choice to stand out like a loser, but why did she have to subject them to it as well? Then, when DJ imagined what the three of them must look like together, she almost laughed. Almost. She just hoped, as they headed for the school’s entrance, that others would have as much self-control. What a whacky threesome.

DJ, thanks to her grandmother’s and Eliza’s fashion intervention, looked fairly stylish. Although, according to Casey, DJ had simply been transformed into “an Eliza clone.” Casey, in total contrast, with her safety-pin-pierced brows and skull T-shirt and black lace-up boots, looked freaky weird. This was aside from the fact that her hair—cut in a short Mohawk and dyed jet black with an electric-blue stripe down the middle—was a real show stopper. Then there was Rhiannon, who DJ thought actually looked sort of cool in her own unique design of “recycled” retro clothes and funky-junky jewelry. Unfortunately this was also a style that some of the snobby mean girls would be glad to take turns slamming. Yes, they were making quite an entrance.

“Hey, DJ,” called Eliza from behind them.

DJ paused at the top of the steps and then turned to see Eliza, Taylor, and Kriti crossing the street from the student parking lot and casually strolling toward them. DJ waved and waited, but Casey just kept on walking into the school as if she was resolved to get this over with ASAP—not unlike a convicted murderer on her way to the electric chair. DJ actually called out, but Casey just kept on going, didn’t even look back. Whatever.

“Here we go, girls,” said Eliza with a smile. “Are we ready?”

DJ could feel them being watched as they entered the school. Even so, she held her head up high. Okay, maybe she was imitating Eliza now, but if it worked, what difference did it make? All DJ knew was that she didn’t want to take the same abuse she’d suffered last spring.

“Where’s the security?” asked Taylor.

“What?” said Rhiannon.

“You know, X-ray machines, gates, uniforms…What’s the deal?”

“We don’t have them,” said DJ.

“We’re such a small town,” explained Rhiannon. “I guess they don’t think we need all that.”

“That’s one thing I won’t miss,” said Taylor as they continued down the hallway.

“I’m supposed to pick up my registration packet in the office,” said Eliza. “Where is that?”

“Right this way,” said DJ. “I have to pick up mine too.”

As it turned out, they had all registered online, so they all needed to go to the office. Several of the kids from last night’s party greeted the girls and, as they continued to the office, DJ began to relax a little. Maybe this wasn’t going to be so bad after all. She tried not to worry about Casey, although she did feel concerned. But perhaps this was just something Casey needed to work through on her own—like a rite of passage. Not that DJ would wish that on anyone.

At the office, Mrs. Seibert, the counselor, welcomed them. Apparently she’d already heard about the Carter House girls and seemed curious as to how it was going. DJ gave her a quick summary, trying to play down the circus element of their living arrangements, and Mrs. Seibert handed them their registration packets. “We’re a little short on lockers again this year. Do you girls mind doubling up?”

“Not at all,” said Eliza. She turned quickly to DJ now. “Want to be locker partners?”

DJ could feel Taylor glaring at her as she nodded and muttered a meek, “Sure.”

“And the rest of you?” asked Mrs. Seibert. “I don’t mind sharing,” said Kriti.

“I’ll share with her,” offered Taylor without enthusiasm.

“I can share with Casey,” said Rhiannon.

“Who’s Casey?”

“Casey Atwood,” offered DJ. “She’s new too.”

“Another Carter House girl?” asked Mrs. Seibert with raised brows.

“Yes.”

Mrs. Seibert nodded. “Interesting.”

“Yes,” said Eliza. “It has been.”

“So, do you girls need anyone besides Rhiannon to show you around the school?” asked Mrs. Seibert. “We do have some student guides.”

“That’s okay,” said DJ. “I was actually here for a few weeks last year, so between the two of us, I think we can handle it.”

“Well, I hope you’ll all have a wonderful year at CCH.”

“Thank you,” said Eliza politely. “It seems like a very nice school.”

Of course, this evoked a snide remark from Taylor. They were barely out of the office when she said something about the espresso shade of Eliza’s nose. But Eliza just shrugged it off. “It never hurts to be nice, Taylor. Someday you may even figure that out for yourself.”

Then Eliza sided up to DJ. “Looks like we have first period together, as well as some other classes. Want to show me around?”

“Sure.”