Take Charge Read online

  GIRLS OF HARBOR VIEW

  Take Charge

  Melody Carlson

  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen.

  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

  — 2 Corinthians 4:18

  Contents

  Cover

  Title Page

  Epigraph

  Rescue Chelsea

  chapter one

  chapter two

  chapter three

  chapter four

  chapter five

  chapter six

  chapter seven

  chapter eight

  chapter nine

  chapter ten

  chapter eleven

  chapter twelve

  Take Charge

  chapter one

  chapter two

  chapter three

  chapter four

  chapter five

  chapter six

  chapter seven

  chapter eight

  chapter nine

  chapter ten

  chapter eleven

  About the Author

  Other books in the growing Faithgirlz!™ series

  Copyright

  About the Publisher

  Share Your Thoughts

  Rescue Chelsea

  chapter one

  “I can’t hang with you guys today.” Carlie kicked a rock with the toe of her sandal and frowned.

  “Why not?” asked Morgan as she unlocked the door to the Rainbow Bus, the girls’ clubhouse. “Did you forget that I was going to teach you how to do beads today?”

  “No.” Carlie rolled her eyes. “But Tia Maria is making me go to work with her today.”

  “Huh?” Emily peered curiously at Carlie. “Don’t they have child labor laws in this state?”

  “Yeah,” said Amy. “First they make you babysit all the time and now they have you cleaning houses too? What’s up with that?”

  “I don’t babysit all the time,” Carlie corrected her. “Besides, I sometimes get paid for it when I do.”

  “Why do you have to go and help your aunt with housecleaning today?” asked Morgan.

  “That’s not what I’ll be doing,” Carlie explained. “I’m going with Tia Maria because she’s working for this new family that moved to town last week. They have a girl who’s the same grade as us, and she’s all bummed about having to move here and not knowing anyone. And it doesn’t help that school starts in a couple of weeks.”

  “So they’re going to force you to become her friend?” questioned Amy. “Isn’t that a little weird?”

  Carlie nodded. “Yep. And that’s exactly what I told Tia Maria too, but she won’t take no for an answer. She’s certain that I’m going to like this new girl.”

  “What if you don’t?” asked Morgan.

  Carlie shrugged. “Nothing I can do about that. But I got to thinking … I mean, I remember how it felt to be new in town last spring … and maybe I should try to make her feel welcome. Her name’s Chelsea Landers. And, who knows, maybe she’s nice.”

  “Well, if she is nice, maybe we should all get to know her,” suggested Morgan. “Maybe she’ll even want to join our club.”

  “I don’t know,” said Amy. “I mean, we’ve never talked about getting new members before. Do you guys really think it’s a good idea?”

  “I’m not so sure,” admitted Emily. “The bus isn’t really that big. With all four of us it can get kinda crowded.”

  “Well, there’ll only be three of us today,” Morgan pointed out. “Sorry you can’t stay.” Morgan smiled at Carlie. “But maybe I can show you how to do beads some other time.”

  “Yeah,” said Carlie. “I hope so.”

  “Well, have fun,” called Emily.

  Carlie tried to hide her disappointment as she waved. “See ya guys later.”

  The other girls called out good-bye and Carlie slowly walked back toward her house. This really didn’t seem fair. She’d already missed out on a lot of fun this summer because of babysitting her little brothers so much. Plus, she’d been looking forward to learning how to do beads for weeks now. But she had to be a “play date” for someone she didn’t even know. She was tempted to tell Tia Maria to forget it, but Tia Maria was her favorite aunt and really cared about Carlie. So maybe she should just bite the bullet, put a smile on her face, and go.

  “Hey, Carlie,” called Tia Maria. She was standing by her little red car and waving. “I’ve been waiting for you.”

  “I’m coming,” said Carlie. “I just had to tell my friends that I wouldn’t be around today.”

  “I hope you don’t mind too much,” said Tia Maria.

  Carlie shrugged as she got into the car. “It’s okay. I mean, I do remember how lonely I felt when we first moved here.”

  “And then you made friends with the girls from the trailer court,” Tia Maria reminded her. “And you’ve been happy as a clam ever since.”

  Carlie forced a smile. “Yeah, it’s great having good friends.” But she thought it would be even better if she actually got to hang with them sometimes!

  “Especially when you’re in middle school,” Tia Maria pointed out. “I still remember how hard it was going to seventh grade. My best friend had moved away that summer and I felt like I didn’t know a soul. I was so scared.”

  “Do you think that’s how Chelsea feels?” asked Carlie.

  Tia Maria nodded. “Yeah. She’s a gloomy girl.”

  Carlie sat up straighter now. “Well, I’ll do my best to try and cheer her up. I just hope she’s nice.” The truth was, ever since moving to Boscoe Bay last spring, Carlie had been wishing for a best friend for herself. It seemed like Emily and Morgan had become best friends during the summer, and even though there was still Amy … well, Carlie just wasn’t too sure. She and Amy were so completely different.

  “Speaking of nice,” said Tia Maria. “You look very pretty today.”

  Carlie frowned down at the flowery sundress. “Mom made me wear this. She wanted me to look like a lady.” She groaned. “It’s been so great getting to wear just shorts and T-shirts this summer. I was hoping that Mom would lighten up, you know, before school starts. But now I’m getting all worried again.”

  Tia Maria laughed. “My sister Lena can be a little old-fashioned.”

  “Tell me about it.”

  “Maybe I can talk to her for you, Carlie.”

  “Would you?” Carlie looked eagerly at her aunt. “She might actually listen to you!”

  “Sure. I’d be happy too. It’ll be my way of thanking you for coming with me today. Okay?”

  “Sounds like a deal.” Carlie leaned back. Maybe this day would be worth it. Even if Chelsea turned out to be a beast, at least Tia Maria might talk Mom into letting Carlie dress like a normal girl when school started up again this fall. It was hard enough being the new girl last spring, but having to dress like Little Miss Muffet made things way worse. She still remembered the time that Morgan suggested they walk home together — the day the bullies picked on them — and how Morgan had been surprised to discover that Carlie wasn’t a sissy after all. And that was when things had really started to change.

  “Chelsea’s dad moved to Boscoe Bay to run the new bank,” said Tia Maria as she turned into Pacific Shores and pushed some buttons to open a big iron gate. This was a fancy subdivision that Carlie had only seen from the road. “And their house is pretty nice.”

  “Wow,” said Carlie as she looked out the window. “They all look pretty nice. I’ll bet they cost a bundle too.”

  “Depends on whether or not you think half a million is a bundle.”

  “Half a million?” Carlie blinked. “These people must be rich.”

  Tia Maria laughed as she turned o
nto a street called Sunset Lane. “Or over their heads in debt.”

  “Are you and Mom still thinking of starting your own business?” asked Carlie. “I mean, now that you took that bookkeeping class?”

  “There’s a lot to do first,” said Tia Maria as she pulled into the driveway of a beautiful house with pale yellow stucco walls. “But we’re working on it.”

  “Good,” said Carlie as she looked up at the house. “Maybe you guys will get so rich that we’ll end up living in this neighborhood someday.”

  “Well, don’t hold your breath,” Tia Maria laughed. “But miracles can happen.”

  “Want some help?” asked Carlie as her aunt opened the tiny trunk of her car.

  “No. This is a one-woman show.” She lifted out a crate of cleaning supplies. “Besides, you don’t want to get anything on your pretty dress.”

  Suddenly Carlie felt nervous. What if this Chelsea chick is horrible? Or what if she doesn’t like me? Or what if I do something totally lame? Something that embarrasses Tia Maria and makes her whole family look stupid. Oh, why did I agree to do this?

  “You coming?” asked her aunt as she walked over to a side door that went through the triple-car garage.

  “Yeah,” said Carlie, slowly following her.

  “Don’t worry,” said Tia Maria as she held the door open for Carlie. “It’ll be fine. Just relax.”

  Carlie took in a deep breath as she walked into the big, clean garage. “Wow, those are nice cars.”

  Tia Maria nodded then spoke in a hushed voice. “Money isn’t everything, Carlie.”

  “I know.”

  “These are regular people … just like us.”

  And the next thing Carlie knew they were in the house. Okay, it was only the laundry room, but it was the biggest, fanciest laundry room that Carlie had ever seen. The washer and dryer looked like they might be capable of flying to Mars or Venus.

  “Hello?” called a woman’s voice. “Is that you, Maria?”

  “Yes.” Tia Maria set her crate of cleaning supplies on a shiny countertop that looked like it was real stone. “And I’ve brought my niece with me.”

  “Oh, good.” A tall, blonde woman came into the laundry room.

  “This is Carlie Garcia,” said Tia Maria. “And, Carlie, this is Mrs. Landers, Chelsea’s mom.”

  They shook hands. “I’m so glad you could come, Carlie,” said Mrs. Landers. “Poor Chelsea is really having a hard time adjusting to all this. She misses her old friends dearly.”

  “Well, I remember how hard it was when my family moved here last spring,” said Carlie. “It’s not easy making new friends.”

  “But Carlie’s made some good ones,” said Tia Maria.

  “Well, come meet Chelsea,” said Mrs. Landers. “Hopefully, you girls will become good friends too.”

  Carlie followed Mrs. Landers through the huge kitchen and family room. Carlie suspected it was as big as her whole house. Not only was it spacious, but everything in it looked brand-new and perfect — like something you’d see in a magazine. “Your house is really pretty,” said Carlie.

  “Thank you.” Mrs. Landers smiled. “It’s been a chore getting it all unpacked and set up. But it’s slowly coming together. Your aunt has been a lifesaver.”

  Now they were going up a curving staircase that had a crystal chandelier suspended down the center of the open foyer. Carlie ran her hand along the polished wood banister and wondered if it would be good for sliding down on — not that she would do something like that. At least not if anyone was around to see her.

  “Chelsea has a brother and a sister,” explained Mrs. Landers. “But they’re much older and don’t live at home anymore. So I’m afraid she feels more lonely and isolated than ever.”

  “I can understand that.”

  Mrs. Landers paused by the closed door and knocked quietly. No one answered, and so she cracked open the door and called out, “Chelsea, I’ve got someone here who wants to meet you.” Still no answer. She pushed the door fully open. “Chelsea?”

  “Go away!” screamed a girl’s voice. “Leave me alone! And take that freak with you!”

  Carlie sucked in a quick breath. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all. Maybe Chelsea really was a monster. Oh, why had she ever agreed to come here today? What a total mistake!

  chapter two

  “Come on, Chelsea,” urged Mrs. Landers as she slowly led Carlie into a large bedroom with a high ceiling. “You can’t mope forever.”

  Carlie looked around the room. The walls and the carpet were pale blue, but the furnishings were all a creamy white. And the bedspread and pillows had touches of buttery yellow and shades of blue. Very pretty. But not too frilly. Still, it was nothing like any bedroom Carlie had ever seen before. Even her parents’ master bedroom was way smaller than this. One wall was filled with built-in shelves that were loaded with every kind of entertainment option anyone could ever want, including a fairly large, flat-screen TV, a DVD player, and a computer. Several shelves were packed full with video games and DVDs. Carlie suppressed an unexpected wave of jealousy. This girl had everything!

  Mrs. Landers walked across the room to where another door was half opened. It seemed to lead into a bathroom. Did Chelsea have her own private bathroom too? It was too much!

  “I know you’re not happy, sweetheart, but I just wanted you to —”

  “Just leave me alone!” came the girl’s voice from the bathroom again. She sounded even angrier now. “And take her with you!”

  “Come out and meet Carlie,” urged her mother as she went into the bathroom. “She’s the same age as you and has only lived in Boscoe Bay a few months. I think you’ll —”

  “I don’t want to meet anyone!”

  Mrs. Landers came out of the bathroom helplessly holding her hands in the air, as if she was giving up.

  “Maybe I should go,” said Carlie.

  “Oh, please, don’t leave, not yet,” pleaded Mrs. Landers. “Give Chelsea some time. I think she’ll come around.”

  “The only way I’ll ever come around will be to kill myself!” yelled the girl. “Not that anyone would care if I did!”

  Mrs. Landers pointed over to the window and a big, padded window seat. “Why don’t you just sit down and wait, Carlie? There are some magazines you can read.”

  Carlie wasn’t so sure she wanted to stick around. The girl in the bathroom sounded horribly mean, not to mention slightly crazy. And yet, this poor woman seemed so desperate, how could Carlie just give up and leave?

  “Okay,” said Carlie, walking over to the cozy-looking window seat. “If you really think it’ll help … ”

  Mrs. Landers nodded then lowered her voice. “I think maybe if I wasn’t here … maybe she would come out. You see, she’s angry at us; she blames her dad and me for ruining her life.”

  “Oh.” Carlie sat down on the window seat and looked out to see the ocean stretching out before her. “Wow, you guys have a great view from up here.”

  Mrs. Landers smiled sadly. “Yes, it’s much prettier here than where we moved from. You’d think Chelsea would appreciate that.”

  “Chelsea would appreciate it if you would shut up!” yelled the girl from the bathroom.

  Mrs. Landers made a little waving motion to Carlie then quickly left the room, closing the door behind her. Great, thought Carlie, what if this girl is dangerous? She glanced over to the still-opened bathroom door, unsure of what she should do next. Should she say something? Or maybe go in there … and risk getting her head chewed off? Maybe not.

  Maybe she should just play it cool, just wait until Chelsea was ready to come out and have a civilized conversation. If that was even possible. Carlie picked up a glossy teen magazine and pretended to read it as she looked out the window to where the darker blue of the ocean met the lighter blue of the sky. It was such a gorgeous day outside. And here she was stuck with this spoiled brat who seemed to be intent on having a pity party for one. Suddenly Carlie really missed her frien
ds back at the Rainbow Bus. But even more than that, she was so thankful that she had friends!

  Out of sheer boredom, she actually started to read an article about skin care. She’d just gotten to the part about exfoliation — which was supposed to leave your skin looking creamy and fresh — when she heard Chelsea come out of the bathroom.

  “Why are you still here?” asked Chelsea grumpily.

  Carlie set the magazine aside. “Your mom told me to wait for you.”

  “Well, I’m telling you to leave.”

  Without answering, Carlie just looked at the girl. She was about Carlie’s height with shoulder-length, curly red hair that looked like it hadn’t been combed in days. Her freckled nose was slightly turned up and her eyes — probably her best feature — looked to be either green or blue. Carlie couldn’t decide. She had on wrinkled, flannel pajama bottoms and a yellow tank top that looked like she’d slept in it for a week or so.

  “You don’t look very happy,” said Carlie.

  “Brilliant observation,” snapped Chelsea.

  “It’s hard to move and leave friends behind … ”

  “Duh.” But Chelsea took a few steps closer. It looked as if she was checking Carlie out now. “Why are you dressed like that?”

  Carlie looked down at the sundress and frowned. “My mom. She makes me wear prissy-looking stuff like this. She wants me to act like a lady.”

  Chelsea laughed in a sarcastic way. “Well, you look like a total geek.”

  “Duh,” said Carlie.

  “I mean, that color and that style, well, it’s like so yesterday.”

  Carlie shrugged. “I don’t know about that. All I know is that I don’t like it. I hate wearing dresses. If I had my way I’d burn them all.”

  “Parents are so lame.” Chelsea sat down on the bed across from Carlie, still studying her with a slight scowl on her face. “And what’s with your hair anyway?” she asked. “You trying to look like Salma Hayek or Penélope Cruz or something?”

  Carlie blinked. “You really think I look like Salma or Penélope?”

  “More like you’re trying to look like them with all that hair. How can you stand all that long, curly stuff anyway?”