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trouble,” Jade said, checking her lipstick in her locker mirror before shutting the door. “That’s the best news I’ve heard all day.”
    â€¢ • •
    JC spotted Mickey running in circles in the cafeteria and waved from their regular table.
    â€œHey, can’t have lunch. Gotta find a missing kid,” she said breathlessly.
    JC pointed under the table. “You mean this missing kid?” There was Cordy, sitting cross-legged on the floor and feeding JC’s dog, Madonna, scraps of her grilled cheese sandwich. The tiny dog was dressed in a purple cashmere sweater with a monogram M on it. JC made sure she was always dressed to puppy perfection.
    â€œHow did you know?” Mickey gasped.
    â€œThe spaghetti-and-meatball purse kind of gave her away,” JC said, winking. “I thought maybe someone might be missing her. I didn’t think it would be you.”
    â€œI know.” Mickey sat down at the table and wiped her brow with a paper napkin. “Mr. Kaye kind of put me on babysitting duty.”
    â€œI’m not a baby!” shouted a voice under the table.
    â€œRight! Not a baby!” Mickey quickly retracted her statement for fear that Cordy would bolt again. “I’m on lunch buddy duty.”
    â€œThat’s better,” Cordy said, giving Madonna a belly rub on the cafeteria floor.
    JC peered under the table. “Remember what I told you. Doggie is a secret. She’s not allowed to come to school.”
    â€œI love Doggie!” Cordy said, scooping the tiny dog into her arms. “Shhh!”
    JC offered Mickey half of his sandwich. “Did Mr. Kaye like your design?”
    â€œMore importantly, the little princess did.” She motioned under the table. “I get to present my look to Victoria Vanderweil at her design studio.”
    â€œAwesomeness!” JC cheered, dipping a fry in a puddle of ketchup. “You’re the best designer at FAB, in my humble opinion. I told you the last assignment was just a temporary setback.”
    â€œAww, thanks.” Mickey blushed. “But if I don’t get Cordy back to Mr. Kaye’s studio, it will be a permanent setback. You should have seen Mr. Kaye. He was red in the face, and I think steam was coming out of his ears.”
    â€œNot to worry,” JC assured her. “Everyone is safe and sound. You’re welcome.”
    But before she could thank him, Mickey caught a glimpse of something out of the corner of her eye. It was Cordy. She had taken Madonna in JC’s purple quilted tote bag and was making a run for it.
    â€œJC! Look!” Mickey cried. “She’s getting away!”
    JC stared in horror. “And she dognapped my Madonna!”
    He leaped to his feet and stood on top of the table to get a bird’s-eye view of Cordy’s escape route. There were students everywhere in line with their lunch trays, and it was almost impossible to follow the blond curls fleeing for the exit.
    â€œStop, thief! Come back!” JC yelled.
    Mickey was already on Cordy’s heels. “Wait, Cordy! You didn’t have your ice-cream sundae for dessert,” she said, trying to reason with the little girl. “Lots of whipped cream and sprinkles!”
    â€œI hate whipped cream!” Cordy fired back, and she pushed a garbage can in Mickey’s way. “More than I hate marshmallows!”
    Mickey ran straight into it, and the can spilled over, showering her in discarded meat loaf and mashed potatoes.
    â€œHah, hah! You made a messy!” Cordy chuckled, making a beeline for the cafeteria exit.
    â€œWait! Stop her!” JC yelled, pushing his way through the cafeteria lines and knocking over trays of food in his wake. “I got her! I got her!”
    He dove for her, but Cordy was too fast. She sidestepped him just in the nick of time, and JC landed with a hard splat on the tile floor. Cordy disappeared—with Madonna—out of the