The Rebels and the Misfits

Chapter 1: Charlie

Chapter 1: Charlie

"Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God - "

"Jade, I swear if you don't shut up, I'm telling your mom that you kissed Jake Warford behind Lily's Cafe last Saturday," I growled, slipping on my Jimmy Choo flip-flops and running after one of my best friends. We had been babysitting Jade's little siblings - all five of them, whee, fun - when we found a scribbly note in the kitchen from her 7-year-old sister Claire. It said that she was riding her bike up to the Santa Clarita clubhouse to look for mommy and daddy at the fancy dinner party that was hosted there tonight. Needless to say, Jade was freaking out.

"No way, stop bluffing," said Jade, scowling. Her long blond hair was swishing behind her, up in a ponytail, and I gave it a tug, knowing it would annoy her. She slapped my hand away, as we continued running down the block. Both of us were pretty in shape. I had been on the volleyball team, Jade was doing dive team now that it was summer. We should be able to run fast enough to catch up to Claire.

"If we don't find Claire before my parents do, my mom will go bat-shit crazy. I'm supposed to be watching her," continued Jade. We were running past my house now, a large brick house by the water. I saw Peter and Paul, my little twin brothers, playing on the front lawn, in the shade of our big oak tree. My mom was probably at home, researching a case in her office. She was a lawyer. My dad, no doubt, was at work. Like always, since he was a surgeon.

I shook my head. A lawyer and I brain surgeon for parents. Talk about strict upbringing.

I hoped my brothers wouldn't see me. I loved them to death, but they always wanted to go where I did. 

"It'll be fine, Jade, trust me. We'll find Claire."

"Hey, look, everyone's over at Kelsey's place!" Jade pointed a manicured finger at the girls sitting on the curb in front of Kelsey's modern monstrosity of a house. Brynn, Zoey, Scarlet, and of course Kelsey were eating rainbow sherbet and talking.  We slowed down, breathing hard. 

"Hey, guys," I said, grinning hopefully. "Wanna come help us capture a little kid?"

"Aw, yeah!" said Zoey, scrunching her nose and hopping up. She was wearing tiny ripped shorts, a light blue and green plaid flannel shirt, and white Vans, her dark brown hair up in a ponytail. Of course, she had her penny board with her, which was basically a tiny skateboard in neon colors.

"We were going to go swimming, but that sounds fun." Scarlet sighed. "I wish I could go swimming. I promised I'd meet Chance in half an hour." She scuffed her Converse on the pavement, and flipped her head over, gathering her long, auburn-brown hair in a messy bun. 

I rolled my eyes. "Scar, no offense, but Chance is kind of a jerk. He'll date any freshman that breathes." Scarlet has a new boyfriend practically every month. Usually, they're a couple of years older than her. One time she dated a college guy. That didn't end up well. He left her with lots of regrets. 

Scarlet gave me a grin, picking at her dark wash shorts. "We're not freshies anymore, babe, this year we'll be sophomores."

"That wasn't my point."

Jade was hopping from foot to foot, anxious to find Claire. "Brynn, Kelsey, Scarlet, are you guys coming or not?"

Zoey opened her mouth, but Jade waved at her. "I know you're coming Zo."

Brynn nodded, flipping her straightened black hair over her shoulder and adjusting her sheer white scarf. Brynn was really mature for her age. She practically had to raise her little sister while her mom had depression. Her dad left the family around fourth grade. After her mom struck it rich with her fashion boutique they moved from Oklahoma to L.A. in eighth grade. "Yeah, let's go. Coming, Kels?"