Read Online Stitches and Stones by Chloe Taylor - Free Book Online Page A

yes! And I love what you did with the fabric!” Priti exclaimed, practically bouncing with excitement. “Where’s mine? I can’t wait to put it on!”
    Zoey took it out and helped Priti put it in her hair. Kate gave Priti a scarf and wrist cuffs. Priti wrapped the scarf around her neck and tossed the ends over her shoulder with a jaunty flair.
    â€œThese accessories are so cool!” Libby said, snapping on some wrist cuffs. “You must have been up all night, Zoey.”
    â€œNo, Kate helped me,” Zoey said. “Otherwise I totally would have been up all night.”
    Soon after, the entire school gathered in the auditorium for the Spirit Assembly and karaokecompetition. There was red and silver everywhere!
    â€œThank you for all the creativity you’ve displayed this week,” Ms. Austen told the students. “I’ve been so impressed by the outfits you’ve come up with for each of our Spirit Week theme days.”
    She picked up the remote for the projector.
    â€œLet’s have a look at some of the great ensembles we’ve seen in school this week,” she said, starting a slideshow.
    Zoey grabbed Kate when a picture of Kate and Libby in their Oreos and milk costume came up. “Look! It’s you!”
    There also was a picture of Priti in her Decades Day costume, and Zoey in her Backward Day outfit.
    â€œDo you think any of these will end up in the yearbook?” Kate whispered.
    â€œMaybe!” Zoey said.
    When the slideshow ended, Ms. Austen said it was time to announce the Spirit Week prizes. Zoey’s heart started to beat a little faster. It had been a challenging week, what with all the unpleasant stuff on her blog, and winning a prize for best costume would definitely cheer her up.
    But as Ms. Austen went down the list of prizes, her name wasn’t called. Not once. Zoey wondered if maybe, just maybe, the comments on her blog about her having no talent were just saying the truth.
    â€œAnd now, last, but definitely not least, Best Team Costume,” Ms. Austen announced. She paused a moment for dramatic effect. “Libby Flynn and Kate Mackey for milk and Oreos!”
    Kate jumped up with an excited squeal, and Libby was out of her seat, embracing Kate, then Priti, and then Zoey on the way to pick up their prize certificates. Zoey was happy to cheer for her friends, and especially thrilled to see Libby with such a radiant smile on her face after the horrible Hat Day incident. As she and Kate walked back to their seats, Libby got extra loud cheers from her classmates in Mrs. Brennan’s class. At least something was going right in the world, Zoey thought.
    â€œThis is kind of your award too,” Kate said, giving Zoey a hug as she sat down. “After all, you designed the costumes.”
    Zoey smiled, glad she had friends who appreciated her, but she was preoccupied by her nerves.
    â€œThanks,” she said. “Right now, I’m worried about remembering the dance steps!”
    â€œYou’ll be fine,” Kate assured her. “You’re an old pro at this now. After you’ve been on TV, doing karaoke in school should be a piece of cake!”
    But as the karaoke contest began, Zoey got more and more nervous. The competition was really good. She never realized how many good singers there were at Mapleton Prep. Zoey knew she sounded okay in the shower, but it was different when she sang with a microphone. People could hear her! Priti had a great voice, and Libby’s was pretty good, but she and Kate were better dancers than singers. Hopefully, their fancy footwork would wow the audience enough to make up for their so-so vocals.
    There were a few groups who went first and got a decent amount of applause from the crowd. Then it was time for Ivy, Shannon, and Bree to sing. The music started and Zoey and her friends gasped.
    â€œYou are you and I am me
    And that’s the way it
    All should