California Schemin': Book One in the Malibu Mayhem Trilogy by Carolyn Keene Read Free Book Online

and headed back to Stacey’s.
    “That place may give good manicures,” Bess shivered. “But it also gives me the creeps.”
    “Me too,” I said. “All that yelling upstairs must be part of the ‘intense renewal.’”
    “A whole week of being called a pathetic loser?” George cried.
    “Maybe renewal means different things to different people,” Bess suggested.
    “I suppose,” I said. “But do you think that’s what Mia Casabian is a part of?”
    “Stop worrying,” George said. “If Mia’s the sensible sister, I’m sure she’s fine.”
    George had a point. What we’d heard behind that door was definitely disturbing, but we’d never actually seen what was going on.
    “Maybe you’re right,” I said. “Okay, you two, let’s forget about the last two days and get back to some serious vacay.”
    “Why don’t we change into our suits and head down to the beach? It’s too late to sightsee anyway,” George said.
    “But Dr. Viola said no swimming for the next day or two,” I reminded her.
    “Who needs swimming?” George said as we approached the house. “I’ve got my laptop with me.”
    It didn’t take long for us to change. The beach was clean again, but we spread our towels in a totally different spot, just to be safe.
    As I lay down on my towel, I realized how tired I was from such a frenzied morning. And after a long winter, the sun on my face felt awesome.
    George opened her laptop and searched for things to do in L.A. “How about the La Brea Tar Pits?” she asked. “They have giant prehistoric mammals covered in tar.”
    “Mm-hmm,” I replied, too relaxed to answer. I could feel myself drifting off to sleep when—
    “Yo!” a voice shouted. “Dudes!”
    “Huh?” I said, my eyes snapping open.
    Two guys were walking along the shore, carrying surfboards. “It’s the Casabian sisters’ boyfriends,” I whispered.
    Bess shaded her eyes with her hand. “It is Ty and Devon,” she said excitedly.
    “They’re on our beach again,” George said, annoyed. “Did they come back to dump more trash?”
    “Hey,” Ty said. “Mind if we say hi?”
    “You just did,” I replied.
    Devon lifted his shades to gaze beyond us toward the shed. “Whoa. My little eye spies three excellent surfboards over there.”
    “They belong to Stacey,” George said. “You know, the person who also owns this beach?”
    “She left them for us,” Bess explained.
    “Excellent!” Ty exclaimed. “Then why don’t you each grab a board and rock the breakers with us?”
    “Rock the breakers?” I repeated.
    “Surf the waves,” Bess translated. She turned back to Ty and Devon. “Sorry, but George was the one who really wanted to surf, and she can’t get her foot wet. She stepped on—”
    “Trash,” George finished. “You know, the kind you dumped last night?”
    Ty and Devon looked sincerely confused.
    “We don’t know what you’re talking about,” Ty said. “But if you can’t surf, I hear you.”
    “Just thought we’d ask,” Devon added, shrugging.
    I watched as the boys picked up their boards and turned toward the ocean.
    “As if they didn’t know about the trash,” George said. “Give me a break.”
    I just couldn’t help myself. “But if they did, we’ll never find out,” I said. “They’re leaving before we can ask them anything.”
    “Not necessarily.” Bess smiled slyly. She stood up and walked toward the guys. “Hey, guys? Where are you going?”
    The boys turned around and smiled.
    “So…what’s up?” Ty asked Bess.
    “Maybe George can’t go in the water,” Bess said cheerily. “That doesn’t mean Nancy and I can’t be schooled in surfing.”
    “Cool beans!” Ty said.
    “Grab your boards and let’s rock,” Devon said.
    “Okay,” Bess agreed.
    “Do you think Mandy and Mallory will want to surf with us?” I asked. Not that I wanted the Casabian sisters to join us. Mandy had already denied dumping the trash.
    “Nah,” Ty flapped his hand. “Mandy