I vowed right there to begin the silent treatment. It was the ultimate punishment for their sin. Not that Andie had done anything wrong, but wasn’t it her fault Miss Austria was here in the first place?
On the bus, Jared slid into the seat beside me. “Open your gift, Holly-Heart.”
I gasped when I saw the CD—Mandee Trent’s latest release. “I love it,” I said. “Thanks, Jared.”
“You’re welcome.” He winked at me.
“This is so cool. Now I can ski with Mandee Trent coming through my iPod while you watch her hit the stage in Denver.” Such a romantic thought.
“Shall we synchronize the moment?” he asked.
I poked him. “Don’t be silly,” I teased, but secretly I loved the idea of listening to my new music at the exact same moment as Jared was experiencing the live performance. He reached for my hand and gave it a squeeze. Fabulous.
Downhill Court came up all too quickly. I thanked Jared again for the CD before getting off the bus.
“See you tomorrow,” he called.
“Bye!” I held the gift close as I hurried across the snow-packed street.
Once in the privacy of my bedroom, I let my anger pour out in the safest place of all: my journal. First I recorded my intentions for the vow of silence. I would refuse to speak to Andie until she apologized. No, better yet, until she literally pleaded with me to return as her number-one best friend.
Next I removed Paula’s clothes and tossed them in the hamper. What a remarkable thing she had done today. Something I might have done for a best friend.
Slipping into my robe, I popped my new CD into the player on my desk. Mandee Trent’s voice wafted through the air. Perfect. I pulled a mystery novel off the shelf and curled up on my window seat, trying to forget the events of the day.
The harsh reality of my plan hit me hard when the phone rang. “For you, Holly,” Carrie called to me from the hallway. “It’s Andie.”
“Tell her I’m not here,” I said. Abandoning my book, I jumped up and headed for the stairs. “It’s the truth…I’m not here.” I raced down the steps, through the kitchen, and out the back door.
It was sub-zero cold out there and I counted, slowly, to thirtyfive, shivering in my robe as I waited for Carrie to tell me she was off the phone.
But she never did, and I stumbled back into the kitchen, freezing half to death. “Carrie,” I called to her.
Stephie, not Carrie, came running up the steps from the family room. “Carrie can’t talk now, she’s not here,” she mimicked me, straight-faced. Then she burst into giggles.
“Get out,” I said, chasing after her.
I found Carrie doing her homework. “What did she want?” I asked.
Carrie looked up, eyes filled with innocence. “Who?”
“You said Andie called.” I leaned over the back of the sectional staring into her pixie face. “What did she say?”
“She said you’re a goof brain.”
I couldn’t believe this. “You are so not cool.” I left the room in a huff.
Wednesday after school Mom drove me to visit my cat. “How do you feel about missing the Mandee Trent concert?” she asked as we waited for a red light.
“I don’t have to see her on stage. Besides, it’ll be great skiing.
We stopped at an intersection, and she glanced over at me. “What does Andie think about it?”
“No big deal,” I said. “After all, Andie’s got Christiana. They’ll have a good time together, she and the clothes crook.”
Mom frowned. “What do you mean?”
I told her the horrible thing Christiana had done after gym class.
“I can’t imagine Andie letting Christiana do that,” Mom said. “Doesn’t sound like her.”
“No kidding.”
She dropped me off in front of the animal clinic. “I’ll be back in thirty minutes,” she said.
It was fabulous spending time with Goofey. He actually smiled when he saw me, the way he always did—before Paula tried to poison him.
“I’ve been praying about a home for you,” I whispered to him. “God must have something very special planned. He just hasn’t let me know yet.”
Goofey purred contentedly as if to say: Whatever you can do is fine, thank you.
“One day at a time,” I said softly in his ear.
But deep inside, I was worried. Who in Dressel Hills could I convince to adopt my adorable cat? True, he wasn’t the prettiest cat around. But beauty comes from within, after all.
Mom beeped her horn. I kissed Goofey good-bye and headed outside into the cold mountain air.
At home, Carrie was waiting. Her bright eyes danced with delirious delight as she informed me of the numerous phone calls I’d missed. From guess who.
“Andie’s dying to talk to you, Holly,” Carrie said. “It’s gotta be important.”
“Yeah, well, that’s too bad,” I retorted, sticking by my vow.
“If she were my best friend, I’d at least ask my sister to take a message.” Carrie’s eyes danced with mischief.
“Look,” I said, sitting her down. “Andie’s not your best friend, and you can forget about lecturing me. Okay?”
“Mommy!” Carrie shouted, running out of the room.
“Fine, go tell Mom,” I muttered, disappearing into my room. I slammed the door shut.
Settling on my window seat, I grabbed two pillows and leaned against the wall. The sun’s rays made me drowsy as I relived the birthday-suit nightmare….
I was in the shower again. At school. Reaching for a towel, I searched for my clothes.
“Put your clothes on,” one seventh grader called.
The girls began to laugh. Echoing into a mighty roar, the laughter hurt my head, my ears. I cupped my hands over them, forgetting about the towel. It slipped away as I ran, naked, up the stairs.
At the top of the steps, I hid behind the door. I could see the math classroom just across the outside courtyard.
It was snowy and cold out there. I cringed. And then I saw her—Andie—my best friend in the world. She was waving something at me across the courtyard. “Hurry, Holly,” she called. “You can still make it!”
I struggled to see what she had in her hands. Squinting, I peered through the snowy brightness. Then, for a moment, she stopped waving and I could see clearly.
My clothes! Andie had my clothes.
Whoosh! A blast of arctic air ripped through the courtyard, snatching them out of her hands. They flew at me, icy and hostile, sticking to my body. Covering me with their freezing, unfriendly fabric.
I looked down at the expensive clothes stuck to me. Labels and brand names I’d never heard of leaped up. M.A.D. Collection, Angry Jeans Co., and Bonjealous. I tried desperately to remove the tags, but my fingers were frozen.
Again, I struggled, clawing at the hideous labels. Anger…jealousy…
“Holly-Heart, wake up!”
I opened my eyes. “W-wha-at?” I mumbled, still half asleep.
“Where am I?”
“You’re right here in your room, darling,” Mom said, kissing my head.
I looked down. The tags on two throw pillows were pulled off. One of the heart-shaped ones had a hole in its seam.
My fingers must’ve gone to sleep. I let the pillows roll onto the window seat as I made a fist with both hands, limbering up my tingling fingers, still numb from the dream.
“You missed a long-distance call,” Mom said, a hint of a smile playing around her lips.
“I did?” I yawned.
“It was Tyler, your stepbrother.” She sat down beside me on my window seat, holding a cup of tea.
“Tyler? Oh yeah. In California.”
“He asked when he should call again.”
I stood up, stretching my legs. “What did you say?”
“That you’d be expecting his call around five-thirty our time.”
I hugged her. “Why didn’t you wake me?”
“You looked so peaceful in
here, I just couldn’t.”
“But I was having a nightmare!”
“Well, you looked peaceful,” she said, sipping her tea. “Are you anxious about going skiing?”
“What about you? It’s your first time, Mom. Aren’t you scared?”
“Oh, but Jack will be there,” Mom said, a flush of color dancing in her cheeks. “He’ll teach me just fine.” And by that, I knew the honeymoon was still going strong.
When Mom left the room, I shivered, thinking about those horrible labels stuck on me. I couldn’t get them out of my mind. Deep inside, I was still trying to rip the labels off my clothes.
Thank goodness it was only a dream.
SECOND-BEST FRIEND
Chapter 14
At four-thirty the phone rang.
“I’ll get it!” yelled Carrie.
“I’ve got it!” shouted Stan.
“It’s for me,” I said.
Three of us picked up the phones in the house. Tyler was calling from California.
“Hey, Tyler,” Carrie said.
Click. Stan hung up.
“How’s California?” I asked.
“Fine, thanks,” he said. “Happy birthday, Holly…a little late. Wait’ll you see what I bought you. It’s way cool!”
I laughed. “Give me a hint.”
“Nope, you just wait. My mom’s mailing it today.”
“Is it nice there?” I asked.
“About seventy-five degrees, I think. Here, ask Sean, he’s baby-sitting me.”
Sean? My heart pounded. Why did he want to talk to me?
“Hang up the phone,” I said to Carrie.
“Why?” she whined.
“Just do it!”
Before I could say any more to her, Sean was on the line. “Hey, Holly. How was your birthday?”
I’d forgotten how deep his voice was. “Don’t ask,” I said, laughing. No way was I telling him about the birthday-suit prank. “What’s it like there?”
“It’s great, as always, but I’m ready for a change.”
Click. Carrie hung up. Boring weather talk does it every time.
“Your dad’s thinking of coming to Denver on business next month,” Sean continued. “If things work out, he’ll bring Tyler and me along to ski.” He paused. “Uh, I’d like to see you if we come to Dressel Hills.”
Is this for real?
“You’re coming here?”
“Over spring break,” he volunteered. “It’s the busiest time of the season, but school’s out. Your dad thought it would be perfect timing.”
I was suddenly shy again, like when I’d first met him on the beach last Christmas. “Sounds fun,” I said. “Carrie will be thrilled to see Tyler again. They were quite a pair last Christmas.”
“Well, I better let you go, Holly. But I’d like to write you a letter, if it’s okay.”
“Uh, sure,” I said.
“Nice talking to you. Bye.”
“Bye,” I said, still shocked at his news. Coming to Dressel Hills? Next month?
I hung up the phone and ran to tell Carrie. Then I stopped cold. What was I thinking? She would blab this to everyone. The whole town would know about Sean Hamilton, the cute California surfer.
I decided not to record my conversation with Sean in my journal, either. Too risky. Especially with Andie teaming up with Christiana to do horrible things to me these days.
Somehow I kept things quiet about Sean through supper. And Carrie never even asked why I wanted to talk to him alone on the phone.
On Thursday Paula cornered me in the hall after school. Kayla was waiting for her several feet away. I noticed Paula’s designer jeans and her new denim jacket. She looked completely different from her twin.
She probably wants her clothes back, I thought.
“How’s Goofey?” asked Paula.
“Better.”
“I’d love to see him again,” she said, shifting her books from one arm to the other.
“I, uh, don’t know,” I stuttered. No way did I want to share my precious time with Goofey. Not with the cat killer.
Around the corner came Andie and Christiana, laughing and talking. No doubt they were staying after school again. Together.
“Hey,” Andie said, smiling at me.
“Hey,” Paula replied, wearing a flashy smile. “How are you doing on your science project?”
“It’s almost finished,” Andie told Paula. Then she looked at me. Almost sadly. “How’s your project, Holly?”
Christiana butted in. “Andie and I are doing a joint project, you know.” She was playing her “one-up” game again. And she didn’t have to remind me Andie and I had planned to do the project together—before Christiana came and spoiled everything.
She continued her chatter. Several times, Andie made attempts to talk to me, but Miss Austria monopolized the conversation. I didn’t care…the silent treatment was still in force.
I excused myself, turned, and walked away. When I was out of their sight, I fled from the building.
Paula caught up with me at the bus stop. “Holly, wait! I have to talk to you,” she sputtered, out of breath.
“Forget it. I don’t want to hear anything about her,” I snapped, referring to Andie.
“You have to,” she insisted. “It’s a matter of…” She stopped.
“What? Life and death?” I climbed onto the bus and pushed my way as far back as possible.
Paula followed me. “Please listen, Holly.” Her eyes pleaded with me, serious concern written on her face.
Struggling with my curiosity and the vow of silence, I clunked my backpack on the floor and folded my arms across my chest.
“May I sit here?” she persisted.
“I need to be alone.”
“But—”
“I need to be alone,” I said.
A sad, lonely expression swept across her face. Hesitating, she turned away, searching for a seat. At last she chose the only other one available on the entire bus—beside her twin.
Torn between missing Andie and hating her, I dug around inside my backpack, looking for my mystery novel. Finding it, I opened to the bookmark and began to read as the bus made its lurching stops and starts.
Halfway down the page I glanced up, staring at Paula. What’s the message from Andie?
I forced my attention away from her so-called important info, reading a few more pages in my book. Then the bus stopped in front of the doughnut shop and a bunch of kids got off, dashing inside to claim the Sweet of the Day.
Kayla crawled over Paula to get out, expecting her to come along. But Paula shook her head and stayed, gazing out the window as the bus doors whooshed shut.
I couldn’t help watching her as the bus made its journey down the long stretch on Aspen Street toward Downhill Court.
Carrie met me as I came in the house. “Bad news,” she announced, closing the front door behind me.
“The worst,” Stephie added, sitting on a chair with her feet tucked under her.
“Now what?” I plopped my backpack on the sofa.
“We’re staying home. The ski trip’s off,” Carrie moaned.
“You’re kidding.” I pulled my jacket off.
“Would I joke about this?” she whined.
I hung up my jacket. “So what’s going on?” I noticed Mom’s coat was missing from the closet. “Where’s Mom?”
“She’s at Uncle Jack’s office,” Carrie said, looking serious. “They got real busy.”
“Yeah,” Stephie said. “Looks like we’re stuck at home.” She shrugged.
“Are you sure? We’re not going skiing?”
I went into the kitchen to hide my delight. Hurrying to the phone, I called Amy-Liz, telling her the news. It looked like I was going to the Mandee Trent concert after all!
“This is so cool, Holly,” Amy-Liz said. “But you’d better hurry and get your ticket.”
Just then, Stan burst through the back door. I waved at him, trying to get his attention. “Uh,
I’ll have to talk to you later,” I told Amy-Liz, hanging up.
“Didja hear?” Stan said, his nose in the fridge.
“I know, the ski trip is off,” I said. “Who told you?”
“I ran into Dad downtown after school. Something’s come up with his business. It’s booming.” Stan poured a glass of milk. “But we’re going for sure next weekend.”
Oh no! I thought. That’s when Andie and Christiana are going skiing. I slumped onto the chair in the corner beside Mom’s desk.
“What’s the matter with you?” he asked.
“Nothing much.” I pushed away thoughts of bumping into Andie on the slopes.
“Here, go get yourself a ticket.” He shelled out thirty-five bucks. “That oughta help you smile again, little sister.” It was John Wayne again.
“Hey, what happened to your birthday stash?” Carrie demanded.
I glared at her. No way could she know my money was going for Goofey’s room and board. She wouldn’t hesitate to tattle to Mom about it. I had enough problems without that, too.
“Are you broke?” Carrie asked.
I waved her off. “I just made an investment.” I grinned my thanks to Stan, who grabbed a bag of potato chips and sat down at the bar. “Are you going to the concert?”
“Nah,” he said. “I’ve got an appointment.”
“Andie won’t like it when she finds out,” I said, sliding onto a barstool across from him.
“Aw, she’ll get over it,” he said, pulling a John Wayne video out of his pocket. I wished I could approach my relationship with Andie the way Stan did.
Eager to order a ticket, I picked up the portable phone. First one recorded message then another came on the line as I followed the directions, pushing the correct numbers for additional information. Finally an actual person answered.
“I’d like to reserve one ticket for the concert at McNichols Arena in Denver tomorrow night,” I said, twitching with delight. Jared would be so excited.
“One moment, please,” the woman said as recorded music greeted my ear.
I waited, visualizing the trip up and back on the church bus. It would be so fabulous, laughing and talking with Jared.
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