“You opened my locker?” I said, moving through the crowd of kids in the hall, hoping she hadn’t snooped too much.
“I oughta know your combination by now, don’t you think?” She stayed close to the wall to avoid mad scramblers headed for lockers, homerooms, you name it.
“Have you opened my locker before?” I asked, feeling uneasy, wondering if she’d discovered my writing assignment. It was nearly finished, and no way did I want anyone but Miss Wannamaker to see the finished product.
She looked at me, surprised. “Well, we are best friends.”
“I know, Andie. It’s no big deal,” I said, playing it down in case she picked up on my concern and suspected something. Still, I dashed to my locker, which was hanging open. “Andie, you left my locker open!”
“I did?”
“You just said you opened it.” I hoped she was the only one snooping around. There was top-secret stuff in there.
“Sorry,” Andie said. “Guess I was just in a hurry to find you.”
I shook my head, fuming at her. “There’s no excuse for irresponsibility,” I muttered, reaching for my three-ring binder. I flipped it open to the yellow tab marked “Comp I” and noticed two pages were out of order. Maybe I had mixed them up myself. I grabbed my science book and closed my locker. “Why were you looking for me before?”
“I wanted to ask you something about Stan,” she said, starryeyed.
I should’ve known. Between Andie and Kayla, I almost wished Uncle Jack and my cousins had stayed in Pennsylvania. Well, not really—then Mom wouldn’t be having fun going on dates with Uncle Jack…and I wouldn’t be ready for a new tax bracket, thanks to all the baby-sitting money I was hauling in.
“Just tell me one thing,” Andie continued. “Is Stan going to the ice-cream social on Saturday?” She grabbed my arm. “Because if he is, I need a new outfit.”
“You do not,” I said. “Besides, he doesn’t even know about it. Uncle Jack’s been trying out different churches since they moved here.”
“Can’t you invite him?” she pleaded.
“I could, but I won’t.” I headed for science class and opened the door to the stairwell. There stood Kayla. “Hey,” I said, brushing past her on my way to first period. She’d been driving me crazy, too, with her phone calls every single night of my life since our chat in front of the Soda Straw last week.
“Wait…Holly!” Kayla called, running up the stairs after me. “Will you give this to Stan for me?” She held out an envelope, sealed and addressed with his name.
“Why me?” I stared at it. A hint of sweet perfume rose out of the paper.
Andie pushed past me, scowling at Kayla. “Leave Stan alone!” Andie said.
Kayla’s note to Stan fell to the steps.
“Excuse me!” I said, scurrying up the steps, leaving Andie and Kayla alone with their common misery.
After school—volleyball! Danny met me as usual. I was hesitant to see him. The past week had been very up and down between us. If it wasn’t his health kick, it was his concern over my relationship with Stan. Then there was the constant quoting from Scripture. Our friendship was in trouble, and nothing I could say seemed to make a difference. He was even opposed to my reading so many mysteries. Might not be good for you, all that detective stuff, he’d said at lunch yesterday.
More than ever, I wondered what I’d seen in him in the first place. “How’s the team?” he asked, interrupting my thoughts.
“The team’s fine. But Stan’s still a pain.” I nodded my head toward my cousin, who was writing on his clipboard like some hot shot.
“Why? What’s up with him?” Danny asked.
“Just watch,” I said, hurrying to take my spot on the court. As I rushed across the court, I nearly plowed into Jared, who had appeared out of nowhere.
The volleyball game began. Our first serve flew over the net. It came back high and short, so I spiked the ball, giving us a point.
Later, when I was up to serve, Stan blew his whistle at me.
“Watch your right leg, Holly,” he yelled.
I looked down and discovered I was nowhere near the boundary line. Taking a tiny step backward, I served.
Net ball. It was Stan’s fault for picking on me. A few minutes later he blew his whistle at me again. “Carrying!” he shouted. He pointed at the other side. “Your serve.”
I turned to Miss Tucker, who sat on the bench. “Coach?”
She nodded her head, agreeing with Stan.
Just then Paula Miller, Kayla’s twin, showed up. She sat down on the front row of the bleachers, her eyes glued to Jared, who was standing on the opposite side of the gym.
Kayla served next. We volleyed back and forth three times before I set it up for Amy-Liz, who spiked it over. When it came back low, I stretched to reach under the ball but fell out of bounds trying.
Stan blew his whistle while I lay sprawled on the floor. I wanted to wrap his precious whistle around his neck.
Danny came over. “You okay?”
“See what I mean?” I whispered to him, getting up.
“It does seem like he’s singling you out.”
“It’s not fair. Stan’s picking on me for no reason.”
Folding his arms, Danny said, “ ‘Be at peace with each other,’ Mark 9:50 says.”
I glared at him. He was preaching again, and it bugged me worse than ever.
Jared wandered over, eyeing Stan. “What’s he think he’s doing?”
I shrugged, feeling strange about all this attention.
Stan blew his whistle again. “Take your position, Holly,” he called.
“You better quit picking on me,” I said right in his face.
Kayla pointed to the spot next to her. “Play here, Holly. Please?”
“Oh no, you don’t. If you want info about Stan, ask him yourself.”
“Hol-ly,” she whined.
I moved to another spot, away from the schizoid-crazy female. Danny sat on the sidelines, watching Stan like a hawk. Jared sat high in the bleachers, cheering every shot I made. Kayla kept looking at me, even though I tried my best to ignore her. And Paula? She looked like a droopy-eyed cocker spaniel because of Jared.
At last, practice was over. Kayla sauntered over to Danny, probably as an excuse to get close to Stan. But Danny ignored her, peering over Stan’s shoulder, studying his clipboard. I should’ve been thrilled to have a guy looking out for me like that, but the real excitement was coming from high in the bleachers. I could feel Jared’s eyes on me, even though I refused to satisfy him with a glance.
I dashed to the locker room, hoping to escape a lecture from Stan…and to get away from Danny, who seemed to have a Bible verse for everything lately. Taking my time, I dragged out my shower and hid in the locker room until I was sure Stan and Danny were gone.
Sneaking past the doors leading to the gym, I headed for the hall to my locker. The door creaked open, and I heard my name. It was Stan. The whistle still hung from his neck as he called to me.
“What do you want?” I growled.
“Look,” he said, catching up with me. “I don’t know what’s bugging you, cuz, but—”
“Me? Why don’t you get rid of that stupid whistle for starters!”
He laughed. “You think you’re so hot, Holly, but you’re not as good as you think you are.”
“I’d play better if you weren’t breathing down my neck every second.” I flung my hair off my shoulder.
“Blame it on me, if you want. I’m just doing what I do best.”
“Right. Making a jerk of yourself, bossing people around.”
“So that’s it. You can’t handle your cousin calling the shots.” He put his hand on his hip.
I clenched my fist. “This was my school first.”
“Well, it’s my school now.” His lips curled into a sickening smile.
“You really have an attitude problem,” I said, tapping my toe as hard as I could.
He laughed under his breath
. “So…we’re stuck in the same school. What’s the big deal?”
“Yeah,” I mumbled, looking away. “Stuck, all right.”
“Listen, Holly.” He sounded serious. “I don’t like this thing between my dad and your mom any more than you do.”
I couldn’t believe my ears.
“You’re way off base. Their dating has nothing to do with us.” I stared him down.
“Well, Danny thinks so.”
I was shocked.
“He thinks you’re mad at me because my dad’s dating your mom.”
“Well, he’s wrong,” I said, turning to go. “I like the idea of your dad taking Mom out. She’s having fun for a change. And Danny has no right to stick his nose in our family.” I shifted my gym bag to my right shoulder.
“Whatever.” Stan shoved open the gym door with a mighty push as he left.
So much for confiding in Danny. Be at peace with each other, huh? Well, Danny better learn to practice what he preaches instead of stirring up trouble.
I dashed down the hall, opened my locker, and buried my head inside. It was a mess in there. Usually my things were super organized, but my volleyball schedule was making neatness impossible. I pulled everything out of my locker and sat on the floor, sorting…and letting the anger pour out.
Soon I heard footsteps. I spun around, expecting to see Stan again.
But this time it was Jared.
“Need some help?” he asked.
“What are you doing here?” I flipped through my assignment book.
“Waiting to see you.” His smooth voice reminded me of last year when I first met him.
I avoided his eyes. “Danny might not—”
“Danny left about thirty minutes ago.”
I was curious. “Did he say anything before he left?”
“Only that you needed space to work things out with your cousin.” He came over and leaned against Andie’s locker.
“There he goes second-guessing me again. Some nerve after he interferes with my family.” I made a pile of papers on the floor.
Jared picked up my books. “Wish I could help.”
“It’s no use,” I said, organizing everything inside my locker. “I have to work this out myself.”
“Okay, but remember—I’m here if you need me.”
I wanted to cover my ears and run away. “Please, not now, Jared. Don’t do this, okay?”
“Just tell me one thing, Holly, and I’ll leave,” he said, his face looking truly serious. “If I can prove I’ve changed, will you give me a second chance?” He stood tall, almost stiff…waiting.
Words escaped me as I stared in disbelief at Jared.
He turned to go. “Think about it, Holly. Maybe I’ll see you at the Soda Straw on Saturday.”
I could only nod as he turned and walked away. Strange. This was the very thing I’d dreamed up for my creative writing assignment. But was it actually possible for a boy like Jared to change? And how would Danny feel if I ended our special friendship for Jared, my first crush?
THE TROUBLE WITH WEDDINGS
Chapter 8
At home, Carrie’s announcement took my mind off things. “There’s a huge envelope in the mail for you,” she said the minute I stepped in the door.
“There is?” I followed her to the kitchen. On the desk was a pile of letters waiting to be opened. I picked up a manila envelope, eyeing the return address. Yes! Just what I’d been waiting for.
Reaching for a sharp knife from the wooden wall rack, I carefully sliced it open. Inside, a typewritten letter was attached to my first soon-to-be published story, “Love Times Two.”
“What is it?” Carrie asked, leaning on my arm.
“It’s from Marty Leigh, the editor of Sealed With a Kiss, a new teen magazine.”
“Can I see it?”
“Let me read it first.” I held the embossed stationery, reading every word before handing it to Carrie. Enclosed was a copy of my story with red markings in the margin. I scanned the manuscript. Marty Leigh had written suggestions for revisions. And if I worked hard, I could whip my story into shape for the very first issue.
“Wow! Fifty bucks. You’re gonna be rich,” Carrie said, reading the letter.
“That’s not rich. I make almost that much in one evening baby-sitting for you and our cousins.” I slid the letter and story back into the envelope. “Where’s Mom?”
“Buying stuff for my birthday. What are you getting me with all your money?”
“It’s a secret.” I scampered off to my room, carrying the phone with me.
Carrie bounded up the steps after me. “Can’t you give me one little hint?”
“I haven’t bought your gift yet,” I answered absently, pulling my journal out of its usual place.
“Phooey,” Carrie said, trudging out of my room and back downstairs.
I closed my bedroom door, got settled on my window seat, and began writing.
Thursday, September 30: The best thing about today came in the mail. I might become published this year. The worst thing that happened was my fight with Stan after volleyball practice. He’s turning into an impossible snob. I can’t begin to imagine what Andie or Kayla sees in him. Maybe it’s his good looks, but blue-eyed blonds are a dime a dozen around here.
Jared’s acting strange. Not his usual flirty-strange. Something’s different. He wants a second chance, but I don’t think I can trust him again. And then there’s Danny—he’s getting more and more preachy every day. Besides, he said stuff to Stan about Mom and Uncle Jack dating that really got me wound up. Sometimes I think we were better off just friends.
The doorbell rang.
I called down to Carrie. “Look out the window before you answer it.”
“It’s Andie. Should I let her in?”
“Of course, silly.” I sat on the top step, waiting for my best friend.
She wore dark blue jeans and a hooded sweat shirt. “Hey, what’s up?” she asked, taking the steps two at a time.
“You’ll never believe it,” I said, leading the way to my room.
“Try me.” She closed the door behind us.
I poured out my woes, first about Stan, then about Jared. Andie’s eyes grew wider with each new detail. “I can’t believe Stan would treat you that way,” she said finally. “He’s just so…so wonderful.”
“Well, it’s true.” I leaned against the pillows piled up on my bed.
“Jared’s another story. You can’t trust him, Holly, not for a single minute. In fact, I guarantee he’s the same smooth-talker he ever was.”
“But what if for some reason he really wants to change?”
Andie looked shocked. “You’ve really lost it, Holly.”
Our eyes locked for an instant, then I turned away.
She touched my arm. “I think I know what your real problem is,” she said more softly. “You never quit liking Jared.”
“Maybe…I don’t know.”
“Well, he hurt you once; he’ll do it again.” She slid over beside me. “Besides, what would make him want to change?”
I toyed with telling her about my story featuring the transformation of Jared Wilkins, only not using his actual name. But she’d never let me live it down.
“You’re better off liking Danny,” she said. “Even though he’s downright pompous sometimes. Just because he remembers Bible verses is no excuse for using them on his friends. He told me the other day that I should read Proverbs 21:23. When I went home and looked it up, I nearly choked.”
“Why?”
“Are you ready for this? ‘He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity.’ Hey, he could’ve just come out and said I talk too much.”
I giggled.
“One thing, though, now I’ll probably never forget that verse. So I guess in some ways Danny’s not so bad.”
“Maybe, but he and I got along lots better before he started bossing me around. It’s maddening.” I scooted off the bed, picking up my binder
off the floor.
“Now what are you doing?” Andie asked.
“If you promise not to try to change my mind, I’ll let you in on a secret.”
She pulled up her socks. “I knew it. I just knew those little wheels were turnin’ inside that brain of yours. Holly Meredith, you’re up to no good.”
“Here’s my plan. Since Jared seems positively sincere about wanting me back—even said he’d prove that he’s changed—I’ve come up with the perfect plan.”
Andie leaned forward, all ears. “Like what?”
“A test.”
“What kind of test?”
“A test designed to analyze his behavior.” I flipped through the binder to locate my outline. “Here, check this out.”
“Whoa, Holly, you’re not kidding, are you? That’s one hefty checklist. He’ll never make it, you know.”
“There’s more. I want you to help me.”
“Me? How?”
“By being your charming self. You know, smile at him, ask him to sit with you at youth meetings, call him. Stuff like that.”
“He’ll think you put me up to it, Holly. It’ll never work.”
“Maybe it will, maybe it won’t. But it’s worth a try. Please, Andie?”
She twisted a curl around her finger. “If I do cooperate with your little scheme, what will you do for me?”
I leaped to my closet. “Choose anything you see. You can wear anything in my closet for as long as you want.”
“Good try, Holly, but you’ve overlooked one tiny detail.”
“Oh?” I said, playing innocent.
“You’re a size three and I’m a size, uh…bigger.”
“Well, then, what about jewelry, books, teddy bears?”
“We already traded our favorite bears, remember?” she said, still playing my game.
“So.” I turned to the mirror. “What is it you want?” I brushed my hair, knowing exactly what she’d say.
“Stan, your cousin. Can you deliver him to me?”
“You want him baked, boiled, or fried?” I faced her. “After everything you know about my cousin, you’re still nuts over him?”
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