by Betsy Haynes
"Sure," he said, looking pleased as he hurried toward her. "What's up? Did you talk to Shane?"
She took a deep breath. This was it. She couldn't duck it any longer. "Scott, there's been a big misunderstanding," she began, "and it's all my fault. You see, I still like you a lot, but I really do want to go to the Valentine party with Shane."
Scott frowned. "But you said—"
"I know I did," Melanie interjected. "The trouble is, I didn't say it right. I was trying so hard not to hurt you that I never could come out and say what I meant. I'm sorry. Really. I hope you aren't mad."
Scott shrugged and looked away for a minute. "I'm not mad. I was even beginning to wonder if you liked someone else by the way you were acting sometimes, and . . . well . . . it's okay. I understand."
He looked so sad that Melanie wanted to cry, but at the same time, she knew she had finally done the right thing.
"Thanks," she said softly. "And, Scott . . . I know it sounds corny, but I really do hope that we can still be friends. I mean, I really don't want us to be mad or anything."
"Sure," Scott said. Then he grinned. "Like I said, I'm not mad. Honest. And . . . hey! I'll see you around. Okay?"
Melanie smiled to herself as she watched him walk away. She didn't have to worry now about not having fun at the Valentine party. Everything had worked out fine.
When Melanie got home from school that afternoon, she headed straight to the family room. It was time to have an important talk with her grandmother.
"Grandma Dee," she began as soon as they had exchanged greetings, "since you and I are such good friends, let's talk about boys."
Grandma Dee looked up in surprise. "Oh, my. You want to talk to me about boys?" Then she added, shaking her head, "It's been a long time since I've had much experience."
"Hey, it's like riding a bicycle," Melanie said, laughing. "You never forget. Besides, you said you wanted to be involved in the things I'm doing. And the Valentine party is coming up, remember?"
"Okay," said Grandma Dee, patting a spot on the sofa beside herself. "Sit down and tell me all about boys. I have the feeling that you've decided not to go to the party with Scott after all."
"Right," said Melanie. "Actually, I'm going with Shane."
"The boy with the iguana?" asked Grandma Dee.
Melanie nodded. "Scott is a super person, and I dated him for a long time. But I know you'd really like Shane if you'd give him a chance," she began. "It's true that his parents used to be hippies, and that his pet is, well . . . a little unusual. But Shane's terrific. He just has a goofy sense of humor sometimes."
"Everyone needs a sense of humor," Grandma Dee said, and smiled warmly. "And I'll admit that I do like Scott, but ever since our little talk last night, I've been thinking about how I reacted to Shane. The truth is, I overreacted and behaved like a grumpy old fogey. I acted like the exact sort of person I didn't want to be. I'm sure that if you like Shane, I will, too. Why don't you invite him over sometime so that we can get acquainted?"
"Oh, I will!" cried Melanie. "I'll call him right now."
"And tell him to bring Igor along," Grandma Dee called after her. "I want to get to know him, too."
By Valentine Day and time for the party, Grandma Dee's ankle was fine.
"I still can't decide what to wear," she said as she and Melanie cleared the supper dishes.
"How about your glasses?" Melanie teased.
Grandma Dee gave her a big grin. "Of course I'm going to wear my glasses," she said. "And probably a sweatshirt, jeans, and my sneakers. Does that sound all right?"
"Perfect," said Melanie, thinking that her grandmother really hadn't changed that much since the truth about her adventures had come out. She was still a pretty cool grandma. "And by the way," Melanie added, "Shane said to tell you he wants you to ride with us to Bumpers."
"In that funny little Volkswagen? Is there room?"
"Sure," said Melanie. "He's leaving Igor at home this time."
When the three of them walked into Bumpers, Melanie caught her breath at the sight of the decorations. She had been too wrapped up in her own problems to help with them, but she loved what the others had done. There were red hearts and crepe paper streamers everywhere, the traditional look of Valentine Day after all. It was beautiful, even if Shane might think it was too lovey-dovey, she thought, and smiled.
Immediately a crowd began to gather around Grandma Dee.
"Is it true that you help endangered animals in Florida?" Dekeisha Adams asked.
"How do you get involved in stuff like that?" asked Bill Soliday. "It sounds like fun."
"I guess we can go ahead and enjoy ourselves," Melanie said to Shane. "Grandma Dee's taking care of herself."
Some of the tables had been pushed back to make a dance floor, and music poured out of the old Wurlitzer jukebox.
"Shane! Melanie! Want to sit with us?"
Randy Kirwan was waving them over to a booth where he and Jana and Keith Masterson and Beth were saving them seats.
"Isn't this a terrific party?" Beth shouted over the noise.
Melanie nodded, noticing that Beth was dressed for the occasion, as usual. She had on a sweatshirt with a hand-painted Cupid on the front, and her earrings were big red hearts that were pierced with tiny arrows. Written on the heart on her right ear was "BETH" and on her left, "KEITH."
Suddenly Keith broke out in a big grin and pointed to the dance floor. "Hey, Mel. Get a load of that."
Melanie whirled around. The music was blaring a fast song, and right in the middle of the floor was Grandma Dee dancing with Scott Daly. She was bouncing up and down to the music, with her sunglasses bobbing on her nose. She looked as if she was having a terrific time, and the kids around the edge of the dance floor were clapping in time with the music.
"Wow! She's pretty good," said Shane.
Melanie burst out laughing. "I guess there are still a few things she can do like a kid," she said, and she and Shane rushed to join her grandmother and Scott on the floor.
Later Shane took Melanie's hand and led her onto the dance floor for a slow song. She rested her head on his shoulder as they swayed to the music.
"Are you having a good time?" he asked.
"Oh, yes," said Melanie.
"Me, too," he said. Then he lifted her chin and gave her a long, tender kiss. "Happy Valentine Day," he whispered.
Melanie closed her eyes, barely feeling the dance floor under her feet. What a perfect Valentine Day it had turned out to be!
CHAPTER 18
"Hey, you guys, guess what I just heard." Funny Hawthorne pushed her way through the after-school crowd at Bumpers and headed for The Fabulous Five's booth. She was completely out of breath. "It's just a rumor, but if it's true, Beth, you're going to love it."
"Don't keep us in suspense," said Beth. "What is it?"
The Fabulous Five kept their eyes on Funny as she dropped down next to Beth. "It's about the new Media Club. I heard from Dekeisha Adams, who heard from Heather Clark, that Pam Wolthoff overheard Mr. Levine telling Miss Dickinson—"
"Good grief!" Beth burst out in frustration. "Just tell us."
"Yeah," urged Jana. "What did you hear?"
"Sorry," said Funny, giggling in embarrassment. "Well, what I heard is that the Media Club is going to do a show on cable TV."
"Come on." Melanie snickered. "The brand-new Media Club from Wakeman Junior High is going to do a real TV show?"
"That's the rumor," Funny insisted.
"We haven't even had our first meeting yet," said Beth. "None of us knows the first thing about television production."
Funny sighed, and got up to leave. "Okay, you guys. Don't believe me if you don't want to. That's what I heard."
As the rest of The Fabulous Five went back to making plans for the weekend, Beth's thoughts drifted. A tingle of excitement had started up her spine.
What if it were really true? What if she, Beth Barry, actually got to be an actress on TV? That would be show b
usiness. Real show business. Not just school plays.
"Earth to Beth. Earth to Beth," called Katie, nudging her.
"Yeah, Beth," Jana teased. "Are you still going to talk to your old friends when you become a famous TV star?"
"It would be so exciting if it was true!" Melanie said. "Just think of the other stars you'd meet. And all the great clothes you'd get to wear."
Clothes? Beth thought, looking down at her red stretch pants and the oversized red top with the black and white panda on it. She loved the outfit, but it certainly wasn't something she could wear on television. For that matter, neither were any of the other kooky clothes that she loved to wear.
The rumor probably isn't true, she thought, but if it is, then I'll just have to do a little shopping.
But how much shopping will Beth actually do? Will she be able to stop buying new clothes once she starts? Find out in The Fabulous Five #23: Mall Mania.
Table of Contents
TITLE PAGE
COPYRIGHT
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
