by Betsy Haynes
"You just keep quiet, Melanie, and let me handle this," Katie ordered. Turning to Shawnie and Kimm, she looked Shawnie straight in the eye and said, "Listen, Shawnie Pendergast, you leave Melanie alone. I don't know why you've freaked over this and turned into a green-eyed monster, but you'd better get one thing straight. Melanie is a member of The Fabulous Five and one of my very best friends. You and I have been pretty good friends, too, but from now on I'll take anything you say about Melanie personally."
Melanie almost forgot her own anger at Shawnie and Kimm for a moment as she watched Katie's puzzling behavior. Why is Katie getting so strung out again over my problem? Melanie wondered. She looked around to see how Cory, Parker, and Craig were reacting to Katie's outburst, but to her surprise, they had disappeared. Chickens! she thought with satisfaction.
"Now you listen, Katie," said Shawnie. "Just because you gave me a place to stay when I ran away from home, I don't owe you a thing. What's more, if you want my advice, you'll keep your boy crazy, super kisser friend away from our boyfriends! And if you want everybody to put you in the same category as Melanie, that's okay with us!"
Shawnie and Kimm whirled away and left the cafeteria in a huff.
Melanie's face was flaming in anger, and a moment passed before she could say anything. Finally she leaned toward Katie and said softly, "Gosh, Katie, I really appreciate the way you're sticking up for me, but I can't understand what's going on between you and Shawnie. It's hard to believe it's all because of me."
Katie let out a breath of exasperation and muttered, "She'd better watch it. That's all I've got to say."
CHAPTER 8
During her afternoon classes Melanie didn't give much thought to Katie's strange outburst at Shawnie and Kimm. She was too busy worrying about Shane.
Once again he totally ignored her all through biology class. Melanie had resolved not to think about him, but it was impossible. She chewed her pencil and tried to understand why he wouldn't believe her, or at least give her another chance to explain. Shane was always sticking up for things he really believed in. She thought, for example, of the time he'd tried to convince Mr. Bell and the teachers at Wakeman Junior High that it was okay for boys to wear earrings to school. Hadn't he believed in her the way she thought he had?
She made up her mind that she would talk to him after class, no matter what, but he dashed out of the classroom the instant the bell rang.
Other things were making her afternoon miserable, too. Instead of teasing her more, as she had expected when her picture appeared in the Sig that morning, the kids Melanie passed in the halls and sat beside in her classes seemed strangely quiet, as if they were watching her to see what she would do next.
By the time she headed for her locker after school, she was terribly depressed. Nothing seemed to be going her way. Nothing!
"Hey, Melanie. Wait up."
Melanie looked back over her shoulder. Garrett Boldt was weaving his way toward her through the crowd. Her anger flared as she thought of the picture. If he wanted to offer her a copy of it again, he could just forget it!
"I hope you aren't mad at me," he began as he caught up with her and walked along beside her. "I thought it was a great picture, in spite of what Mr. Bell thought. You looked terrific."
Melanie started to give him a piece of her mind, but something clicked. "Terrific?" she asked softly.
"Yeah, you looked like a real star the way you were smiling and dancing. Look out, Paula Abdul!"
Melanie's spirits perked even higher. "You really think so?"
"Sure."
She sneaked a look at Garrett out of the corner of her eye. He was sauntering along beside her with a cocky grin on his face. In a flash she remembered the crush she'd had on him at the beginning of the school year. But that was before Shane, of course. Shane. The thought of him sent her spirits crashing again. Garrett could never replace Shane in a million years.
"So, I hear you and Arrington have broken up," said Garrett.
Melanie almost stopped in her tracks. Had Garrett read her mind? She felt her face flush. "Right," she murmured, trying to keep her mind as blank as possible. It was silly to imagine that he could actually know what she was thinking, but still . . .
"I hate to say it's good news. I mean, I know you and Shane were pretty tight, but . . ."
"But what?" asked Melanie when he didn't finish the sentence.
"Well . . ." Garrett said, grinning at her as he stalled, "we did go out a couple of times before you and Arrington started dating," he said slowly. "And we did have a pretty good time, didn't we?"
"Of course." Melanie swallowed. What was he leading up to? Was he actually asking her for a date?
Garrett grinned down at her. "So now that that terrific picture of you has been in the paper, and now that you and Arrington aren't going together anymore, I thought I'd better ask you out fast. You know, before every other guy in Wakeman does."
Melanie almost tripped over her feet. Had she heard him right?
"I was thinking about our going to the movies together Friday night," he added. "If you'd like to."
Melanie's mind was whirling. "I . . . I don't know," she managed to say.
Garrett's expression grew serious. "I know you just broke up with Shane, and if you want to think about it, I could call you tonight."
"Okay," Melanie replied, grateful not to have to make up her mind on the spot. "Bye."
She watched Garrett stride down the hall, thinking that she couldn't possibly go out with another boy. Not when she still liked Shane so much. Besides, what would Shane think if he found out? Or worse. What if he saw Melanie and Garrett together? He'd think she didn't care about him anymore.
But still, Melanie reasoned as she ambled on toward her locker, if Shane saw her with another boy, he might get jealous and want her back. Especially if the other boy was a handsome eighth-grader like Garrett Boldt. And Garrett was a lot of fun to be with.
"But I still like Shane," she whispered to herself as she turned into the hallway where the seventh-graders' lockers stood.
She glanced toward Katie's locker as she passed by and was surprised to see Katie, Beth, and Jana standing in a tight little circle. Katie looked furious, and as she talked, Beth and Jana shook their heads and frowned.
"Hey, you guys! What's up?" called Melanie as she rushed to join them. "Is something wrong?"
The three girls looked toward her, their expressions suddenly blank.
"Gosh, no." Beth flashed a smile that looked totally fake to Melanie.
"We were just . . . talking," added Jana. "Weren't we, Katie?"
Katie nodded, and Melanie could see an angry glow still lingering in her eyes.
Now it was Melanie's turn to frown. Something was going on, but she didn't know what it was. "Are you sure there isn't something wrong?"
"Hey, would we lie to you?" Beth asked, laughing nervously.
Melanie sighed. It was obvious that she wasn't going to get anywhere. "Well, then maybe you guys can give me some advice," she said.
"Of course," said Jana. "What's up?"
Melanie told them about her conversation with Garrett. "I don't really know what to do," she explained. "I swear Shane's the only boy I like, but maybe if he saw me out with somebody else, he'd get jealous. Then if he called, I could make him listen to the truth. What do you think?"
"No way," Beth replied sharply. "You'd better just chill out until all this super kisser stuff is over."
"I agree," said Jana. "Kids are watching everything you do right now. You don't want to give them anything else to talk about."
Puzzled, Melanie shook her head. "But you guys are the ones who have been telling me to keep my chin up and tough it out. And now you want me to do a disappearing act? I don't get it."
"We don't want you to do a disappearing act," answered Katie. "We didn't mean it that way. But why would you want to go out with Garrett Boldt, anyway?"
"Right," said Beth. "He certainly didn't do you any fa
vors by taking a picture of you blowing kisses at the crowd after the concert."
"What's wrong with that picture?" demanded Melanie. "Garrett thinks I look terrific in it. He said I look like a real star, even better than Paula Abdul." Melanie didn't know exactly why she had said that. It was true that she was only quoting Garrett, but it was also true that the picture was a little bit embarrassing. Still, she thought, that doesn't give them any reason to pick on Garrett. "Besides," she added defensively, "Garrett's a neat guy. We had lots of fun when we went out before."
Jana sighed and looked at her sadly. "I don't know, Mel. I can't explain why, but I really think you should wait a while to start dating again."
"Me, too," mumbled Beth and Katie in unison.
"Thanks. I'll think about it," she said, knowing that she had not kept the irritation she felt out of her voice.
She headed on toward her locker, aware that Beth and Jana were still standing with Katie. Were they going to finish the conversation they'd been in the middle of when she walked up? The one they had stopped so abruptly when they saw her? What was going on? And why was she being left out?
When the phone rang shortly after dinner, Melanie knew who it was. She was in the kitchen getting a soft drink out of the refrigerator, but she didn't grab for the receiver the way she usually did. Instead she listened as her little brother answered.
"Edwards residence," he announced proudly. "Mr. Jeffy speaking." There was a pause. "Oh, hi, Garrett. Sure. She's right here." Beaming at her, he handed her the phone and said, "It's for you, Melanie. It's Garrett Boat."
Melanie chuckled and put her hand over the mouthpiece. "It's not Boat, Jeffy. It's Boldt."
"That's what I said," Jeffy insisted as he skipped away. "Boat!"
Laughing, Melanie put the phone to her ear and said hello.
"Hi, Mel. Wow, that Mr. Jeffy's okay. He really knows how to answer the phone like a grown-up."
"Not too bad for a six-year-old, I guess," Melanie admitted. "But you may not be so impressed when you find out that he insists your name is Garrett Boat."
Garrett laughed good-naturedly. "Hey, it could be worse," he said.
Melanie got more nervous by the minute as they talked about school and other trivial things. She knew Garrett was leading up to asking her if she'd made up her mind about going out with him Friday night. The awful truth was, she hadn't, although she had been thinking about it constantly ever since she got home. How could she make a decision when her mind kept going in circles?
Shane was the one she really wanted to go out with. He might not get jealous if he saw her with Garrett, he might get furious. And never, ever speak to her again.
But each time she felt sure that she had definitely decided to turn Garrett down, she thought about Katie, Beth, and Jana. What right did they have to tell her not to go out with Garrett without honestly telling her why? What was going on behind her back?
". . . so I was wondering if you've decided about Friday night." Garrett's voice broke into her thoughts.
"Sure," Melanie said quickly. "I'd love to go. What time are you picking me up?"
"I'll be there about six-thirty, and we can take the bus. That okay with you?"
"Sounds great," Melanie told him.
But as Melanie hung up the phone a minute later, her scalp began to tingle. What it I've made a big mistake? she thought. What if I listened to Garrett's flattery when I should have listened to my friends?
CHAPTER 9
Melanie paced the floor of her room on Friday night, waiting for Garrett to pick her up for the movie. Why had she said she would go? Why? she asked herself for the umpteenth time. Shane had broken up with her only three days ago, and here she was, going out with another boy already.
Maybe Katie's right, she thought. Maybe I really am boy crazy.
But of course that wasn't true. Katie and Beth and Jana had left her out of some big secret, and then they had had the nerve to butt in and tell her she shouldn't go out with Garrett. What did they know about Garrett? Nothing, that's what. Maybe Garrett had had a crush on her ever since they went out and had just been waiting for her to break up with Shane. The idea made her tingle.
But an instant later her spirits plunged again. Shane would probably be at the movie and Bumpers, too. What would he think when he saw her and Garrett together? Would he be jealous, the way she had imagined before? It won't hurt him to know that he's not the only boy who ever wanted to date me, she thought. There was a little twinge in her heart in spite of what she hoped. What if seeing her with Garrett convinced him that she really would kiss every boy in sight?
The doorbell rang, and Melanie jumped. This was it. She couldn't back out now.
"Mel-an-ie!" her little brother yelled from the bottom of the stairs.
"Thanks, Jeffy," she called."Be right down."
She checked her reflection one last time and then scooted down the stairs. Garrett was standing at the bottom of the steps, surrounded by Melanie's little brother, her mother, and her father.
Poor Garrett, Melanie thought. He must feel like a bug under a microscope the way they're all staring at him.
"Mom, Dad, you remember Garrett, don't you?" she asked.
"Yes, we do," Melanie's father said. "We were just saving hello." He shook Garrett's hand.
"Come on, Garrett. We'd better go," Melanie said, anxious to rescue him from her parents so they both could relax a little.
They said good-bye to Mr. and Mrs. Edwards and hurried down the front walk and around the corner to the bus stop at Willow Road. Now that they were alone, Melanie felt anything but relaxed. She was forcing herself not to think about Shane, but it had been such a long time since she and Garrett had been alone together, she couldn't come up with a thing to say.
"How's your camera?" she finally blurted, then felt instantly silly. She had made his camera sound like a pet!
Garrett chuckled. "He's great. In fact, he asked me to tell you hi."
Melanie broke up laughing, grateful to Garrett for making a joke. She felt a lot better now. It might be a fun evening after all.
The bus deposited them right in front of Cinema Six. Friday night was the big movie night for kids from Wakeman Junior High, and it seemed as if most of the school had turned out. The line at the ticket window stretched halfway down the block.
Melanie's gaze swept through the crowd, and she realized she knew almost everyone standing in line. Jana and Randy were here; so were Katie and Tony; she also saw Jon Smith, Paul Smoke, Scott Daly, and Whitney Larkin and Curtis Trowbridge. The Fabulous Five's arch-enemies, The Fantastic Foursome, were also there. One of them, Tammy Lucero, was talking to Chase Collins. Were they on a date? Melanie couldn't tell for sure. She'd have to watch and report what she saw to Christie.
"Don't worry. We'll get seats," Garrett said. "I've been here when the line was all the way to the corner, and I got in."
Just then she spotted Cory and Kimm. They were standing about ten people ahead in line. When Kimm noticed her, too, Melanie held her head high and gave Garrett a big smile.
Eat your heart out, Kimm Taylor, she thought.
The line moved slowly but steadily up to the ticket window. Garrett bought tickets for a Mel Gibson movie, and they followed the crowd into the theater.
The movie was showing in theater number two, and that seemed to be where most of the Wakeman kids were heading. Garrett steered her in that direction, and they found two seats on the aisle about halfway down.
Then Melanie saw him. Shane's thick, wavy blond hair was hard to miss. He was seated about six rows in front of her, talking to someone who sat next to him. Who was it?
Melanie strained to sit up as far as she could to see who Shane was with. I hope it's a guy, I hope it's a guy, she repeated over and over to herself. But she couldn't see over the heads of the kids between herself and Shane. She chewed her lip for a moment, wondering what to do. Then she raised herself onto her feet for just a moment, pretending to adjust her coat under he
r while she stole a glance at Shane's partner.
Melanie's heart sank. It was Marcie Bee!
A girl. A date.
Melanie felt numb. She was aware that Garrett was talking to her, but he sounded far away. She turned to him and smiled and nodded every once in a while and made appropriate sounds like, "Uh-huh" or "Yeah," but she didn't understand a word he was saying. She was thinking about Shane. And how much she missed him. And how she wished she were here with him. Garrett was nice, really nice, but it was just too soon after breaking up with Shane to get very excited about anyone else.
I knew days ago that it was all over between Shane and me, Melanie thought. But it still hurts so much! And seeing him with another girl makes it even worse.
Finally the lights dimmed and the movie began. Melanie was relieved. She wouldn't have to pretend to be listening to Garrett anymore. She stole another glance at Shane, looking between a couple of kids' heads. He was staring up at the screen and putting some popcorn in his mouth.
Good, Melanie thought. Maybe he'll get popcorn caught between his teeth, and Marcie will be so grossed out by the sight, she'll demand that Shane take her home right after the movie is over.
In spite of herself Melanie giggled at the thought, and Garrett glanced over at her. Me must have wondered what she thought was so funny about the movie credits that were flashing up on the screen. She forced herself to turn her attention to the movie.
When it was over and the lights came up, Garrett leaned over, "How'd you like it?"
"It was great," said Melanie. She hoped he wouldn't talk about the movie on the way to Bumpers. She really hadn't been able to keep her mind on it, and she was afraid she might say something really stupid and give herself away.
When they got outside the theater, instead of heading toward Bumpers, Garrett turned the other way. Surprised, Melanie walked with him for about half a block before she said anything.
"Garrett? Don't you want to go to Bumpers?" she asked.
