Double Dare

by Laura Dower

  I have to admit, Mrs. Waters has a way with the surprise party … she even fooled Aimee and me!

  I can’t wait I can’t wait I can’t wait.

  Only two hours and forty-eight minutes to go.

  Madison closed her file and powered down her laptop. She had to start getting ready.

  It was warm, even for September, and sunny. Madison guessed it would probably be one of the last real summer days before fall swept in with its cool breezes and rain—so she wanted to wear something summery and fun. Besides, there was no point in getting super dressed up just to go bowling. She selected a red Hello Kitty T-shirt and her jeans.

  But then she thought about the fact that Hart Jones was going to be at the party. She didn’t just want to wear a pair of grunged-out jeans. She went back into her closet and picked out a pair of faded blue denim capris and a neon blue top that just grazed the top of her pants. It wasn’t a belly shirt (Mom didn’t like those), but it was better than a regular T-shirt.

  Madison slid her feet into her favorite pair of clogs and tucked some low socks into her bag to wear inside the rented bowling-alley shoes. She ran a brush through her hair and slicked on some strawberry-kiwi-smooch lip gloss. Then she gave her armpits a sniff to make sure they weren’t stinky.

  All clear. There. She was ready. Almost.

  She still had to wrap her gifts.

  Madison walked to the hall closet and pulled out a roll of gold-foil paper and some royal-blue ribbon. She decided to wrap Chet’s gift first. Madison knew he was seriously into basketball, and he liked computers a lot. So, inspired by the disk of screen savers that Mrs. Wing had given to her, Madison had picked out a screen-saver disk of NBA superstars for Chet. Well, Mom had picked it up in the software section at Stationery Barn.

  Once that was wrapped, Madison went to her desk and pulled out Fiona’s gift. Madison had decorated an old cigar box with a collage of words and pictures from magazines. She had wanted to use photographs of Fiona, but Fiona hadn’t lived in Far Hills very long, so Madison didn’t have a gazillion pictures of her as she did of Aimee or Egg. Instead, Madison had found magazine pictures of women from the gold medal–winning U.S. soccer team. She’d put a bunch of words in between, like Way to go and Superstar! Once Madison had glued the art to the outside of the box, she covered it with a thin coat of special decoupage glue, so that everything stayed lacquered on. When the lid of the box was dry, she’d used a silver paint pen to write FIONA with squiggly hearts and flowers. She had also decorated the inside of the box with blue-and-white paper for sky and puffy clouds.

  Before she taped the wrapping paper around the box, Madison hesitated. Would Fiona like this? Or would she be disappointed that Madison hadn’t bought her something?

  She decided it would be okay and used the scissors to make a curly bow.

  Dingdong!

  “I’ve got it, Mom!” Madison shouted. The digital clock read 10:59, just about the time that Aimee was supposed to come over so Mom could drive them to the bowling alley. Madison was glad that Aimee had picked today to be on time—usually she was about ten minutes late for everything. They needed all the time they could get to set up for the party.

  Madison grabbed her presents and raced down the stairs, taking them two at a time. Mom was at the bottom step, holding out a basket of cookies.

  “Madison, hold these while I look for my car keys?” Mom asked. “Tell Aimee I’ll be ready in a sec.”

  “Sure thing,” Madison said. She put the basket of cookies over her arm and pulled open the door. “Hi, Aim—”

  Madison stopped. She stared, jaw wide open. The person standing on her doorstep wasn’t Aimee.

  “Fiona?”

  “Hi, Maddie,” Fiona said, stepping into the front hall. “I’m sorry, I just had to come over. My parents are driving me nuts!” Fiona planted her hands on her hips. “My mom is fluttering around the house, cleaning it from top to bottom, as though she’s expecting a hundred people to come over, or something, even though she’ll have all day to do that because … guess what! She isn’t even coming with us to see these friends of Dad’s! Can you believe it? My own mother is ditching her only two children on our birthday! She keeps saying that we’ll have a special dinner when we get back, but I’m like—why are we even going in the first place? And Dad keeps freaking out about my shoes. For some reason, he won’t let me wear sandals—he keeps saying that I have to wear shoes with socks. I mean, what’s that all about? Are his college friends afraid of feet, or something?”

  Fiona finally stopped talking and noticed the gifts in Madison’s hand. “Hey …” she said, “are those for me?”

  Madison’s throat went dry. “Uh … uh …” she said. “I’m going to a party.”

  “You didn’t tell me. Whose party?” Fiona asked.

  “Well …” Madison said. “It’s actually my mom who’s going to the party. A friend from Budge Films. I’m just going with her.”

  “I can’t believe that you’re going to a party, and I’m not—on my birthday!” Fiona cried. “This is so unfair!” She checked her watch. “You’ll have to tell me all about it later. I’d better get back home. Dad is totally freaking out that we have to leave exactly on time. My parents only let me come over here because I told them that I had to return this,” she said, holding up a book on webpage programming that she’d borrowed from Madison to use for their assignment. “I know you don’t really need it right now, but I had to get out of there. Anyway, I’ll just leave it on the table, since your hands are full. E-mail when you get back, and we’ll plan something fun with Aimee for tomorrow. See you!”

  Madison was still standing there, openmouthed, as Fiona waved and walked out the front door.

  Whew. She couldn’t believe it. Fiona still had no clue about the surprise party? How could Madison have escaped that one?

  “Where’s Aimee?” Mom asked, walking into the front hall.

  “That wasn’t Aimee,” Madison said. “It was Fiona.”

  Mom’s eyes grew round. “Oh, no. What did you say? Did she—”

  “Let’s put it this way, Mom,” she said, grinning. “Fiona is never going to work for the FBI … although she might make it into the space academy. She didn’t even think it was for her. I told her I was going to some party with YOU.”

  “Very fast thinking, honey bear,” Mom said.

  The bell dinged again and they both jumped. Mom looked through the peephole. “It’s okay,” she said. “It’s the real Aimee this time.”

  “Hi!” Aimee sang when Mom pulled open the door. She was holding a big flat box tied with colorful ribbon. “Oh-em-gee, I think I just saw Fiona walking down the street. I ducked behind a bush so she wouldn’t see me. Was she here?”

  Madison giggled. “You’ll never believe what just happened.” She filled Aimee in on Fiona’s visit as they walked to the car.

  Aimee howled with laughter. “You’re kidding!” she said when Madison had finished her story. “That’s classic. Fiona is the world’s easiest person to throw a surprise party for.”

  “Tell me about it,” Madison agreed. She and Aimee climbed into the backseat, because the twin cakes were riding shotgun.

  “All set, girls?” Mom asked as she fastened her seat belt.

  “As ready as we’ll ever be,” Madison said.

  “Let’s par-tay!” Aimee squealed.

  It was a short drive to the bowling alley, but Madison and Aimee had a good laugh over the long drive Fiona and Chet would be taking. When they arrived, Mrs. Waters waved them over to the two center lanes, where she had already tied bunches of white and silver balloons.

  “The pizzas are on their way,” Mrs. Waters said as Aimee, Madison, and Mom walked up. “It’s certainly starting to look like a party around here!”

  “Now all we need are some guests,” Madison joked.

  “Should I bring in the cakes?” Mom asked Mrs. Waters.

  “Actually, Fran, would you mind taking them over to our house?” Mrs.
Waters replied. “That’s where we’ll cut the cakes and open gifts. My sister is there—she’ll let you in.”

  “But I thought your family lived too far away to come for Chet and Fiona’s birthday?” Aimee said.

  “It’s a surprise party, right?” Mrs. Waters said with a smile. “She flew in last night and stayed at a hotel.”

  “I’ll see you girls later,” Mom said, kissing Madison’s cheek. “Have fun!”

  “Bye, Mom,” Madison called.

  “Is there anything we can do to help?” Aimee asked Mrs. Waters.

  Mrs. Waters pointed to some crepe paper lying on a chair. “Would you mind hanging the streamers?” she asked.

  “No problem,” Madison said. For the next half-hour, she and Aimee hung streamers and rearranged balloons until the lanes looked absolutely perfect. Then they went to get their bowling shoes. When they walked up to the counter, Lindsay Frost was standing there.

  “Hi!” Lindsay bubbled. She was shy and usually kind of quiet, but today she looked and sounded like a real party girl. “I’m so happy to see you guys. I just love bowling.”

  “Same here,” Madison said, trading in her clogs for a pair of bowling shoes.

  “Although, the shoes aren’t the greatest fashion statement,” Aimee said with a grin. Her pair was brown and orange and covered in gross scuff marks.

  “I know,” Lindsay agreed. “That’s why I got my own.” She held out her right foot to show off a pair of cool, green shoes. “My family goes bowling a lot,” she said, in response to Madison’s surprised look. “I have my own ball, too,” she added, holding up a green bag.

  “Your own ball? That’s hardcore,” Aimee said.

  Lindsay snickered. “We all do, silly.”

  “I hope she’s on our team,” Madison whispered to Aimee as they followed Lindsay back to the lanes.

  Madison sat down to put on her shoes, just as Lance and Ben walked up.

  “Hey, Maddie,” Lance said, jumping over the back of the chairs to sit next to Madison. “Are you ready to rock and bowl?”

  “I don’t exactly have all the moves,” Madison admitted.

  “Bowling is all about angles,” Ben said in his typical, know-it-all voice. “If you strike the first pin at the right angle, all the rest will fall.”

  “Listen, Math Man,” Lance replied, “I’m happy if I can just keep my ball out of the gutter.”

  “Same here,” Madison agreed. She wasn’t a very good bowler, but, for some reason, that didn’t bother her at all. Bowling was super fun, even when she was the mayor of Gutterball City.

  Egg, Drew, and Dan were the next to arrive. Dan and Drew came right over, but Egg sort of hung back, pretending to take a really long time to pick out a bowling ball. Madison tried to catch his eye, but he didn’t look up at her. Grrr. Did he have to be such a pain—even at Chet and Fiona’s birthday party?

  Daisy and Suresh arrived next, and Madison took a quick look at her watch. It was almost twelve-thirty. Fiona and Chet would be there within minutes, and there were still a few people missing! Where were Ivy and her drones? Even more important, where was Hart? Madison chewed on a fingernail, suddenly worried that he’d changed his mind about coming.

  “Okay, everyone, you can start now,” Ivy said as she walked over, followed by Phony Joanie and Rose Thorn, of course. Madison rolled her eyes.

  Drew cracked up at the sight of her. “Um, Ivy … what are you wearing?”

  Ivy folded her arms across her chest. “Duh. It’s a miniskirt. What’s the matter—you’ve never seen one before?”

  “It’s from Paris,” Rose put in, which made Madison want to barf.

  “Yeah,” Drew went on. “Well … good luck with that.”

  “You can get your shoes over there,” Madison said, pointing to the counter.

  “I’m not taking these off,” Ivy said, pointing to her strappy platforms.

  Just then, the front door opened and Hart Jones came running into the bowling alley, his brown hair flying. Madison’s heart nearly leaped out of her chest. When Hart saw everyone, he hurried over. “You guys, they’re coming!” he shouted. “They almost saw me in the parking lot!”

  “Get down, everyone,” Mrs. Waters called. “We’ll shout ‘Surprise’ on the count of three.”

  Hart hurried over. “Hey, Finnster—” he started to say.

  But Ivy grabbed his arm.

  “Hart, you just have to help me find a place to hide,” she said, batting her eyelashes at him.

  Now Madison really wanted to barf.

  “Uh—just crouch down a little,” Hart told Ivy. “Behind these chairs.”

  Everyone else crouched down, too. Madison heard a whirring noise as the electronic door swept open.

  “We’re meeting your college friends at a bowling alley?” she heard Fiona’s voice ask. “That is so weird.”

  “One,” Madison whispered. “Two. Three!”

  “Surprise!” everyone yelled.

  “Oh, my gosh!” Fiona said.

  Chet’s mouth hung open. It was the first time that Madison had ever seen him with nothing to say.

  “I don’t believe this!” Fiona went on. “A party? Dad!” She gave Mr. Waters a playful swat on the arm. “You tricked us!” Mrs. Waters gave her a big hug as Fiona started to laugh. “Mom! I can’t believe you!”

  Chet was still speechless. Egg walked over and gave him a high-five. Chet knocked fists with Drew, Lance, Suresh, and Hart, too, but he still couldn’t speak. He just shook his head, grinning from ear to ear.

  Everyone was laughing.

  Fiona rushed over to Madison. “Maddie—did you know about this?”

  Madison smirked. “Yes. Aimee and I helped your mom plan the whole thing.”

  “You did?” Fiona’s eyes were huge. “But … how did you keep it a secret?”

  Aimee and Madison looked at each other, grinning. “Actually,” Madison said, “it wasn’t really that hard.”

  “You guys are the absolute best!” Fiona said, sweeping her two BFFs into a huge hug.

  Chet jumped onto a chair and held his hands in the air. Madison was glad to see that he had finally thought of something to say.

  “Hey, everybody,” Chet shouted. “Let the games begin!”

  Chapter 12

  “OKAY,” AIMEE SAID, HOLDING up a baseball cap full of little white slips of paper. “It’s time to pick teams!”

  “Who picks first?” Fiona asked.

  “I’m older by three minutes,” Chet said. “I pick first.”

  Fiona rolled her eyes. “What-ever.”

  Chet dug his hand into the hat Aimee was holding and pulled out a slip of paper. “Drew,” he read. “All right!” Drew jogged over and gave Chet a nudge.

  Then it was Fiona’s turn. She chose her slip of paper and smiled. “Madison!” she shouted.

  Madison hurried over and gave Fiona a hug. They both looked over at Aimee. One more pick and she’d be on their team, too.

  But when Chet dug his hand into the hat, he pulled out Aimee’s name.

  “Bummer,” Madison thought. Aimee looked a little disappointed, too, but she walked over and stood next to Drew.

  When Fiona read the name on the next slip of paper, her face lit up. “Egg,” she said.

  Egg—on my team? Madison wanted to slink away when he came over and stood on the other side of Fiona. He still hadn’t spoken to Madison yet since arriving at the bowling lanes. Please don’t let us get Ivy, too, Madison begged silently.

  Chet and Fiona continued to take turns. Chet ended up with Drew, Aimee, Suresh, Daisy, Poison Ivy (thankfully), Lance, and Dan on his team. Fiona got Madison, Ben, Phony Joanie, Rose Thorn, Lindsay, and Hart. Despite the presence of the drones on her team, Madison was excited. She’d rather have them than Ivy herself. Besides, Lindsay was on the team, and she was practically a professional bowler. And of course there was Hart.

  “Who wants to keep score for us?” Fiona asked.

  “I will,” Hart volunteere
d. He sat down at the scoring swivel chair.

  “I’ll keep score for our team,” Ivy told Chet, sliding into the seat next to Hart. Ben looked disappointed, of course, since he was the math whiz and had been hoping to be scorekeeper.

  Ivy stared at the buttons on the little table in front of her; and then looked up at the TV screen mounted from the ceiling. “How do you work this thing?” she asked aloud.

  Hart punched his own and then Fiona’s initials into the electronic scorekeeper. “Okay, Finnster,” he called out. “What’s your middle name?”

  Madison blushed. “Francesca,” she said.

  “Cool name,” Hart said. When he smiled, the cute dimple in his left cheek showed.

  Madison’s legs turned to Jell-O as Hart typed “MFF” into the keyboard, and her initials popped up on the screen overhead.

  “Let’s go get a bowling ball,” Fiona said. Madison nodded.

  There were racks and racks of balls in front of the concession stand. Madison picked up a funky, orange, marbleized ball, but was disappointed to find that it was way too heavy. She ended up with a yellow one, while Fiona picked pink.

  The bowling alley had started to fill up by one o’clock, and all around them the air was filled with the low rumble of balls rolling over smooth wood, and the hollow, knocking sound of pins falling. Madison spotted Dan, Ben, and Drew at the jukebox, and a moment later, an Elvis song started blasting through the speakers.

  “Couldn’t you guys find something from this millennium?” Chet shouted.

  “All they have are oldies,” Drew said as he trotted back to the lanes. “Besides, Dan loves Elvis.”

  “He’s the king,” Dan agreed.

  Madison laughed. Somehow, music from the fifties went well with bowling.

  “All right,” Hart said as Madison put her ball in the conveyor belt that divided the lanes between the two teams. “Fiona, you’re up first.”

  Fiona held her ball at chest level and surveyed the lane. Then she took a deep breath, stepped forward, and released the ball. It zoomed straight … into the gutter.

  “Oh, no!” Fiona said as the electronic scoreboard played a dismal little tune and flashed GUTTER BALL! across the screen. “Like it wasn’t embarrassing enough without the added humiliation of that?”