All right. Maybe that’s it. I’ll research it on the internet. But if not, then I’ll call Dad and set him straight on the guy-girl friendship thing.
Maybe if I stay in here long enough, Travis will just go home.
No. Probably not.
Rachael walked back out to the barn. Yep. He’s still here.
“I thought you got lost in there or something,” he said over his shoulder.
“I was fixing a snack.” She wasn’t technically lying. She had fixed a snack. Hummus dip and some of her favorite pita chips.
“Hmm. Looks good. What is it?” Travis sounded doubtful.
“Hummus and crackers.”
“Is that some high-end dip? It’s not fat free, is it?”
“Yes and no. Shut up and try it.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Travis went out to the hose and washed his hands. When he came back in, he joined Rachael on a bale of hay to eat, still shirtless.
At least he stinks like a barn and horse poop now. That will help. Think unattractive and stinky.
“So Colten left?” Travis asked.
“Yep.”
“Is he coming back in three weeks for homecoming?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t even realize homecoming was coming up that soon. I’ll ask him. What about you?”
“I think I’m going to go with a bunch of friends.”
“What about Trisha? You know she likes you.”
“I don’t think she’s my type.”
“What are you talking about? She’s the most popular girl in school and certainly one of the prettiest girls at school.”
“Yeah. There’s that.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“Misty and I dated seriously for a long time, and I don’t think I’m ready for another serious girlfriend. Not yet anyway.” Travis glanced sideways.
“Oh no, don’t tell me you plan on becoming a ‘Jason’ or ‘Ty’! No serious girlfriend, no committed relationship, a womanizer.”
“Something like that,” Travis joked.
“Shut up.” Rachael smacked his arm. “Come on, lady killer. It’s about time we finished this barn.”
Rachael cranked up the radio. She and Travis worked until dark and finally finished the barn. The stalls were so clean you could eat off of the floors.
Okay maybe not.
“Thanks for helping me out today, Travis.”
“Never a problem.” He grabbed his shirt and went out back to where he’d left his horse tied to the fence beneath the shade of a large oak tree. “I’ll be seeing you.”
Rachael finished by shutting Taffy in her stall, filling her bucket with water, and feeding her. Then she turned to go inside. She met her mother halfway across the back yard. “Hi, Mom! I didn’t know you had gotten home!”
“About ten minutes ago. I was coming out to get you for dinner. Aunt Margaret said you’ve been cleaning the barn with Travis.” Her mother had a gleam in her eyes.
“Yes, I have.” She paused. “I don’t think I can clean the barn or anything else with Travis anymore. He’s a great friend, but I think I’m starting to like him too much.”
“He is extremely handsome, and charming, and polite.”
“Mom, you’re not helping.”
“Well, do you still like Colten?”
“Of course.”
“Well then, maybe you should distance yourself a little from Travis.”
“I’ve tried. He just keeps popping up!”
“Has it ever occurred to you that he may like you too?”
“Yes.” Rachael was irritated now.
“Then I don’t know what to tell you. Maybe you should resort to other tactics.”
“Like?”
“Not wearing deodorant. Eating garlic and onions with every meal. Not brushing your hair. If you are unkempt and smelly, maybe he’ll lose interest.”
“Mom, be serious. I need help with this!”
Her mom sighed. “If you work a little harder at distancing yourself— maybe from Maysie too or just her house—you’ll gain some perspective.”
“Okay. Starting tomorrow it’s the beginning of Operation Avoid Travis Baxter.”
“Good. Now go get cleaned up for dinner. If your current stench didn’t make him run away, I don’t know what will.”
16
TWO WEEKS LATER Operation Avoid Travis Baxter was well underway. Rachael was keeping so busy between dance practice, homework, and training Taffy on the weekends she hadn’t seen him at all. It was the week before the big homecoming game, and everyone was excited about decorating the homecoming float. It was being stored in a warehouse that belonged to Ty’s father. Starting this weekend, everyone in the tenth grade would be working on the float around the clock to get it ready for the parade next week.
At school everyone was abuzz about the homecoming court, which had just been announced. Of course Trisha and Sabrina, as well as two other girls from the dance team, had made the list of six girls on the homecoming court. The other two girls were cheerleaders. As to be expected, all six were seniors. Then there was the guys’ homecoming court. It was no surprise to anyone that Ben Grayson had made the list. He was gorgeous, popular, and a complete jerk—every high school girl’s fantasy.
On Thursday afternoon at lunch, Rachael could tell something big was going on. Her friends seemed to be exchanging glances in her direction and were very excited about something. When Maysie, Shannah, Alex, and Amber were all seated, it was Maysie who began talking first.
“So Rachael”—she paused, glancing around the table at the others before continuing—“is Colten coming up for the homecoming dance next week?”
“No. He asked his parents. He isn’t able to come back up for a visit until October because of his hectic tennis schedule this time of year. I had expected as much. I’ll be okay, though. Don’t worry about me!”
“So did you want to go anyway?” Maysie prompted. “Like with a group of friends or something like that?”
Ugh. The group of friends thing. This cannot be good. I’m trying to avoid Travis, not go to homecoming with him.
“No, I’m planning on staying home.”
“Well, we kind of heard a rumor today,” Maysie added reluctantly.
“A rumor?” Rachael asked.
Amber was so excited she couldn’t hold it in any longer. She blurted it out without even taking one breath. “Ben Grayson! Ben Grayson is going to ask you to the dance! We can’t believe it. He will definitely win ‘Homecoming King,’ and you could be his date! The hottest, most popular guy in school is going to ask you to the homecoming dance!”
“Great,” Rachael said in a monotone.
“You’re not excited?” Alex asked.
“No. Definitely not. I have a boyfriend, remember? Besides, I think Ben Grayson is a jerk. A guy like him only asks a sophomore to homecoming for one reason. And trust me, it’s not for friendship.”
“So you’re going to tell him no?” Alex asked.
“Yes,” Rachael responded.
“Scandal!” Amber shrieked.
“If she doesn’t want to go, she doesn’t want to go,” Shannah interjected.
“Of course,” Maysie agreed. “We knew that was how you would feel. We just didn’t want you to be blind-sided.”
“What should I do?” Rachael asked.
“Avoid him. It always works for me,” Shannah advised.
“I can’t. I have Chemistry with him today.” Rachael bit her bottom lip.
“Just say no. It’ll be good for his overinflated ego.” Maysie smiled sweetly.
“That’s what I’ll have to do…that is, if avoiding him doesn’t work.”
“Well, there’s one more thing,” Maysie said in a hushed voice.
“Ty is going to ask you too,” Shannah said.
“Jeez. Why don’t they ask some of the other, more available girls?”
“Because you’re new to our school,” Shannah jested. “You’re excit
ing, intriguing!”
“Well, that’s it.” Rachael smacked the lunch table. “There’s only one thing for me to do. I’ll go and take a friend. Someone who doesn’t see me that way. Someone who is just a nice guy. Someone who understands I have a great boyfriend who just couldn’t make it. Someone who would never in a million years hit on me.”
“Who?” all three of her friends asked at once.
“Fred Visicawitzenberg. My lab partner from San Francisco.”
“Fred Visicawitzenberg!” all the girls screamed, as if Rachael had announced she was dying.
“Yes. Fred Visicawitzenberg. I’ll ask him today, before Ty or Ben can ask me. Colten told me to go with a friend and dance the night away! And I plan on doing exactly that! Now, if you guys will excuse me, I have to sneak out of here before the bell rings. I’m running to chemistry and hiding out there until class starts. Bye!” Rachael called over her shoulder in her desperate attempt to escape the lunch room and the possibility of running into Ty or Ben.
Rachael made it to chem. The room was empty, and she went straight to her desk to have a seat. A few minutes later everyone began to file in.
Where is Fred?
As the minutes ticked away, Rachael was on edge watching the door for Fred. She breathed a sigh of relief as he walked through the door and over to his seat beside her. “Fred, thank goodness! I need to talk to you after class.”
“Everything okay?”
“No. Not really. I need your help.”
Then Rachael looked up and saw Ben had arrived. He set down his books and started for Rachael’s lab table, where she and Fred were already seated.
All though it was quiet, Rachael swore she could hear the theme song of Jaws playing in her head as he approached: Danuh… Danuh… Danuh…
“Hey, Rachael, how are you?”
“Good,” she answered in a clipped voice.
“Only good? I’m about to make your day great.”
Do other girls buy these cheesy lines? Give me a break.
When Rachael just stared at him, Ben continued, “So I heard your boyfriend can’t make it up for the dance and thought you might need a date.”
So word travels fast around here.
“Nope.” Rachael swallowed hard and hoped Fred would forgive her. It was better to seek forgiveness later, right? “I already have one.”
“Really? That’s not what I heard.”
“Yep. Fred.” Rachael looked at Fred with a please help me look.
“Fred?” Ben sounded as if he had swallowed a fly or something.
“Yes, Fred. We’re great friends, and his girlfriend lives in San Fran still. My boyfriend is back home in Palm Beach. So it works out perfectly.”
“Wow. Okay. See you around.” A disgruntled Ben walked away.
“What was that all about?” Fred asked.
“I am so sorry. That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. I couldn’t go to the dance with Ben, or Ty for that matter. They are girl magnets, lady killers, womanizers! You don’t have to take me. I just needed saving.”
“No. I think it’s a great idea. I would love to go. My girlfriend back home really won’t mind. No offense or anything, but you aren’t my type at all. Besides, I’m a very talented dancer. My mom owned a dance studio in San Francisco. It would be a shame to waste all this raw talent!”
Fred is actually funny, and he can dance too? He’s the perfect date. Maybe this homecoming thing will be fun after all!
After Chemistry, Rachael made her way down to the weightlifting room where Ty, Clay, Jason, and Gabe were doing squats. They all had been talking when she walked in and immediately hushed.
Only Gabe greeted her. “So, Rachael, Fred Visicawitzenberg?”
“Yep. I really like Fred.”
Then Rachael decided if they were going to give her a hard time, she was going to lay it on really, really thick. Give them a little change in perspective. “He is so sweet, gentle-natured, and an incredible dancer too! He’s the kind of guy a girl can sit and talk to for hours. He’s intelligent and sensitive—an all-round great guy! I can’t imagine having gone with anyone else…well, other than Colten, of course.” Rachael grinned and went over to do bicep curls.
Hmmm. So there, Ty. Go prey on someone else. You and the Bens of the world!
Gabe followed her over. “Rachael, I’m going in a group with Shannah. Do you think she would kill me if I got her a corsage? I know it isn’t a one-on-one date, but I’d like to get her one anyway.”
“That’s sweet. I’ll find out her favorite flower.” Rachael winked conspiratorially at him. Gabe is a good guy. If Shannah can’t see that on her own, maybe I’ll have to help Gabe out a little.
After weightlifting, Rachael walked back to the locker room, where she bumped into Travis heading out toward the parking lot. Operation Avoid Travis Baxter came to a screeching halt. She couldn’t walk right by him and not say hi or stop to chat.
But it seemed Rachael wouldn’t have to worry about that after all. She stopped to say hi, and Travis merely said, “Hey, what’s up, Rachael?” as he sailed right on past.
Rachael watched as he walked over and right up to Trisha!
Trisha? I thought she wasn’t your type. Hmmm. Well, good.
Were they holding hands? Ugh! Not ready to date again? Isn’t that what he’d said?
Rachael stomped her way to the locker room, where another thought about her conversation with Travis the other day stopped her in her tracks. I’m not ready for a serious girlfriend…that’s what he had said. Maybe he was moving forward with his other plan—becoming a womanizer like Jason or Ty.
Was that his idea or mine? I can’t remember. Well, it’s none of my business anyhow. Good. I feel better already. Operation Avoid Travis Baxter terminated. He has a girlfriend.
Rachael felt better immediately, or at least that’s what she told herself. She got changed and practically skipped her way to the parking lot to join Maysie and Shannah.
“Did you hear?” Maysie asked.
“Hear what?” Rachael asked.
“Travis asked Trisha to homecoming!”
“That’s fantastic! I suggested he ask her out the other day. I’m glad he took my advice. Speaking of advice…” Rachael turned her attention to Shannah as they all got in Maysie’s car. “Who are you two going to homecoming with?”
“Maysie is going with Adam. And I guess I’m going with Gabe.” Shannah sounded resolved to endure the night as best she could.
“Good. I think they’re both nice, not to mention good-looking guys! So what’s your favorite flower, Shannah?”
“Oh no, he didn’t! Did he put you up to finding out my favorite flower?”
“Sure did. And I think it’s super sweet. What about you, Maysie?”
“I think it’s super sweet too. And BTW it’s a pink rose. She’ll never admit it, but that is it. And in case Adam asks mine, it’s a yellow daisy. Do you think that will look too big on my wrist?”
“No. Not at all.” Rachael giggled. “I’ll make sure they both get the message.”
“How about you and Fred? Have you bought a dress yet?”
“Not yet. I’m not sure it’s in the budget.”
Just then they pulled into the driveway of her Aunt Margaret’s house. A tow truck was loading her mother’s Benz!
What the heck?
“Maybe it’s broken down, and he’s towing it to get fixed,” Maysie offered hopefully.
“Probably.” Shannah gave her the don’t talk about it look.
“We’ll see you in the morning!” both friends called out as they exited the driveway near the garage.
Rachael ran inside. Her mother, with signs of wet tears on her cheeks, was standing in the foyer.
“Mom, what’s happening?”
“They seized some more of our assets. I guess the car was considered part of the original frozen property by the judge. So they came and are taking it back to an impound lot in Palm Beach County.”
“It’s okay, Mom,” she soothed. “I know it’s embarrassing, like everything else. But it’s just a car.”
“I know, honey. You’re right.” Her mother dried her eyes and stepped toward the kitchen.
“Where is Aunt Margaret?”
“Your brother had baseball today, and she’s picking him up for me.”
“Oh, good. I wanted to talk to you about homecoming. I’m going! I had this situation where two hot guys at school were going to ask me….”
“Gosh, Rachael, that sounds hideous. I don’t know how you ever survived that.” She rolled her eyes.
“I’m serious, Mom. Colten can’t come for the dance, so I decided to go with Plan B.”
“Group date? Travis?” her mother asked.
“Hardly. Travis is dating Trisha now.”
“Then what?”
“Fred Visicawitzenberg,” Rachael said as if her mother would know exactly who that was. At her mother’s blank stare, she added, “My lab partner.”
“Oh, okay. So let me see if I got this straight. You forwent going to the prom with two of the hottest guys in school for your lab partner? This Fred Visikiwentle?”
“Fred Visicawitzenberg. It’s German or Slavic or something like that. But, yes, you’ve got it. He’s a dancer like me. His mom owns a dance studio back home in San Francisco.”
“San Francisco? Dancer? Is this boy even straight?”
“Mom! Of course he’s straight. He has a girlfriend back home.”
She looked relieved. “You have to admit that was a fair question. So, about a dress, I have some money set aside and thought we could go shopping this weekend.”
“I would love to.” Rachael hugged her mother and ran to get changed for dance practice. She needed to finish her homework before Shannah and Maysie showed up.
Three hours later she was ready to go. She heard the doorbell and ran to the door. Assuming it was Maysie, she threw open the door.
It was Travis instead. “Maysie’s sick. I’m heading back in for football anyway, so I thought I would give you and Shannah a ride.”
“I hope it’s nothing serious.”
“Nope. Just a head cold.”
Shannah was already in shotgun—thank goodness—so Rachael hopped in the backseat.
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