Fabulous Five 028 - Breaking Up Read Free Page A

"Everybody's
here."
    There was a catch in Jana's throat at the mention of
Christie Winchell, the fifth member of The Fabulous Five, whose move to London
had left a blank space in their group that was impossible to fill. Christie
wrote often to her friends, addressing her letter to a different member of The
Fabulous Five each time but meaning it for everyone. Jana wondered what
Christie thought of her breakup with Randy and if she would mention it in this
letter.
    Melanie carefully turned her wet raincoat inside out and put
it on Jana's bed before sitting down on the edge and pulling the letter out of
the envelope. "Wait till you hear this," she said excitedly.
     
    Dear Melanie,
    Boy, the weather in London is everything you've ever
heard it was. It's rained for so long that I swear I'm getting webbed feet just
like a duck!
     
    "Tell me about it," muttered Katie, glancing toward
the rain-streaked window.
    "Be quiet, Katie," said Melanie. "I'm getting
to the good part."
     
    I really wish you guys could meet Connie Farrell. I know
that he's an umpteenth cousin to the queen, but he really doesn't act the way
I've always imagined royalty would act. In fact, he's super. And he's handsome
and fun. And I absolutely LOVE his beautiful horse, Rigel. The only problem is,
I still like Chase!
    I really wish I could talk to you and the rest of The
Fabulous Five about this. You're the best friends in the world, and I miss you
guys so much!
    That's about all the news from here. Write soon!
    Love,
Christie
     
    Melanie let the letter flutter to the floor as she fell back
against the bed, pretending to faint. "Can you imagine dating royalty? "
she gushed, sitting back up and looking around with wide eyes. "I can just
hear it now. 'Would you like to go out with me Saturday night, Christie? If you
do, I'll present you to the queen.' Or maybe they'll double with Charles and
Di!"
    "Wow," said Jana, shaking her head. "I always
knew that Christie was special, but dating royalty! That's really something."
    "I can't help feeling a little sorry for Chase,"
commented Katie, poking a cracker into the green dip and eating it.
    "Why?" asked Melanie. "Christie wrote him
that she still likes him, but that she isn't sure if she's coming back anytime
soon, so they should date other people."
    "I know," replied Katie, "but he's really got
it bad for Christie." She glanced at Jana and frowned. "Just like
Randy has it bad for you."
    Jana turned to Katie. "I thought you, of all people,
would understand, even think it's a great idea. I thought you'd see me as sort
of liberated , or something."
    "Come on, Jana," said Melanie. "Everybody
knows that you and Randy are perfect for each other. You guys will get married
and live happily ever after."
    Jana smiled weakly. That's what my mom expected for herself
and my dad, she thought. There was no use trying to explain. There was nothing
she could say without giving away her mother's secret.
    Jana glanced across the room at Beth. She had hardly said a
word since Katie passed her the green dip. It wasn't like her to be so quiet.
    "So how was your date with Keith last night?"
asked Jana, hoping to draw Beth into the conversation.
    "Don't ask," Beth muttered, and then looked
helplessly at her friends. "I don't know what's wrong with him," she
went on.
    "What do you mean?" asked Melanie. "What
happened?"
    "Nothing. And I mean that's exactly what happened— nothing! We went to a movie at Cinema Six, and what did he do while we waited to get
into the theater? He left me standing by the concession stand while he horsed
around with Joel Murphy and Tony Sanchez. Then once we got inside and the movie
started, he treated me as if I had bad breath or something. He leaned on the
arm of the seat opposite from me and never once held my hand."
    Jana frowned, remembering how Keith had left Bumpers
yesterday as soon as Beth's name was mentioned. Maybe it wasn't just a
coincidence, after all.
    "He was probably just in a bad mood,"