Fabulous Five 030 - Sibling Rivalry Read Free Page A

later."
    And me , too! Beth thought, but she knew better
than to say it out loud.

CHAPTER 3
    Beth glanced around the dining room as she followed her
parents to a table. It was a big room, paneled in knotty pine, like the rest of
the resort. There was a large dance floor in the front of the room, and all the
tables were covered with red-and-white checkered tablecloths. Small red candles
sat in the center.
    The Barrys chose a table by a window that looked out at the
mountain. The last skiers of the day were gracefully drifting down the
snow-packed slopes toward the lodge. Beth sighed, trying to imagine how it
would feel to be one of them.
    When the family was seated, a waitress came to their table
and filled their water glasses. "I'm Cindy," she said. "For
dinner you have your choice of steak or chicken. I'll bring the vegetables in
bowls, and if you need more of anything, all you have to do is holler."
    Cindy brought them bowls heaped with mashed potatoes, gravy,
corn, and green beans. Then she brought a cutting board with a loaf of bread
and a knife, and gave them plates with the entrees they had ordered.
    While the rest of the family talked and laughed, Beth picked
at her food and stared out the window. All the skiers had left the slopes, but
that hardly mattered. She was still smarting from Brittany's nasty comments in
front of the three girls in the great room. Why did Brittany always treat her
like a baby?
    Well, maybe it's a good thing there aren't any girls my age
here at Stony Lookout, she thought, stabbing a piece of chicken and popping it
into her mouth. This is my chance to prove once and for all that I'm just as mature
as Brian and Brittany. I'll show them, if it's the last thing I ever do.
    After about twenty minutes, Julie, Molly, and Sarah came in
and sat down across the dining room. They waved at the Barry family.
    "Hey, look," said Todd. "The band is setting
up."
    Brittany whirled toward the front of the room, her eyes
glowing. "Finally some real action," she said.
    Beth saw Brian glance at the table where the girls were
sitting. Would he ask Molly to dance? she wondered. Molly had certainly flirted
with him earlier in the great room.
    This is definitely my big chance, Beth thought. She slipped
her mirror out of her purse and quickly checked her lipstick and hair. Then she
sat up straight and looked around the room, a tiny smile playing on her lips.
     
    Within fifteen minutes the band began to play. There were
two guitars, a synthesizer, and drums. Most of the music was made up of current
Top 40 tunes, but the band also mixed in some oldies to please the parents and
grandparents in the audience.
    "Come on, honey, let's dance," Mrs. Barry said to
her husband. "It's been ages."
    "But, Mom," Todd said, slouching down into his
seat. "No one else is dancing yet."
    "So we'll get them started," replied his mother.
"I love this song. It's easy to dance to." She laughed.
    Beth watched her parents head for the dance floor.
    "Is this embarrassing or what?" Todd mumbled,
staring at his empty plate.
    "I think they're kind of cute," Brittany answered.
    Beth looked around the dining room, wondering if anyone
would ask her to dance. After all, she and Keith Masterson had broken up, and
she could dance with anyone she pleased. She spotted a few older boys about
Brian's age. Maybe one of them would ask her.
    A tall, dark-haired boy around sixteen was staring in her
direction. She felt herself blush and glanced away shyly. When she looked back,
she gave him a little smile. The boy got up from his table and started walking
toward her. Beth's heart leapt into her throat.
    He's going to ask me to dance! she thought. She
didn't know whether to jump up and run to meet him halfway or hide under the
table. So she held her ground, her heart beating wildly in her chest.
    When he was in front of her, Beth looked up and smiled.
    He didn't even notice her. "Want to dance?" he
asked Brittany.
    Brittany hopped up, grinning, and walked with