Free Fabulous Five 002 - The Trouble with Flirting by Betsy Haynes Page B

things had
changed. Changed so much that now there were three boys in her life. It was fun
being popular, and with so many cute boys from all over town coming to Wakeman
Junior High, how could she help getting carried away?
    Carried away. The words echoed in her mind. Was that
what Katie meant all those times when she said I was boy crazy? she wondered. Was
she trying to warn me about what might happen if I didn't come to my senses?
    Laura's party Saturday night could turn into a disaster,
thought Melanie, and if that happens, it will be all my fault. Then, in a
flash, she knew just what to do.

CHAPTER 14
    In the cafeteria at noon all the girls were talking about
cheerleading tryouts. It was the last thing in the world that Melanie wanted to
think about, even when Alexis and Sara stopped by The Fabulous Five's table.
    "I'm not sure I'm going to be ready by tomorrow,"
said Beth.
    "Me either," confessed Alexis. "The cheers
seem so easy when I'm practicing them in my head, but when I actually try to do
them, I have trouble keeping my hands and feet working in time with the words."
    "Me, too," Melanie said absently as she gazed
around the lunchroom looking for Scott or Shane. She had made up her mind to be
honest. To confess to Shane that she wouldn't be able to dance with him to all
the good songs because she would be going to the party with Scott.
    "You guys think you're nervous," said Jana. "I
can't even eat my cream cheese and jelly sandwich. Not only is tomorrow
cheerleading tryouts, but it's the day Mr. Neal announces who will be editors
of The Wigwam. I really want seventh-grade coeditor badly, and so does
Funny. And I also want to be a cheerleader."
    "We're going to practice after school today, aren't we?"
asked Beth. "I mean, we desperately need the practice."
    Melanie nodded. She still hadn't been able to spot either of
the boys. If only Shane would come in now, before Scott. She would die if he
saw her talking to Shane and got jealous.
    "Well, I hope we aren't going back to the stadium,"
said Jana. "Can we go to your house today, Melanie?"
    Melanie nodded again just as Sara came up off the bench. "You
guys practiced at the stadium?" she shrieked. "Wow! That's cool! Why
don't we all go there today and practice together?"
    Melanie was just about to tell them about her klutzy fall in
front of the entire Wakeman football team, Coach Bledsoe, and Garrett Boldt
when she saw Shane coming through the swinging doors. Now was her chance. She
had to grab it before she lost her nerve.
    "I'll be back in a minute," she said. She didn't
even wait for an answer from her friends as she bounded toward the hot-lunch
line. Shane had just gotten to the end of the line, and if she hurried, she
could step up behind him.
    "Oh, Melanie. I need to talk to you." Laura McCall
got up from a table and stepped into Melanie's path. "I need to know if
any of you girls from The Fabulous Five are coming to my party. You said you would let me know as soon as you talked to your mommies and daddies."
    Melanie caught the sarcasm. She knew that Laura loved to rub
it in that she never had to ask her father permission to do anything the way
other kids did. She wanted to tell Laura that she wouldn't be caught dead
coming to her party, but of course that wasn't the truth. In fact, it was
practically the opposite. She would die if she didn't get to go.
    "Sorry," she mumbled. "We'll be there. Seven
o'clock. Right?"
    "Right," said Laura, flicking her long braid over
her shoulder. "Please be on time."
    By the time Laura sat down again, Shane was almost to the
steam tables, and at least a dozen kids had gotten in line behind him. Melanie
chewed on her lip and thought about the situation. If she didn't dance with
Shane at the party, maybe he would dance with Laura—to all the good songs—the
ones he had asked her to dance to. I need to think about this some more,
Melanie decided. I'm going to be honest. I swear I am. But not right now.
    She saw Shane twice more in