Free Fabulous Five 031 - The Fabulous Five Together Again by Betsy Haynes

moving?" asked Mr. Fitzhugh.
    "In time for Christie to start school in the States
this fall."
    "That means you'll be with us in the eighth grade at
Wakeman, Christie!" said Beth. "Boy, won't everyone be surprised to
see you back."
    "Especially Chase and Laura," Katie chimed in. "But
for different reasons."
    "Yeah, Laura will hate it that The Fab Five will be
together again," said Melanie.
    Christie's head was swimming. All of a sudden she had so
much to think about. What would it be like to return to Wakeman after her year
in England? She would be with all the people she had thought about and missed
while she was here.
    But she would also be leaving behind many new friends—Mrs.
Mansfield, Jenny and her parents, Phoebe, Nicki, and Eleanore, and Davey and
Charlie. The hardest part, she thought with a start, might be saying good-bye
to Connie.
    "I propose a toast," said Mr. Fitzhugh, raising
his paper cup. "To our good friends the Winchells, whom we'll always
remember fondly."
    "Here, here," said Mrs. Fitzhugh. Mrs. Mansfield
and Mr. Dudley applauded enthusiastically.
     
    When The Fabulous Five walked into Montague's later,
Christie's jaw fell. Sitting at a table and looking very unhappy were Phoebe,
Nicki, and Eleanore. Connie, Davey, and Charlie were with them. So were Rebecca
Stewart and Denise Hume from the girls' class at St. Margaret's.
    In the center of the table was a very sad-looking ice-cream
cake that had melted down at the corners. Next to it was a stack of paper
plates and plastic forks. Party balloons floated in the air above the table.
    Christie felt her cheeks flame with color. "I guess we're
late," she mumbled.
    Phoebe nodded glumly and didn't reply.
    "Been out sightseeing, have you?" Nicki asked
sarcastically.
    "No, we . . ." Christie's voice trailed off. How
could she explain to her London friends why they were late? Judging from their
faces, there was nothing she could do to make up for ruining their surprise.
She wanted to turn around and pretend none of this was happening, or better
yet, melt right into the floor as rapidly as the cake was melting onto the
table.
    "Sit down, and let's cut the cake," suggested
Davey.
    "Spoon it, you mean," corrected Nicki.
    "Whatever," said Connie, quickly passing out the
paper plates. "Why don't we all have a piece, anyway?"
    "This is awfully nice of you," said Christie lamely.
    "Where were you?" asked Denise.
    "We went to the Hard Rock Cafe for dinner and stopped
by Christie's for ice cream and cake," babbled Melanie. "And guess
what. Christie's father announced that the Winchells are moving back to the
United States before school starts in the fall. Isn't that exciting?"
    In stunned silence everyone at the table looked at Melanie
and then at Christie. A furious expression clouded Nicki's face.
    " You had a birthday party at Christie's and now you
think we ought to be excited about her moving back to the States? I can't
believe this!"
    Melanie cringed.
    A moment ago Christie thought things couldn't possibly get
any worse. But they just had, and rapidly. "I'm sorry. We didn't mean to
leave you out," she tried to explain.
    Jana jumped to Christie's defense. "Mrs. Winchell is
the one who thought the party should be just for family and neighbors. It's not
Christie's fault."
    "Are you family members or neighbors?"
asked Eleanore, finally speaking up.
    Jana looked taken aback.
    "No, but we've known Christie a lot longer than you
have," said Beth in an angry tone. "We grew up with her."
    "Does that make you better friends than we are?"
asked Phoebe. Then, turning to Christie, she said, "We thought we were
your good friends, too. But ever since they've been here, you've practically
ignored us."
    "That's not true!" protested Katie. "We asked
you to go sightseeing with us."
    "You totally forgot about us the first day,"
countered Phoebe.
    "And when we did go with you, all we could do was
follow you around and listen to you ooh and aah over things," said
Eleanore.
    Christie looked