Free Lost and Found by Laura Dower Page A

speed right at him. He wasn’t really paying attention. He didn’t see her coming.
    Whooooomp!
    The pair crashed to the ice. Everyone took a deep breath.
    But then the laughter began—Ivy and Hart laughing. They were lying on top of each other on the ice, laughing like little kids.
    Madison wanted to cry.
    “Now, that is just disgusting,” Aimee said, skating over toward Madison. “She is the grossest. And she is so obvious. I could just—”
    “Forget it, Aim,” Madison said, cutting her off.
    Madison noticed Drew over at the crash site, snapping digital photos for the school Web site. She cringed at the thought that there would be a picture of Ivy and Hart on the Web for everyone to see, like they were a “couple” or something.
    Madison had made Ivy pay temporarily, but as always, the enemy got the last laugh.
    She reached into her pocket for the Ivy letter. It was wrinkled and a little wet from traveling all over the ice today.
    “Poison Ivy Daly will never, ever, ever see this,” Madison told herself. “Not after what she’s done here. No way.”
    After an hour more of ice tag, Madison’s toes were beginning to feel like little ice cubes. She sat on a bench, watching everyone else have a good time on the ice. Hart and Ivy skated together, talking and laughing. He didn’t call out, “Hey, Finnster!” again during the whole time Madison was sitting on the bench. Ivy insisted on helping Hart skate, and he didn’t seem to mind. Madison guessed the boys weren’t patient enough with him since he was only a beginner. Or maybe Hart liked Ivy?
    Aimee and Susie were practicing spins and turns together. Since Susie had been a competitive skater, she knew so many neat tricks. Aimee seemed thrilled to learn all the new moves. They waved to Madison from the center of the ice, looping their bodies around, making jump spins, and rotating like tops.
    Madison was impressed, but she didn’t venture out onto the ice to join them. She was content to sit on the bench and freeze. By now, Madison’s green gloves had gotten so wet that she could barely feel her fingertips. And her rainbow hat was getting very scratchy around her hairline.
    “Hey, everyone!” Chet yelled, skating over by the benches. “I want to invite all you guys over to my house Sunday afternoon!”
    “COOL!” Egg yelled.
    Lance, Suresh, Dan, and Joanie said they couldn’t go.
    Madison could see Ivy and Hart and Rose, still skating way out on the lake. They didn’t make it back in time to hear Chet’s announcement. She wondered if they could go. She hoped not .
    “So it’s like this,” Chet continued. “My sister’s been way sick for like a week and she’s better now, so we’re having this hot chocolate party or whatever you want to call it.”
    “Hot chocolate party ?” Susie said. “Delish. Is it okay if I come? I mean, I know I just met you guys.”
    “Sure,” Aimee said.
    Madison grinned. “You and Fiona will really like each other,” she said.
    “I think her brother is pretty cute,” Susie said.
    Aimee laughed out loud, but Madison looked over and noticed that Chet was smiling a little at Susie, too.
    “Do you like any of these boys?” Susie asked.
    Aimee laughed even louder. “I don’t think so.”
    “Not really,” Madison said, looking around for Hart. “No one here.”
    “So everyone come over Sunday around one,” Chet repeated. “I’ll send you guys an e-mail with my address and all that.”
    Everyone began to disperse. Kids were running around in all directions, looking for mittens, skates, and where their rides had parked. Just as Aimee’s brother Roger pulled in, someone threw a snowball and it landed on Roger’s windshield.
    Madison saw Aimee’s dog, Blossom, in the front seat. Blossom poked her big basset hound snout out through the cracked-open window.
    “Wowwwwwffff!” Blossom barked.
    Madison raced over to the minivan and petted Blossom’s head. “Hey, Roger,” she said. “Aimee’s taking off