I exhaled. “Maybe.”
“Well, whoever it was,” Kayla said, “he sure was a master intimidator.”
“Yeah,” Paula piped up. “He was downright sarcastic.”
Whew! Things were beginning to take shape.
Kayla draped her arm around her twin’s shoulders. “The jerk made a comment about Paula’s eyes—that they didn’t match mine. And if we were really twins, one of us ought to wear a little more mascara.”
I gasped. “He said that?”
Paula nodded. I could tell by her grin that she was rather proud that someone had noticed she’d opted for the more natural look.
“I tell you, the guy’s outspoken,” Kayla said.
“No kidding,” I whispered. Man, it was anybody’s guess what the guy had said to Andie!
By the time I got to Andie’s house it was almost eight o’clock. I could see the light in her bedroom upstairs as I rode my bike into the driveway. Walking around the side of the house, I stood under her open window and called up to her. “Andie, come to the window.”
In a flash, her perky curls appeared at the window.
“What are you doing down there?” she asked, her brown eyes questioning my return.
“We have to talk,” I said matter-of-factly.
“Now?”
“Can you come out?” I stepped back away from the house, trying to see her better. “Or should I come up?”
She frowned slightly. “Well, I guess I could. Meet me out front.”
I hurried to the front of the two-story house, to the same steps I’d sat on earlier. Now they felt cool to the touch as I eased myself down onto the cement, waiting for my friend. It seemed strange that I’d be sitting here again, especially since I knew Andie needed some space from whatever had happened. But I needed to hear the story from her lips.
Crickets chirped noisily as Andie finally emerged from the front door, barefoot. “What’s the occasion?” she said as she sat down, a bottle of red nail polish in her hand.
How should I start? I wondered. I sure didn’t want to put her through the same kind of pain she’d seemed to be feeling earlier today.
“Hey, can’t your best friend just show up for no reason?” I said. “I was worried about you.” I put my arm around her shoulders.
“I’ll survive.”
“Of course you will. And I’m going to make sure you do.” I removed my arm as she leaned over to paint her toenails.
I sat there, fidgeting with my fingers, studying my cuticles and pushing them back till I could see the round white moon shapes underneath. I wished for some sort of breakthrough. Some way to open up the subject of Stan and Ryan without causing Andie additional pain.
“Have you thought any more about taking me to California with you?” she asked, still bending over, talking to her toes.
I hadn’t had time to think about that. I’d been too busy worrying about her encounter with Stan to contemplate my trip to California. “It’d be fabulous” was all I said.
“What about your dad and stepmom?” She straightened up and dipped the brush into the polish. “Did you ask them?”
“They do have a huge house,” I said. “Plenty of room for you. But what about your parents? Think they’d let you go with me?”
“Here’s the deal,” she said. “If you get the okay from your dad, I’ll take it from there with my parents, okay?”
“Sure, that’ll work.”
She started polishing her toenails again. “You’re flying out this Monday, right?”
“At 12:15,” I said. “Think you can get up before noon?”
She laughed. “Yeah, right. Isn’t summer terrific?”
I nodded. Summer made the whole rest of the year worth living. “Guess we’d better start planning things, or you might not get a seat on my flight. I’ll call my dad tonight.”
This conversation was going in a totally different direction than I’d intended. I wondered how to address the subject of what had happened yesterday at the Y. Then an idea popped into my head.
“So…does Stan know you want to go with me?” I asked.
She stared at me incredulously. “Stan who?”
I realized I’d opened up a fresh wound.
“He couldn’t care less where I go or what I do,” she announced to the approaching sunset. “I’m sorry to inform you, Holly, but your stepbrother is a despicable bigot.”
I frowned. “Excuse me?” I needed more to go on than this impromptu indictment.
“And that friend of his…” She blew air out through her lips.
“What friend?” I quizzed her, almost sure she was talking about Ryan Davis.
“Oh, Ryan somebody.” She waved her hand in front of her face. “You should’ve heard what he said to me.”
Bingo. Just what I’d been waiting to hear!
LITTLE WHITE LIES
Chapter 4
“What did Ryan say?” I asked.
“Stan was in on it, too,” Andie insisted. “He acted like he hardly knew me. Especially after his friend carried on about how nice it must be to have such a good tan.” She tightened the lid on her nail polish and held out her feet, swinging them in the air. “It was like he was trying to flirt with me in a backhanded sort of way.”
“So…what did you do?”
“I went over and stood beside Stan, expecting him to be his normal, cool self…you know, clue this guy in on the two of us.”
“Yeah?”
“But Stan clammed up. Didn’t say a word in my defense. And even worse, his friend didn’t seem to know when to quit.”
“What else did he say?”
“Stuff like where was I during Cinco de Mayo this year and was English my second language.” She sighed. “It was the cocky, sarcastic way he said it that bugged me the most. Like he thought he was better than me just because he’s white.”
This was so bad! I couldn’t believe Stan would tolerate something like this, especially since Andie was the victim.
“I don’t blame you for being hurt,” I said. “Stan knows better.
“Well, I’m not crying the blues anymore,” she said, getting up. “I’m plain mad. And if I don’t split this town soon, I’m gonna burst.”
I could see that a change of scenery might do her good. “I’ll go home and call my dad,” I said, heading for my bike.
Andie hugged me before I left. “Holly, you’re the best.”
“I’ll call you the minute I know something.” I hopped onto my bike. “Don’t go anywhere, okay?”
“I’ll wait by the phone,” she said, waving. And I knew she would.
Mom was talking on the phone in the kitchen when I arrived home. She sounded pretty involved, so I didn’t bother her. When twenty more minutes had passed, I went back downstairs and waved my hands in front of her face.
“Excuse me,” she said to the caller, then covered the receiver with her hand. “Holly, what is it?”
“I need to use the phone. It’s important.”
Mom’s eyes got squinty. “Well, Andie will just have to wait,” she insisted.
“It’s not Andie. I have to call Daddy.”
“Tonight?”
“Just some last-minute stuff about the trip.”
“Okay, well, I’ll be done in a few minutes.” She uncovered the receiver, and I could tell by the sound of things it’d be more than a few minutes before the phone was actually free.
Heading upstairs to my room, I located my journal and began to write.
Thursday, July 7: Today’s been a real eye-opener in lots of ways. I’ve discovered that Stan isn’t half the man I thought he was, given the circumstances. He’s got some weird friend named Ryan Davis, and the guy’s a total loser. I can’t believe what Ryan said to Andie. I mean, this is prejudice at its worst!
I just hope Andie can work through things. I don’t know what this rotten world’s coming to!
I continued to write, pouring out my woes. Then I glanced at my watch. If I didn’t
get Mom off the phone, it would be too late to call Andie. Her dad had a rule that she wasn’t allowed to use the phone after ten o’clock at night.
I signed off in my journal and stashed it safely away in the bottom dresser drawer. Then I hurried down the hall to the stairs. Time to claim the portable phone.
Mom was yawning as I tiptoed into the kitchen, motioning to her for all I was worth. I made some hand signals to her. She nodded, smiling, catching my unspoken message.
Sitting down at the bar, I munched on a couple of snickerdoodle cookies. Mom had made a batch this morning in the cool of the day while we kids slept in. I glanced around for Carrie and Stephie. They were nowhere in sight, thank goodness.
Mom was still engaged in animated conversation with someone. I hadn’t figured out whom—so I slid off the barstool and headed downstairs to the family room. There they were, my five siblings, stretched out in various degrees of vegging out all over the carpet. Carrie and Stephie sat cross-legged in front of the coffee table, eyes glued to the TV. Mark and Phil, my younger stepbrothers. I called them brousins since they were really cousins-turned-brothers—were gobbling popcorn. Stan took up the entire sofa part of the sectional, reclining with his legs sprawled out across the length of the furniture.
“What’s on TV?” I asked.
“Shh!” they answered in chorus.
Inching into the room, I saw the reason for their interest. It looked like some sci-fi show, complete with weird music. Why Stephie and Carrie were fascinated I had no idea.
“What a waste,” I muttered, heading for the stairs.
That’s when Stan called to me. “Hey, Holly.”
I turned around to see him getting up. “What?” I said as he came over.
“How’s Andie doing?” His face looked serious. No…he was actually worried.
“Who wants to know?”
“C’mon, Holly, don’t do this.”
“Don’t do what? You’re the one who got all this garbage with Andie started.” I turned to leave.
Stan reached out and touched my arm. “Just tell me, is she okay?”
I pulled away. “If you’re so worried, why don’t you ask her yourself?”
“She won’t talk to me,” he said.
“Well”—I eyed him sarcastically—“I wonder why.”
“Okay, I’ll admit it, Ryan said some stupid things, but I—”
“You?” I wanted to scream. “You just stood by and let him go off like that?”
He frowned, concerned. “Is that what Andie told you?”
I nodded. “I heard it straight from her, and that’s not all. Paula and Kayla thought Ryan was bad news, too.”
He ran his fingers through his hair. “I didn’t mean to hurt Andie.”
“Okay, but what about me? What was all that at supper?” I turned around and ran up the stairs.
Stan didn’t follow me, and it was a good thing because Mom was just hanging up the phone. “Phone’s all yours, Holly-Heart,” she said. “You might want to use the hall phone upstairs. This one needs recharging, I think.”
For a long-distance call, I didn’t want to chance it, so I hurried upstairs, hoping the rest of the kids would stay put in front of their ridiculous intergalactic flick.
Quickly, I punched the numbers for Daddy’s luxury ocean. front house. The phone rang only twice. Saundra, my stepmom, answered. “Meredith residence.”
“Hey…uh, this is Holly. Is my dad there?”
“He’s on his way home from work,” she replied.
“Work…this late?”
“Well, you have to remember it’s only eight-fifteen here, dear,” she crooned into my left ear.
“Oh, I forgot.” Time zones aside, I wondered why Daddy was working so late.
“Is there a message I may give him?” Saundra asked, pouring on her not-so-subtle charm.
“I guess not.” I hesitated, thinking about the time crunch involved in getting Andie’s plane ticket. Hmm. Maybe I’d better go ahead and chance it and get Saundra’s opinion on the matter. “Well, actually, it’s about my trip out there,” I continued. “I was wondering if you and Daddy would mind if I brought a friend along.”
“A friend?” she said. There was a delicate pause. “Sure, since Carrie’s not coming, there’ll be plenty of room.”
“Are you sure it’ll be okay with Daddy?” I asked politely. It didn’t hurt to make points with the woman who pretty much ran my father’s social life.
“I think your dad will be delighted to entertain you and your friend.”
“Her name’s Andie—short for Andrea,” I said. “She’s going to try and work things out on this end with her parents. I’ll let you know as soon as it’s definite, okay?”
“That’s fine,” Saundra said. I could almost see her perfectly manicured nails wrapped around one of their expensive telephones.
“Tell Tyler I can’t wait to see him and that Carrie says hi,” I said, referring to Saundra’s son.
“He’ll certainly miss seeing her this time,” she added.
“Well, I guess I’d better get going. But tell Daddy I called.”
“He should be home any minute. I will.”
“Okay, thanks. Good-bye.”
“Good-bye, dear,” she said.
I hung up, hoping Daddy wasn’t becoming a workaholic or something.
Quickly, I surveyed the stairs behind me. I didn’t want Stan or anyone else listening in on my next conversation—with Andie. Our plans were going to be kept private, at least for now.
“Hello?” she answered on the first ring.
“Guess what? It’s all right with California,” I said, excitement rising in my voice.
“Really?” She sounded ecstatic. “Your dad said it’s okay?”
“My stepmom will fill him in, but she’s all for it.” I heard the steps creak behind me. I spun around. “Just a minute, Andie.” I left the phone dangling on its cord. I crept toward the stairs and peered down. Stan was there, all right. “What’re you doing?” I said.
“I need to talk to you, Holly,” he said sheepishly.
“Not now. I’m busy.”
Stan turned away, leaving me alone with Andie, who was waiting impatiently. “What’s going on there?” she asked. “I thought I heard Stan’s voice. Does he know anything about this?”
“He knows squat,” I said, laughing.
“I’ll talk to my parents and call you back tonight…before ten,” she said. “Thanks, Holly, you’re terrific!”
We hung up, and I danced a jig through the hallway and into my bedroom. What a fabulous trip we were going to have!
Mom and Uncle Jack came upstairs just as I finished another set of twirls and spins. “Everything okay?” Mom asked, peeking into my room.
“Everything’s perfect.” I grinned at Uncle Jack, who had a long piece of celery hanging out of his mouth—complete with leafy green ends.
“We’re tired,” Mom said, eyeing my stepdad. “Jack’s been working long hours.”
“Sweet dreams,” I said. “I’ll make sure the crew doesn’t stay up all night.”
“And don’t you, either,” Mom said with a grin. “You might want to think about packing pretty soon.”
“I’ll start tomorrow.”
“Good night, kiddo,” Uncle Jack called, still munching on his celery stick.
“Love you,” Mom said and closed their door.
Inside my room, I undressed and found my favorite pair of pj’s in my drawer. The rosy pink tank top had a matching pair of pink-and-white heart shorts. I curled up in my canopy bed with a brand-new Marty Leigh mystery, wondering how long before Andie would call.
Nearly a half hour passed. I couldn’t believe it was almost ten when I looked at my watch. That’s how it was with this incredible author. She could keep you spellbound, make you forget real life even existed.
I put the book down and went into the hallway, listening for sounds from the troops below. Surely the sci-fi movie was over.
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I reached for the hall phone and was surprised to hear Stan’s voice on the other line. No wonder I hadn’t received Andie’s call. He was hogging the phone.
“Excuse me, Stan,” I interrupted. “I’m waiting for an important call.”
“Uh, is that Holly?” another voice came on the line. It sounded familiar.
“Who’s this?”
“Ryan Davis,” he said. “Remember, we had supper together?”
Was this guy pushing it or what!
“Hey, I really wanted to see that magazine of yours,” he went on, sounding way too eager for my liking. “You know, the one with your story in it?”
I wanted to say “forget it” but bit my tongue. “Look, I’m leaving for California in a couple days,” I told him. “I’m real busy. Sorry.”
“Maybe we could talk about it over a Coke before you go.”
I nearly choked. Who did he think he was—insulting my best friend, putting her down in front of me at supper, and now asking me out? This was outrageous!
“I’m not allowed to date,” I answered. Hopefully that would change his attitude about me.
“Oh, it wouldn’t be a date,” he went on. “Stan could come, too, if that would make you feel better.”
Nothing would make me feel better about you, I thought. Not now, not ever!
“I’m waiting for a call,” I said, dying to hear from Andie.
“Hey, cool,” Ryan said. “Anything the pretty blonde says.”
I tried not to gag. Andie was right. This guy was a total night-mare!
I hung up, waiting a few seconds for Stan to do the same. Unfortunately, I could still hear him downstairs yakking with Ryan, and it really bugged me.
Finally I could stand it no longer. I grabbed my bathrobe off the back of my door and dashed downstairs.
“Get off the phone,” I told Stan.
“Deal with it,” he shot back, waving me out of the room.
Wanting to cut the phone cord, I stood just outside the kitchen, waiting in the dining room where Stan couldn’t see me. As I expected, he took his sweet time and eventually hung up a meager three minutes before ten o’clock. He sauntered out of the kitchen, heading toward his bedroom without even speaking to me. Just as well.
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