Girls Only! (24 page)

“Yes, and she’s one super cool skater,” Livvy said, her hair bouncing against her face as she nodded.

“In that case, I’ll see what I can do,” the man replied.

Heather hugged her mom and Livvy both. And if Mr. Sterling hadn’t stepped back a bit, she might’ve hugged him, too. “This is the most awesome day of my life,” she said.

Mr. Sterling’s cheeks turned an embarrassed pink. “Meet me here next Monday morning.” He looked at his watch. “At say, eight-twenty. We’ll have a jump lesson, Miss Heather—you and I.”

“Oh, Mr. Sterling, thank you very much,” she replied. “I’ll be here, right on time.”

“You’re
very
welcome,” Mr. Sterling said with a nod. Then he added, “I must say I do admire persistence.”

Heather and her mom turned to go.

“Good-bye, Mrs. Bock,” Livvy called.

“You’re a wonderful skater,” replied Heather’s mother. “Keep up the good work.”

“Bye, Heather,” Livvy called. “See you at Jenna’s this afternoon for our regular club meeting.”

She waved at both of them—Livvy
and
her coach. And she could hardly wait till Monday morning!

A Perfect Match

Chapter Twelve

A ballot box—fashioned in tin foil—was balanced on the barre when Heather arrived. The
Girls Only
Club meeting was about to begin.

“Off the record, I have some exciting news,” Heather said, settling down on the floor.

“Yes, and it’s super cool news, too,” said Livvy.

“Well, let’s hear it,” insisted Jenna. She was holding her cat in her lap. Sasha opened both eyes, blinked twice, then gave in to dreamland.

“Livvy’s coach is going to give me a jump lesson!” Heather announced.

“Cool stuff,” Jenna said, offering a high five. “What’s next after the first lesson?”

Heather explained her mom’s deal. “If I can actually jump, then Mom’ll look for a coach for me.”

“Maybe Coach Sterling will take you on,” Livvy said.

“I won’t move in on your territory,” Heather assured her.

Livvy shrugged. “Coach Sterling doesn’t belong to me.”

The girls continued their bantering, talking about Jenna’s “horrid” science project and Livvy’s friend Mrs. Newton, the cheerleading coach.

Heather described her five-page handwritten report on Israel . . .
and
her little sister’s tooth. “Joanne found out today that our dad’s the tooth fairy,” she said.

Jenna’s eyes were big. “That’s just cooler than cool. I mean, most dads aren’t really all that involved in the fun stuff.”

“Well, my dad is,” Heather replied, feeling proud to say it. And it was true, too. Her father made it a point to hang out with all four of the Bock kids, taking them skiing in the winter, swimming near Twin Lakes in the summer, backpacking at Breckenridge in the autumn, and, of course, attending all the skating events throughout the year.

She wondered how much more hectic her parents’ lives would be with Kevin and his new skating partner competing at all sorts of different times than Heather’s solo performances. Her whole family would be busier than ever—running in all different directions, too!

“I think it’s time we call our meeting to order,” Jenna
said, lifting Sasha off her lap. She got up and went to the barre, carrying the foil-wrapped ballot box.

Jenna set it down in the middle of the circle. Smiling, she raised her eyebrows. “As president of the
Girls Only
Club, I’d like to propose that we expand our membership.”

Livvy looked surprised. “By how many?”

“Four’s a nice, even number,” Jenna explained. “If we had four girls, we could practice ballet better. Maybe even double up on some dance projects.”

“Partners, like in kindergarten?” Livvy teased.

Heather listened carefully, wondering why a threesome wasn’t an okay number for their club.

“So . . . what does the vice-prez and the secretary/treasurer think?” Jenna asked, sitting on the floor.

“Are we gonna campaign for members or what?” Livvy asked.

Heather stared at the Olympic Rings flag mounted high on the wall above the computer desk. “All three of us have athletic goals. If we added another member, she’d have to be a sports nut, too,” she said at last. “Just like us.”

“Yep,” Jenna agreed. “That’s the most important part of our bylaws.”

Opening the “minutes” notebook, Heather found the rules for club membership. They’d written them on the first meeting, months ago. “Okay, here we go. ‘The president,
vice-president, and secretary/treasurer agree to encourage each other’s athletic aspirations. We will uphold the goals and dreams of each of our members.’ ”

“It doesn’t say a word about adding new members,” Livvy pointed out. “But I think it’s a super good idea. What do
you
think, Heather?”

“Shouldn’t we just vote on it?” she replied, feeling pressured.

Jenna nodded. “I motion that we vote to add another member to the
Girls Only
Club. The coolest cool club ever!”

“I second it,” said Livvy.

“Uh, before we do anything,” Heather spoke up, “are we voting on four members total?”

“Could be,” Jenna said, fidgeting. “Maybe more.”

Livvy looked at Heather. “How do you feel about four?”

She felt funny being put on the spot. “I thought we were voting,
secret
ballot,” she replied.

“Hold everything.” Jenna scurried to her desk for some paper to make ballots.

“I think the prez has someone in mind,” whispered Livvy.

Heather wondered who it might be. “Why don’t we just talk about the new member instead of voting about how many?” she suggested when Jenna sat back in the circle.

The prez gave each of them a ballot and a pencil. “First things first,” said Jenna. “Like the bylaws say.”

Heather knew the bylaws weren’t etched in stone. She’d read through the bylaws enough times to memorize them. There was nothing in there about additional members. “When we started this club, we never said anything about more than three members. What’s wrong with just us?” she asked.

“Nothing,” Jenna insisted.

“But maybe Jenna’s idea is something to think about,” Livvy added quickly.

They discussed the notion of four members instead of three. Then they voted. One by one, they stuffed their folded ballots into the big box.

“Drum roll!” Jenna shouted, turning the box over and fishing out the ballots. She turned her back and counted the ballots. “Two against one—two yesses and one no,” she said in nothing flat.

Everyone knew, of course, who’d voted “no.” And Heather definitely felt weird about it.

“Majority wins,” Jenna announced, throwing away the ballots.

“The secretary/treasurer is supposed to count those, right?” Heather said, upset at Jenna’s take-charge manner.

“What’s it matter?” said the prez.

“It’s in our bylaws who counts the ballots,” explained Heather.

“Well, if it’s in the bylaws, I guess we just messed up.” Jenna marched across the room to the trash can and emptied it onto the floor.

“Jenna,
please
don’t do this,” Heather said. “Put the ballots back in the trash. It’s okay.”

“The secretary/treasurer must count the ballots,” parroted Jenna.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Heather replied, glancing at Livvy, who’d buried her head in two pink pillows.

Jenna sneered, “Well, if you thing
I’m
ridiculous, what about someone who changes her skating goals in the middle of her career. That’s ridiculous, Heather Bock, and you know it!”

“Excuse me?” Heather was horrified.

“You wanna dump your partner and go for broke,” Jenna said. “That’s real stupid, if you ask me!”

Livvy’s head was still hidden. She was staying out of it.

“Who said anything about dumping my partner?” Heather retorted.

“Well, that’s exactly what you did!” Jenna’s eyes bored into Heather.

“Look, I’m not gonna argue with you. What I did is between Kevin and me. He’s cool with it, and so am I.”

Jenna was quiet for a moment. Then she shoved the ballot box across the room, where it came to rest under her desk.

Livvy slowly emerged from the pillows. “Un, excuse me . . . may I say something?”

Jenna glared. “Whatever.”

Livvy seemed hesitant to continue and started to cover her head again.

“Go ahead, Liv,” encouraged Heather. She hoped maybe Livvy would talk some sense into the prez.

“I’m thinking about . . . well, maybe this thing about adding members oughta wait,” Livvy said softly. “Let’s make sure we can get along—just the three of us—before we add someone new.”

“I’m with Liv,” said Heather.

Livvy was tactful and kind. “We’re a club of girls who care about each other, right?” She didn’t wait for an answer. “We shouldn’t have to argue to solve our problems.”

Jenna was nodding her head. “We voted and the vote stands. Now I have a recommendation.”

Heather wished she’d stayed home. Better yet, maybe someone else could take her place in this horrible club!

Jenna stroked her cat while she continued. “Miranda Garcia might be an excellent choice for our club,” she said. “She’s a fabulous downhill skier and ballet dancer. A Christian, too.”

They already knew this info about Miranda. What was the big deal? Heather wondered. “So why not invite
all
our church girl friends who have Olympic dreams?” she said.

Jenna nodded. “Fine with me,” she said. “What do you think, Livvy?”

“Personally, I like the idea of a small club. Don’t forget, I’m an only child—not so used to lots of sisters.”

Jenna seemed to understand. “Up until last year, I was the only kid in my family, too. I guess you might be right. Heather too.”

Sighing, Heather was starting to feel better about this discussion. “Miranda
is
a good choice,” she agreed. “Let’s vote on including her.”

Jenna began cutting more ballots. “I’m sorry, Heather, about what I said before. I shouldn’t have gone off like that. Forgive me?”

Heather nodded. “I guess I just wasn’t ready to change things in our club. It’s real comfortable, like having two sisters my own age. Definitely cool.”

Jenna and Livvy came over and hugged her. “Change is tough,” Livvy said. “I should know.”

Heather was pretty sure Liv wouldn’t explain. Her mom’s death and their recent move from Illinois had been difficult for Livvy and her father.

After more talk about the club, they voted on their mutual friend Miranda Garcia. “Does Miranda know about
Girls Only?
” asked Livvy.

“I’ve kept the club top-secret,” said Jenna.

“Me, too,” said Heather.

“Maybe Miranda won’t wanna join,” Livvy said, laughing.

Jenna’s face broke into a broad smile. “I have a feeling she’ll like the club. It’s just her and her mom at home.”

“Super good thinking,” Livvy said.

“Who should invite Miranda to join?” Jenna asked.

Heather volunteered. “I will.”

Jenna was all smiles. “Cool. The meeting’s adjourned,” she said. “Who wants to see my baby brother?”

Heather and Livvy both followed Jenna down the hall to the nursery. The room was aglow in sunlight, and Jonathan was just waking up.

“Oh, he’s so sweet,” cooed Heather, touching his tiny yellow bootie.

“He has undeveloped gymnastic ability,” Jenna informed the girls. “Watch his left foot.”

Sure enough! Heather noticed a jerking, forward motion. He nearly kicked off his little bootie. “I think you’re right.”

Just then Jenna’s mother came smiling into the room. “Is my little fella ready for his supper?” she asked, reaching down to pick up the round bundle.

“Better hurry. He’s not howling yet,” Jenna said.

The girls followed Mrs. Song downstairs and watched her give the baby his bottle.

Jenna served up a lemon-lime concoction she made
in a blender, complete with crushed ice. “To our health!” she said, holding her glass high.

“To our Olympic futures!” Livvy added, doing the same.

“To our new club member!” said Heather, joining in.

A Perfect Match

Chapter Thirteen

When Heather was limber enough, she stepped onto the ice at the World Arena Ice Hall. Kevin had come to look for prospective skating partners. Mom too.

Heather would simply enjoy the ice time, practicing old moves and a few easy spins. For fun. The mall rink in Alpine Lake seemed to be shrinking by the day. An hour stint on the Olympic-sized rink was definitely a nice change.

“What do you think of the skater with the jazzy purple outfit?” Kevin asked, catching up with Heather.

“Where?”

“The blond girl . . . over there.” He pointed to a young skater halfway across the rink. “What do you think of her skating?”

Heather spotted the girl. She was short and squatty—all
hips. But her purple practice pants were eye-catching. “I’ll let you know in a minute,” she told him.

“Promise?”

“Of course I promise,” she said. Her brother was acting so weird today. Demanding and pushy. In fact, all he’d wanted to talk about on the trip down was a skating replacement.

While she stroked around the rink, Heather kept her eye on Miss Purple. The girl was a so-so skater, in Heather’s opinion. She knew she’d have to be careful what she said to her brother. Kevin would think she was being picky. Actually, she was trying to be as objective as she could about Kevin’s choice.

Meanwhile, Mom was busy chatting with several coaches. Heather glanced her way every so often, wondering if her very particular mother might be lining up interviews for next week. Of course, Heather knew she’d have to convince Mom that she could actually pull off the jumps and spins required to be a free skater.

“So . . . what’s the verdict?” Kevin was back. He’d snuck up behind her while she was watching Mom in the stands.

“To be honest with you, I think you can probably find someone better than Miss Purple.”

“Okay, then, what about the pink number over there?” Kevin said, a twinkle in his eye.

The skater in pink was perky and cute—about Heather’s build and height. She had long, graceful lines and the
shiniest, bounciest brown hair Heather had ever seen. And she could do flying spins like nobody’s business!