Crush Alert (17 page)

Riley reached behind a speaker and pulled out Chelsea’s project. Maeve flipped it around and placed in at the base of the stage with a flourish.

She didn’t!
Chelsea thought, but glowed inside.

“Way to go!” Trevor gave her a thumbs-up. “Everyone loves it!”

Sure enough, a crowd was forming around the poster.

“Yes, ladies and gentlemen,” Maeve continued. “Love is in the air, so get ready to get your groove on to the new hit single ‘You, You, You’!”

Riley pulled out his guitar and hit the first chord. The pure sound echoed through the gymnasium, capturing everyone’s attention. And then Riley and Maeve launched into a cool duet:

The romantic fun song with the jazzy beat blew everyone away as Maeve and Riley blended their voices into
a rich, harmonious sound. No one even minded when Maeve messed up on some of the lyrics.

“You know, Nick, one of our adventures might just be visiting Maeve and Riley in Hollywood some day,” Charlotte whispered.

“I’m ready.” He smiled and grabbed her waiting hand.

When the Music Ends

“Maeve, wait up,” Riley called as she followed her friends outside. The dance was officially over, and everyone was leaving. Maeve turned around.

Riley thrust a CD in her hands. “Here.”

Maeve ran her fingers along the side of the jewel case. “What’s this?”

Riley grinned. “It’s a mix CD of some songs I think you’ll like. I meant to give it to you earlier, but I forgot.”

Maeve flipped to the back of the case and quickly scanned some of the tracks. He was right. Some of her favorite songs were burned on the CD. It was as if he had crawled inside her head and learned exactly what type of music she liked.

“Oh, Riley!” she said, bouncing up and down. “That is so incredibly sweet of you! She squeezed his hand. “OMG. This totally reminds me of the Judy Garland movie where she and Mickey Rooney decide to put on a show and they sing that really cool duet together and—”

Riley’s eyes widened. “You’re so cool, Maeve. You’re different from other girls. You, like, totally have this passion and just put it out there for everyone to see.”

Maeve couldn’t believe her ears. Riley thought she was interesting and different. Nobody had ever said that to her before. Usually people thought she was kind of silly for being so crazy about movies.

“Thanks,” was all she could muster.

She and Riley walked through the snowy night, chatting excitedly about their duet and discussing ways they could improve it for the next time.

Charlotte stood by the curb, her heart as light as pink cotton candy. Could the night get any better?

“Are you ready to go home?” Nick asked, appearing at her side.

“Yeah, I’m tired.” It had been a long night, and Charlotte felt as if she’d been dancing for days.

The evening was cool and quiet as they walked side by side. It was wonderful having Nick beside her as the snow fell through the night sky. She never thought she would love a place as much as she had loved Paris—but that’s what happened. On this chilly winter night there was nowhere she’d rather be than right here in Brookline.

As they walked, Nick talked about a winter hiking trip he’d taken with his dad. They’d gone up to the White Mountains, hiked up to Franconia Notch, and skied down. Charlotte shared the time she tried to explain what snow felt like to her friends in Tanzania.

“There’s a rainy season in that part of Africa,” Charlotte explained. “But never any snow!”

The walk was over much too soon. When they reached the steps of the yellow Victorian, Charlotte turned to thank Nick.

“Thanks for walking me home, Nick. I really had a wonderful time.” Charlotte hoped that they could put the whole misunderstanding of the past week behind them. She knew that she really liked Nick in a special way, but she’d had enough of crush craziness to last her at least a year.

Oh, no! Not again
. Charlotte fell forward as she turned to go up the stairs.

Nick grabbed her arm and Charlotte righted herself quickly. “Uh…yeah. Guess I kinda missed a step.”

“Yeah…kinda,” said Nick, grinning. “So…do you think we could meet for breakfast at Montoya’s on Monday?”

“Sure. I’d like that,” she said, and stared down at her strappy sandals. Her toes were pink and frozen from the snow. She looked up with a mischievous grin. “Wait, are you actually going to show up this time?”

“I’ll be there,” Nick said.

Charlotte smiled and looked up at him. His eyes twinkled in the moonlight as he stared back into her eyes. She could have looked into those eyes forever, but finally she turned to go.

“Well, good night,” she whispered as she turned to attempt to go up her steps once more.

“Charlotte…?” she heard Nick say.

She turned around. What was he still doing here? She stood on the first step waiting for him to say something, but instead he was moving toward her. He put his hands on her shoulders and closed his eyes.

Her mind was racing and she felt as if a thousand
butterflies had flown into her stomach. Charlotte quickly shut her own eyes and before she could gain control of her thoughts she felt Nick’s lips on hers, gentle and light as a snowflake! Her mind buzzed and she could feel every inch of her body beaming. Here she was on a beautiful, snowy night getting kissed by the nicest, cutest boy in the world!

“Good night,” Nick said under his breath as he pulled away, and before she knew it, he had vanished down the street.

Charlotte ran up the porch steps, wrenched open the front door, and smiled radiantly as she slipped inside. She shut the door and leaned against it, trying to quiet her ragged breathing. As she blindly stumbled up the stairs, she heard her father call out, “How’d it go, sweetie?”

OMG! I can’t talk to Dad! Not now,
she thought.

“I had fun! Good night!”

Before he could ask her anything else, she flew up the stairs to her room. No way did she want to tell her dad about the kiss. Some things she just wasn’t prepared to share with him. Kicking off her shoes, she picked up Marty and flopped down on her bed. The bedsprings squeaked in protest as she grabbed her pillow and hugged it close to her, Marty nestled by her side.

A
kiss. My FIRST KISS.
Staring up at the ceiling, she replayed every single moment on the walk home until she ended at the kiss. Then she started over again. Absently stroking Marty’s fur, Charlotte opened her journal, staring at the blank page for a long time before beginning to write.

I
t was close to eleven a.m. before a sleepy Charlotte opened her eyes. And that was only because her dad was cooking his world-famous pancakes, and the heavenly scent was wafting to her bedroom from the kitchen. But Charlotte wasn’t quite ready to eat yet; her mind was still twirling from last night’s adventure, and her feet…they were so sore. All that dancing in her fancy shoes and then the walk home through the snow had made her realize that fashion has its price.

Charlotte wiggled her toes and snuggled deeper into the covers. She smiled as she thought back to her final dance with Nick. The dance had been so dreamy. She’d almost felt like Cinderella at a modern day ball.

Suddenly she giggled as a vision of her first day disaster at AAJH popped in her mind. At the time, she was convinced that when she zipped the tablecloth into her pants and wiped out her whole lunch group in front of everyone in the cafeteria, that she, Charlotte Ramsey, would be
forever labeled the biggest loser of all time.

And she almost was. But then the BSG happened, and she was happy to have the best friends in the world. And now there was Nick. Nick—who loved her stories about riding camels, crossing deserts, and watching stampeding antelopes. Nick—who she could talk to about her dreams of traveling the world. Nick—who really seemed to understand her. Nick—who had kissed her!

“Charlotte honey,” her dad called out to her. “Your breakfast is ready.”

“In a minute,” she called as she threw back the covers and jumped out of bed.

First, she had to check her e-mail.

“Oh, no!” Charlotte cried out loud to the empty room. “I never wrote back after Marty’s walk.”

At least this morning, she had good news to share.

Charlotte sat for a minute, trying to recall exactly what the kiss had felt like. It was easier to remember the words Nick had said, and the way he blinked afterward, and stuck his hands deep in his pockets.

“You up there?” her dad’s voice echoed up the stairs to the Tower where she sat at her computer.

“Yes,” Charlotte answered, yawning, and stumbled down to the kitchen still dressed in her pj’s.

“Good morning, Sleeping Beauty,” Dad said, placing a steaming stack of pancakes on her plate. “Or should I say Cinderella? Cinderella’s the one who danced the night away.”

A knock on the door interrupted them. Mr. Ramsey walked down the winding staircase to answer it while Charlotte dribbled maple syrup over her pancakes.

“Maeve, Isabel! This is a pleasant surprise. Come and have some pancakes!” Charlotte heard them all pounding up the stairs, and then her friends burst into the kitchen, stomping the snow off their boots.

“Charlotte! You’re awake! We just
have
to talk,” Maeve gushed. “All of us! Wasn’t that the most wonderful dance ever?” She threw up her arms and twirled around the kitchen next to a bemused Mr. Ramsey.

Then Maeve turned to Charlotte’s dad. “Mr. Ramsey, we have to steal Charlotte and go to Montoya’s. After all, it was the dance of the century, and all us girls have to debrief.”

Charlotte tried not to smile too obviously. Maeve didn’t even know half of what happened!

“But…I’m in my pj’s, and…” Charlotte pointed at her breakfast with her fork.

Mr. Ramsey was at the stove again, pouring on more batter. “Girls! There’s plenty for everyone.”

“Oh, thank you so much Mr. Ramsey, but I absolutely
couldn’t
.” Maeve’s eyes got all big and she sounded exactly like one of her favorite movie stars. “See, we’re in
such
a hurry. Katani and Avery are already on their way to Montoya’s! And we have to bring Charlotte—it wouldn’t be right without her.”

Charlotte nearly coughed up a bite of pancakes. Montoya’s!
What if Nick thinks I’m following him around now?
It was unlikely, but still. He wouldn’t say anything in front of her friends, would he?

“Well, I guess I’ll just have to freeze my special pancakes,” he said, patting his daughter on the back. “But, I am a little curious, girls. Didn’t you all just see each other last night at the dance?” Her father looked at all of them quizzically.

“Well, I wasn’t there—” Isabel started to explain.

“And there’s so much to discuss!” Maeve interrupted. “The DJ, the refreshments, what everyone wore…think of it as super-important girl talk, Mr. Ramsey.”

Mr. Ramsey went back to the stove and flipped some fresh pancakes onto a plate. “Well, in that case, Charlotte, I think you’d better get dressed,” he said, smiling.

Charlotte looked down at her half-eaten breakfast. “Thanks, Dad. I should probably save some room if we’re going to…the bakery.” She hoped her friends wouldn’t notice that she didn’t say Montoya’s. She was worried the name might make her voice go all funny like it had on the phone with Nick the other night.

Mr. Ramsey shrugged. “I’m sure Marty will enjoy the remains of your breakfast. Go have fun with your friends! The little dude’s appetite seems to be back.” He chuckled as Marty stood next to him looking up with a pleading expression.

Within five minutes the friends were walking down Beacon Street on their way to Montoya’s.
What will Nick think?
Charlotte wondered nervously.

Hearts and Hummingbirds

Avery jumped up on her chair and waved when Maeve arrived at Montoya’s with Charlotte and Isabel. The bakery was always crowded on Saturday mornings, and today was no exception. The girls had to squeeze their way through a line that reached from the cash register almost to the door just to get to the table. Charlotte sat down facing the counter, and kept an eye out for Nick’s dark hair.

“What took you so long?” Katani asked, after hugging her friends. “People kept trying to take the chairs we saved for you!”

“Char was still in her pj’s,” Isabel explained.

“And Mr. Ramsey wanted to make us pancakes!” Maeve sniffed the air. “It was very gracious of him to offer, but we explained,” she added with a flourish, “that this was an important BSG meeting. And I personally think we need Montoya’s hot chocolate…agreed?”

As if answering her question, Nick appeared with a tray of five hot chocolates and a plate of fresh-baked muffins. Charlotte avoided his eyes, but watched him pass the drinks around and lay the plate of muffins on the table.
She tried to keep her breath steady but couldn’t, partially because Maeve kept looking over at her with sparkling eyes.

Really, she felt ready to explode inside. It was a strange feeling, partly anticipation, like opening a birthday present, and partly feeling like you were hiding under the covers.

“Hey, Char,” he said quietly, holding out the plate. “What’s up, BSG?” He nodded at the other girls.

“Busy place this morning,” Katani commented.

Nick nodded. “Yeah, everybody’s coming in today. My parents had to drag me out of bed to help. I saw you guys sitting here, and well…I figured I’d grab you some fresh pastries ’cause the line is so long you might not get any.”

Charlotte thought Nick was rambling a bit.
Maybe he’s a little nervous too,
she figured as she twisted a strand of her hair.

“Thanks, dude!” Avery grabbed a warm muffin. “If any more people come in, you’ll have to get some of those swingy things like they have for lines at the airport.”

“Swingy things?” Maeve laughed.

“
What?
Do
you
know what they’re called?” Avery challenged.

“Charlotte?” Katani asked. “You’re the resident expert on words
and
airports!”

“Umm…” Charlotte couldn’t think of anything at all with Nick standing right there.

Nick answered instead. “I think you just call them ropes, Ave…I have to get back to work,” he said quickly. “Wish I could hang out, but…” He gestured at the line.

“No problem,” Isabel assured him. “Good luck!”

“Thanks for the muffins,” Charlotte blurted out, and he gave her a little wave as he disappeared back behind the counter.

“You guys are sooo adorable!” Maeve exclaimed, all talk of airports and lines forgotten. “So tell me everything! What did he say to you out in the falling snow? I bet it was romantic! Did he kiss the back of your hand and apologize?”

“Maeve!” Katani scolded, seeing Charlotte’s pale expression. “Maybe she doesn’t want to talk about it.”

“It…it’s okay,” Charlotte said quietly. “I mean, things are actually great! We had the best time together after I stopped acting all weird!”

“I know what you mean!” Isabel agreed. “I thought it would be terrible to miss the dance, but you know what? I had a great time at Jeri’s Place.” She lifted up an old shopping bag she’d been carrying. “I even had time to make something for each of you.”

“You didn’t?!” Maeve stared at the bag, eyes sparkling. She just loved gifts!

Isabel unwrapped a ceramic heart magnet about the size of her palm. Painted in the middle was a beautiful pink hummingbird. “This one’s for you, Maeve, because you are so sweet and friendly.”

Maeve clutched her magnet and crooned. “It’s beautiful! I’m going to keep it in my locker.”

Isabel gave Charlotte a crane, for world travel and good luck, Avery a bluebird for happiness, and Katani an elegant swan.

“What about you, Izzy?” Charlotte asked.

“Well…” Izzy reached into the bag and pulled out a green-and-pink egg-shaped magnet. “Kevin made this one for me,” she confessed. “It’s an Easter Egg.”

“What?!” All her friends said at once.

Isabel laughed. “You had to be there!”

Confessions of a Single Dad

Charlotte arrived home again two hours later. After Isabel’s gifts, they’d started discussing the girls’ dresses, then they went on to the best dance moves, and everyone agreed that Riley and Maeve’s performance was awesome.

And just when they were ready to leave, Chelsea showed up with Trevor, Dillon, and Henry Yurt. She’d run into the boys while printing out her favorite pictures from the dance at the automatic photo machine in the pharmacy. They all laughed at a shot of Yurt doing a spectacular jump move, and Maeve fell in love with an adorable picture of all the BSG holding the hearts they’d helped hang all over the gym.

Charlotte’s dad was washing dishes at the sink when she walked in. “So?” he asked. “Are ever going to fill me in on this dance?”

Charlotte had enjoyed herself so much, she’d barely had time to think about what to tell her dad. She picked up a towel and started drying the dishes.
I can’t tell him everything…not yet, at least.

“It was fun, Dad.” She leaned down to put the frying pan away. “The music was fantastic.”

“I’m glad you had a nice time,” her dad said. “So…you and Nick…”

How does he always know what I’m thinking?
Charlotte
was glad she had her head in a cabinet so her dad couldn’t see her blush.

“Yeah?” She stood up and calmly took a plate from the drying rack.

“You really like him, huh?”

Charlotte shrugged. “Well, he’s…really nice…and he wants to travel, too.”

Mr. Ramsey nodded. “It’s okay, you don’t have to tell me everything, but you know you can…if you want.”

Charlotte put the plate away and they worked in silence for a few moments.

When Mr. Ramsey finally spoke again, he looked wistful. “I can still remember my first date with your mom. She looked so lovely that day with her long hair hanging down—looking like someone out of a Renaissance painting. And I still remember what she was wearing—a simple pair of blue jeans and a red sweater.” Dad shook his head and laughed. “We went to the Beacon Street Movie House. I remember we saw the movie
Casablanca
, a great Humphrey Bogart flick.” Her dad stood quietly for a minute, letting the water run into the sink.

An echoing sadness filled Charlotte’s heart. Maybe, if her mom were still alive, she’d be able to tell her about last night and her very first kiss. That was what moms were for. Charlotte sighed and tried to focus her mind on something else, but thinking about moms made her remember Mrs. Madden and the voice mail she’d overheard.

Charlotte put the last dish away and sat down at the table. “Dad, I need to ask you something,” she said.

Mr. Ramsey sat down on the chair next to her
and folded his hands. “Ask away, sweetie.”

Charlotte took a deep breath. No use dancing around the issue.
I’m just going to blurt it out,
she thought. “Dad…how did your date go with Avery’s mom?”

Her dad jerked back so suddenly, he almost fell off his chair. At first Charlotte thought he was choking, but then she realized he was totally blown away by her question.

He took a napkin and dabbed at his watering eyes as Charlotte went back to her seat. “Okay. Wow. I wasn’t prepared for that one.” He laughed.

“Dad!” Charlotte couldn’t believe it. It felt like he was the kid and she was the grownup! “This isn’t funny. I heard the message she left you. You went to that French restaurant last night.”

Mr. Ramsey smiled at his daughter. “Oh, Charlotte! I’m so sorry, I should have explained, but you were so busy getting ready for the dance…I didn’t want to bother you!”