Holly's Heart Collection One (16 page)

She showed off two pages of artwork. “These are my favorites. Think he’ll like them?”

I nodded. “If you want to keep the originals, Mom can make color copies at work.”

Carrie seemed to like the idea. So I spent the rest of the afternoon helping her compose a letter to Daddy.

After our supper of chicken chow mein—yum!—I settled down at the dining room table to do some homework. I was finishing up my algebra assignment when the phone rang. I flew across the kitchen to get it.

“Hey, Holly.” It was Billy.

“Hey,” I said.

“I was thinking about what you said today. I saw this show on TV about a guy who wasn’t happy unless he was dating at least two girls at once.”

“And?”

“He not only two-timed every girl he went with, but he got messed up trying to keep things straight with the girls he’d lined up dates with.”

“That won’t happen to Jared,” I said, determined. “Not when the word gets out about him to every girl in Dressel Hills. Beginning with Andie.” I took a deep breath. “I have a fabulous scheme. Wanna help me pull it off?”

“Absolutely,” Billy said.

“Here it is.” I told him what I’d dreamed up on my way home from school.

Billy laughed when he heard my plan. “You’re right,” he said. “Your birthday party will be the perfect place to set Jared up. Whoa, Holly, you’re good.”

“So…I’ll talk to you later.” Excitement jitters were building inside me. I could hardly wait for the perfect moment to get Jared good.

After I hung up, I grabbed my notebook of secret lists. There were important details to plan, involving Andie, Marcia Greene, and Jared.

First, I phoned Marcia. She seemed a little hesitant, maybe a teeny bit taken in by Jared’s attention (the rose probably did it), but she was willing to go along with the plan…for a price. I had to let her wear my purple-and-pink jacket to some ski party next week.

I agreed. That was easy.

Next, I called Jared. He seemed surprised but thrilled that I’d changed my mind about including him at my party. I didn’t tell him
who
was coming, of course.

Getting Andie to show up at my party would be much more difficult. I called her last.

“Hey. It’s Holly. Please don’t hang up,” I said.

“What can
you
possibly say that I’d want to hear?” she said sarcastically.

Praying for courage, I said, “Andie, I really want you to come to my party Saturday night.”

She hesitated. “Uh, I don’t know.”

“Did you find the note I stuck in your locker with the clipping from the Loyalty Papers?” I persisted. “Did you read it?”

“Sort of, but I’m not—”

“
Jared’s
coming to the party. I thought you’d want to come with him.” It was my last ploy.

“Okay…sure. If he’s coming, I’ll be there.”

I stifled the urge to do backflips. “Perfect,” I said. “I’ll see you Saturday night.”

We said good-bye. Then I clenched my fists and jumped up and down. Mom looked at me funny when she came through the room hauling the vacuum cleaner and its attachments.

I picked up the long vacuum hose. “Here, let me help.”

“Looks like we have spiders again,” Mom said, waving her feather duster in the corner of the ceiling and whisking away a few cobwebs.

I shivered at the thought of the creepy things. “I don’t see any spiders now,” I said, fluffing up the sofa pillows.

“Not now maybe, but the proof’s in the webs they spin.”

It sounded like a bit of poetry and reminded me of the miniwebs I hoped to spin for Andie this Saturday night. To help her see the truth. At last!

Friday after school Billy walked me home. “Your plan to expose Jared is so cool,” he said, stomping the snow off his boots.

“If we all do our part, it should be as smooth as vanilla pudding.” Then I set things straight with Billy. “This whole thing is
not
about revenge, just so you know. It’s about getting my best friend back.”

“And there’s no way it won’t work. You and Andie will be friends again by tomorrow night, you’ll see.” His smile was so big I was curious about
his
motive.

At choir rehearsal Saturday morning I went out of my way to be nice to Jared, which wasn’t easy. After all, I had been nuts about him last week. The wounds from his deception were still fresh.

“Thanks for inviting me to your party,” he said, sliding over on the riser to make room for me. “I thought you didn’t want me to come.”

“I changed my mind.” I didn’t say I’d had a change of heart. That would’ve been a lie.

Mr. Keller chose several kids to sing in an a cappella group. Danny Myers was one of the tenors. I listened as they sang, admiring Danny’s performance.

After choir, Mr. Keller congratulated us on our good blend. “When we achieve unity with our voices, our music is that much stronger—more powerful. The same is true in our lives when, as brothers and sisters in Christ, we have unity of mind and heart. United, we can accomplish more for the kingdom of God.”

I thought about his words. Even though we were both Christians, there hadn’t been much agreement between Andie and me lately. I hoped my plan would help restore some of that unity—and give me back my best friend.

BEST FRIEND, WORST ENEMY

Chapter 16

Pastel streamers and paper cut-outs dangled from the ceiling of the dining room, creating a festive atmosphere for my birthday party. The table was covered with Mom’s special white-lace tablecloth. Pink napkins were lined up beside pink plastic bowls. In the middle of the table, there were ten kinds of ice-cream toppings: strawberries, caramel, butterscotch, hot fudge, chocolate sprinkles, nuts, gummy bears, sliced bananas, maraschino cherries, and—best of all—whipped cream.

Mom rearranged the silverware, lining the forks up symmetrically. “We’re all set, Holly-Heart,” she said. “Why don’t you go get yourself ready?”

I stood back and surveyed the table. “It’s beautiful, absolutely beautiful.” Impulsively, I hugged Mom. “Thanks.”

“Hurry along, now,” she said, chuckling like it was
her
party!

I rushed upstairs and slipped into new jeans and a hot-pink wool sweater with a white T underneath. Then I went into the bathroom to do my hair. I brushed it vigorously, then parted it down the middle and made two big braids, one on either side of my head. I finished the outfit off with a pretty beaded bracelet featuring every conceivable shade of pink.
Perfect.

At seven o’clock sharp, the doorbell rang. I greeted my first guests, Joy and Shauna, two girls from youth group and my home ec class. Two boys from the basketball team showed up next. Later, Jared and Andie arrived…together. I smiled and welcomed them, but neither of them looked me in the eye. I offered them seats in the living room, where the other kids waited for the ice-cream bonanza.

The doorbell rang again. I hurried to get it.

“Billy!” I gasped. “What happened to you?”

Billy, his right leg in a cast and crutches under his arms, wobbled into the living room. Marcia Greene followed close behind, watching him and holding his arm so he wouldn’t slip.

Everyone circled Billy, firing questions at him. “Clear the way,” I said. “Let him sit down.” I led Billy to a chair and propped his leg on a footstool.

“How’s that?” I asked, sneaking a look at Jared. He was sitting next to Andie on the couch, wearing a puzzled look.

“It was a skiing accident,” Billy told us. “Yesterday after school. I was skiing fast down a black slope when I hit this mogul and boom—I wiped out.” He described how his sister had screamed, how the ski patrol had taken him down on the snowmobile. “Lucky my mom’s a doctor. She made sure I didn’t go into shock,” he said.

I stole another look at Jared. He was listening to Billy with interest.
So far, so good.

“Ice cream’s ready,” Mom called.

All of us trooped into the kitchen, where my mother, the perfect hostess, announced the flavors. We lined up at the kitchen bar, and Mom dished out the ice cream. Then we gathered at the dining room table and picked out our favorite toppings.

Andie hovered near Jared. “What ice cream would you like?” she asked. “I can get it for you.”

Marcia did the same. “Oh, Billy,” she said. “Just tell me what you’d like on your sundae, and I’ll take care of it.”

A few minutes later Andie picked up the can of whipped cream. “Would you like some?” she asked Jared.

When she finished with the can, Marcia reached for it. “Billy,” she said, her voice a tad sweeter than Andie’s, “would you like some of this?”

“Sure, thanks,” he said, playing the part.

Andie turned cherry red. Jared frowned.

Everyone stood around the dining room, laughing and talking as we ate our huge sundaes.

Then Billy motioned for me. Balancing on his crutches, he held his punch cup high in the air. “Here’s to the birthday girl,” he announced. Then he blew me a kiss. I giggled. All part of the act.

Jared’s eyes nearly popped out.

After Mom offered seconds on ice cream, we headed downstairs to the family room while Mom and Carrie cleared away the dishes. Tossing our shoes off, my friends curled up on the sectional facing the entertainment center, and I started a DVD, pre-approved by Mom. On the coffee table stood a tall white vase displaying a single, long-stemmed red rose, which I’d bought for myself that afternoon.

The movie was one of my favorites,
Ever After.
So romantic and sweet. But I hardly paid attention. I kept watching Andie and Jared. I pulled on my hair, nervous about what Billy and I had schemed to do.

The end of the video, when the credits came up, was Billy’s cue. As soon as I turned up the lights, he whipped out a blue marker and asked everyone to sign his cast. When Marcia signed it, LOVE, MARCIA G., he grabbed her hand and said, “Does this mean you’re my girlfriend?”

She stuttered, acting the part flawlessly. “I…I’ll have to ask Jared,” she said, facing him.

Andie’s eyes popped.

There was a long, awkward silence. Jared’s jaw flinched nervously.

Then Andie leaped up. “What’s going on?” she said, scowling first at me, then Marcia. “Jared and
I
are together. What’s this about?”

By now Jared looked like a trapped rat. Nearly speechless, he mumbled, “I…uh…I don’t…”

Marcia stared at Jared and poured it on. “I thought you liked me, Jared. Isn’t that what the rose was for?”

Andie let out a tiny gasp. She swung around to face Jared, face aghast. I’d never known Andie to be tongue-tied, but at this minute, she was absolutely silent.

Now it was
my
turn. I picked up the dainty rosebud vase. Holding it high, I said, “Roses are usually given to represent something important. Like true friendship or…love. This rose is exactly like the one Jared tried to give me. But I didn’t take it.” I stared at Andie, hoping she could take note of my demonstration of loyalty.

“Jared offered a rose to
me,
too,” Marcia declared, “after school.”

“This is nuts!” Andie looked from Marcia to me and back again. “I’m outta here.” Her eyes shot fire—at me. “Meet me upstairs, Holly,” she said coldly. It sounded like an invitation to a duel.

I followed her upstairs to the hall closet, where she dragged out her jacket and put it on. She pulled me outside into the bitter night. Standing there on the front porch, lit only by the faint glow of a distant streetlight, we faced each other. “What are you trying to prove, Holly
Heartless
?” she asked.

“I’m sick of Jared coming between us. Honestly, I thought this was the only way to show you what he’s really like. I doubt that Jared would fill you in on how he offered me a rose, then gave it to Marcia instead. He’s a two-timer, Andie. It’s obvious.”

“I don’t care!” she said.

“You’re actually going to stick with him?”

She just glared at me.

“What about our friendship—years of great times, sharing our deepest secrets, a good, solid relationship…the best I’ve ever had,” I said, hoping she’d snap out of it. Hoping…

“You humiliated me, Holly.” Her voice was shaking, and I thought I saw tears glistening in her eyes. “Our friendship’s over. No more Loyalty Papers, no more teddy bears, no more nothing. You can forget about me, Holly Heartless, because this is the last time I’ll ever set foot in your house.”