Fabulous Five 025 - The Fabulous Five Minus One Read online

  Christie nodded.

  "I also got chewed out by Jana because I told you I had a history test when I didn't." He kicked at a rock on the sidewalk. "I guess I deserved it. I'm really sorry for that, and for getting you in trouble with your parents, Christie."

  Christie was amazed at the number of apologies going around lately. First, she had apologized to her parents, then Clarence and the PUKES had kind of apologized, and now Chase was doing it. There must be an epidemic.

  "I should have known better, too," she said. "As you said, I'm almost an adult."

  "Then you don't hate me?" He looked very sincere, but Christie wasn't sure that she could ever again trust him the way she had before. It would take time, and they didn't have it.

  "Of course I don't hate you. I guess maybe I expected too much from you. I should know better, since I'm always complaining about people who expect too much from me." She thought she saw a flicker of pain in his eyes.

  "The toughest part is, I was starting to feel like a part of your gang," said Chase. "I think I may have blown it. I'm not sure they like me that much anymore."

  She looked at him sympathetically. "Don't be too sure. They're pretty nice people."

  He finally smiled. "I know they are."

  When they reached her corner, he said, "Maybe we can play tennis sometime before you leave. I'm really not very good, but maybe you can teach me."

  "Maybe," she said.

  Christie looked around the big airport terminal waiting room. It was totally awesome. She and her family and The Fabulous Five had gotten there an hour early, as the Winchells had been told. Her father said it was so that their bags could be inspected before being loaded for the overseas flight.

  Christie couldn't remember when she had been so nervous. That morning she had packed and repacked her overnight case a dozen times to make sure she had what she needed for the all-night flight. It was hard to imagine that she would go to sleep over the Atlantic Ocean and wake up in London, England. Mostly it seemed unreal that she would be saying good-bye to Jana, Katie, Melanie, and Beth.

  Dekeisha, Melinda, and lots of other kids had called her during the last week to say good-bye. Chase had called the evening before to say good-bye, too. They hadn't dated again, but they had played tennis twice. He was right—he wasn't very good at it. Christie still got that funny feeling every time they talked. She wondered what it would have been like between them if she weren't leaving.

  "Christie," said Jana, looking very serious. She, Beth, Melanie, and Katie had each pulled a box from their backpacks. Christie had thought it was strange when she saw them wearing their backpacks to the airport.

  "We want to give you these to remember us by," said Beth.

  Christie looked at her four friends standing in front of her with their boxes, and she thought she was going to lose it. She swallowed hard four times before she could manage a smile.

  "Thank you."

  "Don't just say, 'Thank you'," said Melanie. "Open them. Here, start with mine."

  Christie loosened the bow and took the paper off very carefully so she could keep it. Reaching inside, she pulled out a stuffed bear. It was reddish brown, the color of Melanie's hair, and was wearing a dress with hearts all over it. On the front of the dress was stitched "Melanie."

  "Ooh! How sweet," Christie cooed as she hugged Melanie tight.

  "Now mine," said Beth.

  Christie was equally careful with the wrapping on Beth's gift. Inside was another bear. This one was dressed in wild clothes made out of fluorescent-colored material, and it was wearing sunglasses. Spiral earrings hung down from its little round bear ears. It had "Beth" embroidered on its front.

  "Oh, no! It's perfect," Christie squealed as she grabbed and hugged Beth. Beth's eyes were moist.

  Next she opened Katie's present. Inside was yet another bear. This one was smaller and had reddish hair like Katie's. It was dressed like an English judge with a white wig on its head and a gavel in its paw. "Katie" was on its front.

  As Christie suspected, Jana's box contained a fourth bear. This one was dark brown and was wearing a hat on which was written "Reporter." Jana was coeditor of the school yearbook. Of course the bear had "Jana" stitched on its shirt.

  "We thought they'd go nicely with your white tennis bear," said Katie. "You can line them all up on your bed and call them The Fabulous Five."

  "There'll never be another Fabulous Five," said Christie as she reached out and pulled her friends to her. They wrapped their arms around each other in a big group hug.

  "I hate to break this up," said Christie's father softly. "But they've announced the boarding. We've got to find our seats."

  Christie and her parents tucked the bears into their carry-on luggage. Then the Fabulous Five walked with Christie to the entrance of the jetway leading out to the plane. Christie gave her boarding pass to the attendant, then turned around to give one last wave to Katie, Beth, Melanie, and Jana.

  "FRIENDS FOREVER!" the four of them shouted.

  "Friends forever!" said Christie. Giving a little wave with her fingers, she turned and walked to the plane.

  Table of Contents

  TITLE PAGE

  COPYRIGHT

  DEDICATION

  CHAPTER 1

  CHAPTER 2

  CHAPTER 3

  CHAPTER 4

  CHAPTER 5

  CHAPTER 6

  CHAPTER 7

  CHAPTER 8

  CHAPTER 9

  CHAPTER 10

  CHAPTER 11

  CHAPTER 12