Ann Martin - Stacey's Broken Heart

"Okay," I agreed. I would have hated to have left them behind. "Come on, Robert. Take a ride with us to the station."

Robert agreed. He carried my suitcase to the car and put it in the trunk. "I thought you'd forgotten I was leaving," I said as we climbed into the backseat.

"No way. Sorry I'm late, though. The flower

stand was mobbed. Everybody in the world was buying flowers today,” he explained.

"That's all right. You made it in time," I said-as Mom started the engine. I was just so happy he was there. I couldn't have stood going away with things uneasy between us. "How was the baseball game last night?"

"Oh, great," he said. I waited for more details, but he just smiled at me.

"You're sure getting to be friendly with Pete," I commented.

"Yeah," he agreed. "Pete's a good guy."

Something about these vague answers made me uncomfortable. But I didn't want anything to spoil our last moments together. When we arrived at the station I bought my ticket. "You and Robert wait out on the platform," Mom suggested, taking her cellular phone from her purse. "I want to call work and check on something."

"Okay," I agreed, kissing Mom's cheek. I knew she was just giving Robert and me time alone. Mom can be very cool that way. "I'll see you in a week."

Robert and I walked out onto the long platform. Only a few other people were there. He put down my suitcase and I rested the flowers on it. "Have a good time," he said, taking my hands in his.

In the distance, a whistle blew. We turned and looked at the approaching train. "I'll miss you/" I said.

"Me, too," Robert replied, nodding.

I felt so dose to him. I wanted to ask him — straight out — who he'd had lunch with at Casa Grande the other day. But this moment was perfect. I couldn't stand to spoil it.

The train pulled into the station and we hugged. It was a long, emotional hug.

"All aboard," the conductor shouted. "Express train to Grand Central Station. All aboard!"

"I'd better go," I said. Robert picked up my suitcase and got on the train long enough to throw it into an overhead rack for me. With a quick kiss on the lips, he hurried off the train just as the doors slid shut behind him.

Taking a window seat, I looked out and waved to Robert. He saw me and waved back. The train started moving. I kept waving until Robert was very small. He kept waving, too.

I felt sad, though I didn't know why. I would be gone for just one week. What was the big deal? Robert and I were probably being overdramatic.

Sitting back in my seat, I shut my eyes. What was I sad about? Was it that I'd miss Robert? Or was it that I was afraid I was losing him? It was so confusing. Something was up with

him. Yet he'd come to see me off with flowers, hadn't he? And he'd looked upset, too.

I wondered again who he'd been with at Casa Grande. Could Emily have gotten it wrong? Or what if it was the back of Pete Black, with his new long hair, that she'd seen? But, if so, why would he lie about it? Why had he said he was playing basketball with Marty Bukowski?

I wondered and worried about these things almost all the way to the city. I'd brought a magazine to read, but I was too distracted by my own concerns to focus on it.

Yet, when the train entered a tunnel and everything outside went black, something inside me changed — just as it always does when I enter that tunnel. To me, the tunnel is a signal that the train will be pulling into the station very soon.

My city self takes over in that tunnel. I feel faster. More sophisticated. In some ways, I even feel smarter. It's hard to describe, but there's a change.

By the time the train pulled into one of the many bulb-lit underground platforms in Grand Central Station I wasn't feeling sad about Robert anymore. I was thinking about the city and how much fun this week would be.

"All out for Grand Central," the conductor's

voice came over the P.A. system. "Last stop. Remember to take your valuables. Last stop."

I reached up and struggled to get my suitcase off the rack. "Want help?" asked a man with a beard. Before I could answer, he lifted the suitcase down and handed it to me. City people have a reputation for being cold and unfriendly. But I don't think that's so at all. I've never found them to be that way.

With my huge bouquet of flowers stuck under one arm, I dragged my suitcase down the aisle and out the door. In the waiting area, I looked around at the sea of people. In minutes, I spotted my father. "Dad!" I called, waving.

He saw me right away and hurried through the crowd. "How's my girl?" he asked, wrapping me in a hug.

"Great,"I replied. Despite my worries over Robert, I did feel great. I was so glad to be in the city with my father.

."Who gave you flowers?" he asked.

"Robert."

"Hey, you're blushing!" he teased.

"I am not!" I insisted, though I probably was.

"Are you hungry?"

"Sort of."

"Good. I thought we'd eat at the Oyster Bar."

"All right!" I cheered. The Oyster Bar is a restaurant right in Grand Central on the lower level. They serve mostly fish and shellfish. Not only do I like the food, but, to me, the Oyster Bar is very New York.

"We'll do lots of fun things this week," Dad said.

"I can't wait," I 'told him. It was great to be back in New York.

Chapter 8.

Mallory phoned me at Dad's apartment that night. "Help!" she said. "Abby is a lunatic! She's ruining the club!"

"Calm down,” I told her. "What happened?"

Apparently, Abby had called another special meeting in order to make signs advertising the Mexican festival. Once again, the kids met at Dawn's and Mary Anne's barn.

This time, Mary Anne was baby-sitting for Sara and Norman Hill, who are nine and seven. Sara, who loves art, was very excited about working on the project. Claudia arrived with Charlotte Johanssen (eight), and Jessi came with Becca again. Charlotte and Becca are best friends, so they were thrilled to see each other. This time Mallory showed up with only Vanessa, Margo, and Claire, since the boys were playing baseball somewhere. Abby came last with the Rodowsky kids whom she was sitting for: Shea (nine), Jackie (seven), and Archie (four). "Everyone owes me six dollars," she announced as she set a paper bag on the ground in the barn.

"What for?" Mallory asked.

"I spent thirty-six bucks on these supplies. Six times six is thirty-six, so you each owe me

six."

"Since we're all paying for the supplies,

shouldn't we have talked about it first?" Mallory protested, trying to be diplomatic.

"I'm president, aren't I?" Abby replied. "And treasurer. I make those decisions."

Mallory didn't know how to argue this point, but it didn't seem right to her.

"The treasurer and president make decisions about money that we've already contributed in dues," Claudia said. "You can't just charge us for stuff you decide to buy."

Abby faced Claudia, hands on hips. Her expression was annoyed. The fact that all the kids were staring at Abby, Claudia, and Mallory made it even more tense. "Forget it," Abby said with a smile and a shrug. "I'll eat the other thirty myself. It's no big deal."

"You shouldn't have to do that," Mary Anne said quickly. "That wouldn't be fair to you." She took a five-dollar bill from the back pocket of her jeans, added a single to it, and handed it to Abby.