Ann Martin - Stacey's Broken Heart

"How about if, everyone decides," Abby countered shrewdly. "We'll vote at the end of the meeting. That's the only fair way."

"Okay," Kristy agreed, accepting the challenge. "It's a deal."

Chapter 3.

The moment I woke up on Tuesday morning, I started thinking about what to pack for my week in the city. Somehow, when I'm in Manhattan, clothing seems more important to me than it does in Stoneybrook. I suppose that's because New York City is a fashion capital, and when you walk down the street you see so many great styles. Of course, not everyone in the city dresses great, but there are more stores than in Stoneybrook and with much trendier clothes. And, in the suburbs, people dress in a more sporty, casual way than in the city.

Maybe I just didn't want to look like I was from the suburbs when I was in the city. I think that was it, really. After all, I am a city person, part-time, anyway.

I threw off my sheet and headed straight for my closet to pull out my suitcase. Normally, I don't pack a whole suitcase when I visit Dad

for a weekend. My overnight bag is sufficient. But I would be gone for an entire week this time.

I dragged the suitcase out and tossed it onto my bed. Then I went back to my closet and began studying my clothes. Somehow, nothing there looked right to me.

I was so intent on staring into my closet that I didn't even hear Mom come in. "Going somewhere?" she asked.

I jumped back. "Oh, wow, Mom! You startled me."

"Sorry," she said with a smile. She looked nice, as she usually does. She was dressed in beige pants with a matching sleeveless tunic top, and had draped a long scarf around her neck. Her blonde hair was set in soft curls. I think Mom is pretty and, when people tell me I look like her, I'm glad.

"I don't have anything to take to the Walkers'," I complained.

"Nothing to take?" Mom laughed incredulously. "That closet is jammed full of clothes."

"I know," I admitted with a sigh. "Maybe my taste has changed or something."

"Well, we're due for a back-to-school shopping trip soon," Mom said. "We can do it before you go."

"Thank you!" I cried, hugging her. End of

summer is such a strange time in terms of clothing. All the fall school stuff is in the stores, but it's not cold enough yet to wear the things you buy. So, you get something new and you're excited to wear it, but then you roast. Most of the time I don't care. I wear it anyway and pretend (even to myself) that I'm not really hot.

"When can we go?" I asked.

"How about tomorrow?" Mom suggested. "It's a special employees-only back-to-school sale day. You can meet me at Bellair's after your BSC meeting."

"Great," I agreed.

Mom kissed my forehead. "Speaking of Bellair's, I'd better leave now or I'll be late for work. What are you doing today?"

I shrugged. "No plans. I'll call Robert or Claudia, I guess. I'll see what they're doing."

"Well, have a good day," Mom said as she left the room.

I changed from my white cotton nightgown into a pair of khaki-green Bermuda shorts and a yellow cotton shirt with purple violets on it. Heading downstairs, I decided to phone Robert first, since he'd made such a fuss about my going away for a week.

When I called his house, his younger sister answered. "He went out," she told me.

"Did he say where?" I asked, surprised. Robert hadn't mentioned any plans to me. He usually tells me if he's going somewhere the. next day. ,

"No . . . oh, wait a minute, there's a note here in Robert's horrible handwriting." (Horrible? I like Robert's handwriting.) "It says, Tell Stacey I went to play basketball with some guys. I'll be gone all day.' That's where he is, I suppose."

"Okay, thanks a lot," I told her, hanging up. That made sense. Robert's guy friends never make plans. They always just do things on the spur of the moment.

Next, I phoned Claudia. "I'm in the middle of trying to make watermelon carvings," she said. "The watermelons were really cheap at the supermarket and they're an intense green color this time of year. You can come over and watch if you want. You could eat the watermelon insides. I'm not really using the melon part."

Somehow eating globs of mushy pink, pitty melon as Claudia carelessly tossed it out of its rind didn't sound appealing. Besides, when Claudia is deep in the throes of creativity, she's not great company. She's in her own world at those times. You talk to her and she nods, but you get the distinct feeling she hasn't heard anything you've said.

"No thanks,” I said. "Call me later when you're done."

"Okay," Claud agreed, sounding relieved that I wasn't coming.

That left me with nothing to do, so I went back upstairs and packed the few items I knew I wanted to take with me. I selected my best earrings. I sorted through my sandals, sneakers, and dress shoes and decided I definitely needed a heavy-soled sandal for walking in the city.

As I packed, my mind wandered and I noticed something about myself. I wasn't at all upset about leaving Robert for the week. Why not? I wondered. I'm crazy about Robert. Shouldn't I miss him?

I'd be gone only a week, of course. No biggie. Still . . . was I heartless or something?

That idea stopped me cold. Heartless? Me? Was it possible?

No, of course not. The thought made me uncomfortable, just the same. And I was suddenly struck with an overwhelming need to see Robert — to feel again the excitement and happiness I feel whenever we're together.

Tossing a sock into my suitcase, I left my room and went downstairs. Robert and his friends always play basketball at the outdoor courts by our school. I decided to go and watch them. At least I'd get to see him and talk to

him a little. Besides, he'd appreciate that I came out to see him. It would let him know that I cared about spending time with him. I wasn't just heartlessly going off for a week without thinking of him at all.

It isn't far from my house to SMS (Stoneybrook Middle School, where my friends and I attend school). When I arrived at the courts, sure enough a bunch of guys were playing basketball.

Right away, I recognized two of Robert's friends, a nice guy named Alex Zacharias and another named Wayne McConville. Some of the other guys I recognized from school but didn't really know. But I didn't see Robert.

. Alex noticed me and waved. "Where's Robert?" he called to me.

"Isn't he here?" I shouted back.

Alex shook his head. "I called him to come and play but he said he had plans. I figured he was with you."

"No. If you see him, tell him I'm looking for him. Okay?"

"Okay," Alex agreed just as someone passed him the ball. Then he was off, dribbling down to the far end of the court.

I was stunned. I now knew two things. Robert was not playing basketball, as he'd said.

And he had plans — but not with me, obviously.

What did this mean?

I had no idea. But I didn't have a good feeling about it.

Chapter 4.

On Wednesday, Abby entered Claudia's bedroom looking prepared to take over the meeting. Chin up, shoulders thrown back, she smiled confidently as she threw herself into the director's chair. "Hi, guys," she greeted Claudia and me.

Kristy, who walked in right behind her, scowled deeply when she saw that her chair was occupied. Abby didn't notice, or pretended not to. Claudia and I could only shrug helplessly at Kristy as she found a spot for herself on the bed.