Ann Martin - Baby-Sitters Club 037

I didn't have to wait long. I watched in horror as Travis leaned over and kissed her! I know I gasped out loud, but both of them were too busy to notice. My hand flew up to my mouth, and I felt hot tears stinging my eyelids. How could this be happening?

I don't know how long they would have stayed in the park, but suddenly a group of little kids sat down next to them. I saw Travis frown and then laughingly pull the redhead to her feet. She laid her head against his shoulder, just for a moment, and then the two of them moved off again, arm in arm. I felt like staying right in the bus shelter and crying my eyes out, but I knew I had to keep going.

Half a block later, they stopped at the movie theater and looked at the marquee. The way they were nodding and talking, it was obvious that they were making plans to go to a movie together. That night? That weekend? I had no way of knowing, but it didn't really matter. All that mattered was that she would be with Travis, and I wouldn't. Their fingers were laced tightly together, and I saw the look in Travis's eyes when he smiled at her. He should be smiling that way at me.

I had seen enough. It was nearly dusk, and I hurried home* thinking, thinking, thinking. Did Travis like this girl because she was his own age? Was I really "too young" for him, just like Richard had said? Was Travis annoyed with me because I hadn't taken his advice and had that third hole pierced in my ear? Surely he wouldn't get so mad over a little thing like that? No matter how hard I tried to explain things, my mind kept coming back to one point: Travis didn't care about me at all. How could I have been so mistaken about him?

I was still very upset over Travis when we had our next BSC meeting. I had made up my mind not to say anything to my friends, but somehow everything came pouring out.

We were waiting around for phone calls when Kristy mentioned that Sam and Travis were on the track team together. "I don't know how Travis does it," Kristy said admiringly. "He's playing three different sports this season, and he's even talking about trying out for the school play." "He should," Stacey piped up. "Can you imagine how great he'd look onstage? He's gorgeous! He has the dreamiest eyes I've ever seen." Stacey (who happens to be a little boy-crazy) was all set to launch into a long description of Travis's smile, when I cut her off.

"Please, can we change the subject?" I pleaded. I jumped up and grabbed my jacket. "If we're just going to sit around and talk about boys, I'm going home. I've got better things to do." Kristy looked shocked, and Stacey gave me a long look. "Dawn, what's wrong?" she asked.

"Nothing," I snapped. I turned around so my friends couldn't see the tears that were threatening to spill down my cheeks. "I've just heard enough about Travis, that's all. In fact, I've heard more than enough!" I stumbled blindly toward the door to Claudia's room, but Mary Anne stopped me.

"Wait Dawn," she said softly. "You might as well tell everyone what's going on." "I don't want to get into it," I said stiffly.

Mary Anne took my hand and pulled me gently onto Claud's bed. "That's what friends are for, you know. We're all here for each other." I hesitated. Everyone was looking at me, and they all seemed worried. Maybe it was better to get things out into the open.

"I saw Travis with someone else," I said slowly. "Probably the captain of the swim team. That's why I'm so upset." Stacey looked puzzled. "Why would that bother you? Unless - " She clapped her hand over her mouth. "Are you going out with him? Oh, wow! When did all this happen?" I shrugged. "We're not really going out together, but I know he cares about me. I mean, I thought he cared about me." I told them about the surprise visit at the house, and the necklace and hair combs. (Also the trip to Burger Bite and the Merry-Go-Round.) I left out the part about Mom and Richard being so angry with me.

"That rat," Stacey said angrily after I told them about Travis kissing the girl in the park. "Why did he lead you on like that?" "He didn't really lead her on," Kristy said. "Don't forget, he never really asked her out. At least, not on a real date." "Oh, Kristy," Claudia said. "You're being much too practical. If somebody visits you at your house and brings you presents, it's like a date. And if they take you shopping after school, that's like a date, too." "It is?" Jessi asked. She and Mallory had been following the whole conversation without saying a word.

Claudia unwrapped a Hershey's Kiss and popped it into her mouth. "Well, sort of. At least I think it is." "I think so, too," Stacey said. "Travis gave Dawn the idea that he liked her, so he's definitely a creep." I sighed. I was glad that my friends were all taking my side, but I didn't feel much better. My chest ached every time I thought about Travis.

"Don't worry, Dawn," Claudia said. "You'll meet someone a million times nicer than Travis. Someone who appreciates you." I sniffled a little. How could there be anybody nicer than Travis?

"In fact," Mary Anne said, "I think I know just the person." "You do?" Kristy asked. "Tell us about him." Mary Anne grinned. "Well, he's fourteen, and he's fantastic-looking. Plus he's got a great sense of humor, and he's supposed to be really nice." "Supposed to be?" Kristy raised her eyebrows. "Don't you know for sure?" "I'm sure," Mary Anne said. "It's just that I haven't met him yet." "Who is he?" Jessi asked. "Does he go to SMS?" "No, he's from out of town." She paused. "He's Logan's cousin. His name is Lewis and he's coming here for a visit soon." She bent down so we were on eye level. "And guess what? He doesn't have a girlfriend." Mary Anne looked quite pleased with herself. I didn't want to sound ungrateful, but I had no desire to meet Lewis. I didn't care how nice he was or how handsome or funny. I wanted Travis. Why couldn't everyone understand that?

"Isn't it wonderful?" Mary Anne went on, all smiles.

I blew my nose and tried to look interested. There was no point in hurting Mary Anne's feelings, and I could always make up some excuse for not seeing Lewis when he got here.

"Wonderful," I said. "Just wonderful." Chapter 12.

"Please, Mary Anne," Mathew and Myriah chanted together. "We want to do the play for a big audience today. It's really ready." "I thought we'd play checkers," Mary Anne said, "and then we'd make brownies together." "Brownies! We can have brownies anytime," said Myriah. "This is important stuff. This is a play!" "Please!" Gabbie squealed. "No brownies! No checkers! Don't you want everyone to see Little Dog Lost?" "Well, sure," Mary Anne replied. "Of course I do." Mary Anne knew the play from reading Kristy's and Jessi's baby-sitting notes. They had seen the play "in rehearsal" and Mary Anne guessed that the kids had been working on it a lot since then.

She glanced at James, who was looking very pleased with himself. "Are you ready to do this?" He nodded. "As ready as we'll ever be. Everybody knows their lines, and if Chewy stays under control, we'll be fine." Chewy! Mary Anne's heart sank. She had forgotten that Chewy was the star of the play. "Where is Chewy?" Mary Anne asked.

"He's all ready!" Gabble informed her. "He's waiting in the garage." She looked at James. "We call that offstage." "I see." Mary Anne watched as Gabbie opened the garage door and Chewy came barreling across the yard. He acted like a dog who had been cooped up for five years. He immediately began running in circles.

"He's excited," Myriah explained.

"I can see that." Mary Anne gently pushed Chewy off the lawn chair he'd jumped on. "Are you sure he'll calm down enough for the play?" "I know he will," Myriah said, petting him. "I'll put him back in the garage." Mary Anne doubted that Chewy would calm down, but she didn't want to discourage Myriah. "Okay," she said finally, "where do we start?" "We need to set up chairs for the audience, and then we need to start ringing doorbells." James was suddenly very businesslike as he dragged some folding chairs over to the patio. "This is the stage," he said, motioning to the backyard, "and this is where the audience sits." "That looks fine, but what did you mean about ringing doorbells?" "To tell people about the play," said Mathew impatiently.