Fabulous Five 005 - The Bragging War Read Online Free

it instead of Laura's. That braggart, she
thought as her anger swelled again. I'll fix her if it's the last thing I ever
do.
    "Listen, guys," she said hurriedly. "Don't
tell anyone that our slumber party is canceled. Okay?"
    "But what if somebody wants to come?" asked
Christie.
    "Right," said Katie. "What if someone says
she has thought it over and would rather be at our party than Laura's?"
    "If that happens, tell them it's too late. Just say
that what I'm planning for my slumber party is so terrific that only my very
best friends—namely The Fabulous Five—are allowed to come now," she said
with a grand sweep of her hand. "I'll explain later." She flashed her
most theatrical smile and hurried away before anyone could insist that she
explain now. She had just come up with a great idea, but she wanted to test it
first before mentioning it to her friends.
    The first seventh-grade girl she saw was Whitney Larkin.
Whitney had gone to Copper Beach Elementary and was such a genius that she had
skipped straight from fifth grade into seventh this year. Whitney made a lot of
kids nervous because she was so smart, and they snickered at her behind her
back and called her a baby. She was standing alone by the front gate. Probably
watching for Curtis Trowbridge, thought Beth. He was a genius, too, and Whitney
had seemed a lot happier since they had started dating. Beth didn't know her
very well, but Whitney certainly seemed nice enough to her.
    Beth slowed down so that she would not appear overly eager
and walked toward Whitney.
    "Hi, Whitney," she said as casually as she could.
    Whitney looked around and smiled at Beth, murmuring hello.
    Beth gave Whitney the most sympathetic look she could muster
and said sadly, "I suppose you're going to Laura's party on Friday night."
    Whitney's face brightened for an instant at the mention of
the party and then crumpled into a frown. "What's the matter? Shouldn't I
be?"
    "Oh, of course you should," said Beth. "It's
just a shame that so many of you got stuck having to go to Laura's party
instead of mine. I guess I'll just have to start asking earlier next time.
Still, I can't help thinking how much fun it would have been with you and
Curtis there."
    Whitney gasped. "Curtis?" she cried. "You're
having boys at your slumber party?"
    "Oh, they aren't going to stay all night," Beth
assured her. "I'm just letting each girl ask a boy she likes for the early
part of the evening. It's going to be so romantic. We'll probably sit up all
night talking about it."
    "Well . . . gee," fumbled Whitney. "Maybe I
could tell Laura I can't come to her party and go to yours instead. I mean . .
. if I could ask Curtis and everything."
    "Oh, gosh, Whitney. I'm sorry," said Beth, looking
deep into Whitney's eyes. "I really wish you could do that, but it's too
late now. My parents decided that they had to know exactly how many would be
there by last night. They're planning special food and stuff. You understand,
don't you?"
    Whitney nodded, and Beth could see that she was really
disappointed. Her plan was working. Beth put a hand over her mouth and
pretended to cough so that Whitney wouldn't notice the smile breaking over her
face.
    Next she sauntered up to Lisa Snow and Kim Baxter. After
they exchanged greetings, she gave them the same sympathetic look she had given
Whitney and said, "Gee. It's really too bad that you're going to Laura's
party. I'm not trying to make you feel bad or anything, but I know you'd rather
come to mine since you could have invited any boy you wanted."
    Lisa and Kim looked stunned. "What are you talking
about?" they asked together.
    Beth put on her best wide-eyed-and-innocent look. "Didn't
I tell you that you could invite boys when I asked you to my party yesterday?"
    "No," snapped Kim. "All you said was that you
were having a slumber party."
    Beth braced herself for the outburst that she knew was
coming. Again the two girls spoke in unison: "Boys at a slumber party?"
    Beth explained about how the