Fabulous Five 025 - The Fabulous Five Minus One Read Online Free

locker room,
laughing and talking. They were followed by the rest of the swim team. Chase was
with Randy and Tony. He had a backpack tossed over his shoulder, and his short
black hair was still damp.
    "Randy!" called Jana as she stood on her toes and
waved. The boys saw them and headed in their direction.
    "Hi," Chase said, looking squarely into Christie's
eyes. His look made Christie feel as if she were going to melt down into her
shoes.
    "Hi," she said softly.
    Jana put her arm through Randy's and guided him toward the
door. "Why don't we all go to Bumpers? You'll come, too, won't you, Chase?"
    "You bet I will," he said, not taking his eyes off
Christie.
    The after-school crowd had gone when they reached Bumpers.
Except for two families with little kids having sandwiches, the place was
empty.
    The boys went for sodas as Christie, Jana, and Katie slid
into the large booth in the corner.
    "I think Melanie is right, Christie," whispered
Katie. "Chase does like you. He hasn't taken his eyes off you since we
left the pool."
    "Yeah," agreed Jana. "And I saw him put his
arm around your shoulders. Don't you like him, too?"
    "I don't know," Christie whispered back. "I
mean, I don't know what I think."
    "If you don't date him, I know about a dozen other
girls who will," Katie added. "Half the girls I've talked to are
bonkers over him, and he won't even look at them."
    Christie felt warm all over. It was almost overwhelming to
think that this handsome boy from California, who was also a champion swimmer,
liked her. She had to get to know him better.
    "Shh! They're coming back," said Jana.
    "One gigantic cola, coming up, Your Honor," Tony
announced as he set a soda down in front of Katie.
    "Thanks, macho man," Katie responded, laughing.
    "What can I say?" answered Tony, shrugging. "When
you've got it, you've got it."
    "That's a neat chain you've got around your neck, Tony,"
Chase said. "What's that on the end of it?"
    "Katie got it for me when The Fabulous Five went to
Barbados during Christmas vacation. She says it's black coral, but I think it's
just a piece of coal," Tony said with a grin.
    Katie hit him hard in the ribs with her elbow. "I'll
have you know that piece of coal cost me four whole weeks' allowance, Tony
Calcaterra!"
    "Just kidding! Just kidding!" Tony said, putting
his arms up to defend himself.
    "The Fabulous Five? Where'd you girls get a nickname
like that?" asked Chase.
    "We started calling ourselves The Fabulous Five in
elementary school," answered Jana, "and we've been that ever since."
    "All the kids call them that," added Randy. "It
seems natural."
    Chase's and Christie's eyes locked together. "I'd say fabulous is a pretty good way of describing you," he said.
    Christie felt her cheeks get hot. She tugged her eyes away
from his.
    As the six of them sat talking, Christie kept sneaking
little glances at Chase. He was laughing and talking to her and her friends as
if he had known them forever. She couldn't believe how natural it felt to be
with him.
    "Gee! I'd better be getting home," Katie said,
looking at her watch. "Mom will be wondering what happened to me. It's my
turn to start dinner."
    "Me, too," said Jana.
    As the two other couples got up to leave, Chase said, "I
guess that leaves you and me, Christie. Is it okay if I walk you home?"
    Christie's heart leapt. "Yes."
     
    "I bet you hated to leave California," Christie
said as they walked together.
    "Yeah, it's a neat place. There are lots of things to
do. Have you ever gone wind-surfing?" Before Christie could answer, he
continued. "Man, it's the greatest. I was just starting to learn to do
flips when we moved. Hey, do you know what I'd be doing right now if I were
still there?" he asked, turning to look at her.
    "What?" asked Christie, shaking her head.
    "I'd be at the beach. I used to go there most days
after school, the way you and your friends go to Bumpers. I'd meet all the guys
there. We'd wind-surf, or play volleyball, or just hang out."
    "That sounds