Chapter Eight

Thursday, 6.30 PM
Downtown White Plains

"Oh, come on, Annie! It'll be fun! Just us girls out on the town," Diana was trying to cheer Annie up. She and Honey had picked Annie up to take her shopping. Mrs. Parker had told them Annie was a bit depressed lately and hadn't even bought her dress for the dance yet. So Di and Honey had decided to take the matter into their own hands. They remembered the many times they had to drag Trixie to the shops, so this wasn't a first for them.

Annie made a face. "I really don't like shopping much."

Honey laughed and turned to the back seat to look at the youngest BWG. "Well, I'll bet you going shopping with us is a lot more fun than going with your Mum. I used to hate shopping with my Mother."

"Yeah, I bet you did," Annie replied, as she thought of the nice but too formal and almost frighteningly elegant Madeline Wheeler.

"We'll have fun, you'll see. And then we'll have dinner at this nice little restaurant I know near the mall," Di stated.

"It's a school night, Di."

The violet-eyed girl smiled at the teenager's words. "Don't worry. We've talked to your mother and we'll get you home before nine."

"Ok then. But please don't take me to any fancy shops," Annie pleaded as she stuck her head between the two front seats.

"Gee, how come I'm remembering a certain freckle faced, curly blonde haired girl right now, Honey?" Diana giggled.

"Beats me!" Honey answered, as she burst out laughing.

The girls browsed the shops for a while, dragging a bored Annie after them. She might may have enjoyed the shopping spree, but she was to worried about Bobby.

"Annie, look!" She startled at the sound of Diana's excited voice. "Oh, this is just perfect for you!"

Annie looked up and her eyes widened in horror. The dress Diana was holding out to her was kind of pretty, but it was PINK! No way would she wear a dress that colour. She could stand it in a T-Shirt, but never, ever, on a dress! It was just too… pink!

Honey couldn't help a smile. "Di, I think Annie doesn't agree with you."
Diana looked a bit disappointed, but then shrugged and smiled. "Oh, okay then. I guess I'm just too used to my sisters' tastes. What's your favourite colour, Annie?"

"Oh, let me guess: blue, right?" Honey laughed once more as Annie nodded. "I knew that!"

"Talk about dejá vu!" Di moaned, as she faked despair.

"What?" Annie was puzzled.

"Nothing, sweetie. We're remembering the way Trixie used to act whenever we came shopping. Just don't mind us." Honey motioned towards a dress rack, mostly in shades of blue. She browsed them for a few seconds and then shouted, "Hooray! I think I've got it. Look at it, Annie."

"That's more like it!" Annie's eyes shone. The dress was of a rich shade of blue, made of a shiny, satin like fabric and the flared skirt should fall just below her knees. It came with a short-sleeved coat that hid the thin spaghetti straps.

"That's beautiful!" Diana said, admiringly. "It should really suit you! Oh, just go and try it! I can't wait to see how you look, all dressed up."

"Come on, I'll help you out," Honey offered as she led Annie into the booth.

Diana looked through a few more racks while she waited. Suddenly, she recognized a young woman who had just walked in the store.

"Joeanne, hi!"

The other girl looked up, startled. "Diana! Oh, hi! I'm sorry, I didn't see you."

"That's ok. How've you been?"

Joeanne shrugged. "I'm fine, I guess. I was just…" she blushed. "Well, I had some free time and I decided it was about time to start looking for something to wear at Honey's wedding." And I really didn't feel like going home, she added in her thoughts.

Diana smiled. Somehow she knew what Joeanne meant by having some free time. "I came here with Honey and Annie. We had to drag the kid to see if we could get her to finally buy a dress for the Spring Dance."

Joeanne lowered her eyes for a moment, as Diana's words reminded her that Sally should have been going to that dance herself.

Diana felt a bit embarrassed. She could well imagine what was going through her friend's mind. Impulsively, she reached out and squeezed her hand. Joeanne looked up, surprised and smiled, though sadly.

"I'm fine, Diana. I was just thinking about Sally and about all Annie is going through. She should be enjoying this moment and not worrying about the adoption," she said, as she patted Diana's hand reassuringly. She amazed herself with the ease she revealed her thoughts to Diana and was rewarded with a smile from her.

"I thought as much," Di replied. "Come on, let's check out how the dress looks on her."

Joeanne hesitated. "Oh, Di, I think it's best if I don't. Annie might not like to see me here and I would hate to spoil her day."

Dismissing her arguments with a gesture, Diana pulled her to the dressing room. "Nonsense! Annie knows you are a friend. Besides, you can use this time with her to see what a fine young lady she is and put that in your report." Di winked playfully at her, and Joeanne found herself smiling again at the ease and friendliness of the other girl.

The moment they reached the booth, they saw Honey peeking out.

"I was wondering where you were off to," she said and then greeted Joeanne. "Hi, Joeanne. You came just in time to see this princess we've got here."

"Oh, yeah, right!" said a disbelieving Annie from behind the curtain.

"Come on, let's see it."

Annie stepped outside the room, twisting her hands. But Honey was right. She looked so beautiful in the blue, sparkling dress the other girls even overlooked the fact she was barefooted. The skirt flowed freely over her legs and the close fitted top was very becoming to her developing body. The elegant little coat was a nice complement to the dress and Honey had even managed to do her hair up, improvising with a few hairpins.

"Oh, Annie!" was Joeanne's automatic response. "You do look beautiful."

Annie had paled a bit when she saw Joeanne, but now a most becoming blush invaded her cheeks. "Thanks," she said meekly.

"Well, I think we can stop searching. It can't get anymore perfect!" Diana's eyes shone in excitement. "I can just imagine Bobby's face when he sees you!"

This time, Annie turned red. "Oh, quit it, Di!"

Honey laughed and decided to take the girl out of the limelight. "Come on, let's get you out of that dress before you just decide to call the whole thing off!"

"We'll wait for you at the restaurant, Honey. You are joining us, aren't you, Joeanne?" Di asked, anxiously.

She seemed to hesitate and looked from Honey to Annie and then back at Di. "I don't… know if I should."

"Please stay," Honey asked, holding her hand. "It's been a while since we've talked."

"I would like you to stay too." Annie smiled, shyly.

"So, you see, there's no way you're escaping us now!" Diana put her arm through Joeanne's and pulled her closer to herself. "You never accepted our invitations to lunch back in high school, but I won't let you off the hook again. You're stuck with us."

"I don't stand a chance, do I?" Joeanne's face lit with an open smile, and her features softened, making her look as young as her years.

"No, you don't. So, let's go. The girls will meet us there."

As they left the shop, Diana was still clinging to Joeanne's arm. Suddenly, Di exclaimed, "Oh, you never got around to buying that dress, did you?"

"No, but that's ok. I was just window-shopping really. My mind isn't really into it."

"Tell you what: why don't we get together sometime and I'll help you out? I really rather go shopping with a friend than by myself. It's a lot more fun."

"I really wouldn't know," Joeanne said, almost ashamed. "I don't… I don't go shopping much."

Di heard the truth behind the other girl's words and felt a little guilty. She had always liked Joeanne, but her own shyness and insecurity had prevented her from approaching her. In her lonelier moments, Diana had wondered what it would have been like if there was another girl in the club, and recently she wondered if Joeanne could have been that girl.

Honey and Trixie had always been her dearest friends, but Di had always missed the intimacy that the two girls shared between them. Like Dan, there were times when she felt a bit put aside. Not that the others had ever intended for her to feel like that, but she just did. Of course there was Mart, but that was different. To this day she felt the need for a girl friend she could share her most intimates thoughts with, even though she also felt she was being unfair to Trixie and Honey. And she had the distinct feeling Joeanne could have been that friend, if only things had been different.

By the time they reached the restaurant, and were directed to a table near the window, Di had made up her mind.

"Joeanne," she said. "I know we've never been that close, but I really would like that to change. It's strange. Us, I mean. We've been neighbours for such a long time and we hardly ever talk."

"We don't exactly move in the same circles, Di," Joeanne replied, without any intention of sounding reproachful. Still, Diana blushed.

"I know, and that's even sillier. I've been thinking…If things had been different, you could have been a Bobwhite."

Joeanne stared at her, wondering if she had heard her right. "What do you mean?"

"If you had returned to Sleepyside right after Jim did, maybe you would have hung around with them more and became a part of the club." Diana's face lit as she revealed what she had been thinking for quite some time. "It makes sense, Joeanne. After all, you did qualify." Seeing Joeanne was confused, Diana laughed and explained: "You see, one of the reasons for creating the BWGs was because we kids on Glen Road lived away from town and hadn't many chances of enrolling in any after school activities. So you qualified."

Joeanne couldn't help a smile as she wondered if it could really have happened. But she indulged on that fantasy for no more than a few seconds. "Maybe I did. But it didn't happen."

Diana reached out and held her hand in hers. "I feel guilty, Joeanne."

"Guilty? Whatever for?" Joeanne stared into Diana's eyes, and realized she was being honest.

"I'm not sure…" Diana hesitated. "For not being enough of a friend. For not acting on my thoughts about us being closer."

Joeanne shook her head. "Diana, don't. You and your family have been more than my friends. If it wasn't for your Dad, I don't know what would have happened to Sally. I owe him enough of a debt already."

"I'm not talking about my father. And since you mentioned it, there is no debt. He doesn't want anything in return."

"Maybe he doesn't, but I will pay him back," Joeanne said, firmly. She hated feeling indebted to anyone, even if she knew Mr. Lynch would never bring up the subject. But she was just too proud to accept a gift.

Diana understood and decided it was best not to touch the subject. "Anyway, I was talking about the Bobwhites."

"Oh, Di, you guys tried, but I was the one who wouldn't join you."

"And why didn't you?"

The young woman drew back her hand and sighed. Somehow she was finding it easy to talk to Diana and decided to be honest. "My life wasn't easy back then. I didn't have much time to myself. I liked to watch you guys, from afar. You looked… perfect. So if I joined in and brought my problems with me…"

"It just wouldn't be so perfect anymore." Diana added. "Oh, Joeanne! If I'd only known that. You know, I used to feel the same way, just before Trixie asked me to join the group. Oh, I wish I could turn back time and force you to accept at least one lunch invitation! I know that would have made a difference!"

"But we can't turn back time, Di." It was Joeanne's turn to hold the other girl's hand. "Believe me I've tried."

Diana smiled and felt the sting of tears in her pretty eyes. "Well, but as they say, it's better late than never. You can still become my best friend. Would you like that?"

The innocence of the offer made Joeanne smile, and her heart warmed towards Diana, even though she knew it simply didn't happen that way. But still, somehow it didn't really matter. Feeling very close to tears herself, she answered, "Yes, Diana. I would like that very much."

8 PM
Wheeler's Preserve

A long way from the mall, in the Wheeler's preserve, Jim and Dan were also sharing their thoughts, as they rode into the woods, their conversation made private by the silent night and the trees around them.

"I feel I'm going crazy, Jim," Dan confessed. "Every time I think Joeanne might get mad at me because I went to see Sally, I get scared. Really scared."

Jim grinned.

"Are you falling for her, man?"

Dan shrugged.

"I don't know. She makes me mad sometimes, but then I sense all the pain behind her words and I just want to…I don't know…To take all the pain away!"

"Joeanne is a wonderful girl, but she's also very complicated. Just make sure you're not getting close to her just because you pity her."

"Pity her?" Dan shook his head, making a few strands of black hair fall over his eyes and chuckled. "I admire her, Jim. I respect her. And I 'd like her to be happy. But somehow I think she's the greatest obstacle to her own happiness. She's too damned hard on herself!"

"I know," Jim said, as he brought Jupiter to a halt near the lake and dismounted. "But then again, how can we blame her? Just think about the life she's led so far." The red headed young man sighed and sat on the sandy margins of the lake. "I was talking to Diana at the barbecue the other day, and she told me something that has made me think."

"What did she tell you?" Dan tied Strawberry's reigns to a nearby tree and sat by Jim's side.

Jim rubbed his temples, feeling suddenly overwhelmed. "She says Joeanne should have been the eighth BWG. You know, before Bobby and Annie came along." He sighed again, feeling suddenly weary. "It makes sense, if you think about it. And she probably would have been, if the Darnell's had moved back to Sleepyside right away. When they finally did, we were just too engrossed in our own lives to think about her. I kinda feel bad about it, you know."
"Didn't you try to get close to her before?"

"Yeah, we did. But she always seemed to avoid us. I didn't understand why until Sally's story came afloat and I realised what her life had been like. Knowing her, I guess she was just too proud to tell us of her problems or to ask us for help. And I blamed myself for not realising it sooner. By the time I did, she had already built that thick wall around her."

Even as he repeated to himself that things were simply the way they were and there was no use in wondering about 'what ifs', Dan couldn't help imagining what it would have been like if Joeanne had joined the group. Then he wouldn't have felt like the fifth, or rather the seventh, wheel on the wagon. And as Joeanne had obligations towards her family that prevented from having too much free time, they could have kept each other company when the other BWGs were off to their frequent trips. He wouldn't have felt so lonely. And who knows? Maybe they would… Dan got back on his feet. Snap out of it, man, he thought, taking deep breaths and forcing himself to forget all those fantasies.

Jim looked up at him, wondering what was going on. Suddenly, he understood. "Maybe it would have made it easier for you too?"

Dan smiled, wryly.

"Who knows? She's a lot like me. But still, it's much easier to figure this kinda thing out when it's happening to someone else," he added, referring to his own conversations with Jim, back when his friend was still hesitating to tell Trixie he loved her.

"I've noticed." Jim got up and shook the sand from his jeans and wondered if there was anything he could say to help Dan with Joeanne. But he figured it was better to just let them work it out on their own. He patted his friend's back, saying: "C'mon, Dan. Let's get those horses back to the stables or your uncle will kill us."

A/N: Sorry for the long wait guys! Enjoy!:)

-Claudia