Chapter 5

„Do you think we'll need new shoes, Laurie? "

"We sure will, Debbie. "

The two girls stepped off the bus and paused for a minute to take a look at the nearest buildings.

"Debbie, it must be on the other side of the street. Carol said that we should keep our eyes open for a glass front and brick walls." Laurie pointed across the parking lot. "There it is, see? Come on."

The girls crossed the street and Laurie peeped through one of the windows of a red building.

"We still have a few minutes left. Can you wait a second? I just want to get the latest issue of my teen magazines. I'll be right back."

"Laurie? Why do you want to read that? You have the most famous teen idol living right in your house. You can get as many stories as you like."

Debbie grinned while Laurie frowned at her.

"Ha, ha. Very funny. I bet you want to live with my brother, don't you?"

Debbie grinned even more.

"Go ahead. I'll wait for you right here."

Laurie grimaced but then she turned around and headed for the newspaper stand.

Her girl-friend looked after her, still giggling. From the corner of her eye she suddenly saw a familiar face ducking behind a parked car. Curious she stepped closer and discovered Danny who was trying to make himself invisible.

"Danny? What are you doing here?"

With a sheepish grin, Danny stood up and brushed the dirt from his pants and hands.

"I'm just doing some window shopping. Honest."

"Laurie, look who I found."

When Laurie approached the ill-assorted couple, she became angry at once.

"Danny – what are you doing here? You are supposed to be at home right now. You have been spying again, haven't you?"

"No, I haven't."

"Does mom know that you're here?"

Danny winced. "Yes. No. Not exactly."

Laurie raised her eyebrows. "Not exactly? Danny ! What have you told her?"

"I've told her that I'd go over to Punky's. Which I did. I wanted him to come with me. Which he didn't. So I came here by myself."

Laurie stared at him blankly. "You came here by yourself? What do you mean by here?"

Danny pointed at the building with the glass windows. "There."

Laurie's impatience grew by the minute. "Danny. This is a ballet studio. What in the world are you doing here? You tell me now, or …"

Danny grinned his mischievous grin. "Or what?"

"Danny!"

"OK, just keep calm. Keith is in there."

"Keith is in there? So? How do you know that? Did you follow him? Did he tell you? Have you been eavesdropping again?"

Laurie stopped to take a breath. Danny grinned again.

"Of course he didn't tell me. Don't tell me that you're not curious."

"Me? No. not at all. Let's pretend Keith is in there then

a) he can go where he wants to

b) it's none of your business and

c) why do you want to know?"

Danny sighed. "Keith is definitely not taking ballet classes. And yes, I want to know what he is doing in there. He's been in an odd mood recently. I assume that you have noticed this as well. And I'm sure that this building has something to do with it."

"Possible", Laurie agreed. "But it still is none of your business."

"Well," Danny added. "I don't want to talk about family business in front of strangers."

He cast an evil glance at Debbie.

"Don't listen to him, Debbie. He's awful."

Debbie smiled, not taken aback at all. "I've known your little brother for quite a while now, Laurie. And I'm awfully glad that I only have an older sister."

Danny stuck out his tongue.

"Danny!" Laurie exclaimed. "That's enough now. You'll go home at once. Then I won't tell mom about your behavior."

"But Laurie …" Danny pleaded.

"No. Bye Danny. Debbie and I will go in there now. Because of you, we are late already. Our friends will be waiting for us. And you are leaving this minute."

Laurie turned around and opened the door of the ballet studio. Debbie blinked at Danny and followed her.

Danny grumbled. Then he murmured "Yeah, bye. If you meet Keith, tell him I said Hi. And to Alex as well."

Then he grabbed his bike and pushed it across the sidewalk.

N/A thank you so much for your lovely reviews. They mean a lot to me because I felt a bit awkward to upload the story here. I couldn't imagine the reaction of a native speaker to my attempt of writing something in a language that is not my own.