I don't own any rights or credits; only Phyllis Reynolds Naylor does, because she wrote the books. My favorite book series!
Hope you enjoy it!
Eddie POV:
"Hey, mom!" I said, as we walked in the front door. "We're home from school."
Mom walked into the hallway. "Hey, how was school?" She asked. "Did you have fun?"
"Yeah, I guess so. But I got called to the principal's office." I said. "The reason why was stupid, so don't get mad."
Mom sighed. "Can I ask why you got asked to come to the principal's office?" She said.
"I mean I just dumped my chicken salad on Jake's head. It was only because he took the last slice of cheese pizza." I said
"You did what?!" Mom cried, staring at me. "Eddie, I thought your little prank war was over."
"It is over. But Jake Hatford knows not to mess with me." I said, grinning.
"So, mom, what's for dinner?" Caroline asked, taking off her pink Converse high tops.
"We're having beef brisket." Mom said.
"Ooh, what's the occasion?" I asked.
"Well, nothing really, but I'm inviting the Hatfords' for dinner tonight." Mom said.
"What? Are you really?" Beth asked.
"Yes, and I've already asked Ellen if they wanted to." Mom said. "She said yes."
"Well, ok mom." Beth said.
Then we started to go to my bedroom. My bedroom is is still full of baseball things. Even though I'm trying out for the football team, I still LOVE baseball.
"I don't think it'll be as bad as we thought. I mean I like Josh, Caroline likes Wally, and Eddie likes Jake." Beth said, grinning. "They're so cute now too. When they come tonight, let's just be as nice as we can."
"I agree. We just need to be nice and kind." Beth said. "Because I really do like Josh."
"I really do like Wally, and I know that you like Jake." Caroline said, grinning at me.
"Ok, maybe I do." I said, grinning sheepishly.
"Called it." Beth and Caroline sang out.
"You girls." I said, laughing.
Jake POV:
Just as soon as we walked in the front door, the phone rang. We knew it was mom, just checking on us. She always does this.
Wally picked up the phone and turned it on speakerphone.
"Hey mom. We're home." He said.
"Ok. I just wanted to call and tell you that Jean Malloy invited us for dinner at their house tonight." Mom said.
"Oh, ok." Wally said. "Love you, mom. See you tonight." Then he hung up the phone. "Did she just say that we're eating at the Malloy's house tonight?"
"Yep. But this might be a good chance for us to get to know them better." Josh said. "So we need to be as nice as we possibly can."
"You're right. I like Caroline, and I don't want to be mean to her." Wally said, looking at me.
"What is it? Why are you looking at me?" I asked. "Do I have some on my face?"
"No, but you can admit that you like Eddie. It's just us and it's not like we're going to tell her." Wally said.
"Ok, maybe I do. Just a little." I said, grinning sheepishly.
"Told you. Wally and I are always right." Josh said. Then we all started laughing. "But if we want to look good for them, we should probably take showers."
"Yeah, you're right." I said, going to my bathroom. Wally and Josh went to the other bathrooms to get their showers as well.
Beth POV:
After I got my shower, I dried my hair then curled it. I picked out my favorite outfit. My bell bottom jeans with a few holes in them. My tie shoulder shirred peplum cami top.
Then I tied it all together with my rose gold heart hoop earrings I got for my birthday.
"Hey, Caroline, what are you wearing tonight?" I asked. "Come in here and let me see."
Caroline walked in, wearing her favorite dress. A white eyelet dress. She had on her black Converse high tops. But my favorite part of her ensemble, was the Kendra Scott Ari Heart rose gold necklace.
"Looking cute." I said, smiling at her.
"Thanks, but do you mind helping me curl my hair?" She asked. "Got to look good."
"Yeah, sure. Come here and I'll do it." I said, smiling.
Eddie came into my room, and let me tell you... she looked BEAUTIFUL! I mean she curled her hair, surprisingly put on a dress. It was one I gave to her, a black ruched cami dress that I got from Forever21.
"Do you have those Kendra Scott Nola gold earrings? I remember that mom gave them to you." She said. "Can I borrow them? Just for tonight?"
"Yeah. You don't have to ask, Eddie. You're my sister." I said, handing them to her.
"Thanks. You're a lifesaver." She said, sticking them in her ears. "You guys look great."
"Thanks, but so do you." Caroline said.
"Aww. Thanks, you guys." Eddie said. But just after she said that, the doorbell rang. "Time to face the music."
Then Beth went and answered the door.
Josh POV:
After I took my shower, I dried my hair and put on one of my church shirts. Then I put on my kakhi pants. Then my army green Converse high tops.
Jake walked into our room, with an almost identical getup as mine. But he had on his regular, everyday black Converse high tops. "Looks good, but you need a touch of cologne." He said.
"Ok, can I borrow yours?" I asked. "Yeah, of course. It's in the bathroom cabinet." He said.
I found it in the bathroom cabinet and dabbled some of it on my neck. It does smell pretty good.
I walked back into our bedroom, just as Wally came in. He had on one of his church shirts with his new jeans mom just got him.
"Hey, Jake. Do you mind if I borrow some of your cologne?" He asked. "No, you can use it." Jake said.
Wally ran into our bathroom and came back out in just a few minutes. "Are mom and dad ready?" Jake asked Peter, who was standing in the doorway.
"No, but they said that we can go ahead since they're just next door." He said.
"Ok, then. Come on. Let's go ahead and go over there." I said.
We walked out the front door. We walked right over to the Malloy's house and rang the doorbell. Then Beth opened the door, and she looked beautiful.
Wally POV:
We rang the doorbell and Beth opened it. Caroline was behind her and I thought she looked absolutely gorgeous.
I knew I was blushing big time, but I just let it pass.
"Hey, where's your mom and dad?" Caroline asked.
"They weren't ready, so they just told us to just go ahead and come over here." Jake said. "Where's Eddie?"
"She's helping mom set the table." Caroline said. "You guys can sit down in the living room if you want. Dad is in there, watching football."
"Ok, thanks." I said, smiling at her. She smiled back at me.
Just then Eddie came into the living room, and let me tell you... Jake looks very impressed. He can't stop staring at her.
"Hey, guys. Glad you could make it." She said, looking all happy. Yes, very happy indeed. She's even wearing a dress and she's still happy.
"Glad we got invited." Josh said, laughing and grinning at Beth.
I know for a fact that I saw her blush.
"Hey, guys. How've you been?" Mr. Malloy asked us, as soon as we sat down to watch the football game.
"Pretty good. How about you?" I asked.
"I've been pretty good too. Just very sore after all this work on this house." He said.
Just then, the doorbell rang. "Can someone please go let them in?" Mrs. Malloy asked from the kitchen.
"I'll get it." Eddie said, going over to the front door. She opened it and in walked mom and dad. "Hello Mr. and Mrs. Hatford. How are you?"
They walked into the living room. "Hello, Eddie. We're great. How are you?" They responded.
"I'm pretty good." She said, smiling at them.
"Hey everyone! It's ready!" Mrs. Malloy said.
"Ooh, yes! I'm starving." Peter said, then he started grinning. "Y'all got some cookies?" We all just burst out laughing.
Caroline POV:
We all got a seat at the table. I sat down next to Wally, Beth sat down next to Josh, and Eddie sat down next to Jake.
"Can someone please pass the mashed potatoes?" Jake asked.
It was right to the left of me. I picked it up, put some on my plate, then passed it to Jake.
"So, how's school been for everyone?" Mom asked, after swallowing her beef brisket.
"It's been ok, so far." Was everyone's response.
"So, Caroline, are you trying out for the play next Monday?" Wally asked me.
"I think I am going to. I think it'll be a lot of fun." I said, drinking some of my orange Fanta. "What about you? Are you trying out?"
"Yeah, I mean, I don't know if I'll get the starring role, but I can only hope and pray." He said, as he put a piece of beef brisket in his mouth. "Mmm! Mrs. Malloy, this beef brisket is amazing!"
"Why thank you, Wally." Mom said, smiling. "I'm glad you like it so much."
"It is really good." Josh agreed.
"If everyone is done with their plates, hand them to me and I'll take them to the kitchen." Mom said. Everyone handed their plates to her.
"Hey, if you want to, you kids can go outside. There's an old garage somewhere in the woods. But please, take a few blankets." Dad said.
We had grabbed a few blankets and were about to go out the door, when Mrs. Hatford said, "Peter, I think you need to stay in here, ok? And that way, you don't get hurt."
"Peter, if you stay here you can have as many cookies as you want." Mom said. "Ooh! Yeah! I'm staying!" Peter said. "Have fun!"
We went outside and walked through the woods. We found the garage and walked inside it.
"I wonder if the light still works." Jake said, flipping the switch. Light flooded the room. "At least we don't have to go all the way back for a flashlight."
"So what do you want to do?" Beth asked, situating herself on the floor.
"How a lot we play a little game called truth or dare?" Jake asked, grinning.
Eddie POV:
"Ok, who wants to go first?" Josh asked. "I guess I will." I said.
"Ok, Eddie truth or dare?" Josh asked me.
"Truth I guess." I said.
"What is your biggest fear?" He asked, grinning.
"Well, I guess heights or clowns." I said. "Ok, Beth, truth or dare?"
"Dare." She said.
I grinned. "You might regret picking that." I said, laughing. "Beth, I dare you to... kiss Josh."
Beth's and Josh's mouths dropped open. "Are you really making me do that?" She hissed in my ear.
"Yes. So do it." I said.
Beth and Josh got up and walked towards each other. Then they leaned in and kissed.
As soon as the kiss was over, they bolted back to their spots. Their faces were bright red.
"Ok, Caroline, truth or dare?" Beth asked.
Caroline gulped. "Truth." She said, looking nervous.
"Do or do you not like Wally?" Beth asked, grinning.
Caroline looked as if she were going to faint. She muttered her answer. "I'm sorry I couldn't hear what you said."
"I said I do like Wally." Caroline said, turning bright red.
"There's the answer, everyone. Caroline Malloy does indeed like Wally Hatford." Beth said, grinning at her sister.
"Ok, Josh, truth or dare?" Caroline asked him.
"Uh, truth?" He said it in a question, as though he wasn't sure what to say.
"Ok. How old were you when you had your first kiss?" She asked, looking as innocent as ever.
"Um, I was 11." He said, turning red. I looked over at Beth, and saw she was also turning red.
It was then I realized that while we still lived here, Josh and Beth kissed each other. A 10 year old and a 11 year old.
"Jake, truth or dare?" Josh asked.
"Dare." Jake said. Josh leaned over and whispered something in his ear. Whatever it was, it made Jake smile.
Jake got up and walked over to me. He leaned down in front of me and... wait a minute! No! I thought those last two thoughts a little bit too late.
Jake was kissing me. I don't know how I feel about this...
Jake POV:
I didn't know what Josh was going to say when he leaned over. "I dare you not to say a word and just walk up to Eddie and kiss her." Josh said.
I grinned because that was perfect. I mean she won't expect it. I was so happy to finally be able to pull something on her like this.
She wouldn't know what to say.
So I got up, walked over to her, and then I kissed her. She had this blank stare in her eyes after it. That made me want to burst out laughing.
She finally said something, but her voice was cracking. "Well, that was unexpected." She said, chuckling nervously.
"I'll say." Beth said, giggling.
Caroline just stared at me, with wide eyes.
I was honestly so surprised myself. I just kissed Eddie Malloy, the girl that was once my enemy.
But now I can't help but wonder: What do I mean to her?
