Between Us by Cari Simmons Page A

head.
    Franz got jealous as Hannah started scratching Ginger, and he gave one of Ginger’s back paws a little nip. “Shhhpt!” The shushing sound Hannah made got Franz’s attention. She pointed at him. “None of that,” she told him, her voice low and calm. And Franz obeyed!
    Bailey looked between her cousin and Gus. It felt like someone was working on her brain with a curling iron. She could hardly form a thought. Gus and Hannah were, what, friends now? She thought they’d only seen each other that one night at the party. “So do you guys do this a lot?” she managed to ask. “Walk the dogs together?”
    â€œShe’s helped me out a few times. And she went to the shelter with me a couple days ago. Turns out Hannah’s like the dog whisperer,” Gus told her.
    â€œActually, I think positive reinforcement is better than some of the Dog Whisperer’s methods. I mean, he gets amazing results, but I think a few treats can make dogs learn almost as fast,” Hannah answered. It was like being around the dogs had flipped a switch in her, making her relaxed, without the need to look at Bailey before she opened her mouth.
    â€œI’m with you,” Gus said to Hannah. “I always havea pocketful of treats.” He glanced at the beagle near the front of his group. “I’m going to have problems with him if I don’t get moving.”
    â€œI, uh, I should get home. I told my mom I’d only be out for a couple minutes,” Bailey mumbled.
    â€œWe’ll walk that way and drop you off,” Gus volunteered.
    â€œYeah! Let us walk you,” Hannah said eagerly.
    â€œNo, it’s okay. I’ve got to go.”
    If she stood there one more second, she’d start crying. She’d really, really needed to talk to a friend. But Hannah had taken over Gus, the way she’d taken over everything.
    She hadn’t just ruined Olivia’s birthday, she was ruining Bailey’s whole life!

CHAPTER 11
    HOW TO START A FANTASTIC CLUB
    1.      Come up with an idea that a lot of people are interested in.
    2.      Find a teacher sponsor who kids like.
    3.      Get publicity so everyone who might be interested knows about the club.
    4.      Ask potential members what they’d like the club to do.
    5.      Get a couple people to help you organize everything.
    6.      Find a business to sponsor you.
    Bailey needed a list for how to sleep when you were too upset to fall asleep. That was definitely her problem tonight.
    Olivia had called after dinner to apologize again for not telling Bailey that she and the others were meetingup at Gianni’s. Bailey said she understood. She did. Hannah was her cousin. Bailey was stuck with her. That didn’t mean her friends should have to be stuck with her too.
    She had the opposite problem with Gus. He liked Hannah too much! She couldn’t believe the two of them had been hanging out without either of them even mentioning it to her. How was she supposed to talk to him about all her Hannah problems now that Hannah was suddenly his favorite gal pal?
    Bailey knew Gus had tons of friends at his school. But he was still hers. It was her house he walked into without knocking. Her house where he showed up for dinner without being invited. They’d taken baths together when they were babies! She shouldn’t have to share Gus with Hannah.
    Except you’re the one who introduced them, a little voice whispered in her head.
    Bailey groaned and flopped over onto her stomach, pulling the pillow over her head, as if that would shut up the horrible little voice. It didn’t. You did even more than that, it continued. You pushed them together, making them bring the food down to the party. It’s not fair to be mad at either of them for being friends.
    She rolled over onto her back. It didn’t help. Shegot up and headed over to her