CHAPTER 1
Jana Morgan flashed her biggest and brightest smile at Randy
Kirwan as she crossed the Wakeman Junior High school grounds and headed toward
The Fabulous Five's favorite spot by the fence. He waved and gave her his
1,000-watt smile back.
Even though it was Monday morning, Jana was still
daydreaming about their super weekend together. On Friday night, they had gone
to the movies and Bumpers, the fast-food restaurant where everyone from Wakeman
Junior High hung out. On Saturday, Randy had bicycled to her house, and her
stepfather Pink had dropped them off at the West Side Mall, where they'd met
the rest of The Fabulous Five: Katie Shannon, Beth Barry, Melanie Edwards, and
Christie Winchell, who were there with Tony Calcaterra, Keith Masterson, Shane
Arrington, Scott Daly, and Jon Smith. Later, they had all gone to Melanie's to
watch a video and eat popcorn. The evening had ended with Randy's holding her
hand as he walked her home and kissing her good-night before getting on his
bicycle and leaving. Jana knew she had a dopey smile on her face as she thought
about the terrific weekend, but she didn't care. Let people stare.
"HEY, GET OUT OF THE WAY!"
Before Jana could react, someone slammed into her, knocking
her backward. She tried to catch her balance, but she tripped instead. Her
books flew in all directions as she hit the ground with a thud.
"Why don't you watch where you're going?"
Geena McNatt stood there, glaring down at Jana. She was
dressed in a pair of red sweatpants and matching top, which were both several
sizes too big for her. She had one hand on her hip and was holding a football
with the other.
"I was walking where people are supposed to walk!"
Jana retorted angrily. How in the world could Geena accuse her of being at
fault? Jana got to her feet and faced the other girl.
Geena had reddish-brown hair that she hardly ever combed and
freckles across the bridge of her nose. She was a year older and half a head
taller than Jana, even though she was in the seventh grade, too. Jon Smith, who
had gone to Copper Beach Elementary with Geena, had told Christie that Geena
had been held back in the fifth grade.
Even though Jana and Geena were both in Mr. Broderick's
social studies class, Jana hadn't talked to her very much. In fact, Jana tried
to stay out of her way. Geena was always picking on kids who couldn't defend
themselves and disrupting the classroom.
"Well, you'd better watch where you're walking,"
Geena said, turning to throw the football in a perfect spiral to Bill Soliday
and trotting after it.
"Are you okay?" Randy asked, running up.
Jana brushed off the back of her denim skirt and checked the
scrape on her elbow. "I think so. I didn't see her coming."
"I'm not surprised. She was running after a pass, and
you were looking the other way."
As Randy started picking up Jana's books, the rest of The
Fabulous Five joined them. They had been Jana's best friends for what seemed
like forever, and she knew she could always count on them. Now they were all
giving her sympathetic looks.
"I think they should outlaw throwing footballs on the
school ground," said Beth. "It's dangerous."
"Only when Geena McNatt's playing," said Christie.
"The guys are more careful than she is."
"I don't think I broke anything," said Jana. "It
was just an accident."
"Are you sure you don't have footprints up your back?"
asked Keith Masterson, who had just walked up. "Geena almost stepped on
you."
Jana smiled. "I'm fine." And except for a few sore
spots, she did feel fine. It had just been an accident, she told herself, and even
though Geena was in her social studies class, she might not have to speak to
her again.
As Jana made her way to the cafeteria for lunch later that
afternoon, she met Funny Hawthorne. "Are you going to run for Miss Seventh
Grade?" asked Funny. "If you do, I'll vote for you as long as you
promise not to tell Laura."
Funny's question surprised Jana. She hadn't thought of
herself as being
Jana Morgan flashed her biggest and brightest smile at Randy
Kirwan as she crossed the Wakeman Junior High school grounds and headed toward
The Fabulous Five's favorite spot by the fence. He waved and gave her his
1,000-watt smile back.
Even though it was Monday morning, Jana was still
daydreaming about their super weekend together. On Friday night, they had gone
to the movies and Bumpers, the fast-food restaurant where everyone from Wakeman
Junior High hung out. On Saturday, Randy had bicycled to her house, and her
stepfather Pink had dropped them off at the West Side Mall, where they'd met
the rest of The Fabulous Five: Katie Shannon, Beth Barry, Melanie Edwards, and
Christie Winchell, who were there with Tony Calcaterra, Keith Masterson, Shane
Arrington, Scott Daly, and Jon Smith. Later, they had all gone to Melanie's to
watch a video and eat popcorn. The evening had ended with Randy's holding her
hand as he walked her home and kissing her good-night before getting on his
bicycle and leaving. Jana knew she had a dopey smile on her face as she thought
about the terrific weekend, but she didn't care. Let people stare.
"HEY, GET OUT OF THE WAY!"
Before Jana could react, someone slammed into her, knocking
her backward. She tried to catch her balance, but she tripped instead. Her
books flew in all directions as she hit the ground with a thud.
"Why don't you watch where you're going?"
Geena McNatt stood there, glaring down at Jana. She was
dressed in a pair of red sweatpants and matching top, which were both several
sizes too big for her. She had one hand on her hip and was holding a football
with the other.
"I was walking where people are supposed to walk!"
Jana retorted angrily. How in the world could Geena accuse her of being at
fault? Jana got to her feet and faced the other girl.
Geena had reddish-brown hair that she hardly ever combed and
freckles across the bridge of her nose. She was a year older and half a head
taller than Jana, even though she was in the seventh grade, too. Jon Smith, who
had gone to Copper Beach Elementary with Geena, had told Christie that Geena
had been held back in the fifth grade.
Even though Jana and Geena were both in Mr. Broderick's
social studies class, Jana hadn't talked to her very much. In fact, Jana tried
to stay out of her way. Geena was always picking on kids who couldn't defend
themselves and disrupting the classroom.
"Well, you'd better watch where you're walking,"
Geena said, turning to throw the football in a perfect spiral to Bill Soliday
and trotting after it.
"Are you okay?" Randy asked, running up.
Jana brushed off the back of her denim skirt and checked the
scrape on her elbow. "I think so. I didn't see her coming."
"I'm not surprised. She was running after a pass, and
you were looking the other way."
As Randy started picking up Jana's books, the rest of The
Fabulous Five joined them. They had been Jana's best friends for what seemed
like forever, and she knew she could always count on them. Now they were all
giving her sympathetic looks.
"I think they should outlaw throwing footballs on the
school ground," said Beth. "It's dangerous."
"Only when Geena McNatt's playing," said Christie.
"The guys are more careful than she is."
"I don't think I broke anything," said Jana. "It
was just an accident."
"Are you sure you don't have footprints up your back?"
asked Keith Masterson, who had just walked up. "Geena almost stepped on
you."
Jana smiled. "I'm fine." And except for a few sore
spots, she did feel fine. It had just been an accident, she told herself, and even
though Geena was in her social studies class, she might not have to speak to
her again.
As Jana made her way to the cafeteria for lunch later that
afternoon, she met Funny Hawthorne. "Are you going to run for Miss Seventh
Grade?" asked Funny. "If you do, I'll vote for you as long as you
promise not to tell Laura."
Funny's question surprised Jana. She hadn't thought of
herself as being
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