All Shook Up (From the Files of Madison Finn, 22) (5 page)

“Hey,” someone said, poking Madison in the shoulder.

Madison looked away from the screen and found herself face to face with none other than Hart Jones.

“Hart!” Madison cried, worried that he could read her thoughts—or even worse, her computer monitor.

But he didn’t see anything. He collapsed into a chair at the side of the table where Madison was typing.

“So, what’s up? What are you writing? One of your files?”

Madison felt herself get hot under the collar. She quickly hit a key that made everything onscreen disappear.

“What I am writing is none of your beeswax,” Madison said, teasing him. Then she lowered her voice. “You’re so nosy.”

Hart leaned a little bit closer to Madison. “Why didn’t you go to Mrs. Wing’s today?” he whispered.

“Mrs. Wing’s? For what?” Madison asked.

“Site update,” Hart reminded her.

“Oh!” Madison had forgotten all about the weekly website update. She was one of the school team members in charge of updating pages and downloading new photos and text to the site.

“I guess Lance can do all the work,” Madison joked.

Lance was another member of their team, who was the butt of a lot of class jokes. He wasn’t exactly a computer whiz—more like a computer fizz.

“But Lance isn’t as sweet as you,” Hart said.

Madison blushed, taken aback by his comment. Lately Hart had been saying things that caught Madison completely off guard. Although getting attention sometimes made Madison squirmy, she liked the way it made her feel deep down inside.

Hart inched closer to Madison. Was he about to grab her hands? It would be a record-breaking fourth instance of holding hands! Madison was definitely keeping count.

Just as Hart made his move, Mr. Books, the librarian, appeared.

“This is a study zone, students,” Mr. Books said sternly. “Back to homework, please.”

“Yes, sir,” Hart said, slumping back in his chair.

As soon as Mr. Books walked away, Madison and Hart broke into silent laughter. Their faces turned watermelon red—but no noise came out.

Then someone else popped out from behind the stacks of books.

“Madison Finn,” a girl said sharply.

It was Poison Ivy.

Madison jumped, startled. She swallowed her laughter.

“Hart,” Ivy said, as she moved suspiciously close to him. Madison couldn’t believe how Ivy continued to try to get Hart’s attention—and affection—even when she knew that he was already taken.

Ivy was the queen of lost causes.

As Ivy sidled up to the chair where Hart sat, Madison counted five different times when a hand or side or some other part of Ivy touched Hart. She had made up some stupid story about needing Hart’s help on a homework assignment.

As if.
Thankfully, Madison could tell that Hart was barely listening.

After the enemy had been talking for a while, Hart turned to her and said, “I’m sorry. What did you say?”

Ivy stared back at him, dumbfounded. No words came out.

Madison wanted to burst out laughing. She bit her tongue so she wouldn’t. Finally, Ivy spoke.

“By the way, I still have your notebook,” Ivy growled at Madison. “I think I’ll just keep it for a while. You don’t mind, do you? I didn’t think so…. Oh, well. Buh-bye.”

Madison’s mind raced. Ivy still had the notebook. That sneak! Madison wanted to scream out after the enemy, but she couldn’t lose her cool here. She didn’t want Mr. Books to come back over to reprimand her.

“Just ignore her,” Hart whispered. “Ivy’s so lame. She’s always hanging around and trying to talk to me these days, but
ugh
. I used to think she was nicer, but … well …”

“But what?” Madison couldn’t help asking.

“But
you’re
the nice one,” Hart said plainly. “You know that.”

Madison stood up. “I really should go,” she said, extending her hand. It just hovered out there, waiting for someone to grab it.

Would Hart take it and hold it in his own? Madison hoped so. She was going for a fifth hand-holding right there; right then.

Hart stood up.

Madison held her breath.

Then, in one slo-mo moment, Hart grabbed Madison’s hand. He squeezed it so all the fingers pinched together.

“Want me to carry your book bag?” Hart asked.

Madison readjusted the orange messenger bag on her shoulder while still managing
not
to let go of Hart’s hand.

“I’m okay,” she said coyly, savoring the moment. “I’ve got it.” She wished she could add, “And I’ve got you, too, and
how cool is that
?”

Of course, the library was no place for slick movie-of-the-week lines. She’d save the line for her files, where no thought was too cheesy or too forward.

The two of them kept holding hands all the way down the stairs to the first floor. By the time they reached the front door of the school, and Madison and Hart had to let go, they both had sweaty palms. Now it was time for the day’s good-byes. Hart had basketball practice, and Madison needed to head over to the animal clinic. It was after three o’clock; Dan was meeting her at the bus stop.

“E me later,” Madison suggested to Hart as they parted ways.

“Sure,” he said, although Madison was pretty sure he wouldn’t. Guys weren’t always so good about calling or e-mailing, even if they promised. They certainly weren’t as good as BFFs.

As Hart walked away, Madhur appeared.

“Hey! I was just thinking about you!” Madison said, stretching the truth a little. “We have to talk more about what we’re doing for the conference.”

“I know,” Madhur nodded. “I told my mother about our being partners. She said I should invite you over this weekend for supper. We could do work in the afternoon and then you could stay to eat. Everyone in my house cooks on Sundays.”

“Wow,” Madison said, grinning. “That sounds fun. I would … well, I have to ask my mom or dad first, actually. Can I E you later?”

“I don’t have e-mail, remember?” Madhur said.

“Oh, of course,” Madison said. “Um … can I just call you at home?”

Madhur nodded. “That’s what I was going to do—if I didn’t see you here at school this afternoon. But I saw you, so …”

“Where are you headed right now?” Madison asked.

“To the library,” Madhur said softly. “I have a lot of homework.”

“You do?” Madison asked. “I didn’t think the teachers were giving that much reading this week….”

“No. I’m a few chapters ahead of the rest of the class.”

“Oh, I forgot. You do all your homework way in advance,” Madison said.

“Where are you going?” Madhur asked.

“I’m on my way to the Far Hills Animal Clinic. My friend Dan and I are volunteers there. These kittens got sick and died, and … well, it’s a sad story. I told Dan I would help him out this afternoon.”

“The animal clinic? Wow,” Madhur said.

“I remember from your speech in class that you like animals a lot, right?”

Madhur nodded. “For sure.”

“Do you want to come to the clinic with us?” Madison asked.

“Oh, no.” Madhur demurred. “I couldn’t. I mean, my parents don’t know about it, and I shouldn’t. I don’t take the bus alone….”

“You won’t be alone,” Madison said. “We’ll be with you. And it’s only two stops away.”

Madhur looked conflicted. “I can’t. Really.”

Madison didn’t want to press the issue. But then she said, “I could introduce you to all the animals. You’d love it.”

A wide smile spread across Madhur’s face. “Okay. I guess my parents won’t mind. I’ll go.”

Just then, Dan appeared, and the trio raced to catch one of the local buses that passed the clinic. Dan told Madison he was happy to see an extra volunteer.

Dan’s mom, who worked the front desk at the clinic, was overjoyed to see three helpers coming to the clinic that afternoon—even if Madison and Madhur would only be there for a short time. Madison took Madhur into the back and showed her the rows of animal cages where dogs in all shapes and sizes barked their hellos.

“This place is great,” Madhur said, leaning toward a cage with a little dog inside.

Dan opened the cage and pulled out the dog, a small Pomeranian. He cradled the dog in his arms and then passed it over to Madhur.

“Wanna hold her?” Dan said. “Her name is Polly Doodle. Don’t ask.”

Madhur laughed as she took Polly from him. “Oh, you are so cute! Just the cutest thing ever, ever, ever.”

Madison giggled. “That’s what
I
always say,” she joked.

“I know it’s a huge bummer, but we have to deal with the kittens, Maddie,” Dan interrupted.

He explained to Madison and Madhur that the animals had already been cremated; they just needed to be buried, out behind the clinic, where there was a garden with little pet headstones for animals who died during a stay at the clinic or the shelter.

“This is weird,” Madhur said as they stepped into the little pet cemetery. “But sweet.”

“Sweet?” Dan said. “Man, sugar is sweet. This just stinks.”

“Dan doesn’t like saying good-bye,” Madison said. “We get pretty attached to the animals here. You know?”

Madhur nodded. “I know. I lost a pet once. It’s hard.”

Dan said a few words over a large sign he’d made with the names of all the kittens written on it. Then Madison said a few more words, and Madhur said her own good-bye.

“Oh, man,” Dan groaned when they’d finished up. “It’s after four o’clock. I have to help my mom with these parrots that are coming in tonight. This guy has three birds, and they’re all getting surgery.”

Madison made a face. “What kind of surgery?”

Dan just shook his head. “Don’t ask.” He said that a lot.

“I’d better get home,” Madhur said. “I told my mom I’d be home by four thirty. If she finds out I came here
and
I’m late …”

All at once, Madison’s face grew pale.
It was after four o’clock
?

“Oh!” she blurted out, scrambling back inside to pick up her orange bag.

“What’s the matter?” Dan asked, following her.

Madhur chased after the two of them.

“It’s after four,” Madison said, “and I promised Aimee I would—” she sighed. “I promised,” she groaned.

“It’s not that much later. She’ll understand,” Madhur said sweetly. “That’s what friends do. They understand you. Right?”

“Normally. Except that Aimee had this terrible day today, and I just … I better go….”

“Call me back about Sunday, okay?” Madhur asked.

Madison stopped short. “We should see each other before that. Why don’t you come out tomorrow night with us?”

“Is it family night?” Madhur asked.

“Not exactly. Depends on what you mean by ‘family.’ My parents are divorced,” Madison said.

“Oh,” Madhur said.

“Don’t worry. I’m used to the Big D—that’s what I call their ‘divorce.’ Besides, Dad is married again now. And I like my stepmom a lot. I think my mom will probably get married again sometime, too. Then again, she’s married to her job….”

“Don’t you have to go?” Dan asked.

“Oh … yeah …” Madison said. She felt a little flustered. Aimee was waiting. But she wanted to make a plan with Madhur, too. For some reason, she couldn’t shut up.

“You see, I usually have dinner with Dad on random Saturdays, but tomorrow, for some reason, he declared it GNO, or Girls’ Night Out—except for him, of course. I’m bringing Aimee, Fiona, and Lindsay to dinner with us. We might go bowling or catch a movie, too. And the reason I’m telling you all this is because … well … you should come.”

“Me?” Madhur asked.

“Why not?” Madison answered.

“It sounds like fun. Of course, it is short notice. I would have to ask my parents,” Madhur said. “Sometimes they plan my weekends for me.”

“They have to let you come! Then we can study
and
have a lot of fun this weekend,” Madison said, her pulse racing. She was already running late—and Aimee was
still
waiting. She had to hurry.

At the front of the clinic, Madison and Madhur swept past a woman carrying a large yellow tabby with oversize ears.

“That’s one fat cat,” Dan whispered. Then he turned and said, “See you later.”

“So long,” the girls said in unison. Near the front door, they eyed a trio of parrots in cages.

“So long to you, too,” they squawked in unison at the birds. “Good luck in surgery.”

Leaving the squat clinic building, Madhur made a sharp left, toward her own neighborhood, just a short walk away. “I’ll let you know about tomorrow,” she said as she walked away.

Madison heard but didn’t say anything. She was too busy making her own sharp right, walking fast, fast, FAST toward the bus. With a lot of luck, she might just make it home to Aimee and the dogs by four thirty—or at least by five.

She hoped Aimee wouldn’t be too disappointed.

:
IM
SOOO glad ur online now


: I got yr email this AM wassup???


: Aim’s MAM


: Y?


: I sorta blew her off yesterday by mistake


: :{o}


: I 4got we were supposed 2 meet and then she was waiting 4 me and now it’s REALLY bad b/c we’re all going 2 dinner 2nite


: just u & aim r going?


: no, it’s the whole group. It’s us & Fiona & Lins & Madhur 2


: Madhur???


: OMG I can’t believe I didn’t tell u she is the coolest new friend @ school she’s always been here but we never knew each other until this whole leader’s confrnec thing


: conference (sorry)


: wow she sounds nice but the sitch sounds icky


: that’s the understatement of the yr :>P


: WAYG2D?


: be super nice to Aimee all nite I guess


: good plan


: how’s life in Washington?


: My bro is doing good and we are getting a dog—can u believe it?


: Yeah, it seems like ur always getting a new pet


: How’s Phinnie??


: Fat LOL he’s eating 2 many dog treats he found the bin in the kitchen closet and ate an entire box the other day


:


: OMG it’s late I better get going


: GL 2nite


: (((TAL)))


: smooch