“I… uh…” Blake sent a wild look toward Emily.
She raised an eyebrow and let him find his way out of this one. He was going to have to get tough with Jeanie. Spell it out for her that he wasn’t interested.
“Everyone is going to be there. We’ll have fun. You can pick me up about eleven. I don’t want to miss the sandcastle competition. Well, the adult one. I don’t care about the kids’ one.”
Of course she didn’t. She probably didn’t even like kids.Emily thought the kids’ competition was adorable.
“No, I… uh… I already have plans.”
Jeanie’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t tell me you’re going with yourcousin.” She said the word cousin like it was a forbidden, dirty word.
Emily sat back and waited to see what Blake would say. He looked at Jeanie, then at Angela. “No, I was hoping to take Angela to the festival,” he blurted out.
Angela’s eyes widened. “You were?”
“You are? You want to takeher?” Jeanie scowled.
Blake turned to Angela. “Will you go with me to the festival?
Angela blushed a deep red and her eyes widened. “Yes,” she replied softly.
“But—” Jeanie glared at all of them. “You can’t mean you want to takeherinstead of me?”
“Yes, I do,” Blake said firmly.
Jeanie jumped up, her chair crashing to the floor behind her. She leaned close to Angela. “He’s out of your league.”
Angela’s mouth dropped open.
“Hey.” Blake stood. “Cut it out, Jeanie.”
“I can’t believe you’d turn me down to go with her.” Jeanie’s eyes flashed in fury.
Emily looked at Jeanie. “Don’t you have somewhere to go?”
“I do. And it’s way far away from all of you losers.” She flounced away, curls bobbing in anger, her shoulders set.
“I guess she’s finally figured out you’re not interested in her.” She looked over at Angela, who sat there in shock. “You okay? Jeanie can be pretty mean when she wants to.”
“I… uh… I’m fine.” She turned to Blake. “Do you really want to take me to the festival, or was that just a way to turn down Jeanie?”
“No, I really want to take you. I’ve been trying to get my nerve up to ask you.” He gave her a wry grin. “This wasn’t exactly how I expected to do it, but I guess it worked.”
Angela nodded. “It worked. I’d like to go with you.”
“Okay, that’s settled, and now hopefully Jeanie got the hint and will leave us alone.” Emily looked across the table at the two of them staring at each other with goofy smiles on their faces. Ah, young love. She hid her grin and sipped her drink, glad that Blake had finally set Jeanie straight.
Blake finally stood. “I’ve got to go turn in a paper to Miss Brady. I’ll see you after school?” He looked at Angela.
“Sure.”
“Maybe we could walk over and get ice cream at Parker’s.”
“I’d like that.”
“Okay, cool.” Blake hurried away.
After he left, Angela turned to her, panic in her eyes. “You have to help me.”
