Page 19 of Surfside Sisters

“We’re fine, Dad,” Isabelle said. “Just having a fight.”

“Don’t worry, there will be no broken limbs,” Keely joked, but it fell flat.

“I would hope not,” Mr. Maxwell said, tight-lipped, obviously angry.

“I’d better go home,” Keely said quietly.

“I think that’s a good idea,” Mr. Maxwell said.

Keely waited a moment for Isabelle to say something, to ask her to stay. But the room was quiet. Keely left, hurrying down the stairs and out the door. Sebastian was nowhere in sight.

Keely was almost dizzy. She and Isabelle had never had such a fight before. As she trotted down the street and around the corner on the way to her house, she realized that Sebastian could have heard them. Shehopedhe heard them. She hoped the truth dawned on him: Keely was a girl the most popular guy in school wanted to date. She hoped that might make Sebastian wish he’d kept up theirconversation.

—

After dinner with both parents at home for once, someone knocked on the door.

“I’ll get it!” Keely raced to the door, opened it, and stepped outside, pulling it closed behind her.

Tommy stood there, all six foot four inches of pure hunk. His hands were in his pockets. He slouched almost lazily, a knowing smile on his face.And now,Keely thought,I know what the wordcharismameans.

He was so sure of himself. “Hey.”

“Hi. Listen, Tommy, I’m sorry, really, but I can’t go to the dance. I’ve made other plans.”

“Are you going with someone else?”

“No, it’s my parents, but maybe, I have to see how their schedule…” She was blithering and blushing. “I’m sorry.”

Tommy shrugged. “You’re being mysterious. But I get it. You don’t want to go with me.”

“It’s not that. Well, itisthat. I can’t explain, I don’t want—”

“No worries. I’ll probably be able to find someone else.”

Without another word, he turned, walked back to his truck, and drove away.

“Crap. What did I just do?” Keely stood on the front porch for a long time, trying to untangle her emotions.

Later that evening, Keely called Isabelle. “Isabelle, listen. Tommy came by—”

“Your house? Tommy came to your house?”

“I stood outside to talk to him. It took about two seconds. I told him I can’t go with him, that I had to do something with my parents.”

“So virtuous of you. So now he’ll askmeto go?”

“What else can I do? I hate this…this spat. I want to make it right somehow. You tell me.”

“Thisspat?” Isabelle hissed. “You think this is aspat? I’m in love with Tommy and he wants to dateyou? Keely, this is serious. You and I are done. There’s no coming back.”

“Isabelle, that’s just silly! You are the person I love most in the world. I can’t be happy without you. So I’m not going to the dance with him.”

Isabelle’s voice was formal and prissy. “Thank you very much. It’s generous of you to be so charitable.”

“Izzy!”

“You know I hate that nickname. Call me Isabelle.”

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