Fabulous Five 028 - Breaking Up Read Online Free PDF Page A

thinking about lunchtime, when she
would have to talk to Beth and tell her that Keith wanted to break up. But how
was she going to do that? What could she possibly say?
    If only there were someone I could talk to about it, she
thought. But there wasn't. She was on her own.
     
    Everyone was already in the cafeteria when Jana got there.
They were sitting at The Fabulous Five's favorite table. Beth munched on an
apple while Katie pulled small plastic containers out of her lunch bag as if
she were getting ready for a banquet. Beside her, Melanie unloaded a hot-lunch
plate from her tray.
    "So now will you tell me what you and Keith were
talking about this morning?" Beth asked as soon as Jana reached the table.
It was obvious from the tone of Beth's voice that she was more than a little
miffed at Jana.
    "Sure. As soon as we're finished eating." When
Beth frowned, she added, "We'll go outside where we can have some privacy."
    Beth seemed satisfied, for the moment, anyway, and Jana
nibbled her cream cheese and jelly sandwich and listened to Katie explain her
latest gourmet dish to Melanie.
    "It's from India," Katie explained, "and the
ingredients have to be mixed together at the table." She took hot rice out
of a thermos and began mixing strange-looking things with it.
    Jana rolled her eyes in disgust and tuned Katie out while
she tried for the millionth time to plan what she would say to Beth. Her mind
was blank. There just was no easy way to tell someone that her boyfriend wanted
to break up with her.
    Finally she couldn't put it off any longer. Lunch period was
half over, and soon there might not be much privacy outside, either.
    "Hey, guys," she said, turning to Katie and
Melanie. "Beth and I need to talk about something. Would you mind if we
went out without you?"
    "'Course not," replied Melanie, and Katie agreed.
    Beth looked as if she wanted to say, "It's about time,"
but to Jana's relief, she didn't.
    They left the building, and Jana led the way across the
school ground to an isolated bench. Taking a deep breath, she turned around to
face Beth.
    "About this morning," Jana began. "I was
stalling."
    When Beth's eyes got wide, Jana grabbed her friend's hand
and said softly, "I just didn't want you to know, that's all."
    "Know what?" Beth asked slowly, as if she were
already beginning to understand.
    Jana took a deep breath and cleared her throat. "I hate
to tell you this, but Keith wanted me to talk to you for him and tell you that
. . . that he wants to break up."
    "What!" shrieked Beth. "Break up?" She
looked at Jana with pleading eyes. "He didn't really say that, did
he?"
    Jana felt as if her heart would break, and all she could do
was nod.
    "What did he say?" asked Beth. Her voice was
shaky, and tears brimmed in her eyes. "Tell me exactly what he said. Every
single word."
    "Well . . ." Jana began. "When he called—"
    "You mean, he called you? " Beth
interrupted.
    "Right," said Jana. "He said he wanted me to
tell you that he wanted to break up. And when I asked him why he didn't tell
you himself, he said that if he tried to tell you, he would probably goof it up
and say it all wrong. He . . ." Jana paused and looked into Beth's
tear-streaked face. "He said it might be better if you heard it from me.
Oh, Beth. I'm so sorry!"
    Beth was crying hard now, long sobs shaking her body. Jana
put an arm around her shoulder, even though she knew it wouldn't be much
comfort at a moment like this.
    Beth pulled a tissue out of her jacket pocket and blew her
nose, which by now was turning red. "But why ? What did I do?
Did he say why he wanted to break up?"
    Jana hesitated, remembering Keith's words. I just don't
want to go out with her anymore. There was no way she could tell Beth a
thing like that. Besides, that was one thing Keith should tell her himself!
    "No," Jana said, assuring herself that this little
lie was for Beth's own good.
    "Well, didn't you ask?" Beth demanded.
    Jana looked down at the ground, avoiding Beth's eyes. "It
was