* All ages
I think I have a problem--I'm addicted to writing fanfic. But I'm trying to work it out. I'm afraid it's very hard to stop though. It's so much fun! Anyways, this is a follow-up to Truth or Dare and I'm throwing a bone to all those loyal but misguided Trixie+Jim fans. Enjoy :)
Trixie. . . Western publishing. . . not for profit. . .
Love's Secrets
by Erin
I think that I shall never see
A poem as lovely as Honey,
With golden eyes and skin so fair
And smooth and shining gilded hair.
My only wish, when I see you,
Is for you to love me too.Love,
Your Secret AdmirerHoney blushed slightly as she read the note. For nearly a month now, she had been receiving notes from a secret admirer, but he had yet to identify himself. Well, it must be someone who knows me well enough to know how much I love Kipling's poetry. She racked her brain, as she did everyday, trying to come up with possible people her secret admirer could be. A fine detective you'll make one day, Miss Wheeler, she thought. It's not brain surgery, it's just a simple Case of the Unknown Suitor. She giggled. "Oh, where's Trixie when I need her?" she asked herself.
"Right behind you," came the answer. Honey turned to see her curly haired friend watching her strangely. "Is everything okay?"
"Oh, Trixie, yes," Honey said hastily. "I mean, I was just hoping you were around that's all. I got another note." She handed it to Trixie, noticing that Trixie seemed to be suppressing a smile. "Why are you smiling?" she asked.
Trixie looked startled for a moment, then began smiling again. "I wasn't smiling." Honey just looked at her. "Okay, maybe I was. Can't a girl be happy when her best friend has men panting after her?" Trixie tried to look as innocent as she could. "I wish I were that lucky."
"Oh Trixie," Honey said, giving her friend a little hug. "Just because Jim decided to, well, you know," Honey was hesitant to bring up the situation, because she knew that despite appearances, her friend was really hurting. "It doesn't mean anything." She noticed the admiring glances from a group of guys walking towards them in the hall, while the pretty blonde in front of her seemed completely oblivious. "You're beautiful Trix. I mean it. And apparently I'm not the only one who thinks so," she said, nodding towards the boys. Trixie followed her glance.
"Hey Trixie!" one of the boys called out. "Where are you headed off to?"
"Just Pre-Cal," Trixie said, making a face to express her disgust with anything math related.
He laughed. "Yeah, I know what you mean. I had Pre-cal last year. I'm heading over there actually. I think your room is across from mine. Want to walk with me?"
Trixie turned back towards Honey. "What, did you plan this or something?"
Honey shook her head, trying not to laugh. "I promise, Trixie. It's just an example of divine intervention. Kismet, as Mart would say. Fate."
Trixie grinned with her friend. "Well, Miss Wheeler, I'll see you at lunch," she said, and turned to meet the young man waiting patiently to escort her down the hallway.
Honey watched her. She knows something. Something she's not telling me. She shook her head. Oh well, she'll tell me soon enough. She never was one to keep a secret for too long. The bell rang, and Honey closed her locker and hurried to her English class, forgetting about the notes for now.
As Honey walked towards the usual lunch table she noticed it was full. Ever since Jim, Brian and Dan had left for college, it had always sort of bothered her by how empty it felt. Often, Mart would bring a couple of his guy friends over so he would not be "overpowered by the estrogen brigade." And today, Honey noted, it appears Trixie's math friend has joined us. Honey set her tray on the table, smiling at Trixie with more than a little satisfaction.
"Honey Wheeler," Trixie said. "I know exactly what that grin means." She gave Honey a warning look but said nothing. "Honey, this is Matt. Matt, Honey."
"Hello," they said with a nod to one another.
"Matt's going to tutor me in Pre-cal," Trixie said to Honey. "Ever since Brian left I've been having a lot of trouble. Others in the Belden household," she said, deliberately looking over at Mart, "are evidently not as intellectual as my eldest brother."
Mart looked at her mildly. "Pre-Calculus is an extraneous instruction established by this institution to torture us and break our will. I refuse to support such a cruel practice."
Honey giggled. Mart could always make her laugh. "I'm sure it's nothing personal, now is it Mart?" Honey asked, eyes teasing. Last year Mart pulled through with a D, but only after studying to ace the final exam.
He groaned dramatically. "Why do you remind me of such horrible things?" he asked. "I thought you were my friend."
"Well, of course I'm your friend, Mart," she said playfully. "Why else would I invite you to my party tomorrow night? It's not like you're a good dancer or anything."
"Oooo," Trixie said, giving her friend a high-five. "Good one."
Mart looked hurt. He turned to Di, "Miss Lynch, beautiful, honest, and kind Miss Lynch, I'm not a bad dancer, am I?"
Di, always the diplomatic one in the group, considered the question for a moment. "Well," she said, "you're not as bad as Brian."
With that comment, everyone laughed. Brian and Di had been dating for a while, but it had been a secret until a couple of weeks ago. The two dark-haired characters were the quietest and most serious members of the group, and with Brian always studying, it was no wonder that he was such a bad dancer.
"I'm excited the guys will be back this weekend," Honey said. "Even Dan is coming back from Clemson. The party will be great." She smiled in anticipation. "Oh!" she cried, turning towards Matt. "I'm being so rude! We're having a party this weekend at my house, a sort of welcome spring kind of thing. Would you like to come? Please do!"
"Thanks, Honey," Matt said. "I appreciate the invite, but my family is driving down to Pennsylvania to visit my grandparents. I wish I could though. It sounds like fun."
"It'll be fantastic," Trixie sighed. " I can't wait."
The bell rang, signaling the end of lunch. "Oh Trix," Honey said. "I have your English book in my locker from when I borrowed it yesterday. Come on, we'll go get it."
They walked to her locker. When she opened it, another note fell out. "Well read it!" Trixie said, the knowing smile back on her face. Honey unfolded it.
Oh my Honey, fair and sweet,
The time has come for us to meet.
Saturday at the party, all will be revealed. . .Love,
Your Secret AdmirerHoney's hands shook a little. She looked at Trixie. "Now I really can't wait for the party!"
Two hours before the party was set to begin, Trixie walked up the path to the Manor House. She had promised to help Honey with all the last-minute preparations. She knocked three times on the door.
Honey opened it. "That's what you're wearing?" she asked.
Trixie looked down at her jeans and tee. "What's wrong with it?" she asked self-consciously. "You didn't say to dress up."
"Well yes, I know," Honey said. "But I thought maybe you'd like to dress up a little bit. I mean, you never know who you'll see."
Trixie looked at her. "Alright, whatever. Can I borrow something from your closet, then?"
Honey brightened. "Why, as it happens, I already picked some things out for you to try on."
"Why do I think I've been set up?" Trixie asked, looking sideways at her friend. "And I thought you needed help with some last minute preparations."
"What do you think this is?" Honey asked. They both laughed and headed up to Honey's room.
An hour and a half later, the freshly showered Trixie sat in her towel while Honey finished applying some makeup.
"I feel like I'm being suffocated," Trixie sputtered as Honey powdered her face. "Is this really necessary?"
"Trixie, you've been a closet beauty for too long," Honey said. "It's time for you to accept the fact that you pretty." Honey stepped back to survey her work. "There," she smiled. "What do you think?"
Trixie picked up a mirror nonchalantly and glanced at her reflection. "Oh my god!" she said slowly, unable to help herself.
Honey looked pleased. "I'll take that as a compliment for my artistic ability. Now get dressed and meet me downstairs," Honey said as she left the room.
Trixie sat, still unable to look away from her reflection. This is not me, she thought. Honey is a miracle worker. Suddenly, in just a few short minutes, Trixie's eyes had become bigger and bluer. Her complexion had become clearer, and her lips were no longer chapped looking. Trixie sat up a little straighter. "Well kid," she said to her reflection, "it's time to knock 'em dead." And with that she hurried over to the closet to get dressed.
As Trixie came bounding down the stairs, she ran smack into Mart coming up the stairs.
"Hey, watch it!" she said angrily. "What are you doing here anyway."
But Mart was just staring at her. "Wow Trix, you look great!" He smiled slightly. "But I know you were not wearing that when you left the house."
Trixie looked down at her outfit. Honey had decided on a black skirt (much shorter than a skirt Trixie had ever worn before) and a short-sleeved blue tee. "Yeah, I guess not," she said, grinning at Mart. "But Honey knows best about these things doesn't she?"
Mart grinned right back at her. "Honey knows best about everything," he said. "Now run along downstairs like a good girl and welcome your brother home."
"They're here?" Trixie asked excitedly. But before Mart had time to answer, she had already run down the stairs.
"Brian!"
Brian spun around in time to see his sister ready to embrace him. They hugged each other, and then Brian stepped back, surveying her appearance. "That's an interesting outfit you've got on," he said.
"Don't you like it?" she asked him. "Even Mart said I looked pretty." Trixie watched her older brother doubtfully.
"Trix, you look great," Brian said. "I mean it. I just have the feeling I'm going to have to be looking after you tonight. You'll be beating off guys with a stick."
Trixie blushed. She was just not used to all this attention about her appearance.
"Trixie. . ." she heard behind her. She turned around eagerly, and was met with the sight of Jim with his arm around a pretty brunette. "Trixie, this is Gretchen. Gretchen, this is Brian's little sister, Trixie."
Brian's little sister Trixie? Trixie thought angrily. How about my ex-girlfriend Trixie? But she just smiled at Gretchen benignly. "It's nice to meet you," she said sweetly.
Jim was staring at her. "You look nice Trixie. I feel like it's been forever since I've seen you."
That's because it has. "It's been about two months, I guess."
"Wow," he said with a laugh. He suddenly became serious, "Brian got a hug. Where's mine?"
Trixie's heart skipped a beat. Don't you play games with me James Frayne, she thought. "Only men I'm related to get hugs. Sorry."
"Oh, come on, Trix," he said playfully. "You're practically my sister."
Your sister? Your SISTER? "I think not, Jim," Trixie said icily. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go find Honey." She turned towards Gretchen. "It was nice meeting you."
Trixie ran into Honey coming out of the kitchen, where she was checking on the food for the arriving guests.
"Trixie! You look great! We definitely chose the right outfit." She noticed Trixie's cloudy face. "What's wrong? What happened?"
Trixie looked at Honey's concerned face. "I met Gretchen," she told her. "She seems nice, doesn't she?"
"Yes, Trixie," Honey said, slipping her arm through Trixie's, "she is nice. But don't worry about Jim tonight. I invited half of the school. There are plenty of guys here to have a good time with. Come on, let's go find a couple of eligible bachelors." Honey steered them into the main room where the guests were. "Now, choice picking. Who do you want."
But Trixie wasn't following Honey's eyes. "Dan!" she cried happily, half-walking, half-running to meet her friend.
"Hey Trixie," Dan said, as they gave each other a big bear hug. "What's going on? Man, I've missed you so much!"
"Oh Dan, I've missed you too," Trixie said. "I'm so glad you're here."
"The feeling is mutual, I assure you," Dan said looking around the room. "I don't recognize most of these kids." He grinned at Trixie, "Being a college man, I don't like to fraternize with high school kids."
Trixie gave him a little punch on the side of his arm. "Hey Danny, why don't you take your trash talk out onto the dance floor. Show these kids whose boss."
"Well, I'll need a partner," Dan said. He held out his hand. "Will you do me the pleasure?"
Giggling, Trixie took it. "Hey, they're your feet. Don't sue me if they come to any harm."
"No harm will ever come to me when I'm with you, Trixie Belden," he said. And together they headed to the middle of the dance floor.
Honey smiled as she watched her friends dancing and having fun. Trixie and Dan had been dancing on and off for an hour and Brian and Diana had been sitting together talking in each others ears. Only Jim and Gretchen didn't seem to be having much fun; they sat together not talking. And she hadn't seen Mart for awhile. Wonder what he's up to, she thought. Suddenly, she felt someone tapping her on the shoulder. When she turned around, however, no one was there. She saw a small piece of paper on the floor.
Meet me in the rose garden
Love,
Your soon to be unsecret admirerHoney looked up excitedly. Slowly, she made her way towards the door and left.
A breeze was blowing the bushes in the garden ever so slightly as Honey entered it.
"Honey?" she heard, and twirled around. In front of her stood Martin Belden, fidgeting nervously.
"Mart!" Honey said, confused. "Why are you here?"
Mart grinned. "Because I told you this was where I'd be. I'm your secret admirer."
Honey's eyes became very wide. Mart? she thought. Trixie's brother? That must be why she was always smirking. She knew!
"Well?" Mart asked, interrupting her thoughts.
"Well, nothing, Mart," Honey said slowly. "I mean, you know, it's just a shock, that's all. I mean, why the notes? Why didn't you just tell me the way you felt?"
"I was afraid," Mart answered simply. "Truth is Honey, I'm not sure how I feel."
Honey looked at him. Then, mustering all the courage she possessed, she leaned over and kissed him. Then she pulled away and watched his face.
Mart smiled, then giggled, causing Honey to begin laughing also. Pretty soon, they were both clinging to each other, laughing so hard they were crying.
"Oh man," Mart said, wiping the tears from his eyes. "That was like kissing my sister."
"I know, I know," Honey said, laughing. "I think it's a sign. Romance isn't in the stars for us."
Mart sobered. He took Honey's hand. "I love you, Honey Wheeler," he said. "You're one of my best friends."
Honey smiled. "After Trixie and Di, you're probably my best friend. And I love you too."
They stood up and Mart offered her his arm. Together, they returned to the party.
"So then he said you were practically his sister?"
Trixie nodded.
Dan whistled. "That's pretty rough, Trixie. I'm sorry." He shook his head. "Jim doesn't know what he's giving up."
Trixie smiled at her friend. "Dan, why'd you have to go all the way to South Carolina?" she asked him. "You always make me feel better than anyone else does."
He laughed. "Sorry, Trixie. But hey, only a couple years till you graduate. Just apply to Clemson and come join me."
"Excuse me, Mr. Mangan, Miss Belden." Diana Lynch was next to them. "Don't think I'm going to let you monopolize the second most handsome man here," she said playfully to Trixie. "Come on, Danny, let's dance."
Trixie nodded to Dan, who gave her a covert wink. "I'll be back soon."
Trixie looked at the people having fun around her. She had the urge to be alone, so she slipped onto the patio. She watched the stars and felt the breeze. Looking towards the driveway, she saw Jim and Gretchen. They were deep in conversation. Suddenly, they kissed one another. Hurt, Trixie looked away. Through her tears she heard a car start and drive away.
I guess that's it, she thought to herself. They weren't having any fun here so they left to be alone. She began to cry harder. A few minutes later, she felt a man's hand on her shoulder.
"Oh Dan," she said, with her head buried in her hands. "Am I an idiot? He told me it was over, he even brought his girlfriend, but I still love him." Her shoulders were shaking with the intensity of her tears. "I'm only sixteen. But I do love him, Dan. I want to spend my life with him."
"Trixie. . ."
Trixie jumped up angrily. "Jim," she said. "What are you doing here? Why are you here?" She turned her back on him, hastily wiping away her tears.
Jim stepped up behind her. She could feel his breath on her ear. "Trixie," he whispered. "Please, Trixie, forgive me. Gretchen left. It's over. I don't think it ever really started."
Trixie turned to face him, her eyes searching his.
"I love you, Trixie. I love you more than I ever realized before. And you're right, we are young, but I still love you. I would do anything for you. I never meant to hurt you." He had tears in his eyes. "I promise you this, I never will again. I'll protect you Trixie."
Overcome by emotion, Trixie kissed Jim through their tears. "I believe you, Jim," she told him, "and I forgive you for everything."
Jim smiled and hugged her. "Should we go back in?" he asked, and together they joined the party as a couple.
"So I guess everything got worked out, huh?" Dan asked Trixie as they shared another dance.
"Yeah," Trixie said, unable to stop smiling. "Everything's great. I'm telling you, Dan, I've got a feeling, just a feeling, that Jim and I are going to be together forever. I'll marry him one day."
"Hope so, Trixie," Dan said, twirling her. "As long as you're happy. I guess we'll just have to wait and see, won't we?"
The End