rated a mild *
Sweet as Honey
by Amber
Early Monday morning, Honey Wheeler was sitting down in homeroom. She closed her hazel eyes and brushed her long honey-colored hair behind her shoulders. Touching her hair made her remember when she and Diana Lynch had decided to grow out their hair. Honey’s best friend, Trixie Belden, had let hers grow out too, but complained about it. Honey smiled as she realized that out of the three of them, Trixie liked her long hair the most.
Diana, with her violet eyes and black hair (long, of course) sat down next to Honey. Leaning over, Di whispered, “How did everything go over the weekend?”
Honey smiled. “Trixie’s back,” was all she’d say. Honey figured that if Trixie wanted to tell Di about last Friday night, she could. Honey didn’t feel that it was her place. Honey thought back to how Trixie had been acting all last week. If Honey didn’t know what had gone on between Trixie and Jim, her feelings would have been hurt. As it was, she found it hard to be nice and tactful to Trixie on Saturday until Trixie had apologized.
Saturday morning
Honey had woken up early for a reason she couldn’t remember for a few minutes. Oh my gosh, Trixie! She rushed to get dressed. She had to go down to the clubhouse to get Trixie and get her upstairs before anyone else woke up.
She ran out the front door and down the lawn. She paused when she got to the clubhouse door just in case Dan was still trying to talk sense into Trixie. When she didn’t hear anything, she opened the door. Honey’s first reaction to seeing Dan and Trixie on the couch asleep was shock. When she realized that they were just sort of sitting next to each other, she smiled. Her best friend was back.
Honey tiptoed over to the couch and tried to shake them awake gently. Dan woke up easily, a habit he hadn’t quite broken from when he lived in the city. Trixie was a bit harder to wake up. She woke up slightly disoriented. She blushed as she looked at Dan then Honey.
Honey wondered why Trixie was blushing, but decided not to mention anything at that moment. Dan smiled at Honey and told her to get Trixie to Manor House. Honey grabbed Trixie’s hand to help her stand up. Honey and Trixie walked to Manor House while Dan walked to Mr. Maypenny’s cabin.
“Honey? I’m sorry I ignored you the last couple of weeks.”
“I understand that you were upset, but why did you ignore us?”
“I didn’t want to answer a bunch of questions or have everyone look at me with pity. I couldn’t have stood that,” Trixie replied.
“No one would have pitied you. Mart wanted to try to ‘teach Jim a lesson.’ Di and I were just upset with Jim for hurting you. Dan didn’t say much.”
“I know what Dan thinks,” Trixie said ruefully. “I made a fool of myself last night. I kissed him,” Trixie softly admitted.
Honey somehow managed to hide her shock. “Why don’t you go take a shower and go back to sleep for a few hours?”
“Thanks, Honey. Um, can I borrow some pajamas?”
“Of course.”
When Trixie was asleep, Honey quietly walked downstairs. She needed to talk to someone. The only person she could think of was Regan. She made her way slowly to the stable.
Regan was whistling when she arrived. “What are you so happy about, Regan?”
“I met the most wonderful woman last night. Her name is Lindsey, and she’s great. I wanted to ask her out, but I lost my nerve.” Regan sounded disgusted with himself.
Honey smiled. “If she’s as great as you say, she’d be crazy to turn you down.”
“Thanks, Honey. Do you think we could keep this just between us?”
Honey was in her room reading when she heard a soft groan. She looked over to her bed to see Trixie waking up.
“Good afternoon, sleepyhead,” Honey teased her friend. “I’ve got you some orange juice and aspirin.”
“Thanks for everything, Honey,” Trixie said, after taking the pill. “Has Moms called?”
“No, but Mart did. He wanted to know where his ‘fair-haired feminine sibling’ was and was she ‘truly her former self’?”
“Do you think we could schedule a meeting?” Trixie asked.
Honey smiled and shooed Trixie into the bathroom to get dressed. What Trixie didn’t know was that Honey had set up a meeting for after school on Monday.
After Trixie had gotten dressed and went home, Honey lay back on her bed staring at the ceiling. She wondered if she would act the same way Trixie had if Brian had said the same to her. She didn’t think so. She was still too shy to do what Trixie had done. She jumped as the phone suddenly rang. She giggled to herself as she answered. “Hello?”
“Hey, Honey,” said the voice on the other end.
“Brian!” Honey shrieked.
“How’s my girl?”
“I’m fine…” Honey sighed.
“Is anything wrong?”
“Oh, no. Of course not. You just don’t know how happy I am to hear from you,” Honey said wistfully. “I can’t believe how much I miss you.”
“Would next weekend be soon enough to see me?”
“Yes!” Honey couldn’t stop smiling.
“I’ll be there around six o’clock next Friday.”
“I can’t wait to see you, but, um…”
“What is it?”
“Is Jim coming home with you?”
“No, he said he had a really tough paper due the Monday after.”
“Well, I guess that’s good.”
“I need to go. I have a study group meeting in about five minutes.”
“Okay. I love you.”
“I love you, too. Bye, Honey.”
“Bye, Brian.”
Honey hung up the phone feeling better for herself, but worse for Trixie. Why can’t we both be happy with the guys we love at the same time?
Monday in the cafeteria
The five remaining Bob-Whites were sitting at their usual table. No one was talking much. Mart, Dan, Honey, and Di were carefully avoiding any mention of Jim and Trixie in the same sentence. Honey wanted to share her news that Brian was coming home, but she didn’t want to because she didn’t want to have to tell Trixie Jim wasn’t. She didn’t have long to worry.
Trixie, in a falsely cheerful voice, told Dan and Di that Brian was coming home. She grinned wickedly when she added that he wasn’t coming home to visit his family.
Honey blushed, but she couldn’t hide her smile. She nodded. “He called me on Saturday,” she reported.
What about Jim? was the silent question in Trixie’s eyes. Honey shook her head at her friend. “Brian said Jim had a tough paper due next Monday.”
Trixie’s face had that edge that meant she wasn’t going to let herself cry. Honey leaned over and gave her a hug.
At that moment, Kymberleigh walked over. “So, Trixie. Did you have fun on Friday? We all saw what was about to happen when you left.”
Even though Di didn’t know that story, she couldn’t stand the mean gleam in Kymber’s eye. Di stood slowly and walked around the table until she was standing right in front of Kymber. Kymber, alarmed by the tiny smile on Diana’s face, took a step back.
Di, the tiny smile still there, spoke softly to Kymber. “Leave Trixie alone. Leave us all alone, or you will not be very happy. Do you understand?”
Anyone just seeing Di would have thought she was having a pleasant conversation with Kymber. If someone noticed Honey and Trixie’s faces, they would have known that such was not the case. Honey and Trixie were shocked that it was Diana practically threatening someone.
Kymber glared at Di. Then Kymber’s facial expression changed completely as she gave Di the sweetest smile anyone could imagine. “No problem, Di.” To Trixie Kymber said, “You can call off your watchdog now.”
That was too much even for Honey. She stood, looking tall and elegant. “Kymber, are you so desperate for real friends that you are prepared to hang around where you’re not wanted?”
In the background, Mart and Dan were wearing amazed yet hopeful expressions. They had never seen Honey and Di act this way. It was nice that they didn’t hold Trixie’s past behavior against her. They were secretly wanting a ‘cat fight’ to erupt. After all, what warm-blooded male wouldn’t?
Kymber looked at Honey and Di. Yeah, right, her expression seemed to say. She calmly turned and walked back to her own table. In minutes, loud laughter could be heard from her.
Honey sat down and realized she was shaking. She looked around at her friends. Her gaze landed on Trixie, who had a pained expression. Honey understood without Trixie saying anything. “It’s all right, Trixie. I know why you didn’t say anything.”
Trixie looked at her gratefully. “Thanks, Hon.” She looked at Di and thanked her, too.
Di smiled. “No thanks needed, Trix. You needed us to be there for you.”
Five minutes later, the bell rang to go back to class. “Bob-White meeting after school,” Honey reminded everyone.
The rest of the school day passed quickly.
That afternoon, the Bob-Whites met at the clubhouse. Honey knew everyone was waiting for Trixie to speak. Honey was trying to think of something to say when Trixie spoke up.
“First, I want to apologize to the way I treated all of you. Second, I think you need to know what happened. Third, I will tell you why I acted the way I did.”
Honey could help with this. “We know what happened with Jim. Believe me when I say I wanted to call him and give him a piece of my mind when Mart told us how hurt you were, but I didn’t think you wanted me to tell Jim.”
“Thanks, Honey,” Trixie smiled. “But I still need to tell you why I acted the way I did. I was hurt,” she said simply. “Jim wasn’t here to for me to tell, and I didn’t want you all feeling sorry for me, so I guess I tried to take it out on myself. I might have if it wasn’t for Dan being so understanding and looking out for me. I’m also glad you didn’t press me to talk, Dan. I wasn’t ready then.”
Dan reached over and covered her hand with his. “I understood.” That’s all he had to say for Trixie to understand, even though the looks on the others’ faces said plainly that they did not.
Honey put her arm around Trixie’s shoulders. “Are you ready to talk now?”
Trixie smiled. “I don’t need to now that I’ve told you how sorry I am.”
Mart snorted to cover up his concern for Trixie so he wouldn’t embarrass her. “Well, gosh, Trix, if you assume I needlessly exhausted a moment pitying you as an alternative of considering what to impart to Jim on the next occasion I perceive him, I deduce you don’t comprehend me efficiently.”
Di looked at Mart questioningly, and started to ask him what he just said, but thought better about it and just said, “Thanks.”
Honey nudged Trixie. “Are you going to tell them about kissing Dan?” she whispered.
Trixie shrugged. “I don’t want to embarrass Dan.”
Honey looked at Dan. “Don’t you want to tell everyone about how you looked after Trixie?”
Dan looked at Honey. She glared at him, telling him she already knew. “Oh,” he shrugged. “I just didn’t let her take advantage of my virtue.”
Trixie blushed as everyone started laughing. After a moment, she had joined in the laughter. The meeting had ended on a good note.
The rest of the week went slowly for Honey. She spent it going to school, being with her friends, riding, and hearing Regan talk about the ‘mysterious’ Lindsey.
Finally, Friday came. Honey started feeling nervous. Friday afternoon, she called Di. She didn’t want to bring up this problem with Trixie.
“Hello?”
“Hi, Di.”
“Honey? What’s wrong? Are you sick?”
“I feel like I am. I can’t believe how nervous I am about Brian coming.”
“It’s perfectly understandable. This is the first time he’s come home to visit with you, right?”
“Yeah.”
“It will be okay. He’s coming because he wants to be with you.”
“But what if he found someone else?”
“When did you last talk to him?”
“Last night.”
“You think he could find someone else since last night? Honey, you are getting paranoid. Calm down. When is he supposed to get there?”
“Um, in about an hour, I guess.”
“Then what are you doing on the phone with me?” Diana practically shrieked. “You need to get ready! Take a shower, get dressed, that sort of thing.”
Honey laughed. “Thanks, Di. You always did know how to put everything into perspective.”
Di laughed, too. “Bye, Honey. See you Monday.”
“What about over the weekend?”
“You’ll be busy,” Di said patiently, as if explaining something to her much younger brothers and sisters.
“Oh.”
“Well, in that case, bye and I’ll see you Monday.”
Honey hung up the phone feeling better. She went to her closet and found what she wanted to wear. Then she went to take a shower.
She had just finished getting ready when Brian arrived. “Hey, Hon,” he said softly when she came to greet him.
She smiled shyly. “Hello, Brian.”
“Want to go to Wimpy’s for dinner?”
Honey was so happy she felt like doing back flips. “Yes!”
Brian laughed, happy to see that she was so excited about spending time with him. “Let’s go.”
The ride to Sleepyside was short, but Honey was able to tell Brian all about her classes.
When they arrived at Wimpy’s, Mike waved at them and asked, “Your usual?”
Brian and Honey nodded.
It was when they sat down in a booth that Honey became tongue-tied. She didn’t know what to tell him about their friends.
Brian knew what she was thinking. “It’s okay, Honey. Trixie told me all about how she acted.”
“I was so afraid I’d lost my best friend, Brian,” Honey admitted with tears in her eyes. “That was the most scared I’ve ever been.”
“It’s okay, Honey. It’s over. She came back to you and the rest of her friends.” It wasn’t quite over with Jim, but Brian didn’t tell Honey that.
Their food came then, and they spent the time eating and talking about day-to-day life. After Brian paid the bill (after a few unsuccessful tries on Honey’s part to pay at least half), they walked outside. “Want to see a movie?” Brian asked.
“Only if I buy the drinks and popcorn,” was Honey’s answer.
Ten minutes later, they were watching the movie.
After it was over, Brian drove Honey home. He walked her to the door. After making plans for the next day, he kissed her softly, then walked to his car. After making sure she got inside safely, he drove to Crabapple Farm.
On Saturday morning, Honey awoke early. She went downstairs to ask Cook to prepare a picnic. After she ate breakfast, Honey went to take a shower and get ready to go see Brian.
As she walked the path to where they had agreed to have their picnic, she took time to appreciate the weather—perfect, not too hot, not too cool. When she arrived at the clearing, she noticed Brian trying to set up a sunshade. I wonder where he got that and managed to bring it out here? Honey smiled as she stayed out of Brian’s sight. She crept close enough to hear what he was saying. She almost laughed aloud. She didn’t know he knew such colorful words. At his next words, she blushed, which was silly since he still didn’t know she was there.
When Brian was finished with the sunshade, she made her presence known. “Hi, Brian.”
He looked up and smiled. “Honey, I was wondering when you would get here.”
Honey laughed. “I was here while you were telling this nice shade exactly what you thought of it.”
Brian glared. “Nice shade, huh?”
Honey was attacked with a giggling fit so bad she nearly dropped the picnic basket.
She soon calmed down and set out the food on the blanket Brian had brought. They talked about Brian’s college classes while they ate. After they were finished, Brian turned to her with a serious expression.
“I called Jim last night after Trixie went to bed.”
Honey paled. “What did you tell him?”
“I told him everything Trix told me.”
Did Brian know about the kiss? She wondered. “Everything?” she squeaked.
“Yes, everything. I did tell him Trixie kissed Dan, but that he wouldn’t kiss her back.”
Nervously, she asked, “What did he say to that?”
“First, he was mad at Dan. He said he was going to beat the crap out of him. Then I reminded him that Dan didn’t kiss her back. That she had only kissed Dan because she was feeling rejected and was a bit drunk.”
“He didn’t like that, did he?”
Brian shook his head. “He asked if I was accusing him of being the cause of my ‘dopey sister’s mistakes.’”
“He called Trixie dopey?” Honey looked upset.
“I think he does feel responsible for it happening, but now he’s mad that everyone knows he was the one who made her feel rejected. He also said that he wasn’t trying to reject her, that he just wanted to give them both the freedom to be apart. I told him you and I were together and it was working out great.” Brian shrugged, as if to let Honey know he didn’t understand Jim’s point either.
“What did he say then?” Honey asked.
“Nothing. He hung up on me.”
“That doesn’t sound like Jim.”
“Who would have believed Trixie would do what she did?” he reminded her.
“They’re both acting so out of character,” Honey observed.
“They belong together in my opinion, if this is the way they act when they’re not.”
Honey put her head on Brian’s shoulder. “I think they belong together anyway. I’m glad we don’t have that problem.”
Brian kissed her on the forehead. “Me, too.”
Honey raised her face to his. “I think I’m happier about it than you are.” She kissed him. They spent the rest of the afternoon showing each other how glad they were.
On Sunday morning, Honey went down to Crabapple Farm. She had been invited to spend the day before Brian left. Honey knew Moms had only invited her so Brian would spend time with his family. Honey didn’t mind in the least.
Trixie opened the door when she saw Honey step onto the porch. “Finally sharing my brother with his family, huh?” Trixie teased.
“Thought I’d be nice once over the weekend, but just once,” Honey returned, wrinkling her nose.
“Just in time for the morning collation, Honey,” Mart called.
“What’s a ‘collation’, Trixie?” Bobby whispered. Trixie shrugged her answer. “Go ask Brian,” she whispered back.
“Collation means ‘meal’, for every one of you who doesn’t contain as considerable a vocabulary as I have acquired.”
Trixie wrinkled her nose. Bobby looked confused. Honey didn’t notice anything once Brian entered the room. Brian was gazing back at Honey. Two seconds later, they were standing together. Mart cleared his throat. “Hello, maternal caregiver. May I be of assistance in helping to transport breakfast to the table?”
Brian and Honey sprang apart, even though they hadn’t been doing anything. Mart laughed.
“Yes, Mart,” Moms answered.
Everyone found seats as Moms and Mart brought the food to the table. Right as Moms and Mart sat down, there was a knock at the door. Trixie went to answer it, and brought Dan and Di back with her.
“Glad you two could make it,” Moms said, gesturing for them to sit down. As everyone filled their plates, Moms and Peter Belden smiled at each other. They loved when they’re children’s friends felt at home in their house.
Everyone talked and laughed during the meal. When everyone was finished, the Bob-Whites, true to fashion, cleaned up for Moms. Cleaning was always fun when they were together. The only thought that spoiled it was Jim not being there. Honey felt it, and was sure Trixie did, too, because of the look on Trixie’s face. Honey didn’t give Trixie much time to dwell on unpleasant thoughts. She waved her hand for everyone to follow her outside. There, Honey started the biggest water fight they’d ever had.
After everyone was wearing dry clothes, Honey and Di borrowing from Trixie and Dan borrowing from Mart, Moms came in and wrapped Honey in a hug.
“Honey, if you wanted a water fight, I’m glad you took it outside first!” Moms exclaimed.
Honey blushed. “Sorry, Mrs. Belden. I don’t know what came over me.”
“I do,” Moms whispered. “You wanted to cheer Trixie up. If I hadn’t loved you before, I would now.”
Honey nodded. “I won’t do it again, Mrs. Belden,” Honey replied with a discreet wink.
Moms laughed. “At least you all got the kitchen cleaned up first.”
After lunch, the Bob-Whites cleaned up without the water fight this time. Soon, it was time for Brian to go back to college. Moms and Peter hugged him. Dan and Mart shook Brian’s hand. Bobby asked when Brian would be back, preferably to see him next time. Trixie and Di both hugged Brian. Then everyone went back inside so Honey and Brian could be alone with their good-byes.
“Watch out for my sister. Make sure she doesn’t do something else stupid.”
“I will if you watch out for my brother.”
The deal made, they hugged. Honey reached up and kissed Brian. “I’m not watching you leave this time either,” she whispered.
“Good.” Brian sounded as choked up as Honey did.
They hugged one last time and Honey turned to go inside. Brian got into his car and left.
Trixie and Di were waiting for Honey. The second Honey walked inside, she found her two best friends waiting to hug her. Trixie and Di kept an arm wrapped around Honey as they went to Trixie’s room.
“I’m okay,” Honey insisted.
“Then why do you look so sad?” Trixie asked.
“Because I didn’t want him to leave!” Honey exclaimed.
Di nodded. “Okay. You’re all right, but you didn’t want him to leave. I understand perfectly.”
Honey giggled. “Okay. But we did have a good weekend. Wimpy’s and a movie on Friday, picnic on Saturday, and today.”
“You only had a picnic on Saturday?” Trixie asked. “But Brian was gone most of the day!”
“We talked.”
“What could you talk about that took all day?”
Honey looked at Trixie.
“Me?” Trixie shrieked. “I am okay, you know. I was upset, but I’m fine now. No one has to worry about me, okay?”
Honey nodded. “I’m glad you’re okay now.” She smiled at Trixie.
Diana was happy that all was well.
Honey stood. “I’d better be getting home. Mother wants to go shopping before we go out to eat.”
Di stood, too. “I need to go home and help with the twins.”
Diana walked home slowly. She was happy that everything was working out with her friends, but something was bothering her. Finally, she realized what it was. That day Kymber had walked away, she had shot Diana a look that said that the female B.W.G.’s needed to prepare for war. Di arrived home and went to her room. She began to wish that tomorrow would never come. She didn’t trust Kymber one little bit, and Jessa was the best at finding out information to be used against someone. Diana figured it would be her since she first stood up for Trixie, and Trixie herself. Maybe Honey would be left out of it.
The End
Author’s Notes: Not my characters. Thanks to El for editing.