*All ages
First, I want to thank everybody for saying such kind things about my last story. I'm feeling the love! And don't worry, I'm working on another Dan and Trixie story--I just couldn't get this premise out of my head. It's a set-up for later stories. And, in case you don't know, I get bored by same-old, same-old, so I stirred things around a bit here. I hope you enjoy it!
The Bob-Whites and assorted Co. belong to Western Publishing, not to me (but if they did, I'd publish more Trixie stories, starting with this fanfic!). I am not profiting from this. I can only wish!
Truth or Dare
by Erin
Sixteen year old Trixie Belden was looking forward to this weekend. Her brother Brian was coming home from college, and she and her older brother Mart were planning an overnight camp-out with him on the Wheeler estate. During the past two months, Brian had been consumed by his school work and had only made it home once. Trixie hummed to herself happily as she dusted the den.
"What's this vision of beauty before me, oh humming bird," she heard a familiar voice ask. "Are my eyes deceiving me or am I actually viewing my sibling taking pleasure in her domestic duties?"
Trixie stuck her tongue out in reply. "Maybe if my twin didn't drag in so much dirt, I wouldn't have to do this so often. And you know why I'm humming, so don't just stand there and act like you're not excited about tonight either."
Mart grinned. "Of course I'm excited about the eldest Belden's triumphant return to Crabapple Palace." He bowed low, "But I am somewhat concerned over the state of its fair, or should I say freckled, maiden. Talking to yourself is a sign of mental instability."
"I wasn't talking to myself, smartie," Trixie said with her nose up at him. "I was humming. There's a difference."
"Hey Trix, sure, whatever you say," Mart said, backing away with his hands in front of him. "I guess, to my ears, your humming sounds a lot like 'mmmmilovejimmmmmm'." He quickly ducked out of the way of a pillow thrown with unusual force.
"Just for that Martin Belden I'm not making you any of my famous s'mores tonight," Trixie said. Mart, always good for at least eight s'mores, was quickly repentant.
"Hey Trix, I was just kidding around. Please don't bar me from partaking in the feast of your one culinary delight, the almighty perfect smore."
"Flattery will get you nowhere, Mart," Trixie replied. "However, it's amazing how far dusting will get you." They just stared at one another.
"Oh fine," Mart groaned. "I shall valiantly complete your meager chores, peasant, but as your intellectual master I demand you prepare me the finest s'mores tonight."
"It's a deal, your highness," Trixie said with a curtsy. "Brian and Jim will be here soon. I think I'll just go upstairs and freshen up." She turned towards the stairs. "A little lipstick wouldn't hurt either Trixie," she said under her breath.
"What did I say about people who talk to themselves?" Mart asked.
And this time, he forgot to duck.
"How about this, Trix?"
"It's great, Brian. I've never been on this side of the preserve at night before. It's beautiful out here, isn't it?"
"Yeah," Brian said, looking up at the clear sky. "It really is. Next time we should invite Di."
Trixie looked at him strangely. "And Jim, and Dan."
"Not to mention Honey," Mart added, pitching the tent.
"Yeah," Brian said hastily. "All the Bob-Whites. Definitely."
Trixie watched him intently. Something was up. And she intended to find out what.
Two hours and nine s'mores later Mart lazed back contentedly, hand on stomach. "Trixie, I think I know why you can't cook. It's because all your cooking talent has been concentrated into one dish. Fortunately, for me, at least, it's the smore."
Trixie looked at Brian. "Was that a compliment? I couldn't tell."
He grinned at her. "Mart, how you can eat like that and not get sick, I'll never know. I feel queasy after three s'mores."
"Okay, that definitely was not a compliment," Trixie said. Brian just smiled at her again. "Hey, let's play a game."
"Oh Trixie," Mart moaned. "We've already played rummy, which I won, poker, which I won, state capitals, which I won, and twenty questions, which, dare I say, I won. You must feel like losing today, huh?"
"Oh leave her alone, Mart," Brian said, "After all, we haven't all been blessed with your superior game playing skills. What do you want to play, Trix?"
"Well," she said slowly, "how about truth or dare?"
"Oh no, oh no," Mart protested. "I'm not playing some teenage girl sleepover game."
"Why not Mart? It's a lot of fun." Trixie replied. "And it's not like you have anything to hide, now is it?"
Mart blushed. "Alright, fine. But I'm not going first."
"Okay then, I'll start. I take truth."
Brian and Mart looked at one another. "So many things. . ." Mart said. "I know, I know." He whispered in Brian's ear. Brian looked unsure. "Oh, come on." Mart pleaded.
"Alright. Trixie?" Brian asked hesitantly, "how come you don't wear your bracelet anymore?"
Trixie paused for a second. She hadn't seen this one coming. "Well . . . I mean. . . it's just that. . ." Trixie fumbled wildly to find the right words.
"Spit it out, Trix," Mart said impatiently.
"Fine. When Jim came home for Thanksgiving we had a talk and decided it would be better if we agreed to see other people." Trixie was blushing from embarrassment and anger.
"Then why haven't you?"
"Mart!" Brian admonished him.
"Well, Brian, I'm just saying that it's not like she's seeing anyone else anyway. So there's really no need for them to be apart. Unless Jim is seeing someone?" Mart raised and eyebrow and looked at his brother inquisitively. Brian was quiet.
"Well?" Trixe asked, breaking the silence.
Brian shifted uncomfortably. "I don't think we should play this anymore. . ." he said.
"Oh no, you don't get off that easy. Come on, let's just get it out in the open."
Brian looked over at Trixie and said softly, "Jim's been seeing someone since Christmas."
Trixie felt a weight pressing upon her chest. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened her eyes she saw both Brian and Mart watching her sympathetically.
"I'm sorry, Trix," Mart said, uncharacteristically seriously. "I didn't know."
Trixie smiled at them bravely. "Hey, it's really not a big deal. I mean, we already decided to see other people, right? So what does it matter?" The tone of her voice was light but her eyes were heavy.
"Maybe Mart was right," Brian ventured. "We shouldn't play this stupid game."
Trixie just looked at him. "I don't think so, Brian Belden," she said. "Your turn. Truth or dare?"
Brian sighed. "Truth, I guess."
"Are you interested in Di?" Trixie asked eagerly.
Brian was shocked. He looked towards Mart, who appeared interested, but not at all as angry as he had expected. Then he looked towards Trixie, who was grinning at him. He turned back towards Mart.
"Brian," Trixie said. "Spill it."
Brian fidgeted with his hands nervously. "Well, ever since Honey and I broke up last summer, I'd been finding it hard to connect with other girls. I just felt like they couldn't compare. But then Di started visiting me and Jim during her stops in the city. And we started talking. About art and medicine and sports and friendship. We started getting real close." Brian glanced nervously at his younger brother. "I found myself anticipating her trips, getting more and more excited when she was planning to come. Finally, I just asked her out to dinner. And she said yes. It was a great night. She'd been all I can think about since then."
Brian looked at Mart. "I'm sorry. I know you and Di have, or had, a thing going. I just couldn't help falling for her. Please forgive me."
Mart looked at his brother, confused. "Hey Brian, I'm happy for you. Di and I had little crushes, but nothing ever came of it. I'm glad you're with each other now." He grinned. "Come on, though, you must admit 'Bri and Di' just sounds too sickeningly cute. But anyways, as long as we're on this little confessional trip, I've got something to say, too. It's my turn and I pick truth. So here I go."
"Hold up," Trixie said. "I think the object of the game is that we tell you what to tell the truth about."
Mart held up his hand. "Trust me squaw, you'll be satisfied by the time I'm finished."
"Well, alright," Trixie said doubtingly.
"Now, as I was saying, before I was so rudely interrupted, I, too, have something to confess." He turned towards Trixie. "You know those notes Honey's been getting?"
"You mean those secret admirer notes," Trixie asked, frowning. "Yeah, but how do you know about them? She's only told me and Di about them."
"Ah, my little detective, you've just answered your own question."
"What. . . I?" Trixie glanced at Brian, who was grinning at her.
"Come on Trix," he encouraged her. "Show some of that deductive reasoning we all know you have."
Trixie was puzzled. Suddenly she sat straight up. "Oh, oh, OH!" She stared at Mart in disbelief. "You?" He nodded. "It all makes since now," Trixie said, laying back once more. She smiled at her almost-twin. "Why didn't you tell me?" she asked.
"Well now, a secret admirer has two guidelines: being secret and being an admirer. The former is the reason I couldn't tell you."
"I can't believe it." Trixie shook her head. "Well, for what it's worth, Honey loves the notes. They make her laugh like nothing else."
Mart looked pleased. "That is exactly the reaction I desired."
"Oh man," Trixie shook her head again. "What a night."
"And it's not over yet," Mart said. "Your turn. Truth or dare?"
Two hours later Trixie was lying between a snoring Mart and silently sleeping Brian. She was wide awake. Must be all the sugar, she thought, or, actually it's probably all the excitement. In just one night, Brian had declared his love for Diana, and Mart, Mart of all people!, had revealed himself as Honey's admirer. And I'm happy for all of them, Trixie thought, It just seems a little weird, that's all. I mean the idea! Brian and Di, Mart and Honey, why, that's almost as crazy as the idea of me and Dan together. . .
The End