The Book Club League

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“Girls, it’s almost time to go!”

“Almost done, mom,” Melissa yelled back. She turned to her best friend Carrie. “That’s all, right? Did we miss anything? What about -”

Carrie started picking up papers from the kitchen counter, “Stop worrying. This is going to be the best science fair ever!”

Melissa rolled her eyes. Carrie said that every year. Carrie lived for the science fair. Melissa was just grateful to be her partner and tag along for the glory.

Carrie suddenly gave Melissa a sideways glance, “Unless… You haven’t seen anything that we should worry about…?”

“For the last time, I can’t see the future. Get over it!”

Carrie looked hurt, “I’ve known about your power for years. You might as well admit it. I’ve never told anyone. Not once! You can trust me.”

Melissa stared down at the counter and angrily gathered up their notes, not caring what order they were in. Ever since junior high, Carrie had been convinced of her nonexistent ability to see the future. Lately, Carrie had been trying to trick her into admitting it: asking her things like who’d win the volleyball game - Oyster Bay High or Waterbury? - And pressed until Melissa gave her a guess. If she was right, Carrie used it as proof of her abilities. “I don’t have super powers.”

Now you’re lying.

Melissa glanced over at her fiery orange betta fish. Not now Blaze. He was right though. She did have a super power, just not the one Carrie thought she had. She had even told Carrie straight out a few years ago that she could talk to betta fish. Carrie hadn’t believed her.

“Fine,” said Carrie, picking up the last of the papers, revealing a book with a green waterfall on the cover. Lover’s Paradise was printed across it in fancy gold script. “And I’m a lama.”

Before the argument could continue, Melissa’s mom swept into the room. “Oh, I can’t believe we’re running late again! Carrie do you have your stuff? We’ll drop you off, pick up the dry cleaning, and just barely not be embarrassingly late to LotL.”

Carrie looked up from shoving papers into her backpack, “What’s LotL?”

“League of the…” Stop! yelled Blaze, but Melissa had already realized her mistake and mentally kicked herself.

“League?” asked Carrie with a glint in her eye. 

Of course, she was thinking of the superheroes. Melissa’s mind raced. What could she say to explain her slip of the tongue? Even if she’d wanted to tell Carrie LotL stood for League of the Lame (talking to betta fish was lame. So were prophetic dreams of fashion faux pas. All six members had powers that, while mildly interesting, weren’t really useful) Carrie would never buy it. Her eye fell on her mom’s book. “League of the Lovers. It’s our book club.”

Carrie’s eyes narrowed, “I’ve never heard of this book club.”

“That’s because dad doesn’t want to admit to liking romance novels,” Melissa hastily improvised. “So we don’t talk about it.” Blaze’s fishy laughter rang in Melissa’s ears and she had to control her own laughter at the thought of her dad reading a romance novel. She didn’t even like them herself. She’d skimmed Lover’s Paradise out of boredom once and couldn’t finish. (The love interest was a jerk and she was hoping the heroine would shove him off the waterfall.) “Please don’t bring it up. Dad’s really  sensitive about it.”

Carrie looked back and forth between Melissa and her mom, unconvinced. “Really?”

“Really,” said Melissa’s mom firmly. “Lissa, grab the book. I can’t lead the discussion without it. I’m glad we didn’t forget it. You girls have everything? Then off we go!” With that she shooed the girls into the van.

The ride was awkward. Carrie sulked, while Melissa’s mom prattled on about the nonexistent book club. Melissa breathed a sigh of relief once they dropped Carrie off. If only she hadn’t gotten the notion that she could see the future! They had been great friends almost their whole lives. But Melissa didn’t know how much longer it could last.

“So, you realize we’re going to have to keep this up, right?” Her mom asked, backing out of the driveway. “Read a romance every month? It’s the only way she’ll believe us.”

Melissa groaned, “Why’d I say lovers? I could’ve done lunatics and then we could read murder mysteries.”

Her mom laughed, “It’s a great cover story though. It has a built in excuse for why we keep quiet about it. Of course, dad and the other guys will be embarrassed when they find out.”

Melissa groaned again, “Dad’s gonna kill me.”

Why does Carrie think Melissa can see the future? Read Betta Girl to find out!