CHAPTER FOUR

To: BookWorm617 , Dancegirl , SciFiedGirl

From: Ophelia21

Subject: So…

What's our next plan of attack?

Story (the super spy!)

To: Dancegirl , SciFiedGirl , Ophelia21

From: BookWorm617

Subject: Well…

It sounded like it went well last night. We should try to find out where and when their next date will be.

Bernie (you're not a super spy Story.)

To: SciFiedGirl , Ophelia21 , BookWorm617

From: Dancegirl

Subject: I can

Ask around at dance, you know, snoop and listen it conversations. Maybe Zoe or Olivia has heard something.

Shirley

To: BookWorm617 , Dancegirl , SciFiedGirl

From: Ophelia21

Subject: Who

Are Zoe and Olivia? And why would THEY know something?

Story (I am a TOTAL super spy!)

To: Ophelia21 , BookWorm617 , SciFiedGirl

From: Dancegirl

Subject: Zoe and Olivia

Are two of the teachers at BDS. Zoe is friends with Summer but Olivia might know something too.
I know who I could ask! I could ask Matilda James, she's the intern plus I'm friends with her younger sister Maggie. Tilly probably knows something and she's kinda kooky, so yeah. I'll ask her.

Shirley

To: BookWorm617 , Dancegirl , Ophelia21 ,

From: SciFiedGirl

Subject: I can't seem

To figure out how to hack Cary's email account. So that's out. Hey! Maybe one of us could get some job at BDS or the Brookemont Herald. Just a thought.

Ingrid

To: Dancegirl , SciFiedGirl , Ophelia21

From: BookWorm617

Subject: I think

We should hold off on changing jobs until later. Plus, I like my job.

Bernie

TEXTS TO AND FROM THE PHONE OF SHIRLEY MUNROE:

Shirley: Hey

Matilda: Hey

Shirley: What's up?

Matilda: Nothing much. You?

Shirley: Actually, I was wondering if you heard anything about Summer dating.

Matilda: Yeah, I did. I heard she went out last night after classes. I was talking to Olivia and SHE said that Summer wouldn't tell her who it was with but Zoe knows.

Shirley: Do you know if she's going out again with this mystery man?

Matilda: Oh yeah she is. I overheard Summer and Zoe talking about what she should wear to the drive in movie theater.

Shirley: Do you know when?

Matilda: Why do you want to know when?

Matilda: Shirley?

Shirley: I was thinking of taking some private classes and I don't know when to schedule them for.

Matilda: With Summer? But I thought the Munroe's hated the Hamilton's (and the Hamilton-Marches)

Shirley: well, yeah. But she must be, like, THE BEST. I mean, I took two classes from her last night. And I really want to get into pointe so I thought she'd be my best bet.

Matilda: OOOH. That makes sense. I heard Summer tell Zoe her drive in date was Friday night.

Shirley: Friday, got it. Thanks Tilly!

Matilda: No problemo.

THE DIARY OF STORY OPHELIA HAMILTON, KEEP OUT! (THIS MEANS YOU PAGE!)

So I just got off the phone with Shirley who says that Summer and Cary are going to the drive in Friday. I cannot believe it! THE DRIVE IN?! That's a MOVIE place! Geeze Summer.

Oh wait just a second, diary. Dad want to talk to me.

Okay I'm back. Dad said that Summer want to take Bernie and I for lunch so she can "get to know her cousin better."
ACK! I wonder if SHE KNOWS. I sure hope not! I must call Bernie!

Okay, so Bernie couldn't talk because she was WORKING at the LIBRARY. I am now calling Ingrid.

And Ingrid couldn't talk either because SHE was working at the comic book store. So I am now calling Shirley!

A TRANSCRIPT OF THE PHONE CALL MADE TO SHIRLEY MUNROE FROM STORY HAMILTON AT NINE THIRTY IN THE MORNING:

Story: SHIRLEY!

Shirley: What?! We just got off the phone!

Story: yeah but my dad just told me that SUMMER wants to take Bernie and I for lunch today to "get to know us better." Do you think…?

Shirley: …That she knows? I don't think so. Wouldn't she just stomp over and get mad at you? I mean she seems very nice and… happy, to say the least, but… you think she knows?

Story: I don't know! That's what I'm worried about. But, I mean, she wouldn't say anything to our family- what could she say? "Story was spying on me while I was on a date with CARY MUNROE."?

Shirley: I know right? She can't get you in trouble 'cause you know her secret, so ACTUALLY, you could, like, blackmail her.

Story: We have the Guys and Dolls matinée at two o'clock, and the curtain time this evening is eight pm, would you prefer tickets to the matinée or would you like evening tickets?

Shirley: What ARE you talking about?!

Story: Sorry, my grandma's scary assistant, Annabel Finch, just walked by. Dang, she creeps me out!

Shirley: Shoot, I got to go. Text me after lunch, 'kay?

Story: Yeah, sure, bye.

TRANSCRIPT OF LUNCH WITH SUMMER AS REMEMBERED BY STORY OPHELIA HAMILTON AND BERNIE ROSALIND HAMILTON:

(Okay so it's not REALLY transcript, but more of a "what happened and our commentary" which I guess we could have put as the name, but it's too late now!)
(Also, the underlined is Bernie, while the italicized is Story, just so you know.)

Summer met me, Bernie, at the library then we walked to the Theater together to pick up Story.

"How are you doing, Bernadette?" Summer asked.

"Uh, I'm fine," I said, "But you can call me Bernie, every one does. Well, except Grandma."

"Oh okay, Bernie. How's work?"

"Fine, you just started work yesterday, right? How's that going?"

"Well, I started work at Brookemont Dance School yesterday, and that's going great! But I started at The Dinner two days ago and that's good well too," Summer said as we approached the theater.

Then I, story, came out, "Hey Bernie, Hi Summer" I said worriedly.

"Hi Story!" Summer chirped, Bernie and I exchanged looks.

"So…" I said as we walked, "Where are we going for lunch?"

"I thought we'd go to Jack's Pizza," Summer said.

More looks exchanged.

"Jack's Pizza?" I squeaked.

"Yeah, why?"

"Oh, haha, nothin'"

"How are you doing Story?"

"Fine, fine, I'll just peachy!"

I nudged her, "Story."

"So you work at the theater?" Summer asked.

"Yep."

"Do you like it?"

"Yeah," I said, "I like it."

"How many classes are you teaching at BDS, Summer?" I asked, we watched as Summer mentally counted.

"Um.. ten I think?" she said, pulling open the door to Jack's.

"Hey Summer! Back so soon? How's-" Jack, the owner of Jack's pizza said before noticing us, "Uh, how's your little friends? Ha ha."

"You've been in here before?" I asked, giving Summer my best poker face.

"I stopped by for some after dance dinner last night," Summer said, looking straight at Jack and shaking her head a little.

"So… you guys want a table?" Jack asked.

"Yeah, yeah, that'd be good," Summer said, smiling again.

When we were sitting down, and after we'd looked through the menu, Jack stopped by our table.

"So what'll it be?" he asked.

"We're sharing the classic cheese," Summer ordered, "and I'll have a diet coke, Bernie there will have a Dr. Pepper and Story will have a sprite."

Jack looked at me, "Hey, do I know you?"

"Um. No," I said, shifting nervously.

"Naw, I think I've seen you recently," Jack probed.

"I… uh, just have one of those face?," I tried, "Everyone thinks they know me?"

"Hun, maybe that's it. Well I'll have your orders up soon!"

"So," Summer propped her elbows on the table, "what are you guys into?"

"James Bond," Story blurted, then laughed, "Ha! Kidding, I'm not into that spy stuff."

"Story!" I hissed.

SORRY. Look, I was nervous with Jack recognizing me from the night before!

"I like to read," I said, "And Winter extended the check out limit at the library for me."

Summer made a little face, "What's that mean?"

"Instead of a twenty book check out limit, I can check out thirty at a time."

"What about you, Miss Bond?" Summer asked Story, making her pale considerably.

"I… uhh… I work in the theater mostly… and I write in my diary a lot I guess."

It was such an intellectual answer, wasn't it?

"Ah, that's nice," Summer said, "What kind of music do you guys like?"

"British stuff," I said, "and show tunes."

"Following with the family theme," Summer sighed.

Bernie raised an eyebrow before answering herself, "I like alternative-rock."

We sat in awkward silence for a few minutes. I tried to keep my mouth shut and not mention things like SPYING, or ROMANCE, or ROMEO AND JULIET.

"I really like the West Side Story soundtrack," I blurted again. Bernie kicked me under the table.

You deserved it. Bringing up WEST SIDE STORY! A musical retelling of ROMEO AND JULIET!

"West Side Story," Summer said, "Is a great story, Story."

Then she giggled.

"Yeah, the whole hopeless romance thing! I love that," Story signed.

"They could never show the world their love," Summer agreed, "Because their families hated each other."

Summer stared off into space for a moment.

I looked at Bernie. Bernie looked at me. Summer continued to stare dreamily off into the middle distance.

Jack gave us our pizza and sodas.

"Oh!" Summer chirped, "Our food's here so soon! I was somewhere else," she added seriously, putting both hands on the table and leaning forward.

"This is good," Bernie said, taking a bite.

"Yeah and they have great milkshakes too," I agreed.

"When'd you have a milkshake?" Summer asked.

"Um, a while ago. I don't really remember when, you know. Just not last night! Ha! I mean, LAST NIGHT I was at Bernie's, isn't that right, Bernie? I was at your house!" I rambled shamelessly. Then my phone buzzed with a text.

"Who's that?" Summer asked, taking my nervousness to be normal.

"Um, no one, just a text form a friend," I said, reading it under the table so Bernie could see that is was from Ingrid.

"Shir said you 2 were having lunch with Summer. Getting info?" it said.

"I can text her back after lunch," Story said, calming down a bit.

"So do you like it here in Brookemont, Summer?" I asked.

"Oh, yeah, I love it here. It's my home," she said, "So many memories."

"Is it a lot different from Paris?"

"Yeah, when I was at school I barely saw the city because we were dancing all the time. But when I did go out, it was crazy. It was kinda dirty there, there was a lot of smoking, too," Summer thought about it for a moment, "There were some girls from Paris that were in my dorm and they showed me the better parts of Paris, not just the touristy stuff."

"Ah…" I said, taking a bite of pizza.

I grabbed another piece of pizza so I wouldn't say anything more incriminating.

Good luck.

Shut up.

Yeah. Yeah.

NAAW.

Boo.

What were we talking about?

Um. Lunch with Summer.

Riiight.

So then Summer said, "Um.. what are your guy's favorite subjects?"

"I like English," I said.

"Me too," Bernie agreed.

We were silent for a moment.

The silence began to get awkward.

Then BERNIE said,-

"So you got your eye on any guys?" and Story looked at me like I was completely insane.

Summer giggled nervously, "Ha ha ha… maybe… maybe not…"

"Oh come on," I chided, "Who is it?"

"Is it Jack?" Story whispered, getting into it.

"No! No! Jack's engaged to Grace Munroe," Summer said, before taking a sip of her soda.

Story made a face and looked at me before asking Summer, "How do you know that?"

"Um, I… I just heard it… around," Summer stammered. I raised an eyebrow.

A habit that is very annoying. HOW DO YOU RAISE ONLY ONE EYEBROW?!

It's a gift.

"Okaaay," Story said in a voice that implied that she didn't quite believe her.

"What about the guy who works at BDS?" I asked, "He comes into he library some times, he's kinda cute."

"LEO?!" Summer cried, "Nononono! I don't like LEO. Why does every one think I like Leo?!"

"It was just a question," I put my hand up.

"Okay, we give up," I said, "Who do you like?"

"I don't like anyone," Summer said, looking down.

Bernie and I exchanged a look, "okay."

Then Summer flashed us a wicked grin, "Do any of you two like like any one?"

"NO!" we shrieked in unison, making Summer crack up.

"Hey," she said, once she'd stopped laughing, "Grandma Alice said she wanted to see me tomorrow morning, any idea what it's all about?"

"Not a clue," I said, "This is the first I've heard of it. I don't handle Grandma's appointments, Scary Annabel does that."

"Story," Bernie cautioned.

"Scary Annabel?" Summer asked.

"Annabel Finch is grandma's assistant, Story is terrified of her."

"She has scary eyes," I said, "They're really intense, like they look into your soul."

"I haven't meet her yet,"

"BE GLAD!"

"Oh shoot. Stor, we need to get going," Bernie said grabbing my hand.

"You guys go," Summer smiled, "I'll get the bill. See you tomorrow Story."

And we booked it out of there.

"How do you think that went?" Story asked as we booked it back to the theater.

"um I don't know," I shrugged, "Fine I guess."

"Sorry I kept almost spilling our secret."

"yeah, it's fine."

"BUT YOU! 'Do you like any one, Summer?' Geeze! Bernie!"

"She said she didn't like anyone!" I said.

"Liar!" Story quipped then ducked into the theater, "Text you later!"

TEXTS TO AND FROM THE PHONE OF SHIRLEY MUNROE:

Shirley: So, that's what Story told me, how do YOU think it went?

Ingrid: Oh Story, Story, Story… geeze that girl.

Shirley: Haha, I know right?

Ingrid: Now we need to find out WHEN their drive in date is going to be, we know it's Friday…

Shirley: I guess I can ask around, but people at BDS might get suspicious. WHY DO I HAVE TO DO ALL THE WORK?!

Ingrid: Shir. Don't blow a gasket. Just ask Story to talk to Summer.

Ingrid: No wait. Not Story, BERNIE.

Shirley: Ha ha!

To: SummerHamilton-March

From: ZoePepper

Subject: I changed my mind

I think you should wear jean shorts and a cute, fitted tee shirt. What do you think?

Zoe

To: ZoePepper

From: SummerHamilton-March

Subject: Do you think that or…

Should I wear my red with white poka dot sundress? Or do you think it'll get dirty?
Yeah… maybe I should wear shorts and a tee shirt.
GAH! I don't know!

Summer

To: SummerHamilton-March

From: ZoePepper

Subject: While that would be cute

I agree that the dress might get dirty. Eating in a car while watching a movie isn't the cleanest thing in the world. Go with the cut off and a fitted tee, girl!

Zoe

P.S. if you still think you should wear the sundress, just ask Olivia

To: ZoePepper

From: SummerHamilton-March

Subject: Shut. Up.

There is no way I am consulting OLIVIA. She'd tell everyone!

Okay, I'm going with the shorts and tee shirt.

Summer

To: SummerHamilton-March

From: ZoePepper

Subject: Ha ha

Olivia is something else, isn't she? She's a good tap and hip hop dancer, but her hair!

Zoe

To: ZoePepper

From: SummerHamilton-March

Subject: I kinda

Like her hair. It's awesome.

Summer

To: CaryMunroe

From: JacksPizza

Subject: Summer came into

The pizza place today with two younger girls. They could've been her sisters or cousins or something, I don't know. But I almost spilled your guys' secret, Summer covered just in time.
So if she complains about me to you, tell her I'm sorry. I forgot you two are a secret.

Jack of Jack's Pizza, the greatest little pizzeria in Brookemont

To: JacksPizza

From: CaryMunroe

Subject: No prob

I'm sure it's fine. I doubt her relations suspect anything.

Cary Munroe, assistant Editor at The Brookemont Herald

P.S. We're going to the drive in Friday. Do you think she'll like it? I mean, you've seduced my cousin so… you know what works with the ladies.

To: CaryMunroe

From: JacksPizza

Subject: The Drive in

Is good. Girls like that.
But the food could be better.

Jack of Jack's Pizza, the greatest little pizzeria in Brookemont