Part 2

A persistent knocking broke through her subconscious. As she rolled over, the pounding in her head seemed to echo the beat of her heart. She buried her head in the pillow, hoping whoever was making the noise would leave if she didn't respond.

The knocking finally ceased and she let out a sigh, ready to go back to her dreamless slumber. But her door creaked open and she knew whoever it was hadn't taken her hint.

"Trixie?" a voice asked quietly. "Are you awake?"

She remained still hoping he would figure it out.

"Trixie," the voice said a little louder.

She shifted on the bed, but did not speak.

There was silence for a moment and she thought the person had left.

"Trixie."

"What?" she asked sharply as she flew into a sitting position. The beating in her head picked up double time and she groaned as she cradled it in her hands. It was so bad she felt like she was going to be sick.

"I'm sorry, Trixie," Bobby said. "Moms just wanted me to check to see if you were awake and if you wanted something to eat since you've been sleeping since yesterday and she thought you might be hungry if you were awake and she would make you something to eat..."

"Bobby, stop," Trixie said, wincing at the pain.

"I'm sorry," Bobby said.

"It's okay," Trixie said. "You can tell Moms I was awake, but I'm going back to sleep since I still have a headache."

"Are you hungry?"

"Not right now," Trixie said, leaning back against the pillow. "Maybe later."

"Okay." Bobby left the room, pulling the door closed behind him.

As silence settled on the room, Trixie closed her eyes hoping sleep would come quickly. Awake she was too aware of her feelings, especially the betrayal she felt at Jim's actions.

How could he do this to me? she thought. I thought he really and truly cared. With all that's been going on, he has been my pillar of strength. But that pillar crumbled with this...this...cruel moment. I just can't believe he did it. I just can't.

If he didn't want to date me anymore, he should have said something. Finding out this way is just cruel and hurts so much more. I wonder how long he's been stringing me along, saying he couldn't see me because he was going out with her.

And it hurts so much more because its with Amelia. I never pictured the two of them together. But I guess I was wrong. I wish I knew why. None of what has happened makes much sense, but that seems to be the norm.

Knock, knock.

"Come in," Trixie said without opening her eyes.

She heard the door open and then footsteps moving toward her. As the bed sank down a little, she opened her eyes.

"Hey, sweetie," Helen said.

"Hi," Trixie said softly.

"Bobby said you're not hungry."

"Not right now," Trixie said.

"Do you still have a headache?"

"Yeah," Trixie said. "I just want to sleep."

"All right," Helen said, as she reached up and brushed the hair back from Trixie's face. "Jim has called a couple times checking on you. I told him you were sleeping."

"I'll talk to him later," Trixie said.

"Okay," Helen said. "I'll come back and check on you later." She placed a kiss on Trixie's forehead and left the room.

Trixie closed her eyes and wondered if the hurt would ever go away.

When Monday rolled around, she was hesitant to head back to school. She wasn't sure she was going to be able to control her temper when she saw Jim.

The initial hurt faded and had turned to anger on Saturday. She couldn't believe Jim had kissed Amelia in her home when they were supposed to be a couple. She never thought he could be so heartless.

Trixie wanted to confront Jim as her rage grew, but she had been unable to since the Wheelers had taken Honey and Jim to the city. That just allowed her anger to build like a volcano on the verge of eruption.

When the bus finally pulled to a stop, Trixie climbed on and headed to the back. She was surprised to see only Dan.

"Hey," Dan said as she approached him.

"Hey," Trixie said. "Where are the others?"

"I'm not really sure," Dan admitted. "I haven't talked to Jim since Thursday."

Trixie settled in the seat beside him as the bus continued its way along Glen Road.

"Maybe they haven't returned from the city yet," Trixie said quietly.

"It's possible." Dan switched subjects. "So, how are you feeling? I know you had a bad headache."

"I'm all right," Trixie answered.

"That's good."

"Did you get the food for Mr. Maypenny on Thursday?"

Dan nodded. "He really appreciated it. He said it was one of the best meals your mother has ever made."

"I'll have to let Moms know."

"I'm really not looking forward to going back to classes today," Dan said with a sigh. "I have a math test this morning."

"That's a mean thing to do after a long weekend."

"Believe me, I know."

A silence settled between them as the bus rumbled along.

When they finally climbed off the bus, Trixie began looking for Jim. She had waited long enough to talk to him and nothing was going to stop her. She swerved around the people meeting about outside.

After leaving her jacket and bag in her locker, she headed down the hall to his locker. People were grouped together, talking about their activities over the short break. She didn't pay any attention to what was going on around her.

Spotting Jim with this back to her, her anger seemed o boil over and she knew there were going to be fireworks.

He closed his locker and turned in her direction, a smile filling his face for just a moment. The look quickly changed to one of worry.

"Trixie? What is it? What's wrong?"

"I can't believe you have the nerve to ask that," Trixie said through gritted teeth. "Did you think I would never find out? Did you think I would just sit back and let this continue when I did find out?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Jim said. "You're not making sense."

"Don't play dumb with me, Mr. Frayne. I will not be treated this way by you or anyone else. I am not stupid."

"I never said you were," he said angrily, his temper almost matching hers. "And if you keep accusing me like you're doing, there's going to be some problems."

"And there aren't now?" Trixie asked incredulously.

"Hi, Jim," a sweet voice said.

"Hi, Amelia," Jim said calmly.

Trixie looked at Amelia and saw her gaze was solely focused on Jim.

"Jim, could you do me a favor?' Amelia asked. "I think I have something caught in my hair at the back of my neck, but I can't get it. Could you?"

"Sure," Jim said as he turned to the other girl.

Trixie turned and walked away, missing Honey and Di standing by an open locker smiling.

I guess he's just like the rest of them, she thought. And I thought he cared about me. I guess I was wrong on both counts. There's no way to confront him because he will deny it all. But I've seen enough to know when I'm no longer wanted.

And that's just the icing on the cake. I never expected Jim to treat me this way. He's always been kind and caring. I don't understand the change. But I guess it's the same change that Honey and Di went through. They're too good for me and they've proven their point.

The bell rang and Trixie headed to her homeroom, anxious for the day to get over with.

Through the rest of the day, Trixie altered her normal routine so she could avoid Jim. They usually crossed paths between classes, offering a quick greeting before continuing on. But that day they never saw one another.

When the bell rang at the end of the day, Trixie made a beeline for her locker. She was only there a moment before heading out the door to the waiting bus. She slid into the crowd moving to the buses and quickly got on.

She found a seat on the drivers side hoping she wouldn't be seen. She tapped her foot impatiently, waiting for the bus to be put into motion. When the door closed, she let out a sigh. She was glad to be heading home.

Trixie slid to the edge of the seat as the bus pulled to a stop at the driveway to Crabapple Farm. She quickly climbed off and started down the driveway.

"Trixie!"

She spun around to see Jim standing at the edge of the driveway. He didn't look happy.

"What do you want?" Trixie asked harshly.

"I want an explanation for this morning," Jim stated as he strode toward her.

"There's nothing to explain."

"Sure there is," Jim said. "And I want it now."

"Why do I need to explain it?" Trixie asked. "You already know what you've done. I just can't believe you would be so mean. You've always voiced your dislike when people do things behind another's back and then brush it off as if it was nothing when they get caught."

"You're not making sense, Trixie. And that kind of behavior is wrong, no matter what anyone says or thinks."

"Hypocrite," Trixie spat out before turning and heading for the house.

A second later she felt a hand on her arm, turning her around. She saw Jim's angry emerald eyes gazing back at her.

"I am not a hypocrite," Jim growled.

"You are," Trixie shot back. "What did you think you were doing when you kissed Amelia in my parents house on Thanksgiving when we're supposed to be dating."

Jim stood there silently.

"That's what I figured. No excuse." She yanked her arm from Jim's grasp. "Now, leave Crabapple Farm. We're through."

Trixie resumed her trek toward the house, her emotions bubbling inside her. She knew she was on the verge of crying again and was going to hold it all in until she was inside.

But a tear escaped and she quickly brushed it away, hoping and praying Jim hadn't seen the motion.

"Trixie wait." Footsteps pounded on the cement as he approached her.

Trixie shook her head, knowing she couldn't speak without crying.

"Please, Trixie," he said as he moved in front of her, forcing her to stop.

She kept her head down. She couldn't look at the young man who had destroyed her heart. She knew nothing he said would make a difference. His actions spoke volumes.

Trixie felt a hand touch her chin and slowly lift it.

"Trixie, please listen as I try to explain what happened." He let go and she remained looking at his face, which was white in the bright sunshine. "I didn't want to kiss her, I swear.  We were talking and she kissed me. I was never so angry. I pushed her away and told her that I was with you and that would never change."

Jim sighed. "I never wanted it to happen, but it did. I have no idea how you found out, but  I will be talking to the person who told you but didn't relate the whole story. I'm so sorry, Trixie. I don't know if this makes a difference, but I am. I wish there was a way I could make this up to you."

The tone of his voice told her he was telling the truth. But that didn't change what had happened. Jim and Amelia had shared a kiss that she had seen.

"Trixie, please say something," Jim begged. "I know you're angry because I didn't say something sooner, but you weren't feeling well and then we went back tot he city for the weekend. I swear I was going to talk to you this morning."

She knew Jim was sorry, but she couldn't get past the fact they had kissed. She wanted to forgive him, but another part of her said that it could happen again. She wasn't going to allow herself to get hurt again.

"I accept your apology Jim," she began quietly, "but..."

"Oh, Trixie," Jim said, pulling her close to his chest and giving her a tight hug. "I swear, Trixie, that if I could have stopped it, I would have. You mean more to me than anything else in the world."

Trixie let the tears fall and get absorbed by Jim's jacket. A slight weight had been lifted off her shoulders, but she was still apprehensive.

A cold breeze blew around them and Jim loosened his hold on her. "Come on. Let's get out of the cold."

"Okay," Trixie said quietly.

Jim grabbed her books and they made their way inside the warm farmhouse.

"Hello, Jim, Trixie," Helen said as they came through the kitchen door.

"Hello, Mrs. Belden," Jim said as he placed Trixie's books on the table.

"Hi, Moms."

"Trixie, are you all right?" Helen asked. "You're crying."

"I'm okay. My eyes are watering because it's cold outside."

"I've got some hot chocolate warming on the stove if you'd like some," Helen said.

"That would be great," Jim said.

Helen poured them each a mug of the steaming beverage before they moved into the living room to start their homework. They worked in companionable silence as they sipped their hot chocolate. Trixie tried to focus on the math equations, but she just couldn't.

"Trouble?" Jim asked a few minutes later.

"I just can't focus right now," Trixie said, leaning back on the couch. "I guess I'll do it later."

At that moment Bobby came hurrying into the room. "Hi, Trixie. Hi, Jim."

"Hi, Bobby," Trixie said.

"Hey, Bobby. How was school?" Jim asked.

"It was fun. And guess what?"

"What?" Trixie and Jim asked simultaneously.

"Our class is going to put on a play for the holidays and everyone is invited," Bobby said excitedly.

"What's the play about?" Jim asked.

A twinkle appeared in Bobby's eyes. "It's a surprise, but everyone will enjoy the holidays even more.

Before they could question him further, he disappeared from the room. The only sound was his feet thundering up the stairs.

"I do hope this teacher know what she's getting into," Trixie said.

"It will probably be a very entertaining show," Jim said.

"The elementary program is one everyone really enjoys."

"There are lots of things to enjoy about the holidays," Jim said.

"You're right."

The telephone rang at that moment and they heard Helen answer it.

"Do you have a lot of homework?" Trixie asked, looking at Jim's stack of books.

"Not a lot, just some reading." He leaned back on the couch and looked at her. "What are you doing on Friday?"

"Nothing right now. Why?"

"Why don't we go to the movies and then grab something to eat at Wimpy's?" Jim suggested. "It's been a while since just the two of us did something together."

"We could do that," Trixie said slowly, uneasy about the plans.

"Don't you want to?" Jim asked.

"Sure, but you might end up going back to the city on Friday with your parents to get some holiday shopping done."

"I'm not going to the city," Jim said, reaching over and cupping her chin in his hand. "I want to spend Friday night with you."

Trixie heard the certainty in his voice and knew he was serious. She said with a smile, "Okay. Let's go to the movies."

"Good."

"Excuse me, Jim?"

They turned to see Helen standing in the doorway.

"Yes?" Jim asked.

"That was Miss Trask on the phone," Helen said. "She got a phone call from your father and he needs to speak to you as soon as possible. She said she tried your phone, but it went right to voicemail."

"I'm on my way," Jim said.

Helen left the room as Jim gathered his books. "I wonder what's going on."

"Hopefully it's nothing serious," Trixie said

"It's probably something to do with a gift for mother." He looked at Trixie. "I'll talk to you later, okay?"

Trixie nodded. "Okay."

He grabbed his things and hurried out of the house. She watched him move past the front window up the path to the Manor House.

Before she could move from her seat on the couch, Helen returned to the living room and sat beside her.

"Trixie, is everything all right?" Helen asked. "I kind of got the impression that you didn't want to talk with Jim here and I know your red eyes were not from the cold."

She was quiet for a moment, unsure if she should tell her mother, but she couldn't keep it a secret.

"I saw Jim kiss another girl on Thanksgiving," Trixie blurted out. "And then I confronted him at school this morning. He met me after I got off the bus and we had a big blow out." She looked her mother in the eyes.  "He said he didn't mean to kiss her and pushed her away, but..."

"You're not really sure if he wanted to kiss her," Helen concluded.

"I don't know what to do," Trixie said. "I want to believe him, but a big part of me thinks that if this happened once, it will happen again."

"Did Jim explain what happened?" Helen asked.

"He did and I forgive him for that, but I don't think I can trust him the same way again."

"How do you feel about Jim?"

"Moms, he is the most wonderful boy in the world, but I don't think it's right to kiss another girl when you're going with someone else. He should have stopped her so that it didn't happen at all."

"Sometimes people won't be stopped if they have a plan in their head," Helen said. You should know that."

"But I haven't gone around kissing guys while dating Jim," Trixie said. "That is just so wrong."

"Trixie, how do you really feel about Jim?" Helen pressed gently.

Trixie sighed. "I love him, Moms, but I...I...I don't think I'm the right person for him." Tears filled her eyes. "The Wheelers move in a big society circle where money and looks play a big role. I don't have either of those things."

"You are beautiful," Helen insisted.

"You have to say that," Trixie said. "You're my mother."

"I say it because it's the truth," Helen said as she reached over and brushed the curls back from the teenagers face. "Trixie, you don't have to compare yourself to other girls. You are just as beautiful as them. Actually more so. There are a lot of girls who are so superficial focusing only on their looks, their clothes and the circle of friends they hang out with, that they miss the really special people."

"But sometimes people have to look at the superficial image if it helps them in the long run." Trixie grabbed her books. "I'll be down in a little bit to set the table."

She got to her feet and made her way upstairs. She set her books on her desk and then closed her bedroom door, leaning her back against it.

She wished with all her might she could go back to last year when they were all together. But she knew that was a wish that would never come true. She wondered who the next person would be to lie to her.

Over the next couple days, Trixie and Jim spent a little time together. As soon as they seemed to start a conversation during the school day, someone would come up and interrupt. Most of the time it was Amelia.

Jim would be cordial and engage Amelia in conversation. Trixie knew it wasn't in his nature to ignore anyone and Amelia had figured that out. Amelia would stay just long enough so that Trixie and Jim would only have enough time to say goodbye before the bell rang.

As Friday neared, Trixie didn't get her hopes up. She was mentally preparing herself for the call from Jim saying he had to cancel. She expected something to come up so that their date would have to be postponed.

When Jim entered the house just before six o'clock on Friday, Trixie was glad she had been wrong. They got into his car after saying goodbye to her parents and headed into town. They caught the early movie and then headed to Wimpy's for a late dinner.

They placed their orders with Mike and then talked about their favorite scenes from the movie. Trixie excused herself from the booth several minutes later. She knew their food was probably ready and wanted to wash her hands.

As she left the restroom, she smiled at a couple classmates that were sitting at the counter. She turned her head toward the booths that lined the window and was surprised to see that her seat had been taken by Amelia.

Trixie moved to the table and stood at the edge, glaring as Amelia ran her hand lightly up and down Jim's forearm.

"Excuse me, Amelia, but I was sitting there," Trixie said.

"Not that I saw," Amelia said, never taking her eyes off Jim. "So, Jim, are you ready to blow this joint?"

"I told you I was here with Trixie," Jim said, quickly pulling his arm away. He slid along the seat away from Amelia.

"You weren't with her when I walked in," Amelia said, picking up the burger that Trixie had ordered. "Come on, Jim, eat up. We're going to the bluffs, right?" She took a bite of the burger.

"I don't think so," Jim said. "And that was Trixie's burger."

"Her name wasn't on it," Amelia said, taking hold of Trixie's drink. "Geez, Jim. You act like everything is Trixie's." She turned and looked at Trixie. "She needs to learn she can't have everything she wants. She needs to remember her place."

"We're out of here," Jim said, getting to his feet.

"It's about time," Amelia said, sliding out of the booth on the other side, still holding Trixie's drink. "There are better things to do tonight."

As Amelia went to stand up, she stumbled, flinging Trixie's drink into Trixie's face.

TO BE CONTINUED….