Never Say Die by Carolyn Keene Read Free Book Online

said proudly.
    â€œWow, that’s great! Sounds like it was a pretty exciting day,” Bess remarked.
    â€œYeah, it was exciting, all right,” Jon said sourly.
    An uncomfortable silence fell. Everyone was thinking about the flagpole incident and what it meant, Nancy knew.
    â€œIs someone going to tell me what’s going on?” Bess asked after a minute.
    â€œNothing’s going on,” George mumbled, poking at her food.
    â€œOh yeah? Then why the long faces?” Bess demanded.
    Briefly, Nancy filled her in. When Nancy was finished, Bess folded her napkin and slapped it down on the tabletop.
    â€œI don’t believe you! How can you take this socalmly, George? Someone is trying to kill you, don’t you understand that?”
    George nodded. “Sure, but what do you expect me to do about it?”
    â€œDrop out of the Classic. Now—tonight.”
    For a moment no one spoke. Bess had said what was on everyone’s mind but what everyone had been afraid to suggest.
    â€œForget it,” George said at last. “I’m not dropping out.”
    â€œWhat?” Bess cried, her voice ringing with disbelief.
    â€œI said, I’m staying in the competition. I’ve been training for it for months. Jon came all the way to River Heights just to coach me. I’d be crazy to quit.”
    â€œYou’re crazy to keep going,” Bess argued. “I’m not saying that you should give up cycling forever. All I’m saying is that you should stop for this week.”
    â€œNo way.”
    â€œGeorge, listen to me—”
    â€œNo, you listen to me!” she interrupted. “If there’s one thing I’m not, it’s a quitter. I’m not going to act like a coward just because somebody’s trying to scare me a little.”
    The cousins glared at each other. It was an impasse. Bess wasn’t going to back down, and neither was George.
    â€œOoh!” Bess smacked the table in fury. Sheturned to Jon. “Would you please talk some sense into her?”
    Everyone looked at Jon.
    â€œUh, I don’t know what to say. I mean, I’d hate to see George quit, but I don’t see any other choice.”
    â€œJon!” George cried.
    â€œWell, I don’t!”
    â€œI can’t believe this! I can’t believe you’re siding with Bess!”
    â€œGeorge, all the training in the world is useless if you’re dead,” Jon reasoned.
    â€œBut I’m alive! I’m not dead! What do you want me to do, sit at home all day by myself?” she asked, beginning to cry.
    â€œCome on. Why would I want that?” Jon asked.
    â€œWhy? Why else?” George said, choking back a sob. “So you can be with Debbi!”
    Quickly George pushed out of the booth and stood up. Her sleeve brushed a water glass, and it fell to the floor. Everyone in the restaurant turned to look.
    Silence descended, and in the sudden quiet George’s sobs echoed loudly. But only for a moment. A second later she was gone.
    â€œGreat. Now you’ve done it,” Ned said, snapping at Bess as the exit door swung closed.
    â€œDon’t blame me,” Bess fired back. “I’m not the one who’s two-timing!”
    At that, Jon quietly left the booth and wentafter George. As she watched him go, Nancy frowned. Would he be able to patch things up between them?
    Watching through the window, she saw Jon catch up with George in the parking lot. They began to talk. To Nancy’s relief, she could see George slowly begin to relax. After a few minutes, she even smiled and threw her arms around him.
    Nancy relaxed, too. At least she didn’t have to worry about George and Jon anymore, she thought. Her only problem now was getting the boxing gloves off Ned and Bess. They were still arguing.
    Suddenly Ned broke off in the middle of what he was saying. He grabbed Nancy’s arm. “Look outside!” he said.
    Nancy again turned her