Lessons in Love

Author’s Note:  Trixie Belden® is the registered trademark of Random House. This story is not for profit. 

Honey lay in bed and replayed the scene over and over in her head.

“You like me?” Brian stammered and Honey nodded shyly.

“Oh, Honey,” Brian breathed and he took her hand in his.  “I was so scared that you wanted Dan and not me.”

“That was my fault,” Honey confessed, blushing.  “I thought if I made you jealous, you might tell me you liked me.  Dan had nothing to do with it.”

“Well, I guess it worked,” Brian told her sheepishly.  “Honey, I’ve always liked you.  But just lately I’ve realised I want to be more than just your friend.”

Honey’s hazel eyes gazed into Brian’s dark ones, shining with happiness.

“I want that too,” Honey cried.  “I want to be more than just your friend.”

“Will you be my girl, Honey?” Brian whispered, lowering his head so his face almost touched hers.  “Will you be my Honey girl?”

“I like the sound of that,” Honey murmured.  “I want to be your Honey girl.”

Brian gently brushed his lips against hers and his heart thrilled at the soft touch of her beautiful lips.  He wrapped his arms around her and drew her to him.  They kissed again, their lips lingering.

“I want to give you something,” Brian told her.  He released her gently, pulled off his class ring and placed it in the palm of Honey’s hand.  “Now you are my Honey girl.”

“Brian, I’m so happy,” Honey cried.  “I’ll put it in a chain and wear it around my neck.”

Brian kissed her again, overwhelmed by the feeling of having her in his arms and pressed up against him.  This time Honey’s tongue flicked over his lips and they gasped as the electricity ran through them.

She sighed happily and fingered Brian’s class ring that hung on a chain between her breasts.  Her body still tingled from his touch and she couldn’t wait to kiss him again.

It felt like hours later when she finally fell asleep, Brian’s class ring grasped tightly in her hand.

“What’s with you this morning?” Jim asked as they stood shivering at the bus stop.

“I’m not sure what you mean,” Honey answered demurely.

“Well, you wouldn’t let me drive on this freezing cold morning, and you drag me down here like your life depended on it and the bus won’t be here for another five minutes,” Jim grumbled good-naturedly.  “I’ve never seen you so eager to get to school.”

“I’ve got stuff to do before classes,” Honey mumbled.  “I don’t want to be late.”

“We would have been early if you’d let me drive,” Jim muttered and looked up as the bus came round the corner.

“See!” Honey cried triumphantly.  “We were right on time.”

Jim laughed as Honey climbed quickly on board.  She caught sight of Brian and her heart leapt.  Their eyes met and they smiled shyly at each other.  She headed towards the empty set next to him.

“Honey!” Di cried, grabbing her arm.  “How did it go?”

“Better than you would believe,” Honey whispered with a grin.  “I’ll tell you all about it later.”

Jim had shuffled past her and she and Brian exchanged looks of dismay as Jim settled in the seat next to him.  Honey’s face fell and Brian gave her a helpless look as she slid silently in the seat next to Trixie.

“Boy!  Was it cold this morning,” Trixie cried.  “There was no hot water and we…”

Honey nodded and murmured in agreement as Trixie talked rapidly.  Normally she would join in her friend’s excited conversation, but this morning she could not pay attention.  Whenever she could, she stole glances at Brian and her heart beat faster when her eyes met his.

The bus finally pulled into the school parking lot and everyone scrambled out of the bus.

“Honey, how did you go with chemistry assignment?” Brian asked her as she stood up. 

Honey lingered to let Trixie and Jim go before her and she looked up at Brian.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, his eyes staring deep into hers.

“I know,” she smiled.  “It’s not your fault my brother’s not a mind reader.”

“I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you,” Brian murmured and he gently took her hand.

“Look,” Honey told him and showed him the chain that hung around her neck.

“Oh Honey girl…” Brian breathed and he leaned towards her.

“Come on you slow pokes,” Trixie yelled to them.  “Hurry up.”

Honey and Brian groaned and headed off the bus.

“When are we going to tell them?” Honey asked.

“I’m not sure how,” Brian sighed as he helped her down the step.

“Miss Wheeler?  Miss Wheeler?  Would you care to answer the question or do you have more important things to do?”

Honey blushed furiously and mumbled something unintelligible.  Her teacher gave up on her and tried someone else.

“What’s with you?” Trixie nudged her.  “You must have been a thousand miles away.”

“I guess I was,” she admitted and stared down at her page which she had covered in hearts.  She blushed and quickly turned the page.

“What was that?” Trixie asked.

“Nothing,” Honey replied quickly and looked up at the teacher, suddenly a model pupil.

I could have sworn I saw hearts all over that page, Trixie thought.  Could Honey be in love with someone?

No, that’s impossible, Trixie decided.  She would tell me if she was.

But the suspicion niggled at Trixie and she refused to admit the possibility that Honey could be in love with Brian.

“I thought that class would never end,” Trixie moaned to Honey as they entered the cafeteria.  “And I’ve got so much maths homework tonight.” 

“Really?” Honey murmured distractedly as they approached the table of Bobwhites.  She was disappointed to see Jim and Dan sitting either side of Brian and wondered if the whole world was against her.

“Here Honey, take my seat,” Dan offered and Honey smiled gratefully as she sat down next to Brian. 

Brian smiled warmly at her and her face glowed happily as she unwrapped her lunch and listened to the happy bantering of her friends.

“I’m telling you it’s true,” Mart cried.

“Oh, Mart,” Di giggled.  “There is no such thing.”

“What are you talking about?” Trixie asked immediately, sensing a mystery.

“Calm down sibling,” Mart told her.  “This is no mystery for you to solve.  I was just telling Di about a wonderful creature called an ant lion, but she thinks it’s a mythical concoction of mine.”

“I didn’t say that at all,” Di protested.  “I just don’t believe there is such a thing.  Who ever heard of an ant that looked like a lion?”

Dan, Trixie and Jim joined in the laughter, but Honey and Brian were talking softly to each other.  Trixie glanced over at them and frowned.  Brian had missed his cue to either support or shoot down his younger brother’s claims, but she seemed to be the only one who noticed it.

“Come on Jim,” Mart pleaded.  “Back me up here.”

“I’ve got to admit I haven’t heard of an ant lion either,” he replied with a twinkle in his eye.

“Brian will know,” Trixie announced and kicked her brother under the table.  “Brian, tell us all what an ant lion is.”

“Huh?” Brian looked up from Honey.  “What’s going on?”

“Don’t you ever listen?” Trixie asked, growing annoyed.  “We all want to know what an ant lion is.  We’re not sure if Mart’s pulling our leg.”

“He’s not,” Brian told them.  “It’s an insect that makes a funnel in the sand and waits at the bottom of it to prey on unsuspecting ants.”

“But why is it called an ant lion?” Di asked, puzzled.

“Because they’d already called something else an ant tiger,” Mart quipped and the group groaned.

“So what does an ant tiger do?” Di asked and the group broke into laughter.

“Now he is pulling your leg Di,” Dan told her and she screwed up her pretty nose and swiped playfully at Mart.

Brian smiled at Honey and she grinned back at him.  He slipped his hand under the table and gently took her hand in his.  Her heart beat fast and drowned out the voices around her as they discussed a club meeting this afternoon.

“The school play is coming up,” Trixie told them.  “And they’re going to need extra funds for the Shakespearian costumes they want to use.  I thought we could brain storm some ideas for raising some funds.”

“I hope I get to wear one of those costumes,” Di smiled nervously.

“You’ll dazzle them,” Mart assured her and gave her a hug.  She kissed the tip of his nose and Trixie struggled to keep herself from groaning aloud.

“So we’ll all meet down at the club house at four?” Trixie asked them, trying to keep the discussion on track.  “Can you make it Dan?”

“Only for about half an hour,” he said apologetically.

“That’s heaps of time,” she assured him.  “Brian, do you know if Moms has got anything lined up for us this afternoon?”

“What?  Oh, I don’t think so,” he replied distractedly, his left hand still under the table.

“Hey!  Where’s your class ring?” Trixie asked suddenly and the group turned to look at him.

“What?” Brian stammered and quickly pulled his hand above the table and rubbed the finger that normally held his ring.  “Oh, I must have left it at home.  I – I took it off when I was tinkering with the car.  I didn’t want to get it dirty.  I must have forgotten to put it back on.”

Trixie listened to his excuses suspiciously.  It wasn’t like Brian to babble.  She missed the look Honey gave him, her eyes full of hurt and disappointment.

“Well, I’m off to talk to the drama department about what they’re going to need,” Trixie told them.  “Honey, are you coming with me?”

“Um… no,” she mumbled.  “I need to check over my chemistry assignment with Brian before I hand it in.”

“I thought Dan was helping you,” Trixie almost accused her.

“I was,” Dan said quickly.  “But there were a few questions I couldn’t do.”

Trixie nodded and picked up her books.

“Since when?” Mart asked him.  “You’re the best –”

He was cut short by Di kicking him under the table and she whispered into his ear.  He grunted and got up.

“Time for us to go too, Violet Eyes,” Mart told her.  “We’ll see you all on the bus.”

“Come on Jim,” Dan said quickly.  “I’ll show you that book I was telling you about.”

Jim frowned, but got up.

“I’ll see you in class Brian.  Good luck with your assignment Honey.”

Brian and Honey nodded at Jim and Dan shot Honey a grin before he steered Jim out of the cafeteria.

“I’m sorry,” Brian apologised immediately.  “I should have told them the truth.”

“I don’t know why you didn’t,” Honey replied in a small voice.  “Are you ashamed of me?”

“No, Honey, no!” Brian cried.  “I could never be.  I – I… I really like you and I’m over the moon that we’re together.  It’s just so awkward.”

“I don’t want to have to hide from everyone Brian,” Honey told him, tears welling in her eyes.  “Already we’ve had to pretend like nothing has happened between us and I hate it.”

“So do I,” Brian sighed and he gently stroked her face.  “We’ll tell them this afternoon at the meeting when it’s just the seven of us.”

“Promise?” Honey asked, her eyes hopeful.

“I promise my Honey girl,” Brian assured her.  “I want everyone to know how I feel about you.”

He looked into her eyes and wished they weren’t at school.  All he could think about was kissing her soft lips forever.

“What’s going on?” Trixie asked Honey as they collected their books from the locker at the end of the day.

“What do you mean?” Honey asked self-consciously.

“I’ve got a feeling you’re not telling me something,” Trixie frowned.  “What gives?  I thought we didn’t keep secrets from each other.”

Honey blushed and she lowered her eyes.  She didn’t want to lie to Trixie, but she wanted to wait until everyone was together before she and Brian said anything.

“It’s a surprise,” Honey told her in relief.  “I hate keeping things from you, but I promise you’ll find out at the meeting this afternoon.”

“A surprise?” Trixie’s eyes widened in excitement.  “I bet you’ve come up with a great way to raise money for the school play.”

“You’ll just have to wait and find out with everyone else,” Honey smiled wryly.  She wondered if Trixie would be so excited when she found out the real surprise.

“Hey, we’d better get moving or we’ll miss the bus,” Trixie told her and they hurried outside.

They were the last ones to scramble on to the bus and Honey smiled with relief when she saw Brian had saved a seat for her.  Trixie sat down next to Jim with a slight frown on her face.

“What’s up Trix?” Jim asked gently.

“Honey said she’s got a surprise for us, but she won’t tell me what it is,” Trixie grumbled.  “However, it seems that Brian is in on the secret.”

She glared across at her brother and best friend, deep in conversation.  They seemed so close and it bothered her.

“You can’t stand it when you don’t know everything that’s going on, can you?” Jim teased her.

“That’s not it at all,” Trixie insisted, her impatience growing.  “Honey and I usually tell each other everything, but now she’s keeping secrets from me.”

“I’m sure you’ll find out soon enough,” Jim told her calmly.  “There’s no use getting all worked up about it.”

“Oh, I should have known you wouldn’t understand Jim Frayne,” Trixie cried, her face red.  “You can be so blind sometimes.”

“Me?!” Jim exclaimed in surprise.  “What did I do?”

“That’s just it,” Trixie told him through gritted teeth.  “You don’t do anything.”

Trixie got up, moved towards the front of the bus and sat in one of the seats that was now empty.  Jim stared at her in stunned silence before turning to look out the window.

“It must be that time of the month or something,” he muttered to himself.  “I just can’t work her out sometimes.”

“Can you meet me at the clubhouse about a quarter to four?” Brian asked Honey.  “I’ve just got to spend some time alone with you or I’ll go crazy.”

“I know what you mean,” Honey told him quietly.  “I’ll be there.”

She gave his hand a quick squeeze as the bus pulled up next to the Manor House driveway.

“Let’s go Jim.”

They shuffled down the aisle of the bus.

“See you soon Trix,” Honey called to her.

“Yeah,” Trixie grunted.  Jim gave her a puzzled glance as he walked by her, but she did not look up.

When the bus stopped outside Crabapple Farm, Trixie leapt off the bus and ran towards the house.

“What’s with her?” Brian asked Mart as they walked towards the house.

“PMT,” Mart groaned and they both laughed.

“So when’s the big announcement?”

“What do you mean?” Brian asked self-consciously.

“You and Honey,” Mart teased him.  “I got the inside story from Di.  So are you going to tell everyone or just sneak around?”

“Mart!” Brian groaned, but he couldn’t help but grin.  “We’re going to tell everyone this afternoon.  I’m not sure how, though.”

“You could do it the way Di and I did,” Mart suggested.

“I’d prefer to do it with a little more style,” Brian grinned.

Di and Mart’s union had been a little stormy and very public.  Mart had gotten very jealous at a school dance when Di had spent all night dancing with different guys.  He confronted her, which led to a very public declaration of their feelings for each other.

“Well, however you do it, good luck,” Mart grinned.  “You two will be great together.”

Brian smiled in reply as they hurried inside out of the cold and Mart tried to conceal his own grin.  His brother was smitten.

“Sorry I’m late,” Honey told him as she shut the door behind her.  “Mother and Dad rang and I had to talk to them before I left.  They’re not coming home for another week.”

“You’re shivering,” Brian noticed.  “Come and warm yourself by the fire.  I’m sorry that your parents have extended their trip.”

Honey smiled sadly as she stood in front of the fire.

“You think I’d be used to it by now.”

“I bet you’re not used to this,” Brian told her, pulling her close to him.

Their lips and bodies met eagerly as they kissed.  They weren’t as shy as they had been last night and their gentle kisses soon grew warmer as their mouths opened and their tongues met in a passionate exploration.

“Oh Brian!” Honey exclaimed as the kiss ended.

“Am I moving too fast?” He asked in sudden concern.

“Oh no!” Honey assured him.  “It feels so wonderful.”

“I’ve been wanting to do that all day,” he murmured and Honey pressed her lips to his again.  He held her close in his arms as their kiss deepened and their hearts raced together and they both wished it could never end.

“I’d like to do that forever,” Honey moaned as they broke away breathless.  Brian felt a stirring in his groin and his head spun at the thought of having her in his arms forever.

“I’m going to find it very hard to be away from you,” he breathed.

“Good,” she told him.  “I don’t want to be away from you for a moment.”

Brian almost growled as he kissed her again, his tongue passionately searching her mouth and their bodies pushed close together.  Honey could feel his erection against her and it both shocked and pleased her.

“I’m sorry,” he breathed when he realised she had noticed his erection.  “I guess we’d better compose ourselves before the others arrive.”

“It’s okay,” she reassured him.  “I liked it.  I liked that I made you feel that way.”

“Honey girl, you make me feel amazing,” Brian told her and they shared one last lingering kiss before they prised themselves apart and organised the club house for the meeting.

Trixie and Mart arrived moments later and she eyed the two suspiciously.

“Glad to see you two got here early to set everything up,” she told them.  “Where’s Jim?”

“I left him talking to Mother and Dad,” Honey explained.  “He might be a bit late.”

“No, I’m right on time,” Jim announced walking in, “And Di and Dan are right behind me.”

“And I think that just about concludes today’s meeting,” Trixie announced at 4:25pm.  “Does anyone have anything else to add?”

Trixie looked pointedly at Honey, who blushed.  Brian was sitting next to her and squeezed her hand nervously.

“There’s something I’d like to say,” Brian began and the group turned their attention toward him.  “Um… I found my class ring.”

“Is that all?” Trixie groaned in exasperation, but Brian held up his hand.

“And I’ve given it to Honey to look after it,” he finished nervously.

He nodded at Honey and she reached into her top to pull out the class ring that hung on a chain around her neck.

“Woo hoo!” Mart, Dan and Di chorused and clapped loudly.  “Congratulations!”

Trixie stared at them, dumb-founded and Jim remained strangely silent.

“That was the surprise?” Trixie asked Honey, who nodded shyly.

Trixie glared at Honey and Brian and then turned to look at Jim, who still hadn’t said anything.

“That’s just perfect,” she muttered.  “I should have known.”

Trixie picked up her notebook and stormed out of the clubhouse to the surprise of the others.  Mart, Di and Dan exchanged bemused glances and decided to make a hasty exit.

“I’ll go after her,” Honey said quickly and hurried after her, leaving a disappointed Brian alone with Jim.

“Well, aren’t you going to say something?” Brian demanded.

“Congratulations, I guess,” Jim mumbled and put out the fire.

“Is that all?” Brian asked incredulous.  “I expected more from my best friend.”

“You forget she’s also my sister,” Jim replied angrily as Brian locked the door behind them.

“You don’t want me seeing her?” Brian asked in amazement.

“I think she’s still a bit young to be dating,” Jim told him.  “I guessed that you liked her, but I didn’t expect you get so serious.  You gave her your class ring for God’s sake!”

“She’s a young woman,” Brian cried.  “And I’m not taking this lightly.  I wanted to show her I was committed to her that this wasn’t just some passing fancy.”

“Good for you,” Jim muttered and kicked at the snow.  Brian grabbed his arm.

“What is this really about?” Brian demanded.  “Is this about you and Trixie?”

Jim’s eyes flashed as Brian guessed the truth and his expression of anger softened to a frown.

“I just can’t bring myself to tell her the way I feel,” Jim moaned.  “I can’t string the words together, I’m scared she won’t feel the same way.”

“You’re kidding me!” Brian exclaimed.  “She’s crazy about you.  You’ve gotta be blind if you can’t see that.”

“Maybe I am,” Jim sighed.  “I’m just not sure.  I can’t believe you got the courage up to tell Honey how you felt.  That’s why I got angry.  I hate not being able to tell her the way I feel.”

“It wasn’t easy,” Brian admitted.  “And I got some help.  But if you can’t tell Trixie the way you feel then show her.”

“What do you mean?” Jim asked and Brian raised his eyebrows at him.  Jim frowned.

“She’s not even fifteen yet.  I can’t do that.”

Brian flushed as he thought of the passionate kisses he had exchanged with Honey and the way his body had reacted.

“It’s your choice Jim,” Brian sighed.  “I just hope you don’t end up regretting it.”

“Trixie, wait up!” Honey called.  “What’s wrong?”

Trixie stopped running when she neared the lake and she collapsed on the ground, panting heavily.

“Are you okay?” Honey asked in deep concern.

“Oh, I’m just peachy,” Trixie said bitterly.  “You’ve got it all now, haven’t you?”

“I don’t know what you mean,” Honey said in a small voice, hurt by her tone.

“You’ve always had everything I ever wanted,” Trixie blurted, looking at her hands.  “You had the horses, the money, you got Jim as your brother and now you’ve got a boyfriend to complete the whole picture.  What have I got?  Nothing?  All I do is live in your shadow.”

“Trixie, that’s not true!”  Honey gasped in shock.  “I had nothing when I moved to Sleepyside, I was sickly and weak and money and horses didn’t make me happy.  You made me happy and so did Jim, but I wouldn’t have him as my brother if it wasn’t for you and you know how happy that’s made me.  When I first met you, I would have given anything to be you.”

“But not now,” Trixie accused her.  “You’re pretty and smart and you’ve got a boyfriend who gave you his class ring.  You wouldn’t want to me: I’m plain, fat and no one likes me.”

“You mean Jim, don’t you?” Honey sighed.  “That’s what this is all about.  He does care for you a lot Trixie.  You know that.”

“No I don’t,” Trixie wailed.  “If he did, then he’d want me for his girlfriend.”

“Do you know how jealous I was when Jim gave you that bracelet?” Honey told her quietly.  “I wish Brian had showed me he liked me half as much as Jim has always shown you.”

“But now he has,” Trixie sniffed.

“Yes, but not without a little pushing,” Honey smiled wryly.  “Why don’t you tell him the way you feel?”

“I couldn’t,” Trixie gasped and closed her eyes.  “I just couldn’t.”

“Then you’re just going to have to be patient,” Honey told her.  “Jim has his own way of doing things and I’m sure he’ll tell you how he feels in his own time.”

“Oh, I hope so Honey,” Trixie cried and then she flushed guiltily.  “I’m so sorry for all the horrible things I said.  I didn’t mean it.  I’m so selfish.”

“No, you’re not,” Honey hugged her.  “It’s okay Trix.  I probably would have reacted the same way if you and Jim had got together first.  But it will happen for you two one day.”

“Oh, thankyou Honey!” Trixie cried and hugged her best friend tightly.  “Gleeps!  I’d better go before Moms sends a search party out looking for me.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Honey smiled.

“Sure,” Trixie called.  “By the way, I am really happy for you and Brian.”

Honey smiled as she walked towards Manor House.  Her friends now knew how happy she was with Brian and she couldn’t wait to share more of those wonderful kisses with him.  Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad that her parents weren’t coming home for another week.

An emotionally exhausted Trixie made her way home to Crabapple Farm.  She didn’t see Jim watching her from the top of the Manor House driveway.

“One day Trixie,” he told her.  “One day I’ll have the courage to tell you the way I feel.”

“One day it will happen,” she told herself in resignation.  “I just hope it will be soon.”

The End