The Fearless Foursome: A Summer to Remember

By Bridget Nelan

The Fearless Foursome tells the story of four young teenage girls who start their summer break with the formation of a new club. Their first adventure is a sleepover that turns into a night of trouble when they sneak out to meet a group of boys. A complex chain of events begins when one of them is involved in a serious accident.

The main character, Sara Hawthorne, learns some valuable lessons over the summer about friendship, trust, and honesty. In the midst of a web of friendship issues, a boy named Matt Thompson enters the picture and captures Sara’s heart.

This fast-paced novel grabs the reader until the turn of the last page.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: May 13, 2019
• ISBN: 9781973657675

Bridget Nelan

Bridget Nelan became a freelance writer after fifteen years in the financial services industry. She has written dozens of articles for various publications and the book, God’s Handprints: A Story of Faith, Hope, and Love. Bridget lives in Germantown Hills, Illinois with her husband Mark, and sons, Joe and Jake.

Book preview

Copyright © 2019 Bridget Nelan.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.com

1 [phone]

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

ISBN: 978-1-9736-5768-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-5769-9 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-5767-5 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2019903305

WestBow Press rev. date: 5/3/2019

CONTENTS

Acknowledgments

The Fearless Foursome

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Faith. Family. Friends - I am eternally grateful for all three. I am thankful for my mom who believed in me and encouraged me to write, for my dad who taught me about everything that matters, and for Maa and Papa who showed me that grandparents are the greatest gift of a family. Each of you remain in my heart and impact me every day. I want to thank my husband, Mark, for his encouragement, support, and love. Your commitment and sacrifice to our family is astounding. To my sons, Joe and Jake, you bring me so much joy and I love you beyond words. I am grateful to my sister Debbie for being a great role model and lifeblood of the family. To my friends who know me and still love me no matter what - you were heaven sent and I cherish you. I humbly thank God for my faith and for blessing me beyond riches with the people in my life.

THE

FEARLESS

FOURSOME

38065.png

CHAPTER 1

Oh, Mom, please! Sara cried. All the other girls get to go. I’m not in middle school anymore!

I told you, after the last sleepover - no more for awhile.

But all we’re going to do is stay in and talk and hang out, Sara pleaded. It’s not like it’s at Quinn’s house. And Ella’s brother is at camp, so there won’t be any boys in the house. And with the thunderstorms coming, we won’t even be outside.

Sara’s mother looked thoughtful. She studied the big brown eyes behind her daughter’s tiny wire-rimmed glasses.

Why is this so important to you?

Because, Mom, this is the first official outing of our new club, the Fearless Foursome, Sara explained. If I miss it, I might as well drop out of the club and school and life.

You can go on one condition, Sara. When you’re in your pajamas and ready for bed, I want you to call and tell me goodnight.

No way, Mom! That’s ridiculous! Do you know how embarrassing that would be?

Then I guess the Fearless Foursome will be the Fearless Threesome tonight.

But why would you want me to call and wake you up when I can just tell you goodnight before I go or send you a text? Sara asked irritably.

Exactly the point. If you’re going to bed by eleven o’clock, when you should be, you won’t be waking me up!

Aghhh. I can’t wait until I’m eighteen and can do whatever I want.

So what is your decision, Sara Hawthorne? A phone call at bedtime or movie night at home with the family?

Sara rubbed her lips together and put her hands on her straight hips as she thought for a minute.

Oh, all right. I’ll call you. But Dad took my cell phone this morning because he’s looking into an upgrade for me, so I need to take yours. I really don’t want to use someone else’s to call my mom. How embarrassing.

Very well. I’ll drop you off at seven and expect a call no later than eleven. And please don’t use my phone other than to call me. I hope your dad is looking into an unlimited family plan before he commits to an upgrade.

When Sara arrived at Ella’s house, Laurel and Adalynn were already there. Ella’s mom gave a friendly wave to Sara’s mom.

The girls were out on the spacious, screened-in back porch giggling, eating some snacks and looking through catalogs, when Sara arrived. The sultry air had each of their faces shining as the summer storm brewed outside.

What a great night for a sleepover! Sara thought. Eerie, but great.

Hey, Sara, Ella said. You’re just in time for a makeover. Laurel brought all of her makeup!

Sara looked at the little tubes of pink, peach, blue, and green pearlescent goo spread out in front of Ella. Ella’s hand was just above the peach-colored tube. Peach is your color, Laurel said authoritatively.

Ella’s sweaty face glowed in delight.

I guess Ella is still my best friend, Sara thought. Even though she’s hanging out with Laurel Atwater all the time now. I can’t imagine putting cream blush on a hot, sweaty face. Most of us don’t wear much makeup anyway.

My mom said we can stay out on the porch until the storm starts, Ella continued, acknowledging Sara. Then she wants us to shut all of the screens and come in. You up for pizza later?

Sounds good. I’m up for anything, Sara replied. Well, just about anything. I’m still in a little bit of trouble.

You too? Ella asked. I almost couldn’t have this sleepover because of the one at Quinn’s.

I’m sort of glad I was sick that night, Adalynn replied. For that party not being much fun, everybody sure got in a lot of trouble.

Adalynn Stevenson was shy and studious. She was involved in band and had been friends with Sara since kindergarten. Adalynn’s nearly perfect shape was always masked behind unflattering clothes.

Those girls are a bunch of losers anyway, Laurel said, rolling her fake-looking eyelashes. I can’t believe you got in trouble for nothing. Dreaming about being popular is about as close as that group of girls will ever get to being something. What’s the big deal about having some boys come over anyway?

Laurel Atwater ran her fingers through the back of her black hair, drawing attention to her well-developed body and colored lips. Her snug-fitting clothes and loud personality made her appear older than her age.

Quinn Patterson, a new girl in town, had recently had a sleepover to get to know some girls in her grade and thought it would be fun to invite some boys over from another school. Laurel was furious that she hadn’t been invited.

Sara thought. When Ella invited me to join the club that Laurel Atwater was starting, it all sounded great. Meeting more people, hanging around more popular kids and maybe even getting introduced to some boys Laurel knew. She seemed to know most of them - some better than others. I could still be friends with the so-called dweebs, couldn’t I? Being a dweeb wasn’t that bad. It was just getting kind of boring and being in the right group before next year is critical. I’m not nearly as in awe of Laurel as Ella seems to be, though, but Ella hasn’t steered me wrong yet. This will be a fun club as long as Adalynn gets invited in too. And Laurel may have started the club, but I get credit for the name.

Who’s hungry? Mrs. Taylor asked from the doorway.

We are! the girls sang in unison.

When the pizza arrived, Mrs. Taylor brought it out to the porch with soda and water.

Mom? Ella said. We were just wondering if we could sleep on the back porch tonight.

Well, I suppose a little summer storm can’t scare the Fearless Foursome. But I won’t be surprised if I see you girls back in the living room by morning, Mrs. Taylor said with a smile.

Let’s dig in! Ella exclaimed.

They each grabbed a slice of pizza. When they did, they noticed a stained but legible piece of paper under the crust.

It read: If you really are the Fearless Foursome, meet us at Laramie Park swimming pool at midnight tonight.

The Warriors

How did they know we were having a sleepover tonight? Ella gasped.

I wonder how they knew we ordered from Delaney’s, Laurel added.

And how did they get that note in our pizza? Adalynn asked.

"And why do they want us to meet them?" Sara said.

The Warriors were a group of popular boys at school who had formed a club the previous year. They were nice boys - good students, athletes, and hotties as well.

I didn’t even think they knew we were alive, Ella said.

The girls were delighted with the thought of being asked to do anything with the Warriors, let alone meet them at midnight.

Should we risk it? Adalynn