The Baby-Sitters Club belongs to Ann M. Martin

I was walking to school with my stepsister, Dawn Schafer, from Burnt Hill Road, where we live in Stoneybrook, Connecticut. I'm Mary Anne Spier I'm 14 and attend Stoneybrook High School for ninth grade. My two adopted siblings, Carlos Peters and Meredith Sousa, already left before us because they had to volunteer at the school library for a short takes class called volunteer class together.

I got a short takes class myself. I have a sewing class, which is good since I love sewing and Dawn has environment science, which she loves to keep the Earth clean. She's from California. Her mom, Sharon, happened to be my father's former high school girlfriend. Boy, were they glad to get back together after being separated- by Sharon's parents-after Sharon moved back here! Her son, Jeff, was here for a while before moving back to California after being miserable here.

Dawn was already my best friend before we became sisters. That's how I ended up on Burnt Hill Road after I grew up on Bradford Court. At least my boyfriend, Logan Bruno, lives down the street from me. At school, Carlos seemed to be very unhappy about something.

"Aren't you supposed to be at the school library?" I asked.

"And, where's Meredith?" asked Dawn.

"She promised to meet me here, but hasn't showed up yet," replied Carlos.

"Didn't you both leave early?" I asked.

"Yes," replied Carlos. "She better have a good reason why she's late."

"Um, I wouldn't be hard on her if I were you," said Dawn.

"Yeah, I agree. What if she gets mad? And, what if you didn't want to believe her?" I asked.

"So, you better watch out," added Dawn.

That was when Meredith showed up and said, "Sorry if I'm late to meet you, Carlos. I had to talk to our teacher about our assignment. You were supposed to do that with me so we can be assigned. The teacher thought you were out."

"That was very immature of you to say that," said Carlos.

"If you don't believe me, go ask the teacher," said Meredith.

"Fine," said Carlos as he left.

"I can't believe he didn't go there with me," said Meredith. "I have every right to say anything."

"I know. He should know you were correct," I said.

"I better get going. I'm not getting into trouble for being late," said Meredith as she leaves for the school library.

"We should get to our classes, too," I said.

"Yeah," agreed my stepsister.

When I got in the sewing class, I sat near my friend, Marci, who has that class with me. She was the only one who was with me. Stacey, the math whiz, got this difficult math class called Calicus II. Claudia, who loves art, has an art class where she can make her own jewelry which she likes to do at her own home and art lessons. Both Logan and Kristy have gym that has baseball and would have a few games. Unlike me, they're both good at sports. Kayla and her twin, Kaylee, got career.

It's nice when high school has short takes. I enjoyed that at Stoneybrook Middle School.

After they did roll calls, we were told we can go to the school library to check out for different sewing assignments. When we got there, I noticed something was wrong. Carlos and Meredith were not talking to one another. I decided the best way not to get caught in the middle is to stay away. Smart idea, huh?

I was looking at a sewing book when Carlos came up to me and said, "Meredith is a pill."

"I hate to break it up to you, but I don't have the time right now. I'm just here for a book for my sewing class," I said.

"But I want to tell you what she did," said Carlos.

"Can you wait until later?" I asked.

I got out a book of homemade clothes and other stuff. Perfect choice. I used my library card to check it out. The other classmates were still looking around, the teacher was still there.

"Am I allowed to go back to class? I already got the book," I said.

"Sure you can. I'll let any student to head back when their book is checked out," said the teacher.

"Okay," I said as I headed back to the sewing class.

As you can see, I did that so I can stay out of Meredith and Carlos' way.