CHAPTER ONE

"Mary Anne, we're going to be late for school!" I heard my step-sister's voice shouting into my bedroom before I saw her. I was obsessively trying to find an outfit. Not that I cared about fashion, at least not in the way two of my best friends, Stacey McGill and Claudia Kishi, did. But I did want to look nice that day. That day was special. It had been exactly six months to the day since I had gotten back with Logan Bruno, the boy I'd been dating since I was thirteen years old. We broke up at the end of my eighth grade year, and six months ago at the very end of my junior year, we got back together. He'd really matured, grown up. He wasn't as possessive and controlling. At least not at first. But he's getting better.

But I still had to find an outfit that he'd love, an outfit that would make him keep remembering why he was dating shy and mousy Mary Anne Spier (which is me of course.) Finally I found something that didn't look too horrible. I found a dark denim skirt that fell to my knees and a simple white button down shirt. I coupled it with a pair of black Mary-Jane's. I examined myself in the mirror and decided that the outfit was perfect. It was modest, nothing Logan would have a problem with. I ran a brush through my shoulder length brown hair and applied some chapstick before I heard Dawn Schafer (the previously mentioned step-sister) pounding on my door. "Mary Anne," she shouted, "we're going to be late and you still haven't fed Tigger!"

"I'm coming, I'm coming!" I couldn't help replying with a harsh tone in my voice. I was so tired of being rushed. Everyone was always rushing me. I was meticulous at most points in my life and I tended to move a little slower, but I was never late. I didn't understand what Dawn's big deal was. Why was she trying to rush me? We still had tons of time before we had to get to school. It was a fifteen minute walk, and since my dad (Richard Spier) had gotten me a car for my eighteenth birthday, it took even less time. I opened the heavy door that lead into the hallway and was face to face with Dawn.

She had a look of concern on her face, one that clearly said she was worried about me. After all, it had taken me well over half an hour to choose an outfit. But Dawn should understand. She was there for my first six month anniversary with Logan and surely she remembered how insane I was that time. Sure, it was four years ago, but Dawn rarely forgot anything. It must have something to do with all of the health food she ate. But the look of concern on Dawn's face, it was annoying me.

"Could you stop looking at me like that? Is there something on my face? Does it look bad? I look bad, don't I?" In case you haven't noticed, I have this whole insecurity thing. I've always been so insecure. Sometimes, my best friend, Kristy Thomas, makes fun of me for it. Usually though, she ends up punching the people who make fun of me for it. I guess its okay for her. "Seriously, do I look bad? I probably look like -- like I did when my dad was choosing my clothing."

Dawn let out a chuckle and shook her head. "You look great, Mary Anne. But did it really take you that long to choose that outfit?"

Something about her tone annoyed me. Luckily I was distracted by Tigger, my gray striped tabby cat, rubbing against my ankles and almost making me trip over him. "Tigger!" He meowed a pathetic meow and once again looped around and between my legs. It tickled a little. "C'mon little buddy, let's get you some food." I scooped up my cat and walked down the stairs towards the kitchen of our new old farmhouse. That's a long story and I'll explain it later, I promise.

I made it into the kitchen and poored Tigger a bowl of catfood, ignoring the fact that one of Sharon's red high heels was tucked away behind the catfood. I held it up for Dawn and she shrugged, so I put it back. I knew that Sharon would need it later and if it wasn't where she left it, then the world could possibly end. One thing about my step-mother (Dawn's mom) was that she's horribly disorganized. I cannot count how many times I've found bits and pieces of her belongings far from where they belong. I'm sure it drives my father nuts.

Anyway, after feeding Tigger and grabbing my backpack, Dawn and I were on our way to school. It took us five minutes to drive across town to Stoneybrook High School. It would've taken longer but for once I didn't need to swing by Bradford Court to pick up Claudia Kishi, one of my childhood best friends. She was riding with her best friend, Stacey McGill. I'll tell you more about Claudia and Stacey later. They're both in the BSC, or Baby-Sitters Club, which is another thing I'll tell you about later. Because the second I got to school, I was instantly distracted. There was Logan Bruno, waiting on the sidewalk facing the student parking lot. I quickly said good-bye to Dawn and ran over to Logan, almost tripping in the stupid Mary-Jane heels I'd stupidly decided to wear to school that day. I gave him a chaste kiss on the cheek when I got to him and smiled up at my boyfriend. It felt so great to be so much in love with someone.

"Happy anniversary, Mary Anne," he whispered in his subtle Kentucky accent. When I first met him, his accent was probably the most notable part about him when he spoke. But years in Stoneybrook, Connecticut had made it almost unnoticable. Or maybe I was just so used to it by now that I didn't pick up on it. Either way, I still loved the way he said my name.

"Happy anniversary, Logan," I replied. My cheeks were hurting from smiling so much. I looked over at him and suddenly wished we could go somewhere, somewhere that wasn't school. I wished that we could celebrate our anniversary in some way, and though I'd never say this out loud, I had some ideas on how I wanted to celebrate. I watched Dawn disappear through the crowd of people and whispered my idea into Logan's ear. A smile formed across his face and he nodded. A few minutes later, the world was ending. I was driving away from the school to return to my empty house with my boyfriend. I just hoped we'd be done in time for the Baby-Sitters Club meeting that evening.


Author's Note: Yes I know that was a slightly boring chapter, but I'm going through and making it just like the books. Meaning fifteen chapters and we all know what the second chapter is going to be about. This is my first BSC fanfic so please, be gentle. I'm going to try to have this finished without too much time. And even though we do know what the next chapter is about, there are some very important tidbits that have changed since they were thirteen, so it would be a good idea to read. As always, reviews are very much loved.