Disclaimer- I don't own the Baby-sitters Club because my name isn't Ann M. Martin.

Disclaimer- Takes place during the BSC trip to Shadow Lake in SS 8 and has some resemblance—but it's a new story about Charlie.

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"Mom, think about it. If I drive my car, or one of Watson's, we'll have more room. I mean, twenty people crammed into three cars isn't just crazy, it's dangerous," I said as I jammed a suitcase in her ugly green station wagon.

"Nice try, mister. But I think we'll manage just fine with the three cars. Besides, I don't like the idea of you driving a bunch of wild kids for two hours to the lake," mom said as she handed me another suitcase.

I sighed. We had already had this conversation, but I thought she might change her mind after she saw how much luggage we were bringing.

And I really wanted to drive Watson's convertible.

My step-father Watson came out of the house, carrying a pet carrier. Inside, Boo Boo, his fat gray cat was meowing loudly. Shannon, our puppy, followed, barking and running into the luggage scattered around the driveway. I ran to her before she knocked over a carton of sunscreen and first-aid supplies.

"Charlie, don't put Boo Boo in a car until we're ready to leave. He's going a little crazy now," Watson said as he handed me a box with cat food and dog food. Watson paused to survey the mass hysteria on his driveway, but he simply turned around and walked back into the house.

I ignored him and threw Boo Boo's carrier into the station wagon. He hissed at me and rearranged in the cotton padded carrier. Boo Boo's been known to piss in that carrier.

I reminded myself not to ride in the same car that had Boo Boo. Jesus, twenty people and two pets, not to mention a shit load of suitcases—what a comfortable ride it'll be to Shadow Lake.

I lifted my Yankees cap from my head and wiped the sweat from my forehead. When Watson first mentioned this trip to a lake community he visited often as a kid, I was excited. I just graduated from Stoneybrook High School in June and was headed to college in the fall. I wanted to spend time with my family before I left. However, it wasn't just my family. My siblings, Kristy, David Michael and Karen, decided to invite eleven of their little friends. I scanned the driveway, with the mountain of luggage and children running wild.

Why was I looking forward to this trip anyway? Maybe I could get out of it...

I was about to complain to my mom again, but stopped dead in my tracks when I saw her.

"Bye mom!" she said as she climbed out of her car.

"Bye sweetie! Have fun and be careful!" Mrs. McGill called to her.

I watched as Stacey walked up the driveway with a stuffed suitcase. She broke out in a huge grin. She dropped her suitcase carefully on the lawn and ran up to my sister Kristy and her friends Mary Anne and Dawn.

She looked amazing. He long blonde hair was pulled up high away from her beautiful face. Her bright blue eyes sparkled across the driveway. She reached down and scratched at her tanned leg. She was wearing a short-sleeved powder blue shirt, short white cotton shorts and white tennis shoes. She stretched her arms high up and laughed uproariously at something Kristy said.

I've known of Stacey since she moved to Stoneybrook from New York and became friends with my sister. But, recently, I've found myself incredibly turned on by her. But, it's more than just a physical attraction. I've actually talked to her a lot recently—mostly about New York. She's from there and visits her dad there a lot. I'll be going to college there in the fall. She seems so much older than Kristy. I love my sister, but sometimes I wonder why Stacey hangs out with her.

Kristy's friends seem to be at our place all the time. Those nights I make sure I have no plans so I can be around when Stacey is over. They have sleepovers or slumber parties every weekend it seems. And, they're always running around in their silk pajamas and short shorts. It's easy to fantasize about someone when you keep seeing her.

And, when she's as gorgeous as Stacey.

I watched Stacey as she turned towards the street. A car had just honked at her. She ran down the driveway to help Claudia, who had just arrived, with her suitcases. Claudia appeared to have packed for two years, not two weeks. They were giggling and laughing. My eyes focused only on Stacey. As I threw suitcases and cartons into the trunks of the cars, I continued to steal glances at her.

She started to walk toward me. I quickly looked away and continued piling stuff into the three cars.

"Sorry, Charlie. Claudia decided she needed to bring all of her clothes and some of Janine's," Stacey joked as she and Claudia dropped four suitcases near me. Claudia giggled and covered her mouth with her hand. She looked away, embarrassed.

I looked at Stacey and smiled. I turned to Claudia.

"That's OK, maybe we could get some more room if Karen and her friends stayed behind," I said, raising my voice. Karen started screaming.

"Daddy! Charlie is being mean!" Karen cried to Watson.

I rolled my eyes. I noticed that Claudia and Stacey didn't leave my side. Claudia sure looked strange. She was wearing bright orange sweatpants she had cut into shorts, a red shirt and a yellow crochet vest. Her hair was secured in a bun with two sticks that looked like twigs. She had smoky gray powder on her eyelids. She could have passed as a campfire, especially after she whipped out a large Hershey chocolate bar from her pocket and started nibbling at it.

I was about to ask what car Claudia and Stacey were planning to drive in, when my brother Sam came trotting up to Stacey.

"Hello dahling. You are looking marvelous today. Really awe-inspiring," Sam said to Stacey.

I couldn't help it. I snickered. Sam can be so lame.

Sam blushed, but grinned at Stacey. Stacey rolled her eyes and walked away. Sam trailed after her. I watched as he followed her to Watson's car. He opened the car door for her and tried to help her in, but she was having none of it.

It was obvious. My brother was crazy about Stacey. She's cute and sweet. He's told me before that he liked her. I was not about to compete against him for her attention or affection. She's only thirteen. She's only thirteen.