When I wake up, I always look at my calendar. I see what day it is, what's going on, upcoming events – that kind of stuff. Tomorrow is September 12, the day I have to go back to school. I've been on summer vacation the last couple months. I can't wait to see the others! Summer passed by s-l-o-w-l-y…only thing that sucks about going back to school (besides homework and all) is that our old 3rd grade teacher, Mr. Ratburn, has been made a teacher at the school! I can't wait till I see the others…

Oh, I'm sorry – you don't know who "the others" are! Well, let me introduce myself first. My name is Arthur Read; I live in Elwood City with my two parents and my annoying younger sisters, DW and Kate. I attend Lakewood High, and I'm in the 9th grade class. My best friends are Buster Baxter and Francine Frensky. We have a lot of other friends too though! There's Sue Ellen, Fern, George, Binky, Muffy, Jenna, Prunella, and Brain (that's his nickname, his real name is Allen).

I've known these guys for a really long time! Prunella has always been a year ahead of us, and Brain is skipping a grade this year, so he and Prunella will be in 10th grade while the rest of us are in 9th grade. Today is really special because not only is it the first day of high school for me, it's also the day I see my friends again!

See, Muffy, whose dad is a billionaire, decided to take Francine, her best friend, on this huge Caribbean cruise for the summer. Buster's parents are divorced, and when his dad invited him to live with him in New York for the summer, he had his bags packed in ten minutes. Brain went off to a two-month long sleep-away science camp, while Prunella went to the neighboring "Camp for Future Psychics!" In case you haven't guessed already, Brain is super smart and Prunella is a little…obsessed with magic and stuff. Jenna, who is shy but athletic, was spotted by a talent scout at the County Fair and has spent the summer modeling for this new, super popular, teen magazine, Top Teen! Fern went to "Poet's Day Camp" and even though it's only a day camp, her hunger for literature has been awakened and if I ever see her, she's either reading or writing something, completely closed off from the world. Binky and George went off to sleep-away camp for the summer, and according to their letters, they're becoming much closer friends! And as for Sue Ellen – well, I haven't seen her since fifth grade because she and her parents decided to travel around Africa, helping people in third world countries. But last June, her parents decided to volunteer at army bases in Pakistan and Iraq. Fearing for her safety, they sent her to live in Paris with a family friend. Now she's coming back to Elwood City for the first time in almost three years!

I've arranged to meet my friends tomorrow morning where Bailey, Muffy's chauffeur, will pick us up in her limo. Wait, I know what you're thinking – are we all super spoiled rich kids who like to rub our wealth in other people's faces? Well, we're not. The only reason we're riding in the is that the high school is further away than the middle school and our parents were actually going to drive us to school on the first day of high school! I mean, if they drive us to school on our first day, we'll be labeled losers within minutes. So instead, we managed to work out a deal where we ride in the limo to go to school until next year. We would ride the school bus, but because Lakewood High is a new school (just built a couple years ago), it doesn't have that many school buses, and by the time our parents signed us up for the bus system, the buses were full, and if we went on, we'd have to sit in the aisles. Should be good though, because the Crosswire's new limo is much roomier and luxurious – it even has a mini bar!

Anyway, I think I'll check my email, make sure everyone's on board. Hey, Francine is on! Think I'll chat with her.

Francine: Hey

Arthur: Hey

Francine: What's up?

Arthur: Nothing. You?

Francine: Muffy is driving me CRAZY

Arthur: What do you mean?

Francine: It's hard to explain

Arthur: Tell me!

Francine: Never mind. You'll see tomorrow

Arthur: Uh…ok

Francine: Got to go. See you tomorrow

Arthur: OK bye

Okay, that was a little weird…oh hey, Buster's on!

Arthur: Hey

Buster: Hey

Arthur: What's up?

Buster: A lot

Arthur: Like what?

Buster: I'll tell you later

Arthur: ?

Buster: It's hard to explain

Arthur: Ok then I won't ask

Buster: Thanks man. Hey, I got to go

Arthur: Bye

What is up with my friends tonight? So secretive! But I've known them since forever, so I won't pry. I can't wait to see them though! It all happens tomorrow…

Ah, September 12. First day of 9th grade. I have a surprise for my friends – I got contacts over the summer! I have had these huge, dorky, Harry Potter glasses since I was little and I can't wait to see their faces when they see me without glasses.

I wonder if my friends have changed much over the summer. Last year, in 8th grade, a lot changed. For one, Muffy and Buster became a couple. Yeah, it was a big shock for all of us because…well, the best way to sum it up is this: In 3rd grade, Muffy was bringing caviar to school in her lunchbox while Buster was all but inhaling mushy school meatloaf. Yeah. Another change was that George and Binky became friends, even though Binky used to bully George in grade school. Of course, Jenna became a model, but I haven't seen her in months, so I'm wondering how the fashion industry has changed her. Muffy started relaxing more, not being so uptight, while Buster started working harder and actually made the honor roll a few times! Francine really threw herself into sports, which made Muffy get worried about her friend's reputation as a girl and named sweats and football jerseys fashionable. Fern has gotten more confident, even performed at a few coffee houses. Oh look, here comes someone!

"Hey man!" Buster shouted

"Dude!" I called back. We ran as fast as we could into a chest bump that hurts like crazy but we don't care because it's just our thing. "How was New York?"

"Uh…" Buster turned a little red all of a sudden. "It was um, really…fun!"

"Ok then…?" Before I can get him to elaborate, I see Brain, Binky, and George coming. Woah, George really shot up this summer! He used to be so short…and Binky is much slimmer. Meanwhile, I see that the brain has relaxed his style a bit and even has glasses. We all talk for a bit and I soon understand how the camp had a lot of healthy food and a ton of outdoor activities, so when Binky was deprived of junk food and couches for the summer, he lost fifty pounds! Meanwhile, George has apparently been drinking a lot of milk. As for Brain, the camp he went to had an awesome library, but no electricity in the cabins, so he strained his eyes reading by flashlight to the point of glasses. But they're cool glasses, with thin, rectangular lenses. Now why couldn't they have had those styles at the glasses store I went to? Buster hasn't changed much, except that his hair has gotten a bit shaggier and he got his braces off.

"So when do you think the girls will get here?" Binky asked. "Is it true Sue Ellen is coming back?"

"Yeah, it's true" I said, "She's really back."

"God…" George said, staring off into space. He then turned back to the guys, looking a little worried. "We haven't seen her in three years, you know. What if she's changed? What if she's like…different?"

We're all quiet for a minute, remembering how Sue Ellen was when we last saw her in fifth grade.

It was the last day of school. Sue Ellen was leaving for the airport in just a few minutes, and we were all hugging and crying and all that mushy stuff. But through it all, Sue Ellen gave us a huge smile full of slight buck teeth and rainbow braces that clashed with her oversized dress that was really just a huge Woodstock t-shirt from her parents. She wore sneakers with red and white striped laces, and had a henna tattoo tracing its way up her arm, from pinky to collarbone. Her short, poufy, orange-brown hair was pulled back into a ponytail and her only accessory was a beaded tribal cuff around her wrist that was from Morocco. She was brave, fun, smart, and ready to face whatever life threw at her. They all admired her and knew that no matter what, they would always be friends.

"No." Buster said loudly, interrupting their reminiscing. "No, she isn't changed. She's still the same old Sue Ellen."

"Uh, ok…?" George said confusedly.

Suddenly, Brain and Binky seemed extremely distracted and their eyes were getting huge. The other guys and I followed their eyes and it was all I could do to keep my jaw from dropping. There, coming towards us, were Jenna, Francine, and Fern. Now, before I tell you why we were freaking, you should understand how we remembered these girls. Francine, last time we saw her, would wear baggy shorts or sweats and a T-shirt. Jenna has always been shy and athletic, and could usually be found wearing jeans and a sweatshirt. Fern might wear a skirt, but her parents always make sure she dresses modestly, so her tops were never low-cut, skirts and shorts never below the knee. Francine and Jenna both had short, almost boyish haircuts, and fern usually had a curtain of hair over her face.

But now…well, the basic way to sum up us guys' reactions was that George gave a wolf-whistle under his breath. First up was Francine. Her dark hair was much longer, and curled so she has all these thin curls layered on top of each other. To make her look even more girly, she's wearing layered tank tops, converse, and a denim skirt edged in lace! I mean, lace! A couple bobby pins hold back her hair and she wears the small locket left to her by her grandma. Ever since her grandma had passed away in sixth grade, she wore it constantly. Jenna has obviously been given a strong dose of Gucci, because she's wearing a leather mini skirt with slits up the sides, and a green off the shoulder top that shows off her flat stomach. She's also wearing gold gladiator sandals and hoop earrings. Her hair is longer, about chin length, and she has these mod bangs cut. Fern, I think, left the house before her parents could see her, because she's wearing this low cut, flowery pink dress that just brushes the mid-thigh mark, and she's put on some white wedge sandals that elongate her legs and give her an extra two inches of height. It has a high waist and she's wearing her long, light brown hair up and off her face, so you can see the glittery stud earrings she's wearing.

God, I really need to get away from DW. She's entering the preteen years, so she's always either reading fashion magazines or talking about fashion. Let's just say that spending the summer home with her has not been good for my development as a male.

Anyway, we were stunned. George and Binky were seriously starting to drool, and I thought they looked pretty hot, but I noticed that Buster and Brain just looked surprised at how different they looked. That's a little weird. I mean, I love Buster like a brother, but he was a major flirt last year, up until he started dating Muffy. Muffy…that's it! I guess it's kind of romantic how he's so loyal to her.

"Hi guys!" Francine says, upbeat as usual

"Duh – Uh, I mean, uh, hi!" Binky said, tripping over his words

"Hi" Fern says shyly. With Fern, she's always been awkward and shy, but this new Fern is shy in a flirty way, so when she tips her head down, she's looking up at you through a fringe of thick, dark eyelashes I never noticed she had before. For a moment, all is silent, until we notice Binky's open and drooling mouth. Brain not-so-subtly lifts Binky's jaw, then puts his hand back in his pocket.

"Hello, my friends!" A throaty but smooth voice says. Everyone starts to look around and Brain has a knowing smile on his face, like he was expecting this. Suddenly, I see this huge flash of light right in the center of our group, next to Jenna. She gives a cry of surprise, because Prunella is standing there wearing skinny jeans, black leather boots, a tight white tank top, plus a silver charm bracelet and a sassy fedora.

Note to Self: Fill up house with new magazines. Fearing overload of girly fashion talk!

Uh, sorry `bout that. Anyway, back to the Limo Stop! Prunella appears in front of us and we're all freaking out, especially Jenna. "You singed my hair!" She says, but she's smiling as she says this, so we know she's not mad. Still, it's not like her to care about her appearance. Soon we're all chatting and waiting for Sue Ellen and Muffy to show up.

"Guys," Brain says nervously, "Prunella and I want to tell you something."

"Let me guess," Buster said, "You two are a couple because you saw each other a lot over the summer."

"Well, yeah, that pretty much sums it up!" Brain says, obviously happy that he doesn't have to explain himself. Prunella gives him a little kiss on the cheek and he blushes.

"Oh, guys!" Prunella says all of a sudden, "Sue Ellen sent me a text before I flashed in. She said to tell you guys that something came up and she'll meet us at the school gate."

We all nod, even though we're a little disappointed. We start remembering major milestones in our lives. Sue Ellen moving away and the scrapbook we made her, our first middle school dance when Mr. Ratburn showed up and didn't recognize us, the eighth grade formal where Francine came wearing jeans and a hockey jersey, and now, our first day of high school.

Then we start talking about the future. Apparently, Jenna's planning on doing photo shoots on the weekends, Binky wants to try out for wrestling, George is interested in basketball, Prunella is trying to set up a Psychic's Club, Brain can't wait for science class, Buster wants to be in home economics so he can learn to cook, Fern is excited for the poetry term in English class, Francine can't decide between volleyball and soccer, and I'm just going to deal as I go along.

A black stretch limo pulls up in front of us. The model has double doors that Bailey opens for us, first blocking the view inside, but then he steps aside, saying, "Your limo is here"

Inside the limo is every teenage guy's dream. A petite girl with long, cherry red hair sits inside, wearing a black miniskirt, a hot pink halter top that exposes her flat stomach all the way up to her rib cage, gold hoop earrings, plus she's wearing red stilettos with three inch heels. Her eyelashes glitter in the sun, her cheekbones are gorgeous, and her lips are a perfect pink pout. She has intelligent blue eyes that regard us with interest. One leg is propped up on the seat so we can see all the curves of her leg, and she is resting her other foot on the floor of the limo. Speaking of the limo, it has a wrap-around bench of plush leather, there's a mini fridge in one corner, a microwave in the other. There's also a surround sound system and a flat screen TV is built into the door! That's when I realize something. The girl sitting in the limo is Muffy!

We're all shocked, and Binky's jaw is down again. Francine is looking a little exasperated, and Buster looks a little concerned. Last year, Muffy relaxed her style and didn't care that much about material possessions. She even stopped saying "vomitrocious!"

I now see what Francine meant last night when she said the Muffy was driving her crazy. All through the limo ride, she goes on and on about how awesome the Caribbean was. Plus, she's flirting with us guys like crazy. You'd think Buster would mind, but he doesn't seem to even notice when she gets all breathy when talking to Binky, or when she scoots forward in her seat, causing her miniskirt to ride up a bit, showing even more leg, which I didn't think was possible.

But other than Muffy, the limo ride is awesome! We had a soda toast to the first day of high school, everyone talked about their summers, and we all wondered about Sue Ellen, how she'd changed. At one point, Francine was getting really sick of having to keep her knees together because of the skirt. She said, "Ah, screw it." And actually started taking off her skirt! I could feel myself turning red, but then I see that she's wearing shorts underneath. Francine stuffs the skirt in her backpack, which is black with ivory designs. The rest of us have backpacks too, except for Muffy, who has a large, white, alligator skin handbag. Francine looks really annoyed at Muffy. Suddenly, a huge smile lights up her face.

"Guys, we're here! We're at high school!"