What Ever Happened to the Baby-Sitters Club?

*I know that this whole reunion thing has been done over and over again, but I've decided to put my own personal little twist on it. I hope you like it. If you make it to the end, PLEASE review.*

Chapter One: Kristy

Kristin Amanda Thomas grimaced as soon as she saw the sign. Welcome to Stoneybrook. She mentally added, 'town of awful memories and awful people'. She was back, three years after her high school graduation. She was twenty- one now, and headed to see her family. She had kept away for years, but her mother had practically begged her to come back. As soon as high school had ended, Kristy had gone on a cross-country road trip and then went to college in California-UCLA to be exact. She had wanted to be as far away from Stoneybrook, Connecticut as possible.

Kristy had not had an easy time in high school. It was the worst time of her life. All of a sudden, she was not the big cheese anymore. The Baby- Sitters Club had broken up, and she had lost her friendship with Stacey, Claudia, and Jessi. (Mallory was in boarding school.) She was still best friends with Mary Anne, mainly because they had been best friends forever. She also still hung around with Abby, because they lived near each other and had the same classes.

Alan Gray had still been his prank-pulling self. He asked Kristy out in sophomore year, and when she refused, he struck back. He told everyone that Kristy would not go out with him or any other guy because she was a lesbian. Kristy tried to tell everyone it was not true, but only Mary Anne and Logan believed her. Abby had stayed away from Kristy after Alan's lie. In fact, a lot of people stayed away from Kristy after Alan's lie. Kristy had tried to get her reputation back by going to the dance with her Canadian "friend", Michel. He was not really her boyfriend, but not really her friend. They were sort of "friends with benefits". It had backfired.

Kristy graduated SHS a C-student. She blew off all graduation parties and anything of the sort. She left town, and ended up in California. Although she was supposed to attend SCC, Stoneybrook Community College, she pulled some strings and got into UCLA. No one could believe that Kristy had gotten into UCLA. But Kristy really had pulled strings. Kristy smiled to herself, remembering the admissions officer, and that day. She had lost her virginity that day. She felt bad about it, but it had gotten her across the country and into a good school. Her mother and stepfather were proud of her, not knowing exactly what she had done to get into UCLA. Her parents knew nothing of the lesbian rumors.

After she went to college, Kristy had stayed in touch with Mary Anne. Mary Anne had moved to New York, and was going to Columbia University. Apparently Stacey went there too, but they had not spoken to each other since orientation. Claudia was still friends with Mary Anne, and was in an art school in Chicago. Abby went to the University of North Carolina. Jessi and Mallory had just finished their freshman year of college. Jessi was also in New York. Mallory had ended up going to school in Texas, getting far away from her large family. Kristy could definitely relate to those feelings.

Kristy had met up with Dawn. She also went to UCLA. They lived in the same dormitory building. She had talked to Dawn about everything that had happened in SHS, and Dawn understood well. She had gone through the same thing in Palo City, pretty much. Dawn was more of a best friend to Kristy than Mary Anne was. It was definitely weird, seeing as at the beginning, Kristy and Dawn were not the best of friends. They got along really well though. Kristy confided in Dawn more than she ever had with Mary Anne. Mary Anne was always really scared of the unknown, and Dawn was not. Kristy knew that she could share with Dawn. Dawn was practically her sister.

Kristy made the turn onto McLelland Road, taking a deep breath. She pulled into the driveway, parked, and got out of her rented car. She ran up to the door, and knocked three times. Her stepsister, Karen Brewer, opened the door.

"Hi Kristy!" Karen exclaimed, giving her stepsister a hug. She had not seen Kristy in three years, since the day of her high school graduation. Karen was fifteen now, and had just finished her freshman year in high school. "I missed you so much!"

"I missed you too, kiddo!" Kristy said. "Well, I guess I can't call you 'kiddo' anymore, huh?"

"Nope," Karen said proudly. "Come on inside, everyone's here."

"Everyone?" Kristy groaned. "Oh no." That meant it was going to be a sentimental visit. Nannie had died when Kristy was seventeen, in the summer before her senior year. Kristy had learned very well that when all her family members were present, it was sure to be awful. Sam was twenty-three, and lived in Stamford. Charlie was twenty-five, and lived in Rhode Island with his wife. David Michael was also fifteen. Andrew was twelve. Emily Michelle was ten.

Karen gave Kristy a sympathetic smile. "Come on, Kristy." She walked inside and Kristy followed her. "Guys!" she yelled. Kristy smiled at Karen's loud voice. She had definitely gotten it from her. "Kristy's here!" It was not even a yell; it was a bellow.

Kristy walked into the living room. Her entire family was sitting there. Her mother was the first to stand up. "Hi, darling!" She gave Kristy a hug. "I haven't seen you in so long. Why haven't you visited? Why haven't you called?"

Kristy smiled. "Mom, I've been really busy with school and things," she said. "Plus I've had a real lack of money. It's hard to baby-sit when you're out of state and don't know anyone."

Her mother smiled back at her. "Well, most of your old charges are grown up and baby-sitting themselves, dear."

Kristy's stepfather, Watson got up slowly from the couch. He had had a heart attack two years ago, and was not back to his regular self. Kristy hugged him. "Hey Watson. How's everything going?"

Watson smiled slightly. "I'm doing well, surviving at least. Listen, Kristy, hug everyone and then sit down. What we really want to hear about it UCLA."

Kristy looked around the room. "Where are Sam and Charlie?"

"Sam should be coming from Stamford later today," Watson replied, "and Charlie might be coming tomorrow with Nicole." Nicole was Charlie's wife.

"Oh okay," Kristy said. She gave everyone else in her family hugs and sat down. "So, what do you want to know?"