- Jess -

"You must be joking." Emma's voice crackles through the phone. There's a sense of shock but also realization. She giggles slightly, digesting the information.

"Her name is Dylan, she's transferring to our high school. Her mom met my mom at a yoga class. She told me this morning." I explain, this is just as annoying for me as it is for Emma. The book club is a safe place for us all, somewhere where we can all be ourselves, that's hard when someone we've never met joins.

Emma sighs through the phone. "So I guess we'll see her tonight?"

Tonight we have a meeting but also an end of summer/start of school party, mother daughter book club families only, so I guess that now includes Dylan Jamieson and her family.

I nod but realize that Emma can't see me, and reply "Yea, I think so. I'll be at your house around 4?"

Emma responds with a hesitant yes and we say our goodbyes and hang up. I push myself off my bed and march downstairs into our boiling hot kitchen. My mom is sitting at the table humming and typing furiously on her computer.

"Hey Hun, would you mind going into town and picking up some flour? I need to make a cake for the party tonight and I completely forgot about flour." I'm still upset with my mom for springing a new addition to our club on me, especially since it's the first year back with Emma since she went to England. Things were not the same without her. Regardless of my anger, I nod my head in response, slide on my shoes and walk into town.

It's really pretty in the summer in Concord, but right now most people are celebrating their final weekend of freedom before school starts, so most people are out of town which makes the town all that more quiet. When I reach the market, I grab the flour, pay and head home.

"Jess!" I hear my name being screeched. I turn around to reveal Stewart Chadwick. Becca's older brother and Emma's boyfriend. I smile and wave. I haven't seen much of Steward during the summer, mostly because I've been helping at the farm but we aren't really friends.

"Hey, how are you?" I ask and he smiles and holds up a bag with a bunch of vegetables. Mrs. Chadwick is in charge of vegetables for tonights party, and she must have forgotten the same way my mom did. I smile and hold up my bag and wave it around.

"You excited for tonight?" Stewart asks, there's a gleam in his eyes and I know why. Him and Emma haven't seen much of each other during the summer, and I think tonight the first time they are really seeing each other. I nod vigorously because I get to see Darcy Hawthorne, Emma's older brother and my boyfriend.

Stewart smirks " I have to go but I'll see you tonight at Emma's" I nod and wave goodbye.

Once I'm home, I put the flour on the table and my mom looks up and thanks me and quickly notes that I need to be ready in an hour and to bring my suit with me. Then returns to typing on her computer. I nod and go to my room to get ready.

I put my make up on carefully, I'm careful not to put too much on because when we go swimming I do not want to turn into a raccoon. I put on a yellow sundress and slip on my flip flops, and let my blonde hair out of my long lasting braid. I stuff my red bikini in my bag and grab a towel as well and head downstairs. My mom has moved and changed into a dress and has the keys in her hand.

"Your brothers and your dad will come later, after the club meeting." I nod and we hop into our truck. My thighs burn against the hot leather.

We make our way over to the Hawthorne's, and to my surprise everyone is there already except for one new member. I say hi to everyone and sit on the floor next to the couch where Emma is sitting.

Mrs. Hawthorne is standing and claps her hands together to get our attention. I glance at Emma through the corner of my eye.

" So ladies, you're starting your sophomore year in high school! It's so exciting! But we have big news to add to your excitement. We have decided to add a member to the club. Her name is Dylan Jamieson, she'll be a sophomore as well and she just transferred to your high school." Cassidy's eyes are huge, Becca throws her head back and groans, and Megan looks confused. I knew that they would not react any better than Emma and I.

The doorbell rings and Mrs. Sloane Kinkaid shuffles towards the door. The room is silent and everyone's trying not to look at Mrs. Hawthorne. We can hear Dylan and her mom being greeted by Cassidy's mom. There voices get louder and suddenly, whom I presume is Dylan awkwardly comes in with her mom.

"Hi, I'm Dylan" She smiles and waves.

This is going to be a long year.