I walked down the hall to the bathroom where I took a shower and got dressed. Then I walked into the kitchen for breakfast.

"Smells good, mom," I said, sniffing the pancake smell.

"Thanks Honey. How was your party?" I am so relieved that mom has gotten over the whole "strict mom" thing. I am now allowed to go to parties and wear whatever I want, as well as talk on the phone for however long, now that we have a good cell phone family plan. All I needed now was to become rich.

"Great. Lots of fun." I didn't feel like telling mom about having a boyfriend but then mom said,

"So, Massie's mom called the other day to tell me that because of your good grades the last 3 years, you not only get a secured OCD scholarship for eighth to twelfth grade, but also some award with 10,000 scholarship to a college of your choice and 5,000 for you to spend. Funded by the Blocks, you know William is on the school board and everything. Isn't that nice?"

"Ehmagawd, are you serious? Everything is perfect now!" I exclaimed, and jumped up to hug my mom, something I hadn't done in years.

Mom smiled and hugged me back. "Has anything else happened lately to make you so happy?" Mom asked, knowing something was up.

"Yea, well, I got a boyfriend," I said, trying to make it seem like it was no big deal.

"Really, aww, Kristen, you're becoming so grown up! Well, I'll leave you alone; I know how annoying my mom was with me and my first boyfriend. I have to run to work now, but have a nice day. Don't for get to leave a note if you go anywhere!"

"I won't" I said, rolling my eyes. Inside though, I was glad my mom had promised not to get in the way of me and Derrington… how embarrassing would that be?! Once I finished eating my pancakes, I stood up and went to my room. I booted up my laptop and checked my email. There was one from Derrington and one from my soccer coach. I opened my soccer coaches first, so I could read them worst-to-best. Ugh, she had soccer practice starting the first week in August and they should start working out individually or in partners by mid July. That would take up half a summer! All of a sudden I got three IM's.

HolaGurl: Hey, heard Mass kicked you out. Sucks! We can still be friends, right? If you want, we could make a new clique. Because I KNOW that Massie is gonna call another boy-fast…

SexySportsBabe: Sure, watevs. I know you just wanna be with Josh… 
HolaGurl: yea, u got me. So're we good?
SexySportsBabe: yea, def.
HolaGurl: K then, goin out w/ Josh. Laytah!
SexySportsBabe: bibi

BigRedHead: Hey, did Alicia IM u? We're ditching Massie.

SexySportsBabe: yea, heard. You guys know u don't have to do this. I can totally fend for myself!
BigRedHead: maybe we wanna do it! Alicia's gonna try to lead, but I think you would be a more natural/better leader. Shh, don't tell, k??
SexySportsBabe: duh! And thnx. Ur a great friend. C u tomorrow?
BigRedHead: k c u

ClaireBear: hey…



SexySportsBabe: wats up?
ClaireBear: stuck between a rock and a hard place…
SexySportsBabe: I totally understand. I'm definitely not going to make you choose. But Mass probably will! She made me choose between her and Derrington, which is why we're no longer friends…
ClaireBear: Worth a try, right?
SexySportsBabe: yea, def. good luck! I won't be offended if u choose her, I kno how MB can be.
ClaireBear: thnx! Ur an awesome friend. hugs c ya
SexySportsBabe: yea, c ya!

I sighed. I totally knew what Claire's problem was; she lived with Massie for Christ's sake! Then I remembered that I still had an email from Derrington! Quickly I opened it.

TO: Kristen Gregory
From: Derrick Harrington

RE: date?

Hey Kris,

What's up? I had a great time last night! Wanna meet somewhere this afternoon? IM me!

D

I smiled, remembering the fireworks that had read "Kristen, will you be my girlfriend?" and then he had stayed with me for the whole party! I IM'ed him right away.

SexySportsBabe: Hey u ;)

Shortz4Lyfe: Heyhowzit goin? Nice sn btw
SexySportsBabe: nice now that I'm talkin 2 u, and thnx
Shortz4Lyfe: yea me 2 and welx. So u wanna go to the beach or something? Then we could get icecream
SexySportsBabe: sounds good, Derrington
Shortz4Lyfe: ?? u have a nickname for me? 
SexySportsBabe: oh, shoot. Well, Massie made it up, but she never wanted us to say it to u. I think it's so cute though! Just like u
Shortz4Lyfe: and u. I'm glad u were cool enough to tell me, Massie is always wrong about boyz. Neway, u have a fancy car like Massie or do I get to bring u on my bike?
SexySportsBabe: Oh, well actually… I'm kinda poor. I live at Brickview apartments. But OMG I just got 10,000 for good grades!
Shortz4Lyfe: nice. So I'll come by and get ya in like ½ hr, cool?


SexySportsBabe: yea, def, can't wait to c u  hearts! Bye

SexySportsBabe has signed off.

Kristen was so glad Derrington hadn't said anything about her being poor. He is such a sweet guy! He sounded like he'd rather date a girl he could take on his bike than one who has a "fancy car". She went to her closet to look for the perfect outfit. She picked out one of her best bikinis, a green-and-white argyle print with cute pink cherries. Then she covered it with a Man. U cropped v-neck tee and adidas short-shorts, the perfect mix of cute and sporty. She knew it wasn't something Massie would rate above a nine, but it was totally her, so if Derrington couldn't accept that, she shouldn't date him. After adding some strawberry gloss and waterproof mascara, she was ready to go. She wrote a note to her mom that said "out with Derrick" and ran out of the apartment.