The next day, we stayed at the plaza for breakfast. I had a bagel with some yummy cream cheese. That's all I wanted for now. After breakfast, we went on a bus tour. We sat at the top. Then, we went in several gift shops you could think of. I love Macy's the best-that's where we went for a bit.
We had Papa Gino's for lunch and shared a large pizza. We did half-cheese and half-pepperoni. I like both of them. That came out within ten to fifteen minutes after we ordered that. After lunch, we went to Barnes and Noble Bookstore. Then, I saw Stacey's former best friend, Laine Cummings, there. I groaned.
"Oh, brother," I muttered.
"Oh, hi, Mary Anne, this is a nice surprise," said Laine who spotted me.
"I know. But I have to be with my family," I said.
"Do you want to hang-out tonight?" asked Laine.
"I would like to, but I can't. I'm not leaving my family during vacation time," I replied.
Plus, why should I hang-out with someone who became snobby and immature? That's why Stacey stopped being friends with Laine in the first place not long ago. Even Kaylee and Kayla don't like her.
"But what if they let you do whatever you want when they're on their own?" asked Laine.
"Maybe." That's all I can respond.
Honesly, I don't to hang-out with any immature people-period. Besides, Dad never allows me or any of my siblings hang-out with immature kids. I agree with that rule. Fortunately, my ex-enemy, Marci, changed a lot to be nice to me and we became friends unexpectedly. Somehow, Dad started to approve her. I wish Cokie Mason could to the same thing, but I doubt that would ever happen. None of my friends and I could stand her. Sorry to say this, but she's a jerk.
"What did Laine want?" asked Kaylee.
"She wants to hang out," I said.
"Really? The one who changed?" asked Kayla.
"Yes, but I said I'm here with my family," I said.
"Good," said Kayla.
That night, Dad and Sharon were talking about going out on their own most of the day tomorrow until around dinnertime. So, the girls, Carlos, and I would be on our own.
"I guess we could hang-out with Laine," said Dawn.
"Count me out, Dawn, I'm not going out with someone who treated us badly," I said.
"Okay, then, it's all me," said Dawn.
"Do you want to get in trouble? You know Dad forbids us with any immature people. Marci's different since she was the one who changed to be a good person," I said.
"He doesn't know her," said Dawn.
"But he knew about what happen when I told him what she did to us," I pointed out. "I was hurt that day. Why did you think Stacey stopped being friends with Laine for?"
"You three can be on your own. I'll go my own way," said Dawn.
"I think you're making a big mistake," said Kaylee.
"Me, too," said Kayla.
"They don't like her," I said.
The next day, Dawn must have sneaked out to see Laine because when I got up, I noticed she wasn't in bed.
"Don't tell me she ignored my warning," I muttered.
Sure enough, that's what Carlos told me because he saw her going out at around five this morning.
"In the middle of the night?" I asked.
"Are you serious?" asked Kaylee.
"Yep," replied my brother. "She made me promise not to tell Mom or Dad."
"What? That is not good," I said.
"I know. I didn't say anything since I'm planning to tell them," said Carlos.
"Good," I said.
"Glad you didn't make that promise," said Meredith.
What did Dawn want us to do anyway? Lie to Dad and Sharon? I don't think so. I decided to cover for Carlos. I told Sharon that Carlos saw Dawn sneaking out of the room to go hang-out with Laine at her apartment.
"What time was that?" asked Sharon.
"At five in the morning," I replied. "She told Carlos not to say a thing. What did she want us to do? Lie? He didn't say anything. He was planning to tell either you or Dad. I'm covering for him."
"I'm glad you did," said Sharon.
"Don't tell her Carlos told me to tell you or Dad otherwise she'll flip out on the both of us," I said. "Just say you asked me where she was and I had to tell the truth."
"I gotcha," said Sharon.
"I told her Laine is bad news," I said. "She knows you and Dad forbid us from being with immature kids."
"That's right," said my stepmom.