The next day, Kristy and I told the other girls everything and none of them could believe what Marci did.

"At least Marci apologized to you. We'll give her credit for that," said Stacey.

"I know," I agreed.

"How did the concert go?" asked Claudia.

"It was cancelled because Cam was ill. He was in the hospital with stomach pains and it was his appendix, so it's been rescheduled for this weekend instead," I replied.

"Oh, I see," said Claudia.

"Yeah," I said. "There would be no way I'd perform on my own. That would make me too uncomfortable and nervous."

"That's true," agreed Stacey.

After lunch, I heard rumors about Marci saying she changed to her oldself. I don't think that would be true. Patti told me Marci did not change, but she did had a terrible day.

"What happen?" I asked.

"She had a detention for nothing. The others talked and none of them had a detention. She told me that wasn't fair and said they were hypocrite. She had one and she didn't even talk while the others did and the teacher didn't do anything about it," explained Patti.

"Was that the math teacher?" I asked.

"Bingo," replied Kathi who was with us.

"I'm not surprised. Mine was the same way. Maybe I should talk to her," I said.

"Be careful in case she flips-out," warned Patti.

"I don't think she will. Where is she heading to?" I asked.

"The library," replied Kathi.

"Well, I have a class now. I'll probably see later so I won't be late," I said.

"That would be a better idea," agreed Kathi. "She's planning to tell it to the principal."

"Good," I said.

After school and after I went to my locker, I spotted Marci going to her locker and went to her.

"Are you okay now?" I asked. "Patti told me about what happened."

"Yeah. That's not fair to me," said Marci.

"I know it's not," I agreed. "The math teacher is like that to me and I'm the quietest one. That's why I'm glad when he's out between you and me."

"Same here," agreed Marci.

"Did you tell the principal? Patti also mentioned you were planning to do so," I said.

"I already did. He excused me from the detention and is going to tell the teacher to work on the talkers, not the quiet ones and not to give me any detentions for no reason," said Marci. "I felt a lot better after that."

"I'm glad things are better now," I said.

"Me, too," said Marci. "Did the other girls say they give me credit for apologizing to you?"

"Yes, they were happy about that. Don't worry they didn't say anything bad. They gave you a very good comment," I told her.

"Oh, good. I was worried about that part," smiled Marci. "Anyway how long Cam had to rest?"

"Until Saturday, so there is no studios this week. He can do the concert since he'll be better that unless he gets recovered early," I said.

"Can we hang out to so I can make it up to you?" asked Marci shutting the locker door.

"Sure. Kristy wants to join. Is that okay with you?" I asked her.

"I don't mind," said Marci.

"I'm meeting her out front. We're going to my house to do homework first," I said.

"Why don't we go meet her together?" suggested Marci.

"Good plan," I agreed.

That's what we did and Kristy didn't seem to mind Marci to be included. At home, while the other girls were about to do their homework, I called Dad to tell him our plans. In fact, both Kristy and Marci let their parents know as well. After that was all set, I started my homework. All I had was English and History. After that was done, we left the house. Kristy and Marci wanted to bring their backpacks at their houses, so that's what we did. We went to the counter and sat there.

"What could I get you girls?" asked the waitress.

"Hot fudge sundae please," said Marci.

"With rainbow jimmies," I added.

"And, three spoons," Kristy continued.

I can have ice cream and hot fudge along with jimmies.

"Coming right up," said the waitress as she left to get our treat and came back with it. "Here you go, girls."

"Thank you," we all said at once.

"Hey, this is a small world. We're all here at the same time," said Sharon who was on break.

"I know," I agreed. "Dad already knew about our afternoon plans."

"Don't worry, I believe you," said Sharon.

After we paid, we left there for the mall.

"Let's go see a movie," said Marci when we got there.

"Sounds good to me," I said.

We decided to go see The Miracle Worker. Then, while the previews were on, I spotted Mr. Jackson and noticed someone who looked similiar to me. That was when I spotted him with Jennifer! Is he dating my manager?

"What the?" I asked myself.

Both Kristy and Marci noticed that, too. I was stunned about that.

"Um, isn't that our Annie director and your manager?" asked Marci in a low voice as I nodded slowly.

After the movie, I said, "I can't believe my manager could be dating our Annie director."

"I know, let's hope they'd be just friends otherwise some of the kids cast members except our friends and the adults could be teasing you," said Marci.

"Me, too. I cannot picture that thought at all," I said.

"Perhaps we should find out the truth first," said Kristy.

We saw Mr. Jackson and Jennifer kissing on the lips on our way out.

"I like you a lot. Would you like to be my girlfriend?" asked Mr. Jackson.

"I'd love to," replied Jennifer.

"What!" I exclaimed in a low voice.

"Let's go," whispered Marci as we left.

"Should we keep it as a secret in case the other tease you?" asked Kristy.

"I would," agreed Marci. "Friends are exception."

Me? I also agreed and didn't say one word. I was still stunned that I learned the truth about Jennifer and Mr. Jackson. At home, I still couldn't believe what I saw. I went straight to talk to Dawn.

"You'll never guess what Kristy, Marci, and I just saw at the movies," I said.

"What? You look mad about something," said Dawn.

"I am. Jennifer was with Mr. Jackson. To make things worse, he asked her to be his girlfriend," I told her.

"Wow, that's a surprise," said Dawn.

"The only problem is that Jennifer is my and Cam's manager while Mr. Jackson is our Annie director. If any of the kids including Cokie minus our friends and the teachers find out about that, I could get teased," I continued.

"Uh-oh. That is a big problem," said Dawn.

"So, whatever you do, please don't tell any of them. We're telling the other girls at the meeting," I said.

"Good plan," agreed Dawn.

"I saw your mom at the diner. It was a small world that we were there at the same time," I said.

"That is funny," said Dawn as we giggled.

Later, at Claudia's, Kristy, Dawn, and I told the other girls about Mr. Jackson and Jennifer.

"No way!" exclaimed Stacey in her shock voice.

"Yup, I'm worried what might happen, so we better not to tell a soul to anyone else especially Cokie and her sidekicks," I said.

"Good idea to avoid getting teased," said Claudia as the other girls agreed.

At dinner, I came down looking pale. I was worried about what may happen if any of Annie kids finds out the truth about my manager and our Annie director. I know Cokie and her sidekicks might be the only ones who would pick on me.

"Your father is running late. There was traffic," said Sharon.

"I know. He already texted me to tell me," I said.

"You look pale tonight," said my stepmother. "Is everything okay?"

"I'm just concerned about something, that's all," I replied as I told her about everything.

"Oh," said Sharon.

"And, she's afraid she would get picked on," added Dawn.

"I don't know how Mr. Jackson and Jennifer can do this to me," I said. "I'm not very hungry. I got a headache. It's not my diabetes, it's actually normal. May I skip dinner tonight?"

"Okay," said Sharon as I got up to my room.

That was when Dad came home and said, "I thought I would never get out of that traffic. There were a two way car crash."

"At least you're home now," said Sharon.

He noticed I wasn't at the table.

"Where's Mary Anne? Isn't she home for supper?" asked Dad.

"She's not feeling very well. She had just asked if she could skip dinner," said Sharon.

"Really? She was fine this morning," said Dad.

"She's got a headache, so Carlos had just offered to give her Aleve," said Sharon.

"Okay," said Dad.

Even though I really got a headache, I was just too worried on how Cokie might do when she learns the truth about Mr. Jackson and Jennifer.

After dinner, Dad said, "I'll go see how Mary Anne is."

In my room, I was curled up in a ball.

"Mary Anne," said Dad knocking on the door and came in.

That was when he noticed I was asleep. I wasn't warm when he felt my head. He left the room to head downstairs.

"She's asleep. She's not warm though," said Dad.

"The headache will probably go away later," said my stepmother.

An hour later, I didn't come back down even though the headache went away.

"How come she didn't come back down? Does she still got a headache?" asked Sharon.

"Something must have happened to upset her," said Dad. "Excuse me."

In my room, I was on my bed when Dad came in and sat with me.

"Is everything alright, honey?" asked Dad. "How was your headache?"

"Better, but I'm just worried about something, that's all," I said.

"What was on your mind?" asked Dad.

"I saw Jennifer with Mr. Jackson at the movies. So did Kristy and Marci," I began.

"Isn't that something?" asked Dad.

"Don't you see what's wrong with the picture here? Mr. Jackson is the Annie director and Jennifer is the manager of mine and Cam's. If Cokie and any of the others find out, I could get picked on. That's what I'm afraid of," I explained.

"I'm sure that won't happen," said Dad.

"The bad part is that Mr. Jackson asked Jennifer to be his girlfriend today," I continued.

"Don't you worry about a thing," said Dad.

I wasn't sure about that. I was still concerned about that.

"Luckily, the others and I decided not to mention it to anyone else so I won't get picked on," I said.

"That would be the best thing to do," agreed Dad.

"I wonder what Cam might say about this, I'm debating to tell him when I see him," I said.

"I would," said Dad.