Since I have no idea what Caitlin is like, I'm just going to give her some traits that fit with the story line. Hope everyone's okay with that!!

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the book or any of the characters, except for Derek Henderson. And the new faces coming up soon…………………

Wedding fever has taken over our house. I can't look anywhere without seeing pictures of wedding dresses, pictures of flowers, and pictures of him.

"Isn't he just amazing?" Mom says to me, staring at Derek Henderson's photograph and making googly eyes at it. I swear, she carries it everywhere with her now.

"I wouldn't know," I told her.

"But doesn't he just have the greatest eyes?"

"Mom, that's creeping me out a little. First, he's like, fifty years old, and second, he's the father of the devil."

She finally takes her eyes of the picture. "How can you say that?" Well, this is weird. Now, she always talks in this dreamy voice, and she doesn't walk, she floats. Everywhere. Once I caught her staring off into space with her chin resting on her hands. She didn't even blink when I waved my hands in front of her face.

Who is this woman, and what has she done with my mom?

It seemed like Mom forgot all about Caitlin coming over; I finally reminded her on the last day of school.

"Mom, what time is Caitlin coming?" I asked.

"Who?"

"Seriously? Caitlin. Best friend from Boston. Does it ring a bell in your romantic and flowery mind at all?"

"Maddy, of course I remember. I just……..forgot for a moment."

I narrowed my eyes at her.

Mom snaps back to attention. "Caitlin's arriving at about three tomorrow. She'll be staying in the guest room across the hall from yours. Is that what you were asking?"

"Yeah, sure, whatever." I say, leaving the kitchen.

**************

I woke up at seven the next morning, a record for me. But it's not every day that your best friend stays over for the summer. Still, I had to force myself out of bed, groggy and tired from staying up so late, on the computer.

It got off to a bad start. First, Emily would not wake up no matter how many times I shook her and screamed in her ear.( No, this is not how I normally act.) then, the car wouldn't start, so Mom ended up borrowing Derek Henderson's car. A Mercedes.

It took a really, really long time to drive to Boston, and I almost went crazy from Mom's gushing about 'what a great car this is and how thoughtful of Derek to lend it to us and GUESS WHAT I DON'T CARE!!' Seriously, I was almost pulling my hair out.

But I guess I fell asleep, because the next thing I know Caitlin was right next to me in the car. I couldn't help it. I screamed. "CAITLINNNNNN!"

"MADDY!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

We were like that for about five minutes, until Emily yelled at us to "please shut up." Still, it was so exhilarating, and I felt all hyper and giddy inside. I felt invincible. Though it sounds stupid and impossible.

At home, Caitlin unpacked, and then for reasons unknown Mom made us come with to drop off the Mercedes. So you can imagine my excitement when we pulled into the driveway.

Everything about this place was perfect. Precisely trimmed grass, vibrant flower bushes, and immaculate shrubbery. I was thinking, how the heck do these people keep their front yard like this? Is this Derek Henderson a gardener or something?

Just then, Derek stepped out the front door. He looked nothing like he did in his photograph, but at least I was right about him being a gardener. Picture this: ratty shorts and t-shirt, gardening gloves. Yes, gardening gloves. What kind of person would wear gardening gloves in their house?

Well, apparently the Amazing Derek Henderson does.

I looked behind me to the back seat, where Caitlin was sitting. But she wasn't there. I peered at the front door, and what I saw was enough to make my mouth to hang open.

When I was looking for Caitlin in the backseat, Billy had emerged out of the house, making a beeline towards his dad. Then, I saw Caitlin prancing on over to Billy, twirling her hair, cocking her head. Oh, no. I can imagine exactly how this conversation is going.

Caitlin: Heey, I'm Caitlin.

Billy: Hi. (Look of confusion, then realizing that this stranger is hitting on him)

Caitlin: Who are you? I don't think we've met. (Insert girly giggle here.)

Billy: Uhhh, I'm Billy.

This was a pure nightmare. I just sat there, frozen, watching from the car.

Finally, after an eternity, Caitlin came bounding back to the car, cheeks flushed, out of breath. Before I could ask her what the heck she just did, she accused, "Why didn't you tell me you had such hot friends?"

"He's not my friend," I muttered.

"Oh well," Caitlin exclaimed, ignoring me. "At least I have his phone number."

Sorry, I know that's not the best way to end this chapter, but there's going to be more coming up! Keep reading!