Seven.

"Baby-Sitters Club." Mary Anne sighed into the phone. She sounded as listless as I felt. It was Friday. Yet another club meeting. I glanced at the clock, twirling my visor around my finger. I hadn't put it on for the past three meetings. My pencil seems to be missing in action, too. It's only five thirty-five.

It's going to be a long meeting.

It feels different to me today. Mary Anne and Stacey have yet to make comments. They haven't said anything to me at all. Claudia had said hi and handed me a bag of M&M's.

"Monday night? Sure, Mrs. Newton. I'll call you back."

Mary Anne hung up the phone with another sigh, picking up the record book. She opened it and skimmed a page. "She needs a sitter for the kids on Monday from seven til about ten." She said to nobody in particular. Then she made a face. "I don't know what's going on anymore." She almost growled, throwing down the record book. "It says everyone's free. I don't know your guys' schedules. I'm sure Kristy is busy."

Once upon a time, it seemed Mary Anne knew our schedules better than we knew our own. Once upon a time, I would have exploded at Mary Anne.

Things change.

"I am busy." Is all I said.

I'm not. And I love Jamie and Lucy. I'm just not in the mood for baby-sitting. It's a shocking first, I know.

"I have way too much homework." Stacey muttered. She was examining her hair, probably for split ends.

"Art class." Claudia piped up. I glanced at her. She met my eyes and looked away quickly. Was she lying, too?

"Well I am supposed to going out with Dad and Sharon that night." Mary Anne huffed.

I stared at the wall. Around me, I could see the girls glancing at each other.

Mary Anne heaved another sigh and picked up the phone. She called Mrs. Newton back to apologize. Nobody could do it. From her end of the call, I could tell Mrs. Newton wasn't happy.

There goes another client.

I leaned back in the director's chair a little. I quickly tallied our remaining clients in my head. The number was pathetic. I shook my head to myself, glancing at the clock again.

Five forty.

I looked around Claud's room. Stacey still examining her hair. Claudia popping M&M's into her mouth thoughtfully. Mary Anne flipping through the record book, making frustrated noises. Me, President Kristy, treating the club as if it were already over.

Maybe it is.

I bent the rim of my visor thoughtfully. I don't think any of us really want to be here. I don't think any of us are very interested in keeping the club alive. Not even me. If I were, I would dive to the phone and call Mrs. Newton back, tell her I'd be happy to sit, please don't call someone else, stay with us, you're our oldest, best client.

But I really don't want to.

Is my business over? Is my great idea really dwindling into nothing? Six months ago we had ten members - eleven, if you count Dawn. Now we're down to four members, all of whom seem uninterested in keeping the club afloat. We're in high school now. We're growing up. We're growing out of it.

Really?

I looked at the clock again. Five forty-four.

Halfway through and not only have we not lined up any jobs, we've lost a client.

I sighed, shifting in the chair. Derek would be waiting for me after the meeting. From here we were going back to my house, where I would get ready. He's taking me to a party at Crystal's house. A Junior's party. I wondered if my brother would be there. I thought about what I was going to wear. How I would do my hair. Should I do the makeup thing? I wanted to impress Crystal and Derek's other friends. They think of me as a baby. I sort of wished Miranda or Ashley or Shannon could go, too. But Derek said Crystal didn't want too many freshman around.

Karen and Andrew are coming tomorrow. We've got them for the month of September. I smiled to myself, knowing the stories I would be hearing. Andrew in kindergarten, Karen gigundo happy about third grade.

Five fifty-one.

I sat up, clearing my throat. The girls all looked at me, despite themselves. Habit, I guess.

"Business." I said carefully.

Stacey raised her eyebrows, but didn't say anything.

"I move for a vote on . . . a vote on . . . " Come on, Thomas, just say it. It's over. You know it's over.

The phone rang.

I sat back with a sigh as Mary Anne picked it up. It was still next to her. Am I jumping the gun? Should I do this?

"Monday night?" Mary Anne asked, her face falling.

It's over.

Mary Anne carefully broke the news to Mr. Dewitt that nobody was available. There goes another one. Buddy, Suzi . . .

I sat forward again as Mary Anne hung up the phone, looking at me expectantly. I think she knew what I was about to say, because I could see her eyes starting to shine. I wanted to tell her to stop being such a baby. I wanted to not do what I was about to do. I wanted to be back in eighth grade.

"I move we disband the club." I said sternly. Officially. Seriously.

I wanted to cry. I cried once, at the idea of losing my club. Long ago, when we first started, and some silly older girls with an interest only in money came along and quickly beat us at our own game - until we realized that they were neglecting the kids they were sitting for and had Mrs. Newton spread that like wildfire. I cried then, because it had been such a good idea, and I cried not for losing my business but for the fact that those girls had a better idea. Because I have to be the best. Not today, though. Nobody is beating me at my own game. I'm just ending an important part of my life.

Mary Anne didn't look surprised at my movement. Neither did Stacey, who'd once loved the club so much because it gave her friends, something she'd lost a lot of in New York. But Claudia gasped. "What? Kristy, no. We're just . . . it's just another stupid fight. This'll all blow over in a week! Guys?"

"I second." Stacey said evenly.

"You guys, this is dumb. We've done it before. We're just hitting a bump. Why don't we just relax for a couple weeks, cool off . . . " Claudia trailed off.

"Third." Mary Anne whispered, her voice thick with tears.

I met Claudia's eyes, which were also filled with tears. Mine wanted to be. I swallowed, fighting them back.

Claud just stared at me, chewing on a Twinkie.

"Majority, Claud." I said quietly.

She blinked, a tear spilling from her right eye. A trail of mascara followed it. She didn't wipe it away.

"Well then." I said, standing. "I officially declare The Baby-Sitters Club . . . over. Meeting adjourned."

I strode across the room, the girls watching me. When I got to the doorway, somebody called, "How do we tell–"

I'm pretty sure it was Mary Anne. I cut whoever it was off. "Figure it out yourselves." I snapped, keeping my back to them. I was going to cry.

I ran down the stairs, out the door. Never again. Never again would I come to this house and laugh with the best friends I'd ever had. I slammed the front door behind me, flying to the curb, where Derek's heap was parked. I jumped in, saying "Get me out of here."

He raised his eyebrows but obeyed. I looked at the house as he started the car. Never again.

We had gotten maybe a half a mile from Claudia's house when I began to cry. No. Not cry. I sobbed. Derek kept saying my name, over and over, asking if I was okay. I ignored him, my hands pressed to my face.

Finally, Derek pulled over. He scooted toward me, putting his arms around me. "What happened, Kristy? Tell me what happened."

I told him, gasping and sniffling. "I'm . . . I'm sorry. I never cry like this, it's just . . . "

He hugged me tight. "It's okay, baby. Cry all you want."

I can't even remember the last time I cried. I always swallow it down, keep it in. Kristy, she's so strong. Nothing gets to her.

I moaned about how Mary Anne and Claudia had been friends of mine since we were babies. Derek just held me tight, telling me things would be okay.

"You have me, now." He said.

"Oh, Kristy. Why?"

"What?" I called from my bathroom, tugging my hair through my straightening iron. I liked this thing.

"Keith Urban? Why do you have a Keith Urban CD?"

I giggled, admiring my hair. The iron made it very shiny. Derek was browsing my CD collection, groaning about everything, as the Three Days Grace CD played softly in the background.

"At least you have the Rolling Stones." He called.

"At least." I replied, smiling. I felt a lot better. It had been just an hour since I'd left Claudia's house, but I felt better. I'd known this was coming. I started to get the idea months ago, when members of the club started dropping like flies. I shouldn't have let it get to me so bad. It's just a middle school club. Some day I'll be President of the United States and I'll look back and scoff at how silly my club was.

That silly little club. Ashley's words.

"I'm almost done with your mix CD, by the way. I'll bring it to school on Monday. So, like, prepare to have your mind blown."

I switched off the iron, grinning to myself. "I'll prepare. And someday, I'm going to make you dance to a Justin Timberlake song and you're going to like it."

Derek snorted. "We'll see about that."

I waltzed back into my room, spreading my arms wide. I twirled. "What do you think?"

"Very hot." Derek said, nodding approvingly. I looked down at myself. I was wearing (tight) blue jeans and a small black T-shirt. Not exactly dressed up. Or hot. I sat on my bed and pulled on a pair of black platform sandals. I've always wanted to try platforms, be a little taller, but I always felt like . . . I don't know. They were too girly?

I stood up with the sandals on. Derek jumped up from the floor and stood next to me. He put his hands on my waist. "Oh, hey. I like this." He said, grinning. The top of my head was now up to his nose. He kissed me lightly. "Less leaning. Much easier on my back and neck."

I giggled again. I've never been much of a giggler. He just brings it out in me.

"You ready?" He asked, running his hands up my back. I fought the urge to shiver.

"Yeah, I'm ready. Let's blow this hot dog stand."

Derek looked around as I led him to the hall. "Pretty nice for a hot dog stand."

"Solid gold corn dog sticks." I replied with a nod, grabbing his hand. I whisked him down the stairs and to the front door, Shannon skidding at our heels. "Nannie, we're leaving! I'll be home by eleven, bye!"

I didn't give her time to answer before I shut the door. Mom and Watson had gone out again. I'm not sure if it's becoming a Friday night tradition or if they just wanted to get out before Karen and Andrew show up. I hoped it was the latter, I don't want to get stuck baby-sitting every Friday.

The car ride was uneventful. I'm becoming very comfortable with Derek, and am still marveling at the fact that only a week ago I was incredibly tense riding in this car. Things change. How fast things change.

When he pulled to a stop in front of Crystal's house, he turned to me. He looked serious.

"I just want you to know . . . people are going to be drinking. And other stuff. Are you going to be cool with that?" Translation: You're not gone freak out and get all goody-goody on me, are you?

I thought about it. "No. I mean, I don't really approve of this stuff, and I don't really do it--" Ever. "–but it's cool. I mean, you only live once, right?" I smiled.

Derek relaxed a little. "Maybe you should have a drink or two. It'll relax you, make you feel better about the club and stuff."

"Maybe . . . " I murmured. Would I have a drink? I am aware that alcohol is not, in fact, an evil thing. My parents drink, my friend's parents drink, and the stories I heard from Dawn out in California were pretty wild. I'm sure many of my classmates drink, and I'm pretty sure Claudia may have tried it a time or two. On Charlie's last night with us, before he left for school, Mom and Watson had opened a bottle of champagne and allowed Charlie, Sam, and I each to have a glass. It had left me feeling tipsy and a little lightheaded, nothing more. Charlie had kept going with Mom and Watson and had three glasses. Nothing bad happened.

I nodded to myself as Derek led me to the house. Okay. I'll have a drink. Live and let live, right?

He didn't bother ringing the doorbell, just waltzed right into the house. I followed, suddenly feeling very aware of my age. But–

"Derek!" Crystal squealed, running up to us and wrapping him in a hug. "And Kristy! You came! I'm so glad!" She hugged me, as well. I could smell beer on her breath. The girl was already plowed. "Do you guys want a drink? Kristy, what do you like?"

"I've never really drank before." I replied. "I don't know."

"Never?!" Crystal was aghast. Then she spun around. "Hey guys! We've got a virgin!"

The other people in the room, about ten of them, cheered, holding up their cups. I looked at Derek in horror. "What are they going to do to me?" I asked, a little scared.

"They're going to get you drunk." Derek said simply, shrugging. He had a little smile on his face. Crystal, who had disappeared momentarily, reappeared, balancing three cups. She shoved one at Derek, then handed one to me.

"I've got the same thing as you. It's a tradition. The host suffers as much as the virgin."

"What is it?" I asked, sniffing at the cup. I nearly choked. Whatever it was, it was strong and smelled like cough syrup.

She ignored me. "EVERYBODY! Raise your cups!" She held up her own, and guided my arm up when I didn't. "To Kristy, tonight's virgin! I'm sorry for tomorrow!" Everybody laughed. What does that mean?

"On the count of three, Kristy!" She exclaimed. "We all drink with you! You have to finish!"

I took a deep breath. Was this their way of welcoming me to their group? I smiled at Crystal and nodded. "Okay. I'm ready." I'm not.

"One, two, three, DRINK!"

I tipped the cup up with closed eyes. I almost gagged as soon as it hit my tongue. It tasted awful. It was horrible.

"Drink, drink, drink!" People were chanting around me, cheering me on.

I gulped. And gulped. My stomach churned, but I gulped. A cheering crowd is always a big help.

I finished and sucked in a breath. Don't throw up. Don't do it. Everyone in the room was cheering. Crystal hugged me again. "Alright, Kristy!" She yelled. "Welcome to the world!"

I smiled and nodded. If I talk, I'll throw up.

The crowd went back to their business as quickly as they'd joined in. Two guys sitting on a couch playing guitars. One of them was Kyle, one of the guys I met at The Rosebud. Crystal's boyfriend, Rob, was sitting on the arm of the couch singing. Three people sitting on the floor with a deck of cards. Two girls sitting by the open window with cigarettes in their hands.

And Derek, putting his arm around my shoulder. "You okay?" He asked me quietly.

"Okay." I replied. It was almost a yelp. But I didn't throw up.

"Come on. Let's go sit down." He said gently.

As soon as I moved, it hit me. That tipsy, lightheaded feeling. Times a thousand. I stumbled, but Derek held onto me tight. I laughed. "Oh, my Lord!" I cried. "This is not going to end well."

Derek laughed, too. "Not much more for you, virgin." He replied, pushing me down to the couch. He flopped next to me and grabbed my hand. "See? This isn't too bad, huh?"

"It's great!"

Crystal flew into the room again, two more drinks in her hand. She shoved a cup into mine. "Here you go, virgin." She said with a smile. "It's not as strong this time, and you don't have to gulp it. Good job, by the way. The last guy threw up before he could finish."

I glanced at Derek in horror. He nodded as Crystal flew away again. "It wasn't pretty."

My stomach rumbled again. I sipped the drink in my hand. No, not as strong. And it tasted good. Like juice. I took a longer drink, hoping to settle the growling and looked around the room. "This seems pretty calm. When you said party, I thought . . . "

"Wild?" Derek asked with a smile. "It's early. A lot more people are coming, trust me. Give it an hour."

So I did. I sat on the couch with Derek, sipping my drink and watching everyone else. Kyle and Rob and the other guy were really good, fun to listen to. Slowly, the room began to fill. More and more people, until finally it got too loud, and the guys put down their guitars and turned on the stereo.

Then I had to pee.

"Derek!" I yelled over the music. "I have to go–"

"Down the hall and to the right!" He replied automatically. "You want me to come with you?"

"Naw, save our spot!" I said, standing up. Immediately, I fell back to the couch. Derek laughed. So did I. I tried again, slowly this time. Stand, slowly. Good. Now move, slowly. Good. Don't fall down.

You're drunk, Thomas. I told myself, squeezing past body after body. I like it, though and haven't thought about the BSC for quite a while.

The BSC.

I made it to the bathroom, where there were two other girls waiting in front of me. I slumped against the wall. The BSC. My girls. Ugh.

I felt tears threatening. I couldn't push them back, the way I normally can. You're impaired Thomas. Don't cry, don't cry, not, not in front of all these Juniors, don't cry, you're just drunk, stop it.

"What are you doing here?"

That voice. I hate that voice. So nasty. So mean. So pompous. And so something else. Something that was only Cokie Mason.

I turned my head toward her, BSC forgotten. "Having a great time. What the hell are you doing here?"

Cokie looked taken aback. I hadn't really seen her at school at all, or over the summer. She'd changed. Her hair was dyed black. She'd put on a couple pounds. Not enough to make her fat, just enough to make her a little soft. A little less of one of those nasty, skinny girls you love to hate. Why was she surprised at me?

Because I look different. Because I'm drunk. Because I'd said "hell." Because I wasn't surrounded by the club.

"I was invited by the host." She sniffed, looking not at me, but at the wall just to the left of my eyes. Was I intimidating her?

"Oh yeah? Crystal is, like, my boyfriend's best friend." I replied with a grin.

"I heard a rumor about you and Derek Higgins." She grumbled. What was that? Jealousy?

The bathroom door opened then, and it was my turn. I dashed in, Cokie forgotten. When I came out, she was gone.

I stumbled my way back to the couch, back to my Derek. I was almost there when a guy, quite possibly a Senior, put his arms around my waist. "Hey, baby! What's your name?"

"Kristy!" I giggled. Poor, Drunk, Kristy.

"Kristy, you are righteously hot! Wanna dance?"

The crowd parted a bit, and I spotted Derek, sitting in our spot, talking to Rob, a smile on his face, a cigarette in his hand. Derek smokes? Since when?

I didn't have time to think, because I was whirled away. I danced with the guy, whose name I never did get. I'm not much of a dancer, but I didn't care. Neither was he. We had fun, laughing together, for about ten minutes. Then he leaned down and kissed my cheek. "You wanna go somewhere more quiet?" he slurred into my ear.

I giggled nervously. "I can't. I'm sorry! My boyfriend is here with me." I pointed to Derek, who I now had a clear view of, and vice versa. He didn't look mad, just amused.

"Oh, that sucks . . . oh hey! Higgins!" The guy let go of me and stumbled over to Derek. Everybody seems to know him. I followed the guy and plopped down next to Derek once again, breathing heavily. Derek kept talking to the drunk guy, but casually switched his cigarette from his right hand to his left, and put his arm around my shoulders protectively. The smoking. Why didn't I know he smoked? I hate smoking, I hate when people do it.

I waited for Drunk Guy to leave, then casually leaned to Derek's ear. "I didn't know you smoked."

He looked at me and raised his eyebrows. "I do. Sorry. I didn't think it was a big deal."

Is it? I thought about it, and how much trouble I've given people in the past as far as cigarettes are concerned. Charlie . . . ugh. He'd been so angry with me. I was so nosy. What's the big deal, anyway?

I leaned closer and kissed Derek casually, just to see. He kissed me back, and my mouth was filled with a mixture of tastes - beer, cigarettes, a mint he'd had a while ago, and something that is just him. The cigarette wasn't fantastic, but I could live with it.

"It's no big deal." I said with a smile, pulling away. I grabbed for my cup. Empty. "Hey. My drink's gone."

"That's because you finished it." Derek stood up slowly, pulling me with him. "Come on. I'll get you another one."

He led me to the kitchen, where he quickly mixed another drink for me. I gulped it down thirstily and put my arms around his neck. "Hey, baby. You wanna go somewhere more quiet?" I asked, only half joking. Derek smiled. Since Sunday, since all of that, we've done nothing more than kiss. As yet another batch of alcohol surged through my blood, I became more brave.

"Mmm. I like Drunk Kristy." He replied, kissing me softly. Then he buried his face in my neck. "You really want to?"

I nodded. God, I wanted to. "Yeah, let's go."

He led me through the kitchen casually - the opposite of the way we had come - to a staircase. "Crystal has a guest room." He murmured, nuzzling my neck.

I gulped. A bedroom. I hope he didn't think I meant going all the way.

As it turned out, I didn't have to worry. We got to the room, Derek clicked the lock behind us and turned on a lamp next to the bed. He put his arms around me and asked what I wanted to do.

And I told him.

If I hadn't been drunk, I probably would have been more shy about it, or at least more discreet. But I wasn't. Drunk Kristy is the same with boys as Everyday Kristy is with everyone, I guess. Things started to get a little hazy, but I do know my shirt was off not two minutes after the door was locked. I wanted to do what I had wanted to do in the car on Sunday. We had privacy now, we could do it. He took his shirt off, too, and then turned off the light. It made things so much more different, so much more . . . well, sexy, I guess? His skin touching mine, mine touching his, his mouth all over my stomach, my chest, and mine as well. We kept at it, just a tangle of us and skin and giggling and sometimes a little moaning, until I noticed it had suddenly gotten quiet downstairs.

The music was off.

"Derek?"

"Mmm?" He replied, kissing my neck.

"They turned the music off."

Derek sat up suddenly. So suddenly, it made me dizzy. "Shit. Cops."

"What?!"

"The cops are coming." He jumped up, tossing me my shirt. "Up, Kristy. Shoes on. We gotta go."

I obeyed, hobbling after him while still struggling with a platform. We bolted down the stairs, where we found Crystal in a nearly empty livingroom, crying, being consoled by Rob. Rob rolled his eyes at us. "Someone's too drunk. I'm gonna put her to bed and handle the cops, if they show. Neighbor came over and said she was calling them."

"Cool. Cheer up, Crystal! It's okay!" Derek called, leading me out the door.

"Bye Crystal! Thank you!" I called as well, trying to keep up with Derek. I heard something about "Virgin" and laughed.

Derek shoved me into his car quickly. Then he drove. Slowly. Nervously.

"I need to get home." He sighed. "What time is it?"

I looked at my watch. "Ten."

"Wow, it's early. I'm sorry, babe. I didn't know the neighbor was gonna do that."

"S'okay." I replied, slumping down in the seat a little. Suddenly I was very tired.

I closed my eyes for a split second, and we were in front of my house. I was kissing Derek. "Do you want me to help you in?" He whispered.

"No, no, I . . . I've got it." I mumbled, opening the door. So tired. I stumbled out of the car. "I'm cool. I'll call you tomorrow."

"Okay. 'Bye, baby. Sleep well."

"'Bye . . . " I replied. I dragged myself to the house, through the door, inside. Shannon met me, panting happily. I patted her head listlessly and dragged myself up the stairs, thankful everyone appeared to be gone or asleep.

Finally I found it. My bed. Ohhh, my bed. I collapsed into it, fully clothed. Shannon jumped in next to me. I lay there for a moment.

The BSC. Drinking. He smokes. The guest room.

The room spun.

Don't throw up, Thomas.

I closed my eyes and put my hand on Shannon's back. "Save me, Shannon."

She licked my face. I giggled.

I slept.