This chapter has another in-joke I'm afraid.

Chapter 9

The redhead woke up to the sound of 'Built this Way' by Samantha Ronson. It took her a few moments to realise that it was the ring-tone on her phone.

Cady stifled a yawn and rolled over, glancing at the clock. Then she gave it a second rather longer glance just to make sure she hadn't been imagining it. She fumbled for the phone for a few seconds and finally managed to locate it.

'Hello?' Cady said with another huge yawn.

'Hey Cady, are you asleep?' came a familiar female voice from the other end.

'Yes Karen,' said Cady. 'I'm talking in my sleep right now.'

'Oh… sorry,' said an apologetic sounding Karen, and she hung up.

Cady sighed, counted to three and rang Karen.

'Hey Cady,' said Karen. 'I phoned you a minute ago but I think you were asleep.'

'Yes…,' said Cady rubbing her temples. She could feel a headache coming on. 'Um, you wanted to talk?'

'Yeah,' said Karen and Cady could hear the quaver in the blonde's voice. 'Just… I don't know what to do. I need help with a guy.'

'And you phoned me?' said a stunned Cady. Actually she had always rather liked Karen and she guessed the ditzy blonde liked her but there were plenty of other people she would have thought Karen would have called first. She felt touched.

'Well I can't ask Gretch,' said Karen. 'I mean she's totally my BFF and I love her to bits but…'

The blonde hesitated. 'She's not so good with guys. I mean she met Jason when we were like thirteen. I was dating his cousin Dan, and omigod was he a good kisser. Even better than Glen Coco! I mean his lips-'

'Karen,' Cady interrupted gently, tiredly looking at her clock.

'Sorry. So they hit it off and Regina said they'd make totally cute couple. I mean you know that he was her first kiss? And they were together for like years.'

The blonde paused again unhappily. 'Keep a secret Cady?'

'Of course,' replied the redhead.

'Promise?' asked Karen.

'On my shoe collection,' swore Cady.

'Cool. Um… well Gretchen's first time was with Jason…'

'Yes Karen,' said Cady brushing a strand of red hair out of her eyes. 'She told me already.'

'Yeah but did she tell that she found out that Jason hadn't just been with her that night? He was going out Dacey Sanders at the same time. She only found out a few months ago.'

'That sucks,' said Cady sympathetically. 'Poor Gretchen.'

'I know,' said Karen. There was what sounded like a sob at her end.

'Are you ok Karen?' said Cady.

'Yes,' said Karen unconvincingly. 'It's just… nothing.'

You didn't have to be a rocket scientist to know it wasn't 'nothing'. In fact – Cady yawned again - you probably didn't need to be awake. Karen had something pretty heavy on her mind.

'It's cool Karen you don't have to tell me everything if you aren't ready,' she said.

The blonde sobbed quietly on the other end for a few minutes before coming back. Cady sighed and sat up into a more comfortable position in bed. She could take a guess that she probably wasn't going to get much sleep tonight so she might as well get used to the idea.

'So you can see why I can't go to her now,' said Karen. 'Poor Gretchen… I mean I think she is still really hurting from this Jason thing and how can ask her advice about guys? I mean I've had like a zillion more boyfriends than her and-'

'So you called me,' said Cady patiently.

'Yeah well I couldn't talk to Regina because she has never had problems with guys and I know you are all smart and Spring Fling Queen and stuff. And I really need some smart help!'

'Ok, ok,' said Cady. 'I can try.'

'Cool! So I need to get this guy to like me…'

'Well just be yourself,' said Cady. 'I mean all the guys in school like you.' She realised what this sounded like and quickly backtracked. 'I mean not that I think you are totally slutty or anything, just that you are popular.'

'But myself isn't what he wants!' sobbed Karen, 'I'm too dumb for him!'

'Oh Karen honey, you-re not-,' Cady had been about to say 'dumb' but running the word through her mind decided not too. 'I mean… maybe you should be thinking about if this is the right guy for you.'

'He isn't,' said Karen.

Cady bit her lip. She felt quite proud of Karen right about now.

'He isn't now,' continued the blonde, 'so I need to get smarter. I really need someone smart Cady – like you.'

'Are you really sure about this Karen?' asked Cady.

'More sure than I am that it's raining right now,' said Karen firmly. Cady glanced out the window. It was raining.

'Will you help make me smart?' pleaded Karen.

'Alright,' said Cady wearily. 'I'll talk to you in the morning Karen. Goodnight.'

'Thank you, thank you, thank you!' squealed Karen into the phone. The exhausted redhead had already hung up by then, but Karen didn't care. She felt… well not happy because she was still heartbroken about Mike. But she did feel determined – and hopeful.

She crept out of Gretchen's bathroom like a short blonde ninja in baby blue pyjamas. Gretchen (in her usual sleepover apricot pyjamas) was fast asleep. Karen felt bad about going behind her friend's back like this, but Gretch looked like she had enough troubles.

Anyway Karen was sure that when she saw the new improved Karen Smith Gretchen would be delighted.