Kelsey
"Hey, Kelsey! Congratulations on getting nominated!"
I smiled and waved in response to Hillary Johnson from the bumper car at Bumpers where Jennifer and I were sitting after school. Hillary was an old friend from Grover and had been one of the people to nominate me.
I turned to Jennifer and laughed happily.
"Isn't this great! I can't believe I'm actually in the race! I mean, even if I don't win, it's so great to get this far!"
Jennifer gave me a sly smile over her drink.
"And all because you talked to the Fabulous Five. Hmmm, how did you ever get a wonderful idea like that?"
I shoved her playfully. "Okay, okay. You were right again, Jennifer Bailey. Your humble servant bows in appreciation."
When we finished laughing, I casually looked across the room to the booth where the Fabulous Five was sitting together. I really was glad I had talked to them. They were a lot friendlier then I thought they'd be, too. I mean, I had known they were all supposed to be nice, but they seemed much more REAL now or something since I had actually conversed with them. They had started waving to me in the halls, and Jana had even talked to me a little bit in fourth period math today. Who knew? Next thing, Jen and I might be going around with them!
"What are you looking at?" Jen asked, peering over my shoulder. "Oh, the Fab Five. Hey, why don't we go over there. You could introduce me. It's not fair that the populars all know you and not me, the real brains of us."
"Ha ha," I smirked. "I barely know them. I'd feel weird just going up and talking."
"That's what you did yesterday."
"Well, yeah, but I had a good reason then. What could I say now? 'Hi, guys. Just felt like saying hello.' Dumb!"
"You could tell Katie thanks for helping you."
"I've already thanked her about 20 billion times," I replied, shaking my head. When Jen didn't offer one of her usual comebacks, I glanced at her to see why she was so quiet. She was sipping her drink and looking at the door where some boys had come in.
"Boy alert! Boy alert!" I teased. "Who are you looking at now, Jen?"
"No one in particular, I guess." She paused, then sighed. "What a cutie. Wouldn't you die if he noticed you?"
"Who, who?" I asked.
"Him. See that guy in the Wakeman football jacket- khaki pants. Brown hair. Next to that short red-haired boy."
"Oh! Randy Kirwan. I know him."
Jen whirled around and gaped at me. "You KNOW him? When did this happen? Where was I?"
"Well, I don't know him, like know know him. But I met him yesterday when I was talking to the Fab Five. He and Shane Arrington came over to get the girls before they went to Bumpers. Randy is Jana's boyfriend." I added.
"Oh, drat. Well, there goes that. We'd never be able to beat that girl out. Looks, personality, popularity... she has it all."
"You could always go for Rick Thompson. He might still have a crush on you." I giggled.
"Oh, sick! How disgusting! I wouldn't be caught dead with that weirdo." Jen groaned. "Remember when he wore all his clothes backwards for the big Thanksgiving show last year?"
We were laughing so hard that I didn't even notice someone come up to our bumper car.
"Hi, Kelsey."
I started, and looked up to see Jana Morgan standing beside the car, smiling her sweet smile.
"Oh, hi! How are you doing? I mean, um, have you met my friend? Jen Bailey?" I stumbled, my face turning red. Why did I always make a fool out of myself in front of the people I most wanted to impress?
"Hi, Jen. I'm Jana."
"Hi, Jana. It's nice to meet you," Jen said in a confident voice. I had always envied that in Jen. Nothing ever seemed to faze her. While Jana and Jennifer talked, I took in Jana's appearance. As usual, she looked awesome. What helps is her great figure. It's sooo unfair; she's on the petite side, yet she has long legs and nice curves. Her l.e.i.™ flare jeans fit neatly around her hips and her fitted blue Guess?™ t-shirt contrasted with her tanned skin and dark hair and eyes. I would love to hair like Jana's. I like my long hair- it's down to my waist- but I'd give it up in a second to look like Jana's. Her's flowed a few inches below her shoulders and was thick and glossy and slightly wavy. Bright butterfly clips held it away from her face. I sighed. No wonder her boyfriend was one of the hottest guys at school- probably she had tons of boys falling over her and could take her pick. Yet, I knew her looks weren't the real reason Randy liked her. She was sweet as can be and would be nice to anyone. Besides, Sara Sawyer- who had gone to school with Jana for years- had said while Jana had always been cute, she hadn't gotten gorgeous until this past summer. Then it was like, boom. Still, it wasn't fair. How come some people got all the luck?
"Have you started working on your campaign at all, Kelsey?"
Jana's voice jolted me back to the presence.
"Oh, um, not quite. Jen and I have some ideas, but we haven't really started putting stuff together. Like posters and stuff." I replied.
"Posters are good, but here at Wakeman those aren't always what make the cut," Jana said with a sly grin.
"What do you mean?" Jen asked, cocking her head.
"Well, at this school, the best way to get attention is to do really different and unexpected things. Grab people's attention." She laughed and shook her head, making her beautiful hair swing. "Believe me, last year's election was proof that different is better. Hey, I gotta go. See you guys later." She waved and then walked on towards the booth where Randy Kirwan and his friends were sitting.
"Different is better," I mused, swirling my straw around in my drink. Already ideas were sliding around in my head. I knew we'd really have to get serious about ideas and soon because Shawnie undoubtedly was already working on a bunch of scemes to stand out.
I suddenly realized that Jen was being awfully quiet. "Hey, Jennifer Bailey, wake up. I need your help here with some plans. This is right up your alley."
But she wasn't paying attention; to me, anyway. She was staring at the booth where Jana had gone over to.
"What are you looking at, Jen?" I asked, trying to get a better view.
"Look at that! I mean, Jana just walked right over there and sat down on his lap. And he looked like someone had just handed him a million dollars. Can you IMAGINE what it would be like to be that comfortable with a boy?!" Jen cried.
I groaned and leaned back in the bumper car. "You're hopeless, Jen. Hopeless."