I was at the Pikes baby-sitting for Jordan, Mallory, Bryan and Margo.
(Mallory was helping but what a job.) It was so cold I had on white wool
socks and a white sweater with blue leggings. Today is not my day,
first the heater broke then the televison and now everyone is bored.
"How about going outside?" I asked the kids (except Mallory, who was in
the kitchen making hot chocolate and tortillas with melted cheese
sandwiches in them.)
"O.K." all the kids said at once.
"Get your coats," I told them. The kids ran up the stairs. I watched
Margo as she put on his spotted raincoat with a puppy dog on the front pocket. I
remember what had happened that made him get that coat.
He had career day at school, and he went to Mr. Jackson's (the man up
the street who is a fireman) job. After he got home, the Pikes went to the
shopping center. When they got there they meet up with my dad and me. I
went with them instead of my dad who was looking for a belt and ties. Not
five minutes after we were walking through the center, Margo saw that jacket
and he threw a tantrum. His parents bought it for him. Who would put up
with that? Not the Pikes that is for sure. Ever since he went with Mr.
Jackson and bought that coat he has never been the same.
Margo was the first to go. When he ran outside the snow went up to the
tips of his calves, like a rabbit getting stuck in quicksand.
"Done" Mallory shouted from the kitchen. Jordan came down in a short
denim jacket and started for the door. When I called to him he stopped and
came running towards me, he slid and came crashing into my feet. Then he
started crying. He was laying down his leg in a weird position. I called
Mallory and she came running. She dialed 911.
"Stop" I shouted and then the next thing I knew I was in the hospital, about an hour later. There with me was:
Mr. Pike, Mrs. Pike, Byron, Margo, and Mallory. Mr. Pike looked upset
and worried at the same time. I think he was upset because the hospital
called him in the middle of an important meeting. Mrs. Pike had called my dad.
He had been worried too. Mallory just sat there as if he were going to die
even though the doctors assured us he wouldn't.
"Mr. Pike?" the nurse called to him. He sat there for a minute and
finally
got up and followed the nurse. The nurse led him through two big doors.
I
smiled at Mr. Pike. He didn't see me.
Mrs. Pike was called next, then me. I walked through the doors
following the nurse. She led me down the hallways which lead to another hallway then
into a room marked, "101". When I was led inside, I saw Jordan. He was
smiling.
He had his leg in a sling; all the nurses had signed his cast. The
radio was on the Disney channel, so was the T.V. He lay in a room with another
girl.
The girl looked healthy, except for a bad rash on her nose.
"I'm Cycil." She said; I looked at her. She had on a hospital gown, and
a pair of green slippers to match. Her hair was parted with two matching
barrettes. Then a nurse came in and took the girl's temperature, she
left pretty quickly.
"Hi, Brooke." Jordan said right away.
"Hi." I shifted weights and smiled
"Thanks for calling 911, and riding here with me, Can you sign my
cast?" Jordan said, smiling at me.
I signed it and I smiled back at him.
"Can I tell you something?" Jordan asked.
"Sure, What?" I said.
"I think I broke my wrist too. It really hurts." Jordan said, holding
his wrist and rocking back and forth.
"You should tell the nurse."
"I did, they don't think so." He yawned.
"Well.Better be going, Bye." I walked to the door and looked back.
Jordan was fast asleep.
CHAPTER 2
It was a sunny winter day, and I was on my way to Claudia's. It had
been three days since Jordan got hurt. I was so busy thinking I walked right
past Claudia's house, but before long, I was in Claudia's room. Kristy took
role and I looked for Mary-Anne. Of course she wasn't there. She had the flu
for about a week now.
"Brooke? Earth to Brooke comes in Brooke."
"What" I suddenly replied.
"Ok Brooke, what is wrong?" Claudia asked me.
"I got a weird feeling that Jordan is more hurt then we think." My big
mouth and me. Everyone in the BSB gasped. I smiled and gasped too.
"You what?" Kristy asked.
"I think that maybe Jordan has a crush on someone at the hospital." I
lied wondering what Kristy really wanted to hear.
"Did he go to third base?" Kristy asked joking.
"NO" I answered.
"Geez you don't need to be uptight." Claudia said.
"FINE, THEN I WILL LEAVE" I shouted as I slammed the door. What nerve?
I
I thought they were my friends. Then, I heard a laughing noise coming
from Claudia's room. I wanted to explode. Instead of turning right towards
my house I went straight, and started walking to the Pikes. I turned
around and started walking to Claudia's street and then to my house again. Right
before my house I turned the street towards the Bakery. I stopped and looked
through my purse. I found my wallet and counted my money.
$20.00 dollars and some change. I keep walking until I got to the bakery. I ordered two donuts.
While I was waiting for my donuts, the door opened and in came Brad. I
had the biggest crush on him and I almost talked to him at party two-nights
ago.
"What's up, Brad?" he looked at me. His eyes met mine and then I
started to get up then I saw Jenny behind him. She ran up to Brad and kissed him
on the cheek. My number was called and I got up and got my donuts and walked
out the door. I walked towards my house; the street was longer then ever
before.
When I finally got to my house, my mom had started dinner. It smelled
like pot roast. I walked through the kitchen and past the living room and
back to the entrance. I looked up at the stairs, and started to climb them.
When I had gotten half way up, someone screamed.
"YEAH, YEAH, YEAH". It was my annoying sister, Janis. She was obsessed
with 'The Rockets'. The Rockets were the hottest group in town and probably
the nation. My friends and I would never listen to them. We hate to follow
such trends. I walked into my room, plopped on my bed and pulled out a
diary. My mother had given the diary to me. She had shown it to me many times
before.
I fell in love with it. I mean who wouldn't with its gorgeous flowers
and butterflies on the cover who wouldn't? She gave it to me some time
after.
I looked at my room. It was decoded in an antique theme. I also had a
row of dolls looking down at me from a tall shelf in the bookcase. I smiled as I
looked around.
"Brooke, Time for dinner!" My mother shouted. I slid my donuts under
the bed and walked down the stairs to dinner.
CHAPTER 3
"So, how was your day, Janis?" My dad said, after we had started eating
our dinner.
"O.K…." Janis said as she looked at her full plate.
"O.K. Well…. Why wasn't it great?" my dad said shoving a piece of
mashed potatoes in his mouth. My mom looked at Janis's plate and frowned.
"Janis, Are you sure you are feeling O.K? Maybe you should lie down."
My mother said.
"NO!!" my sister shouted as she picked up her plate and started for the
kitchen. When she had walked half way there, queerly I finished my
dinner.
"Can I be excused?" I asked my parents.
I walked up to my room. Janis had already gone to bed. I spent the rest
of the night reading.The next day I was slouching around the house, with my sister. She was
sitting on the couch with a book called John's biography in her right
hand and a case of cookies in left hand. She put down the book and looked up
at me. She examined me then said, "Your shoes do not match…with your
skirt."
I looked at her hair as it bounced on her shoulder. I went out of the
room and towards the kitchen.
The phone rang. I rushed to pick it up. "Hello?" asked.
The person said, "Can I talk to Jen?"
"Sorry, wrong number." I hung up.
"Who was it?" my sister called from the kitchen.
"Wrong number." I shouted back.
"Sure, it wasn't Tom."
"Nope."
"I'm calling him then." She yelled to me as I walked up the stairs and
to my room.
I walked into my parent's room, I looked on the bed stand on it was a
phone.
My parent's phone had a separate phone line. I picked it up to call Claudia.
I dialed her number.
"Baby sitters club, I'm Claudia. Can I be of service to you?"
"Yes..." I started acting like a mother, which was part of a scheme I
just thought up.
"My child……….. Kimberly needs a baby-sitter for Saturday."
"Hmm, I am so sorry nobody is free that day."
"What!! I am…I mean. Are you sure?" There was noise of flipping
through pages of paper.
"I am sorry m'am our secretary isn't here today or will ever be here
ever."
"Well…are you sure? I really can't take her with me." A sigh came out
of Claudia then some whispering.
"Can I call you back?"
"Sure. My number is 656-5215" I waited for the phone to ring downstairs but
it didn't. Then, the one upstairs did.
"Hello?"
"This is the baby-sitter's club. I am Claudia. You needed a
baby-sitter, well we have one."
Finally…. but they didn't call me.
"Oh good. What is her name?"
"Well… Her name is Peggy Watters. She is a new addition but I'm she
will do
a fantastic job."
"Well… I was thinking about one I had in the past or heard of… Brooke.
Is
she free?"
"We have no idea but that would be helpful. What is your name?"
"Mrs. Friday. I will just drop them off. Is that OK?"
"Yes, But, How did you hear of Brooke?"
"Ummm. She is a good baby-sitter to my friend." "I am sure…. I am
sorry to
tell she is fired."
"Talk to you Saturday. Ta-Ta" Now, all I have to go is call back
Friday and
say I don't need one.
CHAPTER 4
I completely forgot about the whole fight thing by Monday mourning so I
walked up to my friends and said Hello to each of them. They all
laughed
even Mary-Anne. I felt like a total dork and walked away. It was awful.
I
was on the bench the whole time. While my group: flirted, Smiled, made
friends, met up with Jennifer, then walked around the campus talking
and
laughing.
Then the bell rang, time for my first class with Dawn. I sat down next
to
her, as usual. She didn't even seem to care she just looked straight
ahead.
She had all supplies, which was unusual for Dawn. Then, when the bell
rang
to go to second period, Dawn looked at me and got up and almost ran out
of
the room. Next, class with Claudia, I walked in. Claudia was talking to
Jana
Bartels. Jana smiled and looked at me once or twice and laughed. Then
class
started, the teacher started talking.
"The partners are alphabetical." I walked to the lab desk. Claudia took
out
her clean neat notes. Unusual for Claudia to even have notes, let alone
dry.
She read them and followed them without even looking at me. The bell
rang
for 3rd period then 4th, then lunch. I walked into the cafeteria with I
usually sit by Dawn. She was leaning on the table and taking to Matt. I
spent 5th, 6th and 7th the same way for about a week till Saturday
came.
"Claudia? I hate you!" I was sitting in my room thinking about what to
say
to Claudia. The phone rang. I picked up the receiver.
"Hello?"
"Hey, it's me, Dawn."
"Yeah…"
"1Well…Can you baby-sit this weekend on Sunday night?"
"Well. I thought I was fired."
"I'm sorry...That I couldn't sit by you. Matt wouldn't let me; he still
thinks I am mad at you."
"Well…You're saying that you are not mad at me."
"Now, I didn't say that." I could tell she was smiling. I smiled also.
"Are you?"
"Yes, No, Maybe so"
"Which one?"
"Maybe So." She answered then giggled.
"I am not mad at you."
"Maybe so." She repeated.
"No." I answered listening to her stereo go on.
"…. Angel, Baby, your mine…." It played; I could tell a guy was in her
room,
maybe Matt.
"So can you?"
"Can I what?"
"Baby-sit…on Sunday"
"What time?"
"4:30 to…. 8:00" she turned off the radio.
"Only if you are my friend."
"No…I am not going to be a bad friend and let you get away with using
me."
"I am not…I am coaxing."
SLAM!!!
"Dawn??Dawn??Dawn, are you there?"
I slammed down the phone and lay back. Then the phone rang again.
"Hello?"
"Hey, it's me, Claudia."
"Yes…what do you want?"
"I wanted to be your friend; you don't have to get mad."
"Well. Dawn just hung up on me."
"Dawn? Our Dawn?"
"I am afraid so."
"Great!!"
"What?"
"She didn't know that we are trying to be your friend."
"Oh…"
"What time did she call?"
"About five minutes ago."
"Prank…. It was a prank…just too…did she ask you to baby-sit, Sunday?"
"Yes."
"Great…. Prank…That is all I can say."
"GET DOWN HERE", Brooke. "My mother yelled. My mother always yells when
I am
making an important decision but never when I am bored stiff.
"I have to go Claudia."
"OK…Bye."
"Wait…So, Am I baby-sitting on Sunday?"
"Yes and no."
"What do you mean?"
"I'll tell you later…I'll call you."
Clink!!
"Claudia…Claudia…"
I put the phone down and slumped on my bed once more.
"Brooke!!" my mother persisted.
"Yes?"
"Get your cute butt down here!" She instructed.
I walked down the stairs and to the kitchen.
"Lunch." she said quietly and smiled at me. Then she turned around with
a
tray of sandwiches, chips, apples, and lemonade. She walked over to the
table, and set the plate down.
"Janis, Can you come in here?"
"Sure…" Then, a few seconds later in came in, Janis, she was limping.
Probably because she had fell on Thursday night when she was helping
mother
with the dishes. She smiled at my mother, who was making a plate for
her.
"Mom, Can I stay home on Monday?" Janis said half way through lunch.
"We'll see how you are feeling."
Janis crouched down as if it had just happened. Then, she rubbed her
ankle.
She straightened it out and looked at my plate.
"Can I have your chips?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Cause. I want it."
She looked towards our mother. "Make her give it to me. I need my
nutrient
ion"
"No…. I'm sorry you should have said 'please' or 'thank-you' When you
asked
either of us, but you are being rude so 'no'." my mother explained to
her.
"Please." She said as she returned her look to me.
"No… I'm sorry. I agree with what mom said."
She got up and frowned at me. "You'll be sorry!!!" she screamed at me.
"No treats, Young lady." My mom said in a stern voice. Janis sat down.
"Fine, Mother." she looked as if she thought that she was immortal.
Then,
she raised her eyebrow and took a bite of her tomato, smiling.
In 4th grade, I had a horrible day. When I came home, she looked at me
with
great warmth. She hugged me and told me everything was going to be
O.K....Then, I went back to school the next day as normal girl.
"Welcome to my bad day. All over again." I said, leaving the room. I
walked
up the stairs and to my room. I locked the door, sat on my bed and
looked
around the room. I heard Janis walking up stairs and to her room.
CHAPTER 5
I feel asleep afterwards. When I woke up the next mourning Skipper,
Janis's
dog jumped onto my bed and started licking me. I could tell that he had
not
been fed. He usually comes to me if Janis doesn't feed him.
Skipper is a golden retriever, a pure bred. My parents bought him for
me,
but Janis through a fit and told them that she was much older and more
responsible. She gave them a huge speech and of course she got the dog.
She
named him Skipper after a Barbie doll's friend. Janis told my parents
that
she would love Skipper forever and ever. Then, after two weeks Janis
stopped
feeding him and I felt sorry for Skipper and started feeding him. After
a
while that is how it became all because of Janis. I used to watch the
Brady
Bunch and saw how Jan envied Marsha. I kept thinking that Janis was
Marsha
and I was Jan. Jan was pretty but Marsha was prettier by far. BING!
BING!
The phone interrupted my thoughts. I picked it up, "Hello?"
"Hiya!'' It was Mary-Anne. She obviously hasn't heard the news judging
on
her voice. But then she says, "I know the others probably are mad at
you.
But, I am your best friend right since you moved here last year,
right?"
I could always count on Mary-Anne. "Right."
"Well, I can't get mad at my best friend for kissing my crush."
Mary-Anne
said. Oh No!! Mary-Anne didn't know what the BSB was mad at me about.
She
probably got it secondhand; maybe they knew they couldn't when
Mary-Anne
over unless it was worse than what I really did.
"Nope, I guess you can't." Two can play this game! "Is he still your
crush?"
"Who? Bret?" Mary-Anne asked; she was probably doing something else
and
getting cut off the topic.
"Yes." I said hoping that's who she thought I kissed.
"Sort of. I mean you can have him if you really want him. But, only if
you
really really want him." She turned on the radio.
"I don't think so. I mean I kissed him; he looked really surprised." I
said
so convincingly that I almost believed myself.
"So, you don't think he likes you?" She giggled in thrill.
"Now I didn't say that I just think he looked surprised." I begged for
her
to say something more like whom she heard it from but she kept her lips
shut
tight. "Who told you I kissed him?"
"Claudia, she saw you at the dance." Mary-Anne said sounding like she
bored. I heard radio stations changing. Then, the sound stopped all
together
probably because she turned it off.
"Claudia?" I finally managed to stammer.
"Yup, yesterday when I called her; then she said something that you
went
out with him and got in a fight or something like that."
"Truly?" I began to think about Bret and his totally cute accent like
he
was from England or something.
"Yup, listen I got to go. Meet you at the flagpole on Monday? 7:00?"
Mary-Anne said.
"O.K seven it is!" I began to smile. Maybe some things aren't as bad
as
they seem at least I still have Mary-Anne. We said are good-byes and
hung
up.
Monday rolled around too fast. Even though Mary-Anne said she was
going to
meet me at the flagpole. What if she forgot? What if she decided that
the
BSB was more important than me? All these possibilities but no exact
one. I
decided to wear a gray knee length skirt with a "Wonder Woman" tank
top. I
put my hair up in a ponytail and threw on some red sunglasses. I looked
around for my favorite pair of shoes but all I could find was my Serena
mules. I grabbed a frog purse and ran out the door.
When I walked on campus, my old friends were standing at the back gym
wall.
Bret was hanging by the Basketball courts and my group was staring at
him. I
didn't see Mary-Anne at the flagpole so I went for hot chocolate. When
I got
back the BSB was at the basketball courts looking for someone and Bret
was
at the flagpole with OH NO!! Mary-Anne!!!!! I slowly walked over to
them.
When I got there I was surprised because Bret draped his hand around
my
shoulder. He was wearing this cute leather jacket that felt super warm.
I
looked up at him and he kissed me on the cheek. I looked over to
Mary-Anne
and a tall dark haired boy had his arm draped around her shoulder.
"What's
your name?" I asked Mary-Anne's guy.
"Brad." He said looking around casually.
"Mary-Anne, Can I talk to you for a second?" I asked as I held out my
hand
to pull her away.
She took my hand. "Be right back, Brad."
"Who is Brad?" I asked looking back at the guys who were talking
quietly
pretending to be cool.
"He is my boyfriend; Bret's best friend." Mary-Anne replied trying to
go
back to Brad. I pulled her back.
"When did Brad ask you out?" I let go of her.
"This mourning in the gym. He said that Bret had been crushing on you
forever and when you finally kissed him; he let it all out to Brad
which
then thought that I might be as great as you. Since I am your best
friend."
Mary-Anne strolled back to the boys. I was so confused. It sounded like
Mary-Anne was using me. I turned to walk back; Mary-Anne was clinging
to
Brad and Bret looked like he was jealous. I walked over to them
causally.
When I got there the BSB came rushing over to me and I did the first
thing I
could think of…I kissed him on the lips. While we kissed I saw
Mary-Anne out
of the corner of my eye watching with amazement.
When we were through kissing I was very warm inside despite the cold
weather. I turned to look at the BSB. Kristy began to say something to
Bret
but she saw me with his hand draped around my shoulder. She studied
Mary-Anne as if she hadn't seen her before and commanded, "Come on
girls,
let's leave Mary-Anne and this thing behind and go find Peggy."
"What? But, I thought we decided that Brooke was our friend." Claudia
looked shocked.
"Not when she steals the cutest boy and my best friend away." Kristy
pulled her head towards the opposite direction where a chubby girl
walked
towards them. When the girl got there she said, "Mary-Anne, Bret, new
members and anyone who would like to know this is Peggy."
"Peggy Watters!" Claudia exclaimed.
"Yes, Peggy Watters." Kristy looked towards the opposite direction and
started to fidget. "Peggy Watters is a new member of the Baby sitters
club.
She has a sister named Roary which is turning out to be the new Amanda
Bines."
Amanda Bines was the most popular girl in Sagebrush high school. But,
she
graduated last year. No one could even compare to Mandy. Her soft blond
hair
and her cute outfits made everyone want to be her friend, especially,
Heather Stardom. Heather was a big wanna-be who just came back from
spring
break and nobody talks to her anymore. She has grown chubby and her
highlights are deflating her figure faster than a balloon deflates.
"Hi, Peggy Watters." I said studying her she wore a glitter sleeveless
top
with pink stretch pleather pants that didn't at all flatter her figure.
To
dress it up (and begin a new trend by the looks of it) she wore a retro
ring
belt thrown over her pants without going through each of the belt
loops. She
has hazel eyes and probably her best asset her crimped dirty blonde
hair.
"Peggy, Dear, don't talk to this girl she really doesn't matter to us
anymore." Kristy said, clearing trying to get me to start something. It
was
like bait in fishing. I was the fish and the bait was just swinging in
front
of my hungry face.
"But Kristy..." Peggy began to say but then she saw her sister walk up.
"Hi group." I studied her just like I did to Peggy. She had curly hair
and
it was put back in a small ponytail thing. She was wearing a yellow tee
with
a picture of tinker bell that said "Lil Pixie". She wore khaki carpi
pants
and blue sketchers. She seemed to be looking at something.
"Are you Brooke?" Roary searched through her backpack for something and
pulled out a small compact mirror and some tinted lip-gloss. Kristy
dived at
her when she began to apply it; instead she fell on her face.
"Yup. Brooke McClaire and you must be Roary Watters?" Bret came from
behind
me and put his arms around my waist.
"No. I am Roary but my last name isn't Watters because Peggy and I are
only
stepsisters. My real name is Laura Jillian Hughes. But, you can call me
Roary like I said." When she said Peggy and her were only stepsisters
Peggy
walked over and put her arm around Roary's shoulder.
"More like best friends." Peggy said pulling her arm away.
Claudia pulled back her hair and let go of it. Her gray pants seemed to
be
sliver in this light. Her white poplin top seemed to look like it was
frosty. She was very pretty in Brooke's eyes. In Brooke's eyes everyone
but
her was super pretty. "How about a sleepover at my house? Everyone is
invited even you Roary and Peggy. Let's see if that cools things down.
It
would make me feel better.
"O.K" Roary and I said together. We laughed.
A couple of O.K's and I have to ask came out except for Kristy. Her
mouth
was shut tight.
"Kristy, Yes or No?" Claudia said in a stern voice.
"As long as Peggy comes maybe I can help with the wardrobe." Kristy
stuttered.
"Sure, why not?" Peggy said. She looked down at her clothes and started
to
feel uneasy.
"There is also a dance coming up, right?" Roary said. "Maybe we could
all go
shopping together."
"What day?" Mary-Anne asked.
"Friday is out. I have this huge party to go to." Roary said.
"Sunday is too. My dad doesn't like me being out on school nights."
Mary-Anne said. I agreed but I didn't say anything.
"Saturday it is." Claudia said. She took out a purple butterfly notepad
a
pen and started to call roll. "Peggy, Roary, Brooke, Kristy, Mary-Anne,
Me…Who else?"
"How about me?" Dawn said.
"You haven't said much I just assumed you weren't here. That makes 7
people
including myself.
BING BING BING!! The bell rang.
I followed Dawn and Roary to our class.
CHAPTER 6
"So, Are we friends Dawn?" I asked in Math..
"At Claudia's I'll tell you." Dawn said looking around. "At least I
got to
meet Roary."
"Yeah, But she has been my friend for awhile now."
"What are you two girls talking about?" Mrs. Jenkinson said.
"Nothing." We both said.
"Then Class lets open our books to page 165 and began reading." Mrs.
Jenkinson ordered.
The best part about the period was when Mrs. Jenkinson ordered us to
group
up in a group of three. When Dawn and I started to work, Roary walked
over
and started to work even though we didn't ask her too. When the bell
rang,
Dawn raced out of class. I stalled to talk to Roary.
"So, How about eating lunch with me?" I asked.
"Thanks for the offer and I will take you up on that but can we
reverse?"
Roary asked.
"You mean, me eating lunch with you?"
"Yup. I mean if it isn't a problem."
"No." I was so excited I couldn't wait till lunch.
"Meet you at the long table with the purple trim. Best table in the
world.
If P.J says anything tell her you're with the band." Roary said.
"Anyways I
got to go."
"Me too, Bye!"
"C-ya later!" Roary called. Why didn't I think of that? Bye what kind
of
sorry thing was that to say? C-ya is a lot cooler. There was certain
things
I knew to be cool, my best friend in the sixth grade was Miss. Popular
voted, her name was Darcy. She had a falling out and now she isn't
popular
anymore but she sure was for awhile. The first thing had to be: talk
cool
to be cool.
Lunch finally rolled around after about a century. I picked up my
cafeteria
food and started for the table. When I saw that Roary and her friends
had
pizza and soda. I dumped my food and bought some chips and a Dr.
Pepper.
Then, I headed for the table. A girl with bouncy red hair stopped me
and
asked me what I was doing there. I said, "I'm with the band." She
giggled
and let me through a line of girls right towards Roary. Roary was
leaning
against the table eating chips and talking to a black haired girl. The
girl
she was talking to had on black pants and a 'Salam' baseball t-shirt in
a
black trim. I sat down in an empty space and turned towards them.
"Brooke, What took you so long?" Roary asked.
"Just a minor set back with the food."
Roary giggled and so did the black haired girl. When she left Roary sat
closer to me. "That girl name is Katrina. Call her Kitty. Everyone
does. If
you call her Katrina forget about sitting near her."
"I will keep that in mind." I chewed on a chip.
"We need to go shopping." A phone rang. Every girl around me pulled out
a
cell phone checking it. I looked through my backpack and when I felt
the
time was right, I dipped my head in and pretended to check mine. A girl
with
strawberry blonde hair was yelling in her fluffy pink cell phone.
"Tomorrow.
After school, meet me by the flagpole. I tell my boyfriend to pick us
up."
"You have a boyfriend that can drive?" I exclaimed.
"Yah, don't you?" Roary yelled something to the blonde girl with the
cell
phone, but I couldn't hear her. The girl did and she walked over to us.
The girl had on a blue and yellow cheerleading outfit and her hair was
up in
a high ponytail with matching ribbons. Her face was turning red.
"What's up,
Roary?"
Roary whispered something to her. The girl slowly pulled out her
glittery
eye shadow and applied it. "So, Whose the girl?"
"Oh, I am so rude. This is Brooke. Brooke this is Kali."
"Brooke, huh? I am the head cheerleader so you must be honored to meet
me."
She put away her eye shadow.
Roary shot her a defining look. I quickly picked up the personality of
this
girl. "Yes, Truly honored. Wow! If it for you Roary I could have never
meet
such a girl!"
Kali flinched. She tried to force a smile but there is no fooling me.
"Roary, I got to go the Chickets are probably wondering where I am."
"O.K, See ya later, Kali." Roary turned to me. "I'm am so sorry about
her;
she is one of the popular…..friends that I have that are snobby like
that."
"I heard that Kitty is like that too."
"No, She isn't. Where do you get your news?" Roary's sweet face turned
red
and she pretended to be focusing on something in the basketball court.
"Well, just places, people." I began to feel a little insecure but
overcame
it on the outside.
"Kitty, is just like me. She is fun, frisky and desired. I put her
there. I
became her friend. I am a helper. You seem to be the helpless. I was
trying
to help you. I was trying to bring you to the top. You were the lost
cause.
I am the cause. You need to understand that. You can't judge a book by
its
cover, you know?"
"Well, Roary I just thought…" I began to feel frightened like I didn't
know
this Roary.
"You though. Well, think again. I told Kitty that you were a cause.
Someone
who just needed the right friends, the right makeover, and the right
haircut. And you could be popular. You want that right? You want to be
popular? Am I wrong?"
"No, Roary. I want to be popular. You are right!! I need all the stuff
you
wanted to give me. But now, I guess I don't deserve it." I was furious.
How
could she do this? I thought she wanted to be my friend not her doll. I
jumped off the bench and flipped my hair. If this were a movie, this is
where the cool song would come in. The song that proves I am right and
she
is wrong. Roary was bright red and she had pulled over a friend and was
whispering something to her. I could care less! So there Roary!
"Brooke!! Brooke!!" Someone was yelling my name. I flipped my hair
again
and started for the bathroom, with my lean, sexy walk.
When I got into the bathroom, I walked to the stall. I pulled down my
pants
and there in my underwear was reddish-brownish stuff. I couldn't
believe it!
I got my period! I have never had my period before so this was very new
and
exciting. I checked the back of my jeans to see if it bled though. It
did.
You could see reddish brownish spots. That was probably what the girl
yelling my name was trying to say. And what Roary was telling that girl
she
pulled aside. I had on a double layer top and I took off the top and
wrapped
it around my waist. I only had on a slinky purple spaghetti strap under
it.
I casually strided past the popular kids and headed towards the nurse's
outfit. I turned my head backwards to see if anyone was following me.
Someone was. Probably a popular kid. But she was really far behind me
but
she looked like she was jogging in a way. Jogging but walking, as I
suspected she was wearing high heels.
I turned to face the nurse's office and peered in. The girl behind me
had
auburn hair. "Hey! Brooke!!"
I stopped and waited for her to catch up. To my surprise she wasn't
out of
breath. Her shoes weren't that high and her blouse sure wasn't that
low.
"Who are you?" "Miranda. I just was telling you that. Roary is pissed
at
you."
"Really?" I said sarcastically, half not expecting an answer.
"Yeah. Her face is beet red. She probably doesn't mean whatever she
said.
She's on her…" Miranda leaned closer almost touch my ear with her
tongue.
"Menstrual cycle."
"Well, So am I, So I need to get in there." I tried to push Miranda
away
but she wouldn't do it. Her face was swollen. Her eyes were puffy like
she
had been crying.
"Her first. Can you believe that? It is a Sin. She should already have
hers. I can't believe that had to happen to Roary." Miranda steeped
back and
pulled out a daisy handkerchief.
"I just got mine. So if you would leave me alone." I opened the door
to the
nurse's office.
Miranda stepped back. The bell rang and I walked further in.
CHAPTER 7
"Mrs. Shields. Mrs. Shields?" the nurse, Candy was calling me.
I stood up and put away my homework. Candy had already walked into her
office. When I got into her office, she told me to lie down. "I just
got my
period, if you could just give a pad or tampon. I'll be on my way."
Candy didn't seem to hear me. She was pushing on my lower stomach. I
looked
at her. Her hair was a fiery red, bleached puff. Her face was a total
disaster site with all the make-up piled on it. But on her arms, her
skin
was like snow whites. "Well, Mrs. Shields. You can go back to class.
With
the exception that you sign here."
"Candy? I got my period. Can you give me a pad?"
"Well, Sign here and I'll see if we have anymore." Candy blew a piece
of
hair away from her face. She bended over on her desk, clearing showing
her
cleavage off. I turned my head, so I wouldn't have to look. She pulled
a pen
out of her pocket and slammed it on where she wanted me to sign. She
straightened herself up. Steve Eisten walked in. "Mr. Eisten. Room 5."
Candy
walked into the supply closet. She walked back out and slipped me a
pad.
"Candy, I am just giving you a little something. So, don't bring in all
that
heavy equipment. Just you and your small tools." Steve called to her.
Candy pulled the paper away so quickly that I thought it was still
under my
hand till she said. "Now, you can go."
"Wait." I called as soon as I reached the door.
"What now?" Candy looked like she was furious that I needed something
else.
"A pass?"
"For heavens sake just takes this note. No use to me anyways. Just
clutter."
Candy said.
"Alright." I walked out the door and towards my science classroom. When
I
walked in, I realized I didn't go to Science yet. I stood outside the
door
and tried to think where I went next. The world started to spin out of
control. Then, I blanked out.
"Brooke? Brooke?" I opened my eyes Candy and Nomiana, a girl from
French
class was standing over me. I turned my head and opened my eyes wider.
"Where am I?" Nomiana was smiling. I could not understand what
happened.
"Your in the Gentlemen's bathroom at Sagebrush High School. The east
quad
to be exact." Candy replied. He make-up was wiped off and she looked
very
pretty.
"Well, What happened?" I asked again, more aggressively this time.
"Well, I found you outside of Mrs. Jamison's classroom. Slouched on
the
floor. You're lucky I found you 5 minutes before her class got out. You
could have been embarrassed." Nomiana said.
I glanced around making sure no guys were in here. Nomiana must have
seen
me because she said. "This restroom was evacuated and is now temporary
out
of order."
"Well, At least I am alright. Let me go to class now." I knew they
weren't
going to let me. But it was worth a try.
"We have to at least wait till the ambulance gets here." Candy smiled
me.
Her smile was much to warm to be from her. After all, she was shooing
me out
of her office earlier.
I peered at Nomiana. Her hair was a reddish color but it was lighter
than
Candy's. Her purple tank top and glitter belt made me think that she
was
going for a rock star look. Her chain necklaces with a lightening bolt
on it
started to slid down and her top too. She pulled it up and checked my
pulse.
"She is fine, Candy. We can let her go back to class." Candy smiled in
relief.
"I will clear things up with the ambulance. But, Nomiana there is only
ten
minutes left in seventh period, so, just let her stay here awhile and
send
her home school is over."
"I should stay with her. I can go get my stuff after school, I want to
be
here for her." Nomiana demanded.
"Fine, let her rest for now. I will go get the paperwork." Candy stood
up.
She brushed off her knees and walked out the door leaving me alone with
Nomiana.
CHAPTER 8
The next thing I knew, Nomiana was walking me home. I only live a
couple of
blocks from school. I didn't want to go home to Janis and my parents. I
didn't want to tell my mom about this tiny secret that was happening to
me
as I spoke. She would probably congratulate me and buy me an ice-cream
sundae like she did with Janis.
Nomiana asked if she could come in and I lied to her saying that my mom
was
upset because of her job and I have a lot of homework. She nodded at
me.
Then, we said our good byes and see you at school tomorrows and I
walked
into my house. My dad works at home so he was in his office. We can't
bug
him till 4:00 unless it is an emergency. Then, I heard the doorbell
ring. I
turned around and opened the door. A dark brown haired girl stood
there. She
was wearing a V-neck tee with purple glitter stripes. Her jeans were
frayed
with a star attached to them. She had her hands in her butt pockets and
she
didn't appear to be lost. "Hiya, My name is Ashley, I just moved to the
neighborhood and I saw you and a girl walk to this house. And since I
don't
know anybody I was wondering if you would show me around town." Ashley
smiled. Her braces lit up her face. I could totally tell she was
comfortable
with them and had them changed often or matched her clothes to them
because
they were purple. When she smiled, her eyes would blink.
"Uh. Sure. Let me get my coat." I ran inside and got my long sweater
that my
mom calls a duster, and pulled it on. Ashley talked most of the way to
Jack
in the box. Mostly about her old school and how she thought her new
school
was going to be like.
We arrived at the Jack in the box and who was there but Nomiana. Her
blond
haired jock type boyfriend had his hand around her shoulder while he
laughed
with Roary and a muscular guy who was also had his arm around his
girlfriend. Nomiana sneaked a peek my way, her emotions were blank but
quickly picked up when she was asked a question. "Friend of yours?"
Ashley
asked. "You can go sit by them, I remember the way home." She walked to
the
line.
"No. I don't want to sit by them. I came here with you and I will leave
with
you." I straightened up and gracefully walked to Ashley.
"Thank you. I didn't really remember the way home. But you seemed so
drawn
towards them. I thought that you might just totally forget about me and
move
towards them."
"Yeah." We finally got up to the front of the line and ordered. We were
number 605. Ashley walked to a booth and slid down into the seat,
gently
putting down her purse while I threw mine and hopped into my seat.
"604. 605. 604. 605" the cashier pushed a tray into my stomach and
turned
and headed for the kitchen only to return a few minutes later with
three
drink cups. "Go fill up your drinks; sit back down at your table. A
waiter
will be by shortly to help you."
(Mallory was helping but what a job.) It was so cold I had on white wool
socks and a white sweater with blue leggings. Today is not my day,
first the heater broke then the televison and now everyone is bored.
"How about going outside?" I asked the kids (except Mallory, who was in
the kitchen making hot chocolate and tortillas with melted cheese
sandwiches in them.)
"O.K." all the kids said at once.
"Get your coats," I told them. The kids ran up the stairs. I watched
Margo as she put on his spotted raincoat with a puppy dog on the front pocket. I
remember what had happened that made him get that coat.
He had career day at school, and he went to Mr. Jackson's (the man up
the street who is a fireman) job. After he got home, the Pikes went to the
shopping center. When they got there they meet up with my dad and me. I
went with them instead of my dad who was looking for a belt and ties. Not
five minutes after we were walking through the center, Margo saw that jacket
and he threw a tantrum. His parents bought it for him. Who would put up
with that? Not the Pikes that is for sure. Ever since he went with Mr.
Jackson and bought that coat he has never been the same.
Margo was the first to go. When he ran outside the snow went up to the
tips of his calves, like a rabbit getting stuck in quicksand.
"Done" Mallory shouted from the kitchen. Jordan came down in a short
denim jacket and started for the door. When I called to him he stopped and
came running towards me, he slid and came crashing into my feet. Then he
started crying. He was laying down his leg in a weird position. I called
Mallory and she came running. She dialed 911.
"Stop" I shouted and then the next thing I knew I was in the hospital, about an hour later. There with me was:
Mr. Pike, Mrs. Pike, Byron, Margo, and Mallory. Mr. Pike looked upset
and worried at the same time. I think he was upset because the hospital
called him in the middle of an important meeting. Mrs. Pike had called my dad.
He had been worried too. Mallory just sat there as if he were going to die
even though the doctors assured us he wouldn't.
"Mr. Pike?" the nurse called to him. He sat there for a minute and
finally
got up and followed the nurse. The nurse led him through two big doors.
I
smiled at Mr. Pike. He didn't see me.
Mrs. Pike was called next, then me. I walked through the doors
following the nurse. She led me down the hallways which lead to another hallway then
into a room marked, "101". When I was led inside, I saw Jordan. He was
smiling.
He had his leg in a sling; all the nurses had signed his cast. The
radio was on the Disney channel, so was the T.V. He lay in a room with another
girl.
The girl looked healthy, except for a bad rash on her nose.
"I'm Cycil." She said; I looked at her. She had on a hospital gown, and
a pair of green slippers to match. Her hair was parted with two matching
barrettes. Then a nurse came in and took the girl's temperature, she
left pretty quickly.
"Hi, Brooke." Jordan said right away.
"Hi." I shifted weights and smiled
"Thanks for calling 911, and riding here with me, Can you sign my
cast?" Jordan said, smiling at me.
I signed it and I smiled back at him.
"Can I tell you something?" Jordan asked.
"Sure, What?" I said.
"I think I broke my wrist too. It really hurts." Jordan said, holding
his wrist and rocking back and forth.
"You should tell the nurse."
"I did, they don't think so." He yawned.
"Well.Better be going, Bye." I walked to the door and looked back.
Jordan was fast asleep.
CHAPTER 2
It was a sunny winter day, and I was on my way to Claudia's. It had
been three days since Jordan got hurt. I was so busy thinking I walked right
past Claudia's house, but before long, I was in Claudia's room. Kristy took
role and I looked for Mary-Anne. Of course she wasn't there. She had the flu
for about a week now.
"Brooke? Earth to Brooke comes in Brooke."
"What" I suddenly replied.
"Ok Brooke, what is wrong?" Claudia asked me.
"I got a weird feeling that Jordan is more hurt then we think." My big
mouth and me. Everyone in the BSB gasped. I smiled and gasped too.
"You what?" Kristy asked.
"I think that maybe Jordan has a crush on someone at the hospital." I
lied wondering what Kristy really wanted to hear.
"Did he go to third base?" Kristy asked joking.
"NO" I answered.
"Geez you don't need to be uptight." Claudia said.
"FINE, THEN I WILL LEAVE" I shouted as I slammed the door. What nerve?
I
I thought they were my friends. Then, I heard a laughing noise coming
from Claudia's room. I wanted to explode. Instead of turning right towards
my house I went straight, and started walking to the Pikes. I turned
around and started walking to Claudia's street and then to my house again. Right
before my house I turned the street towards the Bakery. I stopped and looked
through my purse. I found my wallet and counted my money.
$20.00 dollars and some change. I keep walking until I got to the bakery. I ordered two donuts.
While I was waiting for my donuts, the door opened and in came Brad. I
had the biggest crush on him and I almost talked to him at party two-nights
ago.
"What's up, Brad?" he looked at me. His eyes met mine and then I
started to get up then I saw Jenny behind him. She ran up to Brad and kissed him
on the cheek. My number was called and I got up and got my donuts and walked
out the door. I walked towards my house; the street was longer then ever
before.
When I finally got to my house, my mom had started dinner. It smelled
like pot roast. I walked through the kitchen and past the living room and
back to the entrance. I looked up at the stairs, and started to climb them.
When I had gotten half way up, someone screamed.
"YEAH, YEAH, YEAH". It was my annoying sister, Janis. She was obsessed
with 'The Rockets'. The Rockets were the hottest group in town and probably
the nation. My friends and I would never listen to them. We hate to follow
such trends. I walked into my room, plopped on my bed and pulled out a
diary. My mother had given the diary to me. She had shown it to me many times
before.
I fell in love with it. I mean who wouldn't with its gorgeous flowers
and butterflies on the cover who wouldn't? She gave it to me some time
after.
I looked at my room. It was decoded in an antique theme. I also had a
row of dolls looking down at me from a tall shelf in the bookcase. I smiled as I
looked around.
"Brooke, Time for dinner!" My mother shouted. I slid my donuts under
the bed and walked down the stairs to dinner.
CHAPTER 3
"So, how was your day, Janis?" My dad said, after we had started eating
our dinner.
"O.K…." Janis said as she looked at her full plate.
"O.K. Well…. Why wasn't it great?" my dad said shoving a piece of
mashed potatoes in his mouth. My mom looked at Janis's plate and frowned.
"Janis, Are you sure you are feeling O.K? Maybe you should lie down."
My mother said.
"NO!!" my sister shouted as she picked up her plate and started for the
kitchen. When she had walked half way there, queerly I finished my
dinner.
"Can I be excused?" I asked my parents.
I walked up to my room. Janis had already gone to bed. I spent the rest
of the night reading.The next day I was slouching around the house, with my sister. She was
sitting on the couch with a book called John's biography in her right
hand and a case of cookies in left hand. She put down the book and looked up
at me. She examined me then said, "Your shoes do not match…with your
skirt."
I looked at her hair as it bounced on her shoulder. I went out of the
room and towards the kitchen.
The phone rang. I rushed to pick it up. "Hello?" asked.
The person said, "Can I talk to Jen?"
"Sorry, wrong number." I hung up.
"Who was it?" my sister called from the kitchen.
"Wrong number." I shouted back.
"Sure, it wasn't Tom."
"Nope."
"I'm calling him then." She yelled to me as I walked up the stairs and
to my room.
I walked into my parent's room, I looked on the bed stand on it was a
phone.
My parent's phone had a separate phone line. I picked it up to call Claudia.
I dialed her number.
"Baby sitters club, I'm Claudia. Can I be of service to you?"
"Yes..." I started acting like a mother, which was part of a scheme I
just thought up.
"My child……….. Kimberly needs a baby-sitter for Saturday."
"Hmm, I am so sorry nobody is free that day."
"What!! I am…I mean. Are you sure?" There was noise of flipping
through pages of paper.
"I am sorry m'am our secretary isn't here today or will ever be here
ever."
"Well…are you sure? I really can't take her with me." A sigh came out
of Claudia then some whispering.
"Can I call you back?"
"Sure. My number is 656-5215" I waited for the phone to ring downstairs but
it didn't. Then, the one upstairs did.
"Hello?"
"This is the baby-sitter's club. I am Claudia. You needed a
baby-sitter, well we have one."
Finally…. but they didn't call me.
"Oh good. What is her name?"
"Well… Her name is Peggy Watters. She is a new addition but I'm she
will do
a fantastic job."
"Well… I was thinking about one I had in the past or heard of… Brooke.
Is
she free?"
"We have no idea but that would be helpful. What is your name?"
"Mrs. Friday. I will just drop them off. Is that OK?"
"Yes, But, How did you hear of Brooke?"
"Ummm. She is a good baby-sitter to my friend." "I am sure…. I am
sorry to
tell she is fired."
"Talk to you Saturday. Ta-Ta" Now, all I have to go is call back
Friday and
say I don't need one.
CHAPTER 4
I completely forgot about the whole fight thing by Monday mourning so I
walked up to my friends and said Hello to each of them. They all
laughed
even Mary-Anne. I felt like a total dork and walked away. It was awful.
I
was on the bench the whole time. While my group: flirted, Smiled, made
friends, met up with Jennifer, then walked around the campus talking
and
laughing.
Then the bell rang, time for my first class with Dawn. I sat down next
to
her, as usual. She didn't even seem to care she just looked straight
ahead.
She had all supplies, which was unusual for Dawn. Then, when the bell
rang
to go to second period, Dawn looked at me and got up and almost ran out
of
the room. Next, class with Claudia, I walked in. Claudia was talking to
Jana
Bartels. Jana smiled and looked at me once or twice and laughed. Then
class
started, the teacher started talking.
"The partners are alphabetical." I walked to the lab desk. Claudia took
out
her clean neat notes. Unusual for Claudia to even have notes, let alone
dry.
She read them and followed them without even looking at me. The bell
rang
for 3rd period then 4th, then lunch. I walked into the cafeteria with I
usually sit by Dawn. She was leaning on the table and taking to Matt. I
spent 5th, 6th and 7th the same way for about a week till Saturday
came.
"Claudia? I hate you!" I was sitting in my room thinking about what to
say
to Claudia. The phone rang. I picked up the receiver.
"Hello?"
"Hey, it's me, Dawn."
"Yeah…"
"1Well…Can you baby-sit this weekend on Sunday night?"
"Well. I thought I was fired."
"I'm sorry...That I couldn't sit by you. Matt wouldn't let me; he still
thinks I am mad at you."
"Well…You're saying that you are not mad at me."
"Now, I didn't say that." I could tell she was smiling. I smiled also.
"Are you?"
"Yes, No, Maybe so"
"Which one?"
"Maybe So." She answered then giggled.
"I am not mad at you."
"Maybe so." She repeated.
"No." I answered listening to her stereo go on.
"…. Angel, Baby, your mine…." It played; I could tell a guy was in her
room,
maybe Matt.
"So can you?"
"Can I what?"
"Baby-sit…on Sunday"
"What time?"
"4:30 to…. 8:00" she turned off the radio.
"Only if you are my friend."
"No…I am not going to be a bad friend and let you get away with using
me."
"I am not…I am coaxing."
SLAM!!!
"Dawn??Dawn??Dawn, are you there?"
I slammed down the phone and lay back. Then the phone rang again.
"Hello?"
"Hey, it's me, Claudia."
"Yes…what do you want?"
"I wanted to be your friend; you don't have to get mad."
"Well. Dawn just hung up on me."
"Dawn? Our Dawn?"
"I am afraid so."
"Great!!"
"What?"
"She didn't know that we are trying to be your friend."
"Oh…"
"What time did she call?"
"About five minutes ago."
"Prank…. It was a prank…just too…did she ask you to baby-sit, Sunday?"
"Yes."
"Great…. Prank…That is all I can say."
"GET DOWN HERE", Brooke. "My mother yelled. My mother always yells when
I am
making an important decision but never when I am bored stiff.
"I have to go Claudia."
"OK…Bye."
"Wait…So, Am I baby-sitting on Sunday?"
"Yes and no."
"What do you mean?"
"I'll tell you later…I'll call you."
Clink!!
"Claudia…Claudia…"
I put the phone down and slumped on my bed once more.
"Brooke!!" my mother persisted.
"Yes?"
"Get your cute butt down here!" She instructed.
I walked down the stairs and to the kitchen.
"Lunch." she said quietly and smiled at me. Then she turned around with
a
tray of sandwiches, chips, apples, and lemonade. She walked over to the
table, and set the plate down.
"Janis, Can you come in here?"
"Sure…" Then, a few seconds later in came in, Janis, she was limping.
Probably because she had fell on Thursday night when she was helping
mother
with the dishes. She smiled at my mother, who was making a plate for
her.
"Mom, Can I stay home on Monday?" Janis said half way through lunch.
"We'll see how you are feeling."
Janis crouched down as if it had just happened. Then, she rubbed her
ankle.
She straightened it out and looked at my plate.
"Can I have your chips?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Cause. I want it."
She looked towards our mother. "Make her give it to me. I need my
nutrient
ion"
"No…. I'm sorry you should have said 'please' or 'thank-you' When you
asked
either of us, but you are being rude so 'no'." my mother explained to
her.
"Please." She said as she returned her look to me.
"No… I'm sorry. I agree with what mom said."
She got up and frowned at me. "You'll be sorry!!!" she screamed at me.
"No treats, Young lady." My mom said in a stern voice. Janis sat down.
"Fine, Mother." she looked as if she thought that she was immortal.
Then,
she raised her eyebrow and took a bite of her tomato, smiling.
In 4th grade, I had a horrible day. When I came home, she looked at me
with
great warmth. She hugged me and told me everything was going to be
O.K....Then, I went back to school the next day as normal girl.
"Welcome to my bad day. All over again." I said, leaving the room. I
walked
up the stairs and to my room. I locked the door, sat on my bed and
looked
around the room. I heard Janis walking up stairs and to her room.
CHAPTER 5
I feel asleep afterwards. When I woke up the next mourning Skipper,
Janis's
dog jumped onto my bed and started licking me. I could tell that he had
not
been fed. He usually comes to me if Janis doesn't feed him.
Skipper is a golden retriever, a pure bred. My parents bought him for
me,
but Janis through a fit and told them that she was much older and more
responsible. She gave them a huge speech and of course she got the dog.
She
named him Skipper after a Barbie doll's friend. Janis told my parents
that
she would love Skipper forever and ever. Then, after two weeks Janis
stopped
feeding him and I felt sorry for Skipper and started feeding him. After
a
while that is how it became all because of Janis. I used to watch the
Brady
Bunch and saw how Jan envied Marsha. I kept thinking that Janis was
Marsha
and I was Jan. Jan was pretty but Marsha was prettier by far. BING!
BING!
The phone interrupted my thoughts. I picked it up, "Hello?"
"Hiya!'' It was Mary-Anne. She obviously hasn't heard the news judging
on
her voice. But then she says, "I know the others probably are mad at
you.
But, I am your best friend right since you moved here last year,
right?"
I could always count on Mary-Anne. "Right."
"Well, I can't get mad at my best friend for kissing my crush."
Mary-Anne
said. Oh No!! Mary-Anne didn't know what the BSB was mad at me about.
She
probably got it secondhand; maybe they knew they couldn't when
Mary-Anne
over unless it was worse than what I really did.
"Nope, I guess you can't." Two can play this game! "Is he still your
crush?"
"Who? Bret?" Mary-Anne asked; she was probably doing something else
and
getting cut off the topic.
"Yes." I said hoping that's who she thought I kissed.
"Sort of. I mean you can have him if you really want him. But, only if
you
really really want him." She turned on the radio.
"I don't think so. I mean I kissed him; he looked really surprised." I
said
so convincingly that I almost believed myself.
"So, you don't think he likes you?" She giggled in thrill.
"Now I didn't say that I just think he looked surprised." I begged for
her
to say something more like whom she heard it from but she kept her lips
shut
tight. "Who told you I kissed him?"
"Claudia, she saw you at the dance." Mary-Anne said sounding like she
bored. I heard radio stations changing. Then, the sound stopped all
together
probably because she turned it off.
"Claudia?" I finally managed to stammer.
"Yup, yesterday when I called her; then she said something that you
went
out with him and got in a fight or something like that."
"Truly?" I began to think about Bret and his totally cute accent like
he
was from England or something.
"Yup, listen I got to go. Meet you at the flagpole on Monday? 7:00?"
Mary-Anne said.
"O.K seven it is!" I began to smile. Maybe some things aren't as bad
as
they seem at least I still have Mary-Anne. We said are good-byes and
hung
up.
Monday rolled around too fast. Even though Mary-Anne said she was
going to
meet me at the flagpole. What if she forgot? What if she decided that
the
BSB was more important than me? All these possibilities but no exact
one. I
decided to wear a gray knee length skirt with a "Wonder Woman" tank
top. I
put my hair up in a ponytail and threw on some red sunglasses. I looked
around for my favorite pair of shoes but all I could find was my Serena
mules. I grabbed a frog purse and ran out the door.
When I walked on campus, my old friends were standing at the back gym
wall.
Bret was hanging by the Basketball courts and my group was staring at
him. I
didn't see Mary-Anne at the flagpole so I went for hot chocolate. When
I got
back the BSB was at the basketball courts looking for someone and Bret
was
at the flagpole with OH NO!! Mary-Anne!!!!! I slowly walked over to
them.
When I got there I was surprised because Bret draped his hand around
my
shoulder. He was wearing this cute leather jacket that felt super warm.
I
looked up at him and he kissed me on the cheek. I looked over to
Mary-Anne
and a tall dark haired boy had his arm draped around her shoulder.
"What's
your name?" I asked Mary-Anne's guy.
"Brad." He said looking around casually.
"Mary-Anne, Can I talk to you for a second?" I asked as I held out my
hand
to pull her away.
She took my hand. "Be right back, Brad."
"Who is Brad?" I asked looking back at the guys who were talking
quietly
pretending to be cool.
"He is my boyfriend; Bret's best friend." Mary-Anne replied trying to
go
back to Brad. I pulled her back.
"When did Brad ask you out?" I let go of her.
"This mourning in the gym. He said that Bret had been crushing on you
forever and when you finally kissed him; he let it all out to Brad
which
then thought that I might be as great as you. Since I am your best
friend."
Mary-Anne strolled back to the boys. I was so confused. It sounded like
Mary-Anne was using me. I turned to walk back; Mary-Anne was clinging
to
Brad and Bret looked like he was jealous. I walked over to them
causally.
When I got there the BSB came rushing over to me and I did the first
thing I
could think of…I kissed him on the lips. While we kissed I saw
Mary-Anne out
of the corner of my eye watching with amazement.
When we were through kissing I was very warm inside despite the cold
weather. I turned to look at the BSB. Kristy began to say something to
Bret
but she saw me with his hand draped around my shoulder. She studied
Mary-Anne as if she hadn't seen her before and commanded, "Come on
girls,
let's leave Mary-Anne and this thing behind and go find Peggy."
"What? But, I thought we decided that Brooke was our friend." Claudia
looked shocked.
"Not when she steals the cutest boy and my best friend away." Kristy
pulled her head towards the opposite direction where a chubby girl
walked
towards them. When the girl got there she said, "Mary-Anne, Bret, new
members and anyone who would like to know this is Peggy."
"Peggy Watters!" Claudia exclaimed.
"Yes, Peggy Watters." Kristy looked towards the opposite direction and
started to fidget. "Peggy Watters is a new member of the Baby sitters
club.
She has a sister named Roary which is turning out to be the new Amanda
Bines."
Amanda Bines was the most popular girl in Sagebrush high school. But,
she
graduated last year. No one could even compare to Mandy. Her soft blond
hair
and her cute outfits made everyone want to be her friend, especially,
Heather Stardom. Heather was a big wanna-be who just came back from
spring
break and nobody talks to her anymore. She has grown chubby and her
highlights are deflating her figure faster than a balloon deflates.
"Hi, Peggy Watters." I said studying her she wore a glitter sleeveless
top
with pink stretch pleather pants that didn't at all flatter her figure.
To
dress it up (and begin a new trend by the looks of it) she wore a retro
ring
belt thrown over her pants without going through each of the belt
loops. She
has hazel eyes and probably her best asset her crimped dirty blonde
hair.
"Peggy, Dear, don't talk to this girl she really doesn't matter to us
anymore." Kristy said, clearing trying to get me to start something. It
was
like bait in fishing. I was the fish and the bait was just swinging in
front
of my hungry face.
"But Kristy..." Peggy began to say but then she saw her sister walk up.
"Hi group." I studied her just like I did to Peggy. She had curly hair
and
it was put back in a small ponytail thing. She was wearing a yellow tee
with
a picture of tinker bell that said "Lil Pixie". She wore khaki carpi
pants
and blue sketchers. She seemed to be looking at something.
"Are you Brooke?" Roary searched through her backpack for something and
pulled out a small compact mirror and some tinted lip-gloss. Kristy
dived at
her when she began to apply it; instead she fell on her face.
"Yup. Brooke McClaire and you must be Roary Watters?" Bret came from
behind
me and put his arms around my waist.
"No. I am Roary but my last name isn't Watters because Peggy and I are
only
stepsisters. My real name is Laura Jillian Hughes. But, you can call me
Roary like I said." When she said Peggy and her were only stepsisters
Peggy
walked over and put her arm around Roary's shoulder.
"More like best friends." Peggy said pulling her arm away.
Claudia pulled back her hair and let go of it. Her gray pants seemed to
be
sliver in this light. Her white poplin top seemed to look like it was
frosty. She was very pretty in Brooke's eyes. In Brooke's eyes everyone
but
her was super pretty. "How about a sleepover at my house? Everyone is
invited even you Roary and Peggy. Let's see if that cools things down.
It
would make me feel better.
"O.K" Roary and I said together. We laughed.
A couple of O.K's and I have to ask came out except for Kristy. Her
mouth
was shut tight.
"Kristy, Yes or No?" Claudia said in a stern voice.
"As long as Peggy comes maybe I can help with the wardrobe." Kristy
stuttered.
"Sure, why not?" Peggy said. She looked down at her clothes and started
to
feel uneasy.
"There is also a dance coming up, right?" Roary said. "Maybe we could
all go
shopping together."
"What day?" Mary-Anne asked.
"Friday is out. I have this huge party to go to." Roary said.
"Sunday is too. My dad doesn't like me being out on school nights."
Mary-Anne said. I agreed but I didn't say anything.
"Saturday it is." Claudia said. She took out a purple butterfly notepad
a
pen and started to call roll. "Peggy, Roary, Brooke, Kristy, Mary-Anne,
Me…Who else?"
"How about me?" Dawn said.
"You haven't said much I just assumed you weren't here. That makes 7
people
including myself.
BING BING BING!! The bell rang.
I followed Dawn and Roary to our class.
CHAPTER 6
"So, Are we friends Dawn?" I asked in Math..
"At Claudia's I'll tell you." Dawn said looking around. "At least I
got to
meet Roary."
"Yeah, But she has been my friend for awhile now."
"What are you two girls talking about?" Mrs. Jenkinson said.
"Nothing." We both said.
"Then Class lets open our books to page 165 and began reading." Mrs.
Jenkinson ordered.
The best part about the period was when Mrs. Jenkinson ordered us to
group
up in a group of three. When Dawn and I started to work, Roary walked
over
and started to work even though we didn't ask her too. When the bell
rang,
Dawn raced out of class. I stalled to talk to Roary.
"So, How about eating lunch with me?" I asked.
"Thanks for the offer and I will take you up on that but can we
reverse?"
Roary asked.
"You mean, me eating lunch with you?"
"Yup. I mean if it isn't a problem."
"No." I was so excited I couldn't wait till lunch.
"Meet you at the long table with the purple trim. Best table in the
world.
If P.J says anything tell her you're with the band." Roary said.
"Anyways I
got to go."
"Me too, Bye!"
"C-ya later!" Roary called. Why didn't I think of that? Bye what kind
of
sorry thing was that to say? C-ya is a lot cooler. There was certain
things
I knew to be cool, my best friend in the sixth grade was Miss. Popular
voted, her name was Darcy. She had a falling out and now she isn't
popular
anymore but she sure was for awhile. The first thing had to be: talk
cool
to be cool.
Lunch finally rolled around after about a century. I picked up my
cafeteria
food and started for the table. When I saw that Roary and her friends
had
pizza and soda. I dumped my food and bought some chips and a Dr.
Pepper.
Then, I headed for the table. A girl with bouncy red hair stopped me
and
asked me what I was doing there. I said, "I'm with the band." She
giggled
and let me through a line of girls right towards Roary. Roary was
leaning
against the table eating chips and talking to a black haired girl. The
girl
she was talking to had on black pants and a 'Salam' baseball t-shirt in
a
black trim. I sat down in an empty space and turned towards them.
"Brooke, What took you so long?" Roary asked.
"Just a minor set back with the food."
Roary giggled and so did the black haired girl. When she left Roary sat
closer to me. "That girl name is Katrina. Call her Kitty. Everyone
does. If
you call her Katrina forget about sitting near her."
"I will keep that in mind." I chewed on a chip.
"We need to go shopping." A phone rang. Every girl around me pulled out
a
cell phone checking it. I looked through my backpack and when I felt
the
time was right, I dipped my head in and pretended to check mine. A girl
with
strawberry blonde hair was yelling in her fluffy pink cell phone.
"Tomorrow.
After school, meet me by the flagpole. I tell my boyfriend to pick us
up."
"You have a boyfriend that can drive?" I exclaimed.
"Yah, don't you?" Roary yelled something to the blonde girl with the
cell
phone, but I couldn't hear her. The girl did and she walked over to us.
The girl had on a blue and yellow cheerleading outfit and her hair was
up in
a high ponytail with matching ribbons. Her face was turning red.
"What's up,
Roary?"
Roary whispered something to her. The girl slowly pulled out her
glittery
eye shadow and applied it. "So, Whose the girl?"
"Oh, I am so rude. This is Brooke. Brooke this is Kali."
"Brooke, huh? I am the head cheerleader so you must be honored to meet
me."
She put away her eye shadow.
Roary shot her a defining look. I quickly picked up the personality of
this
girl. "Yes, Truly honored. Wow! If it for you Roary I could have never
meet
such a girl!"
Kali flinched. She tried to force a smile but there is no fooling me.
"Roary, I got to go the Chickets are probably wondering where I am."
"O.K, See ya later, Kali." Roary turned to me. "I'm am so sorry about
her;
she is one of the popular…..friends that I have that are snobby like
that."
"I heard that Kitty is like that too."
"No, She isn't. Where do you get your news?" Roary's sweet face turned
red
and she pretended to be focusing on something in the basketball court.
"Well, just places, people." I began to feel a little insecure but
overcame
it on the outside.
"Kitty, is just like me. She is fun, frisky and desired. I put her
there. I
became her friend. I am a helper. You seem to be the helpless. I was
trying
to help you. I was trying to bring you to the top. You were the lost
cause.
I am the cause. You need to understand that. You can't judge a book by
its
cover, you know?"
"Well, Roary I just thought…" I began to feel frightened like I didn't
know
this Roary.
"You though. Well, think again. I told Kitty that you were a cause.
Someone
who just needed the right friends, the right makeover, and the right
haircut. And you could be popular. You want that right? You want to be
popular? Am I wrong?"
"No, Roary. I want to be popular. You are right!! I need all the stuff
you
wanted to give me. But now, I guess I don't deserve it." I was furious.
How
could she do this? I thought she wanted to be my friend not her doll. I
jumped off the bench and flipped my hair. If this were a movie, this is
where the cool song would come in. The song that proves I am right and
she
is wrong. Roary was bright red and she had pulled over a friend and was
whispering something to her. I could care less! So there Roary!
"Brooke!! Brooke!!" Someone was yelling my name. I flipped my hair
again
and started for the bathroom, with my lean, sexy walk.
When I got into the bathroom, I walked to the stall. I pulled down my
pants
and there in my underwear was reddish-brownish stuff. I couldn't
believe it!
I got my period! I have never had my period before so this was very new
and
exciting. I checked the back of my jeans to see if it bled though. It
did.
You could see reddish brownish spots. That was probably what the girl
yelling my name was trying to say. And what Roary was telling that girl
she
pulled aside. I had on a double layer top and I took off the top and
wrapped
it around my waist. I only had on a slinky purple spaghetti strap under
it.
I casually strided past the popular kids and headed towards the nurse's
outfit. I turned my head backwards to see if anyone was following me.
Someone was. Probably a popular kid. But she was really far behind me
but
she looked like she was jogging in a way. Jogging but walking, as I
suspected she was wearing high heels.
I turned to face the nurse's office and peered in. The girl behind me
had
auburn hair. "Hey! Brooke!!"
I stopped and waited for her to catch up. To my surprise she wasn't
out of
breath. Her shoes weren't that high and her blouse sure wasn't that
low.
"Who are you?" "Miranda. I just was telling you that. Roary is pissed
at
you."
"Really?" I said sarcastically, half not expecting an answer.
"Yeah. Her face is beet red. She probably doesn't mean whatever she
said.
She's on her…" Miranda leaned closer almost touch my ear with her
tongue.
"Menstrual cycle."
"Well, So am I, So I need to get in there." I tried to push Miranda
away
but she wouldn't do it. Her face was swollen. Her eyes were puffy like
she
had been crying.
"Her first. Can you believe that? It is a Sin. She should already have
hers. I can't believe that had to happen to Roary." Miranda steeped
back and
pulled out a daisy handkerchief.
"I just got mine. So if you would leave me alone." I opened the door
to the
nurse's office.
Miranda stepped back. The bell rang and I walked further in.
CHAPTER 7
"Mrs. Shields. Mrs. Shields?" the nurse, Candy was calling me.
I stood up and put away my homework. Candy had already walked into her
office. When I got into her office, she told me to lie down. "I just
got my
period, if you could just give a pad or tampon. I'll be on my way."
Candy didn't seem to hear me. She was pushing on my lower stomach. I
looked
at her. Her hair was a fiery red, bleached puff. Her face was a total
disaster site with all the make-up piled on it. But on her arms, her
skin
was like snow whites. "Well, Mrs. Shields. You can go back to class.
With
the exception that you sign here."
"Candy? I got my period. Can you give me a pad?"
"Well, Sign here and I'll see if we have anymore." Candy blew a piece
of
hair away from her face. She bended over on her desk, clearing showing
her
cleavage off. I turned my head, so I wouldn't have to look. She pulled
a pen
out of her pocket and slammed it on where she wanted me to sign. She
straightened herself up. Steve Eisten walked in. "Mr. Eisten. Room 5."
Candy
walked into the supply closet. She walked back out and slipped me a
pad.
"Candy, I am just giving you a little something. So, don't bring in all
that
heavy equipment. Just you and your small tools." Steve called to her.
Candy pulled the paper away so quickly that I thought it was still
under my
hand till she said. "Now, you can go."
"Wait." I called as soon as I reached the door.
"What now?" Candy looked like she was furious that I needed something
else.
"A pass?"
"For heavens sake just takes this note. No use to me anyways. Just
clutter."
Candy said.
"Alright." I walked out the door and towards my science classroom. When
I
walked in, I realized I didn't go to Science yet. I stood outside the
door
and tried to think where I went next. The world started to spin out of
control. Then, I blanked out.
"Brooke? Brooke?" I opened my eyes Candy and Nomiana, a girl from
French
class was standing over me. I turned my head and opened my eyes wider.
"Where am I?" Nomiana was smiling. I could not understand what
happened.
"Your in the Gentlemen's bathroom at Sagebrush High School. The east
quad
to be exact." Candy replied. He make-up was wiped off and she looked
very
pretty.
"Well, What happened?" I asked again, more aggressively this time.
"Well, I found you outside of Mrs. Jamison's classroom. Slouched on
the
floor. You're lucky I found you 5 minutes before her class got out. You
could have been embarrassed." Nomiana said.
I glanced around making sure no guys were in here. Nomiana must have
seen
me because she said. "This restroom was evacuated and is now temporary
out
of order."
"Well, At least I am alright. Let me go to class now." I knew they
weren't
going to let me. But it was worth a try.
"We have to at least wait till the ambulance gets here." Candy smiled
me.
Her smile was much to warm to be from her. After all, she was shooing
me out
of her office earlier.
I peered at Nomiana. Her hair was a reddish color but it was lighter
than
Candy's. Her purple tank top and glitter belt made me think that she
was
going for a rock star look. Her chain necklaces with a lightening bolt
on it
started to slid down and her top too. She pulled it up and checked my
pulse.
"She is fine, Candy. We can let her go back to class." Candy smiled in
relief.
"I will clear things up with the ambulance. But, Nomiana there is only
ten
minutes left in seventh period, so, just let her stay here awhile and
send
her home school is over."
"I should stay with her. I can go get my stuff after school, I want to
be
here for her." Nomiana demanded.
"Fine, let her rest for now. I will go get the paperwork." Candy stood
up.
She brushed off her knees and walked out the door leaving me alone with
Nomiana.
CHAPTER 8
The next thing I knew, Nomiana was walking me home. I only live a
couple of
blocks from school. I didn't want to go home to Janis and my parents. I
didn't want to tell my mom about this tiny secret that was happening to
me
as I spoke. She would probably congratulate me and buy me an ice-cream
sundae like she did with Janis.
Nomiana asked if she could come in and I lied to her saying that my mom
was
upset because of her job and I have a lot of homework. She nodded at
me.
Then, we said our good byes and see you at school tomorrows and I
walked
into my house. My dad works at home so he was in his office. We can't
bug
him till 4:00 unless it is an emergency. Then, I heard the doorbell
ring. I
turned around and opened the door. A dark brown haired girl stood
there. She
was wearing a V-neck tee with purple glitter stripes. Her jeans were
frayed
with a star attached to them. She had her hands in her butt pockets and
she
didn't appear to be lost. "Hiya, My name is Ashley, I just moved to the
neighborhood and I saw you and a girl walk to this house. And since I
don't
know anybody I was wondering if you would show me around town." Ashley
smiled. Her braces lit up her face. I could totally tell she was
comfortable
with them and had them changed often or matched her clothes to them
because
they were purple. When she smiled, her eyes would blink.
"Uh. Sure. Let me get my coat." I ran inside and got my long sweater
that my
mom calls a duster, and pulled it on. Ashley talked most of the way to
Jack
in the box. Mostly about her old school and how she thought her new
school
was going to be like.
We arrived at the Jack in the box and who was there but Nomiana. Her
blond
haired jock type boyfriend had his hand around her shoulder while he
laughed
with Roary and a muscular guy who was also had his arm around his
girlfriend. Nomiana sneaked a peek my way, her emotions were blank but
quickly picked up when she was asked a question. "Friend of yours?"
Ashley
asked. "You can go sit by them, I remember the way home." She walked to
the
line.
"No. I don't want to sit by them. I came here with you and I will leave
with
you." I straightened up and gracefully walked to Ashley.
"Thank you. I didn't really remember the way home. But you seemed so
drawn
towards them. I thought that you might just totally forget about me and
move
towards them."
"Yeah." We finally got up to the front of the line and ordered. We were
number 605. Ashley walked to a booth and slid down into the seat,
gently
putting down her purse while I threw mine and hopped into my seat.
"604. 605. 604. 605" the cashier pushed a tray into my stomach and
turned
and headed for the kitchen only to return a few minutes later with
three
drink cups. "Go fill up your drinks; sit back down at your table. A
waiter
will be by shortly to help you."
