[Kristy] [10 years]

Title: Start Anew

Author: Sweet Piglet

AN the First: Yes, I know, it has been over a month since I last updated. But I'm sure that the time was well worth it, because after all, I got not one, not two, but. . . Oh, wait. No, it was only two chapters that I finish. Never mind.

Anyway, here you go. I thought that I would make up for my long break with a different perspective. Happy days. *These happy days are yours and mine, happy days.*

Now it's time for more of everyone's favorite part of the author's note. That's right, it's Answers from Sweet Piglet!: Wicked Witch of Slytherin I love your new penname! I call myself the 'Wicked Photographer of the East,' because I've got these black and white striped toe socks, and . . . Well, never mind. Thank you (AGAIN) for reviewing. Brandi I know. This is NOT updating soon. I know! I promise to update again by 7:00 pm EST on Friday, August 1st. Cool beans? Banana_Split, I am so glad that you liked the last sentence. Personally, I think that the very end of my chapters are the best part. I like to keep the last bit in the readers' minds. Katerina One of the best you've read anywhere? Truth be told, I nearly started crying when I read that. I mean, there are a LOT of good BSC stories out there. Thank you so much. BalletPrincess, your reaction is exactly what I was going for when I wrote it. deemarie, thank you, thank you very much. teacherchez I'm glad you think so! the grumpy skipper You know, I really am going to have to convince you to get an account. What is with this 'Anonymous' business? I know who you are, so why should reviews say that I don't? Also, you are the HONORED REVIEWER OF THE CHAPTER!!! The Grumpy Skipper has had this honor bestowed (ha! stow, BEstow? Yeah, I don't get it either) upon her because she brought me back something from her trip to England that I love very much. MIND THE GAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! . "In her head, between her ears," says Christa. Eye of the Jedi, I think you'll find the answer to the "what happened" question in this chapter. . . Lola, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Lee, I'm glad that there are people from places besides America reading my stories. What part of Canada are you from?

Well, that is all. For now. Beware. Eh. School is starting soon, and I can't get enough energy pent up to sign off with some witty comment. See you around.

"Goodness, Kristy," said Mrs. Brewer. "What on Earth was going on in here? Was that Mary Anne and you yelling?"

"Yes," Kristy responded sullenly.

"I'll have to apologize to Karen, then."

"Why?"

"I told her that if she was going to watch her soaps here, she'll have to turn the volume down. A lot. Now I see that it wasn't her. No wonder she was sitting so close to the television. . ."

"Mom."

"I'm sorry, sweetheart, do you want to talk about it?"

"No," Kristy said.

"Okay, then," said Mrs. Brewer, turning for the door.

"I just don't understand her."

"Mary Anne?"

"Yeah. She's ruining her life."

"How's that, now?"

"By giving away the baby. She will regret it forever."

"Why do you say that?"

"She won't be able to see the baby grow up. She'll miss out on everything."

"What if she gets married, and has another child?"

"She'll still miss the first. I know she will. She's my best friend. We know everything about each other."

"Does she know that Bart proposed to you last night?"

"Well," Kristy admitted, "No. I didn't tell her that."

"Mm-hm. And did you tell her that you accepted?"

Kristy rolled her eyes. "Well, if she doesn't know that he proposed, chances are likely that I didn't. Tell her, that is."

"I see. And did you tell her that you have a date in mind already?"

"No! No, I didn't tell her any of that. Not that I should have, anyway. She just walked in here and started yelling about me about how I've got it all wrong," Kristy said sulkily

"Kristy, sweetie, can I give you a little advice?"

"Of course. As long as you take my side in the end."

"Well, I'm not going to. Kristy, you are going to be an adult in an extremely short amount of time, and I wife not long after that. You have to grow up. In the real world, you will not be able to convince everyone to eschew someone you personally do not like. It doesn't work that way. And honestly, I don't know how you managed to turn everyone against poor Mary Anne like you did."

"It was really hard," Kristy said softly. "They didn't want to believe that Mary Anne had changed. Neither did I." She swallowed. "I was hoping that this would be like that thing with her hair in the 8th grade. We'd ignore her, she'd grow desperate to get back in our good graces, she'd agree to keep the baby, and we'd all be friends again."

"It didn't work that way, though, did it?" Mrs. Brewer murmured as she sat down next to Kristy and hugged her little girl.

"No, it didn't," she replied, close to tears. "She's changed, Mom. She doesn't need me anymore." Kristy started to sob, to lose the façade she had kept since Mary Anne had (indifferently, it seemed) told her that she was pregnant, and planned to let someone adopt the baby. Most importantly, she saw how wrong she had been. She didn't have to approve of Mary Anne's decision. But if they were really best friends, she should have been able to support her.

"Oh, God, Mom," Kristy wailed, "I am a horrible, horrible friend!"

"No! No no no no, Kristy. You are not a horrible friend." Mrs. Brewer took hold of her daughter's shoulders and shook her a little. "Kristy, you have very set ideas about how a parent should care for a baby. That is why you made such a good baby-sitter, and that is why you will make such a good mother. Because you will go out of your way to make sure that your children have what they need, and to an extent, what they want. But Mary Anne has different set ideas on a family. She is going to be going to college any day now, and she wants her baby to have a mother and a father, a set of parents that have the time and love to give to a baby whose mother couldn't take care of her. Mary Anne knows that if she keeps the baby, that little girl will not grow up with what she could have. You and Mary Anne are two very different people. That was one of the reasons you were such good friends."

"But, but, but," Kristy sputtered, "I said all sorts of nasty stuff to her. How could I be a good friend if I said that?"

"That was wrong of you, I'll agree. But I think that you need to tell Mary Anne what you've realized. And the sooner, the better."

Kristy nodded. "Tomorrow," she vowed. "I'll tell her first thing tomorrow."

"That sounds like a good idea."

At seven thirty the next morning, Kristy walked up the path to the Spiers' house, and knocked on the door.

Sharon Spier answered. "Good morning, Mrs. Spier," Kristy said.

"Kristy? What are you doing here?"

"I'm, well. . . I'm here to apologize to Mary Anne."

"I'm sorry?"

"Yes, well, that was what I was going to start out with. Why? Do you think that I should begin with something different?"

"Kristy, dear, I'm sorry that I've got to be the one to tell you this, but. . ."

Kristy felt a chill go through her. "What's wrong?" she asked urgently. "Is Mary Anne okay? The baby?"

"No, no, they're both fine. It's just that. . . Kristy, Mary Anne for New York City left an hour ago."