I stared into his eyes. They were baby blue. He leaned in towards me and stroked my hair. Chad Jacobs, my dream boy, practically falling into my arms! Wow………

"Why are you so hot and single at the same time? Let's change that……"Chad got closer, and we started making out. I closed my eyes. It was great. "Karen! Hi, Karen! Karen!" What the……..Emily just popped her head in the middle of our make out session, literally!

I opened my eyes. Oh, thank God. Chad hadn't really witnessed that….Emily was on my bed right next to me! "Karen! Hi! Let's play Barbies! Oooo….you forgot to change your calendar!" It was one of those calendars that you rip off one page per day, and there's the date and your horoscope (one kind of calendar for each astrological sign.)

Sleepily, I pulled out my hair, which was in a messy bun. "What time is it?" I asked her as I switched my calendar to Saturday, September 15th.

"It's 10:15!"

That's pretty early for me, I thought. "Aren't you too old for Barbies, Emmy? You're in fourth grade."

"I guess," said Emily. "Can you paint my nails?"

"Uh…ask Dad," I suggested.

At 10:30 I was looking through Seventeen magazines. "No from Mom. And Dad is trying to get some work done at his office."

I shrugged. "Sorry, Em. Maybe another time. Meanwhile, I'll be in the shower."

"But I have to go to the bathroom!" Emily exclaimed, starting to run downstairs.

"Me, too," Andrew said. He ran down the stairs and ahead of Emily.

Emily shrieked, "Not fair!" And thus, it became a race to the finish line.

Oh crap, I thought. It'll be time to go to the Barrett and DeWitt's by the time they're done with their stuff!

Then I turned to my closet. The weather was supposed to be relatively cold. My goal: be warm, casual and look cool just in case I go somewhere with hot guys. Eventually I decided on a pink tee that said "Don't fight with me. You will not win." Then I found my favorite American eagle jeans and my Phat Farms. To top it off, I grabbed a brown, flowery Aeropostale hoodie.

At 11 I was in the shower. At 12 I was playing catch with Andrew. At 12:30 I was getting my weekend homework out of the way. Well…..that afternoon was boring. Why bother talking about it?

At 5:30 we were sitting at dinner when Emily starts talking. "Hey, Mom, after dinner, can you help me pack?"

"Pack for what?" I asked, sounding rather dumb.

Emily sighed. It sounded a lot like my sighs when someone doesn't get what I'm saying. Oh, God.

"My sleepover with Marnie Barrett! Duh!" How could I forget what she told me? My heart sunk slowly to my stomach. Did I tell Dad and Elizabeth about the sitting job? Uh, no. Will a twelve year old and I be watching six kids? That was the only question that resulted in a yes.

"Um, pack me!" I said brightly, nudging her playfully. That brought on many confused looks towards me.

"Um, what?" Shut up, Emily, be yourself, not me, please!

"I'm scheduled to sit for their kids tonight. So, yeah, bring me along."

"So, yeah, Dad's gonna drive us." Aargh!

"Seven to nine, Dad, okay?"

He shrugged, I shrugged, and Emily shrugged. "I'm done!" Andrew cried, jumping up and spilling Emily's juice onto her lap.

"No!" Emily nearly shrieked. "I was going to show my new sparkle jeans and shirt to Marnie! Not fair!"

But she did change, after all. We left with her in black stretch pants and a blue Old Navy basketball tee. She had insisted on me putting her hair in pigtails, and put back her bangs in clips that matched her shirt.

Jen, Emily and I reached the door at the same time. "What, did you go to a party or something?" I commented.

She rolled her eyes and looked at her outfit. Her hair was loose but in a headband, her bangs to the side, fashionably in front of the headband. Jen had huge silver hoop earrings, a small plain tee and a frilly, short skirt. Did I forget to mention she was wearing huge, black high heel boots?

"Just ring the bell, Brewer," Jen replied airily.

"You know, I can throw you out of the club……..."

"No! No!" her voice softened. "I need to show Mom…….that I'm actually worth something too."

I smiled reassuringly. "Just behave." She knew I was kidding. I rang the Barrett/DeWitt's bell.

"Jen! Karen! Hi! I'm so glad you're here, I need so much help with this assignment……"

Marnie pushed him away. "Emily! Emily Michelle! You won't believe that my mom got ProRacer 2! Come in…….."

"But Joe….." Ryan whined. "We're supposed to play the Game Cube! And Marnie……racing is not for girls, it's off limits to you two."

"Girls can so!" shouted Marnie. "We play soccer, and basketball, and……"

"Shut it!" Madeleine exclaimed. "How can I listen to the new Green Day CD with you guys blabbering?"

Great, we get to deal with a big, happy family. Not.