3. Maria

A lot of people think that seventeen is a grown up age. But whether you're eight or my age, others never understand you.

Take today for instance. My roommates (car mates?) were fine. Three of my friends and two 22 year olds aren't bad. We just talked about sexy guys and stuff (my current hottie is Shane Jordan.) Then we follow Karen the Ring Leader into this huge cabin on "Shadow Lake."

I get into my room and there's Margo, Complainer Extraordinaire, Claudia, Dawn, Stacey and Lucy, this miniature kid who forces us to NOT talk about inappropriate things (for nine year olds.)

Then there's dinner. Holy crap, the table must be five feet long. It has to be. Who decided upon inviting all these people to what was supposed to be a family vacation? Probably Karen. I'm going to stab her, this is so gay.

"So," Watson said, "What is everyone planning on doing tomorrow?"

"Oh, Dad, duh," Karen replied brightly. "We're all babysitting!" I groaned and rolled my eyes. Sometimes babysitting seems sooo dorky.

"There are too many babysitters to go around," Watson joked. Only Lucy and Danny needed to be watched.

"We could switch off, each having to watch them one day!" Kristy cried. Like stepsister, like stepsister? Um.

Dinner was silent the rest of the way. Can you believe it? We ate the dinner that Watson prepared without a word. I raised my eyebrow at Karen, the talker. She continued to keep her mouth shut.

"Bedtime!" Lucy cried when we were all back in the room. Maria, can you read me a story? Margo, will you help me undress? Gosh, I love it when my babysitters are here!"

Claudia laughed. "Hey, at one time we were your sitters too!" She motioned to Stacey and Dawn.

"Really! How old was i?" Lucy all but squealed.

Stacey flipped her short, layered blonde hair. "We first started sitting for your family when Jamie was three years old. When you were born, we always watched both you guys."

"Wow, I was little," Lucy commented. I was her age now when the BSC sat for my friends and I, I was little, I thought.

When we thought Lucy was in the bathroom, Margo and I started talking.

"Oh, my God. Being single sucks," she said.

"Well, there's nothing wrong with the way you look" I replied brightly. Sometimes being optimistic is hard, but I can deal with it.

"No offense Maria, but you kind of dress like a slut sometimes."

I DID take some offense to that. "Uh, no. And maybe the way I dress helps me to get the guy, which you don't have."

"Maybe the way you dress helps you not to keep a boyfriend for more than two months."

What is her problem? "At least I have a boyfriend!" That shut her up.

"Who has a boyfriend? Do you kiss a lot?" Without warning, Lucy jumped out of the bathroom in her purple unicorn night shirt.

At least she doesn't know sex in detail yet, I mouthed to Margo. WE don't want her asking about that.

Margo nodded. "I have to…..take a shower!" I ran out, grabbing my robe.

"You took one just a while ago!" Dawn called to me. Apparently she was not paying attention before.

"Shut it!" Margo hissed.

Somewhere to go! That did not have little nine year olds in it! Myriah and Jen's room was out. Marnie and Emily (cringe) eleven year olds scare me, especially when they try to act all cool.

I creaked open the door and everybody stared at me! I mean, I looked around and there are the eyes of Hannah, Karen, Melody, Nancy, Shannon, Abby, Jessi and Mal. Whoa.

"Get out," Shannon finally said. "You're not mature enough for our conversation."

"Shannon, God! All my friends are in here and you're still conversing with them in there!" You'd think after Tiffany got pregnant and left, we'd be closer as sisters. Unfortunately, we're not.

"Well, duh. I can just ignore them. But you, well, are hard to ignore!" My senses told me that she was staring at my outfit. What was so wrong with a connecting tee/strappy tank, and a long (ENOUGH) tiered mini skirt? I was going to wear my flip flops but was too lazy after I realized I had already packed them to dig them out again. That's how I ended up wearing these black heely things.

I shrugged. "I'm assuming you haven't seen Jen's ensemble yet." Following a remark that is witty or makes her interested, I leave.

Dawn was tucking Lucy into bed, the back of her shirt visible. "Reduce, Reuse, And Recycle". Following Shannon's description of Dawn, she hadn't changed much.

"Why isn't your hair wet?" Lucy jumped up, the blanket cover falling off.

"I uh, blow dried it."

"Oh, okay. Good night, babysitters!" The moment we'd all been waiting for. Lucy fell asleep.

A lot of people think seventeen is a grown up age. But it is just a confusing age. Your 22 year old sister thinks she's too old for you. Yet you're fifteen and sixteen year old friends seem too young for you at times. Oh, fine. Life is just confusing.