The only thing I could find would have normally been the ugliest thing I had ever seen.

Normally.

It was dark blue, and the skirt lost its "Poof" effect. The sleeves were way too long for me. I hated the lace on it, too. But, as I found out, those things can be fixed. I mean…I've had this thing forever…well…maybe not forever… (Medda thought I'd like to wear a dress to the rally a year ago. She said it was a gift. Personally I think Medda hates me and wants to torment me for her own amusement.)

I looked at the finished product. Not bad, I thought. Not bad at all…

Actually…it was horrible. But that was only because it was a dress. I hated dresses.

But hell, I hated dances, too, and I was going to one. And that was only because Spot was going.

Lately I've noticed I've been influenced by peer pressure a lot more than I should have been.

And I was only going to keep Spot away from that tart, Danielle. Or to keep Danielle away from my womanizing best friend, Spot.

I'm not jealous.

It took me a moment to realize I was being watched. I turned around and saw the prissiest newsie ever, Baby doll. Ironically, they thought she was sweet, hence the name. She thought she was the toughest girl there…she thought she could kick anyone's ass, including mine.

All she was was a nuisance.

"Can I help you?"

"What are you doing?"

"I'm being productive. What about you? Been on your corner lately?"

I could feel the anger build up inside her. It made me smirk. Amusing, really. She was so EASY!

Then again, that was before I saw stars.

I held my jaw and spit out the blood in my mouth. Then I glared up at her. Oh, I wanted to punch that smug smile off that cute little face of hers. She gave me a taunting look. OOH did I want to strangle her. But, like a good little Timber, I restrained myself.

"One of these days, Doll, you're going to do that and I'm going to kick your ass all the way back to Ireland." I warned. Then I picked up the dress and started to walk past her.

That's when HER best friend showed up. See, I liked to call her friend "Mongo", because, God help me, she was HUGE. But of course, she had a cutesy name, too.

"Peach," Babydoll said, "Why don't you teach Timber here a little lesson on manners?" She grinned evilly at me.

When that fist came flying towards me, I said a silent prayer.

"Lord, I promise not to prank anyone ever again if I survive this beating."

I woke up an hour later.

See, this is why I hate my mouth. This is why I hate my brain. They, as a team, get me into a LOT of trouble.

I rubbed my jaw and gingerly touched my lip. I hated blood, too.

I got up and went to the washroom to clean up and survey the damage. Great…I had a black eye as well.

I'm gonna kill her. Babydoll and "Mongo" are going to DIE!

Then came the knock on the door.

I've always believed in the superstition of bad things coming in three's. So far, this would be the second thing, because once I opened the door, Sarah Jacobs walked in.

I wondered if I could shoot myself.

"And what can I do for YOU?" I asked.

"What happened to you? You look like you've just been in a fight." She said, her eyes wide and worried.

Naw, Sarah. I just woke up and I looked like this. I hated her.

I've also noticed that I hate a lot of things and a lot of people. I've got to work on my people skills.

"I'm fine. So what do you want?"

"Well, I was actually looking for you. The dance is going to begin in less that two hours and everyone who's going is at Tibby's eating dinner. Are you not going?"

Really, I appreciate the sentiment of her worrying and all…but that also got annoying. "Yeah, about that…" I glanced over my shoulder at the dress. An alarm bell went off, followed by a surge of rage.

That prissy slut ripped my dress in half.

"Why that no account-…"

"If you need help with a dress or hair or something, I could help you out…" Sarah suggested. "It wouldn't take much time at all."

I whipped around to look at her. What did she just say?

"What?" That's practically what I said…but I'll go with it anyway.

"Look, Timber, I know you don't like me very much and all…but I was hoping that we could put everything behind us and try to be friends." She said softly, giving me a hopeful look. Did EVERYONE have to use that look?

"Why do you want to help me?" I asked suspiciously.

"That's what friends do." She said with a small smile. Then she held out her hand. "Friends?"

I thought it over. Well…hell I've already lost all my sanity, so why not? I took her hand and shook it. "Fine. Friends."

She smiled. "Alright. Let's go. We've got a lot of work to do in such little time."

I narrowed my eyes. "I take offense to that."

I must be out of my mind! But with Sarah helping me, I could probably look better and steal Spot away from that no good Danielle. HAHAHA!

But I'm not jealous.