Sorry I don't update with this story as often, but this is one of my better ones. You can tell from all of the detail I try to put into it. My style of writing for each story is different. That's my beautiful excuse for not updating.

Disclaimer- HaHa, once, I was in a Barnes and Noble with a friend, and we were in the Mags section, and we found a Self mag, and Hilary Duff was on the cover, and next to her it said 'Find out Hilary's Diet Secret!' and before I even open the magazine, my friend goes, "Oh! I know! Puking!" It was soooo funny! HaHaHaHaHa...

HaHaHa...

HeHe...

...maybe you had to be there.

"You saw the way she screamed my name, Taylor." I nervously flipped through a Columbia University brochure. But what was the point? According to Reno, colleges are out of the question, and that I'm only a senior. Little does she know, I'm out of here in by the end of July, whether she wants it or not. "It kinda freaked me out." I thought back to Gabriella springing out of her chair, telling me that it was all my fault, whatever that was. All I had done was re-stuff the napkin holders. "What do you think was going on?" I asked, turning to the next page of my brochure.

"I bet you that she came to realize that she's a stupid, bitchy, phony, and that no one likes her." Taylor laughed on the other end. When I didn't laugh back, Taylor continued. "On a more serious note, I heard that Troy dumped her. Did you see the way she shot him death glares at lunch today?" she asked. What I found confusing was how Taylor claimed to hate the populars, but she was still interested in everything that they did. But I think that deep down, everyone has a part of them that wishes they were openly adored by complete strangers.

"I'm sorry, I missed that. I was busy thinking of where I'm going to get the money to repair my car!" I explained. After four hours of waiting impatiently, a crane finally showed up at school the day Stripe died and moved him onto the football field, since I refused to have my beautiful Stripe towed. I Don't remember how many people flicked me off for holding up traffic, but I lost count after eleven.

"Just get a new one," Taylor said. "That'll be much easier." But there was no way in hell I was going to give up Stripe. My dad left me Stripe, which makes him extra important and special. I remember Dad tossing me the keys, and how I fit just perfectly in the drivers' seat. I remember taking ten minutes to start the car up, but it was worth waiting for. And it was when I nudged Gabriella's precious Covette once, cracking one of her brakelamps that I fell in love with Stripe. She never found out who did it.

"Are you kidding me?" I looked out my bedroom window to the driveway. Two silver convertibles similar to Gabriella's sat in front of Stripe. Stripe looked close to dead, and I know this isn't Herbie or anything, but I swear that cars have feelings. "My dad gave me that car, Taylor." this was the millionth time she was hearing this. "I'm not giving it up."

"You're so stubborn." Taylor brought that conversation to a halt and opened up another one. "So, do you know what you're going to the Halloween dance as?" she asked. Ever since we had seen the first orange and black poster in our all red-and-white hallways, we had been scrambling in search of the perfect costume. Taylor, of course, was going to throw on her lab coat and call it a day, but since this was going to be one of those nights where I wasn't going to be dressed in an apron, it had to special. "We could steal the Wildcat mascot for you..." Taylor laughed.

"Oh..." Taylor covered her mouth with her hand. Sharpay politely crossed her legs and pursed her lips together. "Kelsi... you look..." I hated the spotlight on me. If I wanted to be the center of attention, I would have opted to audition for plays, not just write them. If I wanted to be the center of attention, I would've given Jason the bitch slap he deserved, not just let him walk away without a scratch. And if I wanted to be the center of attention, I would have unzipped the white gown I was wearing and bought it. I twirled once in the mirror, sliding my hands down the delicately laced and beaded torso. "You see, the thing is..." Taylor was short on words. I looked that bad. I took two handfuls of the full skirt.

"The thing is, I'm not getting married." I rolled my eyes behind the beaded mask that covered from the bridge of my nose and up. "I was going for a... Cinderella look, you know?" I asked, examining myself once more in the mirror. "I'm not going as a bride. Next costume please." I muttered to myself, struggling with the zipper in the back. The dress had fit me perfectly. I was about ready to give up on costumes and just spend the night of the dance behind the pink counters of Reno's diner, taking orders.

"Are you kidding me, Kelsi?" Sharpay stood and freed me from the dress. "You look amazing in this dress, and you are buying it." she ordered me. I opened my mouth in protest, but she cut me off. "Who cares about the price? Hell, I'll pay for it." That was awfully generous, but I wasn't sure how I was going to get the dress past Reno and my two bratty sisters, but that was far from my mind.

Too far for comfort.

I held back my chuckle when Riley announced to the dinner table that she and Raine were going to the Halloween dance as Playboy bunnies. I guess I didn't hide it well enough, because all three bleach blonde heads turned in my direction and glared. "Oh, I almost forgot you existed... again." Riley rolled her eyes. "And what are you going as? 'Cause it ain't gonna be better than a Playmate." she snapped. Riley was another one of Gabriella's minions, which meant it was her duty to hate me. I would sometimes wonder if Gabriella only kept her around because she had the power to ruin my day, even in my own home.

"That's if she's going, right, Mom?"Raine consulted to Reno at the head of the table. Thirteen minutes younger and a head shorter than Riley, Raine was sort of the insecure twin. But she took all of her anger out on me. I would put up a front and show them that it never got to me, but the more they pressed, the harder it got. "It's not like you'll find a costume in time... hey! You could go as a waitress..." Raine and Riley giggled into their overly manicured palms.

"Yeah, who said you're going?" Reno chimed in. That billion dollar dress that I was hiding in my closet said I was going! But I didn't have the courgae to say that. "I have a strong feeling that I'm going to need some extra help in the diner that night, Kelsi." Riley and Raine laughed again. I clenched my fists under the dinner table, fighting the urge to leap across the table and violently yank the blonde hair extensions away from her scalp. ButI was wearing one of Taylor's blouses and I didn't want to give her a blood stained shirt.

I slumped in my chair, knowing that the decision was final. Sharpay had wasted money on me, and once again, Riley and Raine got what they wanted. My one fun-filled night was flushed down the toilet.