I walked into Pizza Express at noon on the dot. I am nothing if not punctual. I don't think I've been in Pizza Express since middle school. I didn't graduate from Stoneybrook Middle School, or Stoneybrook High School for that matter. I went to a small boarding school in Massachusetts called Riverbend Academy. I loved it there, and frankly never wanted to leave. But leave I did, because the school only goes through twelfth grade. When I was done I came back home to Stoneybrook for a little while. I'd been gone for six years, except for holidays and vacations. I wanted to see what had changed in that time…and then I just never left.

Of course I don't still live with my parents, although I did when I first got back. Now I have my own little apartment - emphasis on the little. And actually I don't live in Stoneybrook proper, but rather just outside of it, on the way to Stamford. That's convenient since I work in Stamford. I don't have a glorious or exciting job. I guess that's the price I pay for not going to college. I always wanted to go, and never intended NOT to, but time just kind of got away from me. Plus there was the little factor of not being able to afford it. And when you come from a family of eight kids, you can't count on having your college tuition paid for.

I don't mind all that so much though. I'm still young and can always go to college. It's not like there's an age limit. Still, every now and then I look at my more successful friends who were able to go to college and have made something better out of their lives, and I get a little sad. My job is fine - just ordinary. I always wanted to be a writer of children's books, but it's harder to break into the publishing world than I ever imagined when I was a kid and writing dumb little stories about mice in New York City. Yeah, I still have that story somewhere, amazingly enough. I wrote it, God, 14 years ago when my friends in the Baby-Sitters Club took a trip to New York City. Wow. Time really has gotten away from me.

I scanned the restaurant quickly, looking for Jessi. I spotted her right away, sitting at a booth in the corner. I knew that booth well, and I'm guessing that she did too. How many BSC pizza toasts had occurred in that very booth? I hurried over and tapped her on the shoulder. No way was I just sitting down to eat without at least getting a hug!

"Jessi! You look so great!"

"Thank you! So do you - brown hair suits you." When I was young, my hair was brown. Then it rather mysteriously turned red and was the bane of my existence. Finally, about a year and a half ago I decided to quit complaining about it and wishing for a magical return to brunette, and with the aid of hair dye I returned it to a shade of dark brown. I have been much happier ever since. "Thanks, Jessi. I don't know why it took me so long to decide to dye my hair. It's not like I'm a stranger to hair dye."

"Yeah, but maybe that's why you held off. Remember how dreadfully the blonde turned out!" Jessi and I both snickered at the shared memory of childhood stupidity.

"So what brings you back to Stoneybrook? I mean, you've been gone for, what, five years now?"

"Yeah, about that. In some ways it feels like I've been gone forever, and in others it feels like I've never left. Sitting in this booth with you for example - how many times have we done this?" I shrugged, smiling. Jessi continued, "Anyway, I'm back for a couple of reasons. The biggest is that I have important news for you and I just couldn't share it over the phone. Especially since I don't live all that far from Stoneybrook. I just had to come out here."

"So what is it? The suspense is driving me crazy." Jessi smiled mysteriously. Just then a waiter arrived at our table. What timing!

"Here are some menus, and I'll be back in a few minutes to take your orders." He never looked at us - just handed us menus and scurried away like a mouse. I picked up a menu and rolled my eyes at Jessi. "Kids today. I don't remember the Pizza Express waiters being rude like that before."

"Oh, they were. I mean, this is hardly 'fine dining'. The waiters here are just high school kids trying to earn a few bucks. I can't imagine they earn very much though."
"Not with service like that, they don't!" I replied indignantly.

"Wow, Mal, I'm surprised to hear you talk like that. That seems like kind of an overreaction, don't you think?"

I thought for a moment, then answered, "I don't know. Maybe it is. I guess because I work an often thankless job, I just want to be treated a bit better when I go out. Especially when I go out to eat. I'd at least like to be looked at by the waiter, you know?"

"Yeah, I can understand that. But keep in mind that this is probably his first job. He hasn't learned any better yet. Don't you remember your first job?"

I groaned. "Oh, yeah. Boy did that suck." Jessi giggled.

"Well, this job probably sucks for him. So give him a break."

"All right, you're right. What do you want to get?"

We sat silently for the next few minutes, deciding on what we wanted. Finally we both set our menus aside and waited for the waiter to return. "Okay, so while we're waiting, why don't you tell me what your important news is?" I prompted Jessi. She didn't answer me, but picked up her water glass with her left hand and took a sip. As she is not left handed, I watched her curiously, which is when I finally noticed the diamond ring on her finger.

My jaw slowly dropped and I asked, "Does that mean what I think it means?" Jessi grinned and nodded. I grinned back and jumped out of my seat. I hurried over to her side of the table and wrapped my arms around her in a big hug. "I am so happy for you!" I cried. "I assume it's Graham?"

"Yes, of course! He asked me last week." She paused. "So I have a question to ask you."

"Shoot!"

"Well, you've been my best friend for fourteen years. My wedding wouldn't be right without you in it…so, will you be my maid of honor?"

I know I probably shouldn't have been surprised. I mean, we had decided that we would each be the other's maid of honor (when the time came ) when we were twelve. But I guess maybe I thought she had forgotten about that. I felt tears of joy welling up in my eyes and of course agreed.

The waiter returned and took our order (and he even looked at us this time and smiled, so I forgave his earlier surliness.) During the rest of lunch Jessi told me all about the proposal in detail. Finally I asked her who else knew.

"Well, our parents, of course. And you. And I think Graham has already called his best friend over in London about being the best man. But I haven't called the other BSC girls yet. I haven't decided how to go about doing that either. I mean, as excited as I am about getting engaged, I don't want to have to tell the story six more times." I thought about this, and then I remembered something.

"Wait a second. Do you remember when the club officially disbanded?" Jessi nodded. "None of us could really believe that the club was gone. So we made that pact, remember?" Jessi's face lit up. "Yeah! I do remember!"

"So all we have to do is call the girls and tell them we're invoking the pact. Then once they all arrive here we can tell them the news all at once."

"Perfect! It would even be fun to have a sleepover like the ones we had before you moved away…but your apartment is too small, isn't it?"

"Yeah, it really is. It barely fits me, much less eight women. But you know, all my little brothers and sisters have moved out of my parents' house. Well, sort of. Claire and Margo are at college, but it's the same difference. So they have lots of room now. I'll ask them if we can use it."

"That would be great," Jessi said. "Do you want to help me call the other girls?"

"Of course! How about I call Kristy, Dawn, and Stacey, since I have unlimited long distance on my phone, and you can call Claudia, Abby, and Mary Anne?" Jessi agreed, we paid for our pizza, and left the restaurant.

I had to head back to work so promised Jessi that I would call my three girls tonight. She said she could call hers as soon as she got back to her parents' house. I suddenly couldn't wait for this evening. I haven't talked to Kristy, Dawn, and Stacey in ages, since they all live in different states. It's pretty crazy how we all scattered to the winds the way we did. I always figured that if you are born in a small town you tend to stay there your whole life. But maybe I just think that because that's what I did. Anyway, I couldn't wait to talk to the three of them again, and I especially couldn't wait to see them all again!