Dear Diary,

Why must I always start it like that?

Oh well, it's the tradition, though I haven't been one for traditions.

The ski trip…is going surprisingly well. Suspiciously well. Kori might believe in the good of mankind and all that, but Mandy might be an alien for all I know. Mandy did give Kori a nice little necklace, and I think it was actually real emerald. She probably stole it.

I can almost hear Kori in my head…

Kori: Tsk tsk tsk, you must think of the best in people. Innocent until proven guilty!

Rachel: How about guilty till proven innocent?

Kori stomps into the corner to pout.

So the ski trip still has 2 days, and I think I'll relax, read a book, and pretend to cheer Gar and Vic on.

Did I mention? Kori and Mandy own a cabin up on the ski mountain. Broadway parents do that. My mom just has our apartment, and I have to take care of the flowers. Anyways, there's a gift shop in the ski village, so I guess I'll go see if they have a little book store. I'll be back soon.

Wait a second, that's silly, you're a diary. You can wait for as long as I want you to.

So good bye.

---

So I'm back now. They did indeed have a quaint little bookstore, but…all they had were just boring old love stories, and postcards. So I bought a stack of postcards on sale for my mother. Does anyone really need an Easter Day postcard?

I guess I'll actually try my hand at the video games, seeing as it's dark now, and skiing in the dark is risky.

Oh right, newsflash, I think Pamela (Mandy's friend.) is one of the insane botanists that talk to their plants. I know she's just studying it, but she brought this Venus flytrap with her on this trip, and now there's a fly in it, and it is quite disgusting. I mean, could you swallow a little faster? It is cool, just…the fly is halfway swallowed. Anyways, she talks to it. More like sings to it…Songs like The Mary and her Lamb, and ending it with a "Good Veenie…" and then sort of giggling madly to herself.

Victor just won the round of the insanely idiotic video game, so I guess it's my turn to play against him.

Goodnight.

Dear Diary,

I think I know what Mandy's getting at. I think she's trying to seduce Dick or something. She keeps batting her eyelashes, and suddenly forgetting to know how to ski, but we all know she's an expert. I mean, she was on the black diamond before. Is Dick blind? He must be, to miss that, and Kori's googly eyes all year. She's in college too, and I guess Dick is flattered. But he's 14. I think the age difference is a little too much. But you can see Kori practically going insane over here. She glaring at Mandy now. Mandy's giggling at Dick's attempt at making hot chocolate. I wonder if Kori will pour it down Mandy's little sweater dress. If she doesn't, I will.

Oh look, Gar's talking to me. I think I'll ignore him.

Gar attempts to speak to Rachel:

Gar: Hey, Rae?

Rachel continues writing this all down.

Gar: Rae?

Rachel yawns widely.

Gar: Rachel. Hello. Your turn.

Rachel ignores him with a frown, erasing at something on her paper.

Gar: (A little louder) Rae! If you don't want to play, I can always make hot chocolate and slop it down myself.

Rachel arches an eyebrow, but continues ignoring Garfield.

Gar: Hello? Do you want hot chocolate? Hey, what're you writing? Hey, I see my---

Rachel continues writing, but grunts at Garfield.

Gar: Okay, grunt once if it's a 'no', and grunt twice for a 'yes'.

Rachel grunts twice.

Gar: Wanna play?

Rachel: Grunt

Gar: Want hot chocolate? Captain Genius over there can't seem to pour water into a cup.

Rachel: Grunt Grunt

Gar: Did you still want me to slop it down my front?

Rachel: No.

Gar: The sphincter has spoken.

Rachel: I know what that means, Mr. I-Listened-Just-This-Once-In-Class-Because-I-Heard-The-Word-'Ass'.

Gar: Oh, you're too funny. (Sarcastically)

Garfield gets up to make hot chocolate.

Well, I guess I'm waiting for Gar to come with successfully made hot chocolates, and not the disgustingly watery ones Dick has finally managed to slop on himself.

Thank goodness for that, because I was going to give him a push just now.

Record time, Garfield. Oh, he's speaking now.

Gar: Hey, why do you keep writing in that book?

Rachel sips her hot coco.

Gar: Stop ignoring me, Rae.

Rachel: Stop calling me Rae.

Gar: (In surprise) Hey, is that my name?

Rachel feigns surprise.

Rachel: Where?

Gar: In your book. (In a solemn tone.)

Rachel: Maybe.

Gar: Can I read it?

Rachel: I think that's the point of a diary, no one else is supposed to read it.

Gar: I guess I have to go with you on that.

Rachel blushes for no reason.

Gar: Why are you blushing?

Rachel: Hot chocolate is hot.

Gar: Is that…a hidden message? AM I HOT CHOCOLATE??? (Starts smiling maniacally)

Rachel: No, there's a difference, hot coco is hot.

Vic: Burned.

Rachel: My tongue too.

Gar: You're no fun.

Rachel: So sue me.

Gar: Let me read it.

Rachel: Let's see…(Pretends to contemplate)…hmmmm…(Really contemplates)

Rachel: Yeah, sure, why not.

Gar: Really?

Rachel: No.

Garfield seems to droop.

Rachel: That's still resonant 'No'.

Gar: Fine. (grumbles) You and your big words…

Garfield resumes gameplay with an amused Victor.

Vic: You guys are like an old married couple.

Garfield appears to blush. Rachel feels warm. It's just the hot coco.

Fade out.

That was long. My fingers hurt. I think I'll go read the brochure for the 87th time.

Good Night.

Dear Diary,

The trip is over. Mandy succeeded in annoying the hell out of Kori, but that was it. I guess it was a pity visit. I would write 'sigh' in brackets here, but that would be so comical it wouldn't be funny.

You know, I was contemplating, really contemplating, yesterday, whether or not to let Garfield read this. I decided 'yes' at first, but the I thought, the point of a diary is that no one's supposed to read it, even if it has nothing of use in it (Nothing that's blackmail-worthy), if I showed it to him, it would've ruined the connection I have with this 2 dollar notebook.

I guess that's it.

Good day,

See ya.