The Lincoln quote is real btw. :)

Chapter 6

'I'm sorry about Gretchen,' Karen apologised to Carter as they left the mall food court. 'I guess she's just going through some things. But she is so awesome; I know you guys will hit it off.'

'Thanks Karen,' said Carter. 'She does seem… well wow. I can't believe Jason dumped her.'

Karen's perpetually cheerful face clouded at this. 'Forget about Jason,' she said in a much harsher voice than usual. Carter looked at her in surprise; even as a Plastic Karen Smith had hardly ever gotten angry; Gretchen must have been really hurt in that break up to get this kind of reaction.

'So,' she said, looking and sounding more like her old self, 'how long have you liked Gretch?'

'Was it that obvious?' he asked, flushing a little.

The blonde shot him a sly look. Or at least the Karen equivalent of slyness.

'I'm psychic - duh. Oh and Linda told me a while back.'

'Oh. Um, well it's been years,' admitted Carter. 'But I was just an A/V geek and she was a Plastic – and with Jason.'

'I think she's lonely now,' said Karen sadly.

'Lonely men seek companionship,' said Carter, 'Lonely women sit at home and wait. They never meet.'

Karen looked at him in surprise. 'Carter, that's beautiful!'

'Well it's a quote,' he admitted.

'Reese Witherspoon?' asked Karen in excitement.

'Close. Actually it was Abraham Lincoln.'

Karen gave him a blank look. 'Who?'

Carter sighed. He liked Karen, but talking to her could be pretty exhausting.

'Hey isn't that that mathlete guy,' Carter pointed to a guy browsing in Barnes & Nobles.

Karen followed his pointing finger. There he was, Mike Sedzikowski walking around just like he was a regular person. Karen nervously glanced around just in case she was dreaming. Since there didn't seem to be any giant tap-dancing carrots around she had to guess she was probably awake.

'How do I look?' she whispered loudly to Carter. It ought not to be possible to whisper loudly but Karen managed it.

'Like you just stepped out a shampoo commercial,' said Carter.

'Wet?' asked a puzzled Karen with a frown.

'No, I mean you look cute. Really cute,' he assured her.

'Awesome,' she said happily. 'Now quick get lost – I don't want him to see you and get the wrong idea.'

'Cool. See you Monday boss,' said Carter to an oblivious Karen who was now walking towards the bookstore and Mike Sedzikowski.

Halfway there her nerve failed her, and she nearly turned on her heel, but summoning up reserves of confidence she hadn't known she had the blonde walked on. Gretchen's advice echoed across her brain. So long as she managed to avoid fainting Karen Smith was golden.

'Hi,' she said, tapping Mike on the shoulder. It was, she felt, a good opening. Gretchen Wieners would have approved.

'Hi,' he said, giving her an adorkably awkward smile. 'I wanted to talk to you.'

'Oh?' her heart skipped a beat.

'Gretchen said I could come to your Halloween party,' said Mike, 'and I was wondering if, um, it is mostly casual or I should book a tailor or…' he trailed off.

Karen thought of the zebra costume (well… zebra ears and a little black and white dress) that had taken her weeks to decide upon.

'Completely casual,' she said reassuringly. 'Why, what are you planning to go has?'

As soon as she said it, Karen regretted it. Too far, too far! What if he took it the wrong way?

'I mean, you shouldn't tell me,' she said quickly, 'or it won't come true.'

To her surprise he laughed. 'You're pretty funny Karen.'

Karen beamed in a mixture of puzzlement and pleasure.

'Cool,' she said, with a smile.

And that was when the idea hit her. It was a bit of shock – Karen normally did not do the idea thing. But this one was good. This one might have come from Gretch, or Regina or Cady. Gretchen had said Mike liked Harrison Ford, so Karen now had the perfect idea for a costume.

She could go as Princess Leia. And he would see her, fall madly in love with her and have like ten million of her babies. It was all she could do to not let out a loud squeal then and there.

Gretch would have been proud of her.

'Well I'm just glad you are coming,' she said.

'No problem,' he replied and for a second their eyes locked. It was indescribably wonderful. After what felt like a million years (but was probably about two seconds) they broke their eye contact and looked away nervously.

'Well I better be going,' he babbled.

'Me too,' she babbled, and they raced off.

Karen practically danced out of the mall. The only problem she could think of was how she could lay her hands on a brunette wig…