Chapter 12

It turned out to be a long, long day.

Cady spent an hour in library over lunch trying to teach Karen American history. It was a heroic effort and to her credit Karen arrived full of enthusiasm and willingness to learn. Unfortunately Cady quickly discovered why Karen Smith had driven a generation of high school teachers to drink and early retirement and at least one nervous breakdown.

'Cady, if the pilgrims came from England why did they speak American?'

'Hey King George and George Washington had the same name! Coolness! Do you think they were family?'

'Huh. George is Regina's last name. Maybe she's King Washington's reincarnation? Cady? Why are you looking at me like that?'

'Oh, Benjamin Franklin! I totally know him! He invented the lightbulb and- Cady? Are you okay?'

They called it a day at the point Cady started checking she was bleeding from the ears.

Karen thought she had done pretty well and departed the library with a spring in her step that lasted all the way through French period, and more amazingly yet, Math.

As she was sitting down in Math class Karen looked three seats away at Carter, her loyal camera guy and friend.

Okay so he's not the coolest guy around and ew, that haircut. But he is so sweet and smart and funny. Gretch will love him! Okay so was kind of weird to him last time, but she's got to be over Jason now. I mean Carter is a zillion times better than Jason. Except for the hair.

Flipping out her phone she wrote a text Gretchen to request a meeting, but hesitated before pressing 'send'.

Okay, I will totally talk to him about the hair. Then Gretchen will love him.

Gretchen had rallied after a three way lunch summit with Regina and Rick in which important things were said, or not said and she was sure Rick was far more Karen's… uh… speed than Mike. As for Mike…

OMG! How have I not noticed Mike is in this class!

He's coming towards me!

'Hi Gretchen. Uh, you remember me right? Mike Sedzikowski.'

Gretchen realised she'd been staring wide eyed at the dream guy. Luckily she'd chosen this morning to break in a daring new shade of eyeshadow so the excuse popped ready made out of her mouth.

'Oh Mike, sorry I have to keep my eyes open really wide today. You know how eyeshadow works?'

Unless he was a weekend goth or lived an interesting double life gossip was silent on, Gretchen banked on his answer being 'no'.

Mike grinned. 'My future major in college. I'm not even in this class but I really wanted to talk with you about Karen. You guys are BFFs right?'

'Hmmhm.' Oh God.

'Is she okay? Just I thought she was acting and dressing weird this morning.'

OMG how can I answer that! I'm so close to setting Karen up with Rick and she'll be happy! Oh God!

Mercifully at that point Mr. Brandt the Math teacher noticed Mike's presence and ordered him out and Karen was left to melt back into her chair without answering.

She knew that Rick Cooper would be perfect for Karen, just like she knew she (Gretchen) would be perfect for Mike. She just had to work with Regina in setting them up and everyone would be happy and they could totally hang out at the cafeteria and go on double dates and it would all be so fetch.

So why did she feel so bad?

Carter Gray was pretty comfortable with his life. Sure he wasn't ultra-popular but he had friends in the AV Club. He'd known Linda Song the sound girl for years and now she was happily dating his sister. Trent Cole, the wanabee director, set up the best poker nights you'd ever seen. Last but far from least there was Karen Smith, their on air talent. The newest member of the gang.

He had never met anyone like Karen. None of them had. Of course they'd all known her as one of the Plastics but that was from a distance and very different from actually talking to the energetic blonde beauty with the big eyes and big smile. After five minutes talking to her they thought she was an airhead and started worrying. After ten minutes they knew she was an airhead and really started worrying.

After the first week of working with her they were all kind of in love with her.

Karen was just… not like anyone else and she could be so cool and fun and sweet. She was also, in her own way perceptive. Weird to say of a girl whose astounded parents bought her a car on the one and only occasion her grades had reached the heady heights of a C+, but true nonetheless. Somehow she managed to wiggle out of Carter that he had a years long crush on Gretchen without Carter even realising he'd said anything. Maybe she was psychic.

On his own he'd been far too scared to talk to someone as beautiful as Gretchen. They had been friends way back, when they were ten, but he doubted Gretchen, long since turned a beauty and then a Plastic even remembered that. But if Karen really thought he stood a chance with her best friend - and unless he was reading her very wrong he knew Karen would only try and set up her best friend with a guy she'd like – maybe there was a chance after all.

Then again she barely looked at me in the mall. She likes cool guys like Jason.

'Oh, hey Karen… woah, why are dressed like that? And… uh… why do you keep looking at my hair?'