now she’s in the bathroom, helping Mom, while I’m out here feeling like a jerk.
I should be with Mom. I would be too if my best friend weren’t such a Girl Scout.
I want to help. But whenever I’m about to offer it, Dawn speaks up first.
When that ugly nurse came in and thought Dawn was Mom’s daughter, I wanted to scream.
What did she think I was — her secretary?
Okay. Calm down.
NO. BIG. DEAL.
Why am I so jumpy?
I will never understand myself.
I wish Ducky were here. He calms me down.
Oh, well. He should be pulling into the parking lot any minute. With Maggie and Amalia. Just in time for our shopping spree.
Maybe Dawn won’t come with us.
Maybe she’ll decide to stay on as Mom’s personal aide.
Maybe Mom will adopt her.
Dawn and I can switch. I’ll become a Schafer, she’ll be a Winslow.
Nahh. I wouldn’t wish that fate on Dawn.
There’s the latch on the bathroom door.
Time to go.
8:04 P.M.
T minus twenty-four hours.
Tonight the Vista Hills Mall. Tomorrow Brock!
It took forever to find the right outfit.
I thought my friends would help me. But no. Dawn kept picking out these frilly, lacy, white summer dresses. Stuff that would look good on her.
Maggie thinks I should go ‘70s. Like, orange bell bottoms and beads. I kept saying no to her suggestions. She kept telling me, “But it’s all on sale!”
Please. Does the phrase LAST YEAR mean anything? No one dresses like that anymore.
That’s why it’s on sale.
No, I didn’t say that. I was kind. I suggested she buy the stuff, to wear when she’s singing with Vanish.
Maggie snickered. “If Vanish lasts.”
Amalia turned away and wandered off. She does not like to talk about that group anymore. Ever since James was kicked out. He is still bothering her every now and then. He calls and leaves creepy messages on her phone machine, then acts all friendly the next day at school.
So Amalia was no help either.
Guess who saved the day?
The Duckman.
Yes, a guy who likes shopping.
Ducky is full of hidden talents.
At first he wasn’t too promising. He acted embarrassed to be in juniors. He kept making jokes and saying he was going to hang out in Automotive Parts.
But soon he was flipping through those racks. He found this incredibly cool combo — short cotton skirt, striped Spandex leggings, fringed matching jacket …
Me.
Totally.
My best girlfriends, who know me better than anyone in the world? Clueless compared to a high school sophomore guy I just met this year.
Go figure.
It’s almost like he climbs inside my brain.
I don’t know why I don’t just go out with him.
Yes, I do. It would ruin the friendship.
Besides, Ducky’s not my type. For a boyfriend.
Brock, however, is.
And when he sees this outfit, he is mine.
FRIDAY FRIDAY FRIDAY
WHAT AM I DOING IN SCHOOL?
I CAN’T CONCENTRATE.
Yes, I can.
Whenever I see Brock.
And he sees me. And smiles.
And the whole school is utterly, totally, completely,
stark
raving
jealous.
Well, all I can say to that is —
Poor everybody else.
11:45
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM.
12:25 A.M.
Shall I explain that last entry?
I will. In great detail.
I may want to recapture the moment someday. When I’m older and jaded about men. When the world’s Brocks are flocking around me.
I’ll always remember how it started.
It started in a Trans Am.
Red.
Loud.
Brand-new.
When Brock drove up, Dawn’s mouth was hanging open. I saw it. She was staring out her living room window.
I nonchalantly walked out the front door. Strolled down the walkway. Smiled at Brock as he got out of the car. Not too wide, not too gushy. Just enough to leave him wanting more.
I could feel the neighborhood staring at us. I could feel the heat of their eyes.
Brock held open the passenger door. He looked like perfection.
I kissed him on the lips before I got in.
He looked kind of shocked. But not unhappy.
Off we went. And Brock said two of the things I wanted to hear the most.
“You look
I should be with Mom. I would be too if my best friend weren’t such a Girl Scout.
I want to help. But whenever I’m about to offer it, Dawn speaks up first.
When that ugly nurse came in and thought Dawn was Mom’s daughter, I wanted to scream.
What did she think I was — her secretary?
Okay. Calm down.
NO. BIG. DEAL.
Why am I so jumpy?
I will never understand myself.
I wish Ducky were here. He calms me down.
Oh, well. He should be pulling into the parking lot any minute. With Maggie and Amalia. Just in time for our shopping spree.
Maybe Dawn won’t come with us.
Maybe she’ll decide to stay on as Mom’s personal aide.
Maybe Mom will adopt her.
Dawn and I can switch. I’ll become a Schafer, she’ll be a Winslow.
Nahh. I wouldn’t wish that fate on Dawn.
There’s the latch on the bathroom door.
Time to go.
8:04 P.M.
T minus twenty-four hours.
Tonight the Vista Hills Mall. Tomorrow Brock!
It took forever to find the right outfit.
I thought my friends would help me. But no. Dawn kept picking out these frilly, lacy, white summer dresses. Stuff that would look good on her.
Maggie thinks I should go ‘70s. Like, orange bell bottoms and beads. I kept saying no to her suggestions. She kept telling me, “But it’s all on sale!”
Please. Does the phrase LAST YEAR mean anything? No one dresses like that anymore.
That’s why it’s on sale.
No, I didn’t say that. I was kind. I suggested she buy the stuff, to wear when she’s singing with Vanish.
Maggie snickered. “If Vanish lasts.”
Amalia turned away and wandered off. She does not like to talk about that group anymore. Ever since James was kicked out. He is still bothering her every now and then. He calls and leaves creepy messages on her phone machine, then acts all friendly the next day at school.
So Amalia was no help either.
Guess who saved the day?
The Duckman.
Yes, a guy who likes shopping.
Ducky is full of hidden talents.
At first he wasn’t too promising. He acted embarrassed to be in juniors. He kept making jokes and saying he was going to hang out in Automotive Parts.
But soon he was flipping through those racks. He found this incredibly cool combo — short cotton skirt, striped Spandex leggings, fringed matching jacket …
Me.
Totally.
My best girlfriends, who know me better than anyone in the world? Clueless compared to a high school sophomore guy I just met this year.
Go figure.
It’s almost like he climbs inside my brain.
I don’t know why I don’t just go out with him.
Yes, I do. It would ruin the friendship.
Besides, Ducky’s not my type. For a boyfriend.
Brock, however, is.
And when he sees this outfit, he is mine.
FRIDAY FRIDAY FRIDAY
WHAT AM I DOING IN SCHOOL?
I CAN’T CONCENTRATE.
Yes, I can.
Whenever I see Brock.
And he sees me. And smiles.
And the whole school is utterly, totally, completely,
stark
raving
jealous.
Well, all I can say to that is —
Poor everybody else.
11:45
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM.
12:25 A.M.
Shall I explain that last entry?
I will. In great detail.
I may want to recapture the moment someday. When I’m older and jaded about men. When the world’s Brocks are flocking around me.
I’ll always remember how it started.
It started in a Trans Am.
Red.
Loud.
Brand-new.
When Brock drove up, Dawn’s mouth was hanging open. I saw it. She was staring out her living room window.
I nonchalantly walked out the front door. Strolled down the walkway. Smiled at Brock as he got out of the car. Not too wide, not too gushy. Just enough to leave him wanting more.
I could feel the neighborhood staring at us. I could feel the heat of their eyes.
Brock held open the passenger door. He looked like perfection.
I kissed him on the lips before I got in.
He looked kind of shocked. But not unhappy.
Off we went. And Brock said two of the things I wanted to hear the most.
“You look
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