The Cool Crowd: No. 4 - Brossura

"Ouch! Shoot!" I said as I accidentally slammed my finger in my locker. I jammed my pinky into my mouth, then pulled it out and inspected the damage. My locker door rattled loudly. I kicked it. Revenge is sweet.

"You okay?" Bethel McCoy asked, looking at my red finger. She grimaced and flashed me a sympathetic look.

"Yeah," I told her, blowing on my finger. Someone told me once that's supposed to make an injury feel better. Guess what? It totally doesn't work. "I don't have time to feel the pain anyway."

We were in the locker room after cross-country practice, and I was rushing to make the special bus that took home the kids on sports teams. I bent to pick up my bag, flipped my damp hair over my shoulder, and turned to go. "See you, Bethel."

"Hold up," she said. She pointed to a disgusting lump on one of the changing benches.

"Don't forget your lucky sweat socks." Bethel grinned.

I rolled my eyes. "Thanks so much for reminding me," I said sarcastically. I picked up the socks between my index finger and thumb. Gross upon gross--they had actually been sitting there since yesterday. I unzipped my bag and shoved them in.

"And Jessica," Bethel said before I could sprint off again, "good run today."

She was putting something in her locker when she said it, so she didn't see my smile. It was just as well. I didn't want Bethel to think I was a total dork, grinning like a fool. But I couldn't help feeling pleased. Bethel's the best runner on the cross-country team--by far--and I had almost beaten her today.

"It wasn't as good as tomorrow's will be," I told her. "You better watch out, or you'll be eatin' my dust soon."

Bethel snorted and pretended she was about to toss her sweatshirt at my head. "Get out of here!"

I bolted for the door, laughing. "See you!"

"Bye!" she called. Her voice echoed through the locker room and faded as I burst out the door into the bright sunlight and bolted for my bus. I slipped into my seat just as the doors were closing. I was still smiling, thinking about the compliment Bethel gave me. She and I had started out not liking each other when I joined the team. But we'd gotten used to each other and were now even becoming friends.

I think. Bethel is kind of hard to read.

But still, I liked her. And it was really nice of her to say that I had run well. In fact, it made me grin to myself all the way to my bus stop. I got off the bus and started down the street toward a nice, hot shower and clothes that weren't wilted with sweat.

This was officially a very good day. In spite of my finger.

"Jessica! Wait!" called a familiar voice.

I whirled around to see Lila Fowler, my best friend. Or rather, she had been my best friend until I moved to a new school and my entire life had fallen apart. "Lila!" I was suddenly overwhelmed with the kind of feeling usually reserved for Christmas morning and my birthday--as in, total joy.

Lila trotted toward me, looking like she stepped right out of a fashion magazine. Her long, brown hair bounced and gleamed in the sun. I was suddenly aware of just how gross I looked, and I didn't even want to think about how I smelled. The Jessica Wakefield that Lila knew would never have walked around looking like such a slob.

Why do I have to run into her now? I'd worn cool flared jeans and a fitted top to school and had looked suitably glam practically all day. But for track practice I'd changed into an old T-shirt and spandex. Then I ran for two hours. Since I knew I was going right home after, I hadn't bothered to shower or change.

As Lila got closer, her smile faltered. She peered at me over the top of her designer sunglasses. "Nobody told me grunge was back."

"It pays to keep up with the trends," I said. "That showered look is so five minutes ago." Lila looked confused, so I smiled and shook my head. "I'm just kidding, Lila. Actually, I just got back from track practice."

"You . . . what?" Lila asked, as if I had just told her I was from Mars or joining the navy or something.

Lila and I went to the same school up until this year. Then they rezoned the district and my twin, Elizabeth, and I had been assigned to Sweet Valley Junior High while Lila and almost all my old friends stayed at Sweet Valley Middle School.

Back at Sweet Valley Middle, I'd been part of the It crowd. My friends were all the popular girls around school.

But that was history now. I had hardly any friends at my new school, although I was working on it. Today, for example, I had a real conversation with Kristin Seltzer, one of the most popular girls at SVJH. And there was Bethel, of course. Still, I was hardly part of the It crowd there.

"Track is cool at Sweet Valley Junior High," I said to Lila.

"Really?" Her eyes were wide.

"Of course," I insisted. It was cool with me anyway. "Why would I do it if it weren't cool?"

"Good point," Lila said. "SVJH sounds so weird! I'm glad I'm not there--I could never find the time to be on a track team," she went on. "There are so many parties to go to' You wouldn't believe how much clothing I've needed this year."

I hadn't been to any parties this year. I felt a pang. I hated to admit how much I missed my old life. My old friends.

"How are Mandy and Rachel?" I asked, eager to hear every detail. "What's Ellen up to?"

Lila shrugged. "Everybody is so busy, we hardly have time to talk on the phone." She and I fell into step toward home. "Mandy is dating this really cute guy, Chet, so that takes up a lot of her time. Rachel is in charge of planning all the parties at school. And Ellen has, like, five guys calling her all the time."

"Really?" I asked. But Ellen was always such a klutz! I wanted to say. Why did she get to be Little Miss Popularity while I had to sit around Friday nights watching movies with my parents?

"Really," Lila said with a little smile. "Honestly, I hardly ever see them anymore, I'm always so busy with Ashlee, Maree, and Courtnee." I tried not to groan, remembering how Lila had convinced all of her new friends to spell their names with ee endings. I mean, gag mee.

Of course, I would have gladly hung with the Double E's if it meant getting out of SVJH and hanging with Lila again. I wondered whether Lila had missed me at all. She must--a little. Could hanging with the Double E's really be that great?

"Listen," I said to Lila, "I may be at a different school, but I didn't move away. You should call me when you guys are getting together. I still love a good party."

Lila smiled. "Well, I'm having a little get-together tonight at my house. Just girls. But I think it'll be fun. Think you can come? We have so much to catch up on!"

I stopped myself from jumping up and down and squealing. "Let me call you," I said casually as we got to my corner. "I have some plans. But I'll try to drop by if I can." I didn't really have any plans, and if I could manage to get out of the house after dinner, I was definitely going to Lila's. But I didn't want to look too eager. After all, I do have some pride.

"Great. I can't wait for us to hang out." Lila gave me a little hug, and I turned the corner and headed down to my house.

I watched her go for a minute. What an awesome day I'd had. How could I have forgotten about my old friends? Why hadn't I been hanging with them? I shook my head. Well, between my old friends and my new ones, things were definitely looking up.

I turned up the walk, wondering what Elizabeth would make for dinner. Mom and Dad were in Vancouver at some lawyer convention for Dad's job, so my twin, my brother, and I were taking turns with the cooking and cleaning. Tonight was Elizabeth's night.

Being "looked after" by our older brother, Steven, was such a joke. Steven can't even remember to put the cap back on the toothpaste, much less care for other human beings. The only good thing is that he isn't as strict as Mom and Dad. He lets us stay up late and blast the stereo. . .

At that moment I was struck with such a brilliant idea that I actually stopped in my tracks.

Mom and Dad were going to be gone until next Monday. That meant that the living room would be a parent-free zone on Saturday night. And Steven didn't really care what we did.

This was the perfect opportunity for a Saturday night slumber party!

I'd invite Lila and all of my other Sweet Valley Middle friends. Maybe I would invite a couple of SVJHers too, like Kristin and Bethel.

It was time to have some fun for a change.

Now all I had to do was get Steven to agree.

e better than a party at the Wakefields' to introduce new classmates and old friends?

When her parents go out of town, Jessica figures it's the perfect time to show her new friends and classmates that she's cool.  And what's cooler than a party?

While the parents are away
The Wakefields will par-tay!