Chapter 1
�Good Morning Los Angels!� The voice came over the clock radio. A perfectly manicured hand shot out from under the comforter and slapped the top of the clock. The covers were kicked away to reveal a 15-year-old brunette who really didn�t like to wake up. Katy Holstege rolled off of the bed and looked around at her expensive bedroom. The entertainment center, the jam-packed walk-in closet and her built in fish tank. �Hey Topanga, Hey Chloe,� Katy said. It was her daily ritual to say hello to her tropical fish when she was feeding them in the morning. After she was done with that, she walked out of her bedroom door, down the grand staircase and into the 21st century kitchen. �Morning Rita,� she said groggily. �Good morning Katy!� Rita was an all-to-cheerful Mexican woman in her 50s. The plump lady spun around with a bowl of Golden Grahams for Katy. �Here you go. Eat up. You�ll need it for school today,� she said. �Thanks,� Katy took the bowl and stuck her spoon in it. �Morning Squirt.� A brawny 21-year-old jogged into the room covered in sweat from his morning run. �Shut up Tyler,� Katy whined. The ultimate nickname in the 4th grade was now a burden for her. �Your still taking Kellene, Jessie, Crystal and I to the mall today, right?� Katy asked. �Mike was going to do that. He�s going to pick you up here after class,� Tyler informed her. Katy nodded her head and got off of the stool that stood next to the island in the middle of the kitchen. �I�m going to go get ready for school,� she said and made her way back to her room.
The doorbell rang an hour and a half later. �Miss Hilliard! Good Morning! Miss Holstege will be down in a jiffy,� George, the butler, said in an English accent. �Thanks George,� Kellene Hilliard said in a sweet voice. Her red hair was pulled back into a high ponytail and she was wearing a jean skirt and a black top that tied in the front (it was untied though). �Hey Kel,� Katy said, bounding down the stairs. �Hey! Who�s giving us a ride today?� Kellene asked. �I think Scott is,� Katy answered. Her long hair was down around her face and all curled under. She was wearing dark blue flares and a tight, light-blue tee shirt with a white lace long-sleeved shirt over it. They got in the back seat of the black Porsche that was Scott�s. �Is the mall plan a go?� Kellene asked in anticipation. �Yeppers. Mike�s giving us a ride there. And the guys are getting us back. �Sweet,� Kellene said just as Scott got in.
�I wonder if Katy got us a ride to the mall today,� Crystal Smith thought aloud. �I think she did. I called her last night and she said that Ty was taking us,� Jessie Porter informed her. �How are we getting back?� Crystal asked, slinging her blue backpack over her shoulder. She had her short brunette hair back in little twists and she was wearing a pair of khakis and a lavender tank top. �The guys are bringing us out to dinner and then home, I think,� Jessie replied. Her long blonde hair was down and she had curled it into an outward flip and she was wearing black pants with red pin stripes and a tight red tee shirt.
Katy and Kellene stepped from the car in front of George Washington High School. The 3-story school had windows all around the front stairwell. It was the biggest school in town with 3,000 students. �Bye Scott!� Katy and Kellene waved to him as he drove off.
Katy, Kellene, Jessie and Crystal became friends when they were forced to spend detention together for a month because of fighting.
�Jessie, Crystal!� Kellene and Katy ran down the hall to catch up with their friends. �Hey!� the two girls said in unison. �Okay, here�s the dealio. After school, we have to walk back to my house and Mike is going to pick us up and give us a ride from there. After we�re done shopping, those guys are going to take us to a movie then dinner and then home,� Katy informed them before they could ask. �Woah! Could you say that a little faster please,� Crystal laughed. The rest of them giggled and they walked into the cafeteria. The girls walked through the crowd of noisy teenagers. At one table there was a group of guys listening to music. At the table next to them, there were girls reading books. At another table there was a big group of preppy-looking people sitting around and talking. This was the table that the girls went to. �Hey guys,� Kellene said and took a seat next to a guy with curly blonde hair named Derek. �Hey,� Derek said. �What are we talking about?� Jessie asked. �How stupid you guys are,� Brooke replied. Brooke, Derek, Katy, Zack, Kellene, Reese, Jessie, Brad, Crystal, Bryan, Darcy and Geoff were the most popular, and preppy, kids in school. They were also the richest. Film directors, actors, musicians, doctors, lawyers and performers are their parents� occupations. �Thanks guys! Great to know you care,� Katy said sarcastically. She had a big, cheesy smile and her thumbs were up. �No problem Katy,� Reese laughed. �So, are you guys going to meet those one guys at the mall today?� Darcy asked in her shy voice. �Uh-huh. Mike is taking us there and then we�re going to dinner and a movie,� Crystal informed them. �OoOoOo, Dinner and a movie,� Geoff said suggestively. �Sounds like a date to me,� Zack said. �Shut up guys,� Katy, Kellene, Jessie and Crystal said in unison. Everyone laughed at them because it was something they did every day at least once. �Well, I�m glad they got it over with early,� Brad laughed. Just then the bell rang. The cafeteria quickly emptied. �Let�s go,� Bryan said getting up. The rest of them followed suit and walked out of the cafeteria. They walked down to the English hallway where their first class was.
�Okay class, your homework today is page 190 problems 2-20,� Mr. Holden, the math teacher said over the sound of books closing, papers being put away and backpacks being zipped. �Good Afternoon George Washington High School, here are your afternoon announcements.� The voice came over the school�s loudspeaker. Everyone got quiet so that they could hear what was going on. The principal talked for about 5 minutes. Finally he ended with, �Have a good weekend.� There was a mad dash for the door. Katy got out first, so she turned around and waited for Crystal. �Come on slowpoke,� Katy yelled to her friend who was still putting her stuff away. �I�m coming,� Crystal responded. Katy rolled her eyes and shifted her weight from foot to foot. �Stop twirling your hair, you look like a ditz,� Crystal scolded. It was a nervous habit of Katy�s to twirl her hair around her finger. She also picked at her fingers. �I�m sorry. I just want to go and see Matt again. He was so hot,� Katy exclaimed. �I�m sure he still looks about the same,� Crystal laughed. �Who does?� Jessie asked. �Matt, you know one of those guys that we met,� Katy explained. �Oh, yea. I like the Chris kid,� Jessie said. �I didn�t like any of them. We�re 15, we should be focusing our attention on school,� Crystal lied. �God, that sounds so wrong,� Kellene exclaimed. The girls made fun of Crystal all the way back to Katy�s house.
They walked up the driveway just as Mike pulled in. All the girls waved at him as he honked the horn. �Hey ladies,� he said when he stepped from the car. All the girls said, �Hey.� All of them walked into the house. Mike broke off and walked into the kitchen while all the girls ran up to Katy�s room.
�Just throw your stuff on the bed,� Katy instructed. They did as they were told and followed her into her bathroom. �Hair and make-up,� Kellene exclaimed holding up a hairbrush and a tube of lip-gloss. After a half hour of primping, the girls walked into the living room and found Mike watching TV. �Ready?� he asked. He was answered with a chorus of, �Yeps�. They followed him out to the car and they drove to the mall.
�Now, where are you going after the mall?� Mike asked. �To dinner and a movie and then they�re bringing us home,� Katy answered, annoyed. They had been through this 100 times before. �And how many guys are there?� he continued. �Um� 4 that we know and they�re bringing a friend,� Crystal told him. �Names and ages?� The girls listed what they knew about the guys. Matt Ballinger, Greg Raposo and Chris Trousdale were all 17 and Jesse McCartney was 15. �Do they have criminal records?� he asked. �Yea, Mike. They raped 4 15 year old girls last year,� Katy said sarcastically. The other 3 burst out laughing. �I�m serious. You�re my little sister, I don�t want anything to happen to you,� Mike said. �Aw, how touching,� Kellene sniffed. They all started �crying�. Mike shook his head at how goofy they were.
Matt, Jesse, Chris, Greg and Frankie were waiting for the girls in the food court. �I couldn�t get Katy off my mind all last night or today,� Matt said. �I know exactly what you mean. I had a test today and I said that Crystal was the square root of 144,� Jesse laughed. �Geeze, these girls must be pretty hot,� Frankie exclaimed, �Speaking of hot girls, look at the 4 that just walked in.� He was eying the four girls that walked in laughing. �Those are the girls,� Greg exclaimed. He jumped up and walked over to the girls. �Hey Greg,� all of the girls said. The rest of the guys came over. �This is Frankie,� Matt introduced everyone. �Hey,� Frankie said. �Katy! Kellene! Jessie! Crystal!� A familiar voice came from behind them. �Brooke! Hey,� Katy said. �Guys, this is our friend Brooklin Dyer,� Kellene said. �Shut up! I�m Brooke.� She slapped Kellene for using her full name. The guys all introduced themselves. �Do you want to come along with us?� Jessie invited. �Sure, I�ll call my mom,� Brooke said as she pulled out her cell phone. She dialed the number and started talking. �Meg? It�s Brooke, yea. I�m at the mall. Tell mom that I won�t be home for dinner because I�m going out with some friends. Yea, okay. Tell her about, 12:00. Kay thanks. Bye.� Brooke ended the conversation by flipping the phone shut. �Alright, we�re not going to get anything done by standing here,� Brooke said.
�Hot Topic! I want to go there,� Katy exclaimed. She started jumping up and down and pulling on Matt�s arm (because he was the closest one to her). �Katy, that�s gross. There are scary people in there,� Brooke scolded. �Yea, but they have cute jewelry and some of the shirts are kinda cute,� Katy protested. �I�ll go Katy,� Kellene agreed, �We�ll meet you guys at KB Toys, okay?� Brooke rolled her eyes at how immature her friends were. �Fine.� Matt and Greg went into the store also. �Hey,� said a guy that was standing at the door. �Hi,� Katy said cheerfully. She bounced into the store with Kellene right next to her. Matt and Greg followed. �We�re going to look at CDs, okay?� Matt asked. �Alright,� Kellene said. Matt and Greg walked over to where the CDs were and Katy and Kellene walked over to the jewelry. �Look at this, it�s so cute,� Katy held up a spike bracelet. �I like it. But we better not buy it. Brooke and Derek wouldn�t like it to much,� Kellene said.
Ever since the group came together, Brooke and Derek have dictated what they�re allowed to wear, who they�re allowed to talk to and hang out with and they�re overall behavior. Katy and Kellene were willing to pay that price for their popularity and friendship.
�So, you like Katy?� Greg asked. �Yea, looks-wise, I�m madly in love with her. I don�t really know her all that well, but what I do know about her, I really like,� Matt answered. �I hear ya. I feel the same about Kellene,� Greg said looking at the back of an ICP CD. Matt looked up from the Linkin Park poster that he was looking at. �You do,� he smirked. Greg blushed and shook his head yes. Matt looked down at the next poster with a smile on his face. �This is between you and me,� Greg warned. �Okay,� Matt said reluctantly. Just then Katy came up behind Matt and put her arms around his neck. �Hey sexy,� Katy said as she rested her head on his shoulder. Matt twisted around and slid his arms around her waist and pulled her closer so that they�re bodies were pressed together. �What�s up, mama,� he asked her. Katy giggled. �Come on guys, we need to go meet the others,� Kellene said. �Walking chastity belt,� Katy whispered to Matt. He laughed and kept one arm around her while she slid her hand in his back pocket. Kellene and Greg both noticed this but didn�t say anything.
�Ugh, where are they?� Brooke complained. She, Frankie, Crystal, Jesse, Chris, and Jessie were waiting outside of KB Toys for Katy, Matt, Kellene and Greg. �There they are,� Jessie pointed out their four friends. Greg and Kellene were walking next to each other, being careful not to touch the other one. While Katy and Matt had they�re arms around each other. �Starting where we left of?� Jesse asked Matt. Katy and Matt laughed. �We�re a little behind where we were last night�� Katy said suggestively. Matt raised his eyebrows. �Where were you last night?� Brooke asked worriedly. �About here,� Matt said and then he kissed Katy. Everyone started laughing. When they broke the lip lock, Brooke said, �Geeze Katy. You little Hoe!� Katy laughed. �Let�s go to Abercrombie,� Crystal suggested. �Okay! I saw a really cute pair of jeans there that I wanted to get,� Katy agreed. �Yea, and I want to get a shirt,� Kellene said. They all started walking in the direction of Abercrombie and Fitch. They stopped at a few stores on the way there.
After the mall, Katy, Kellene, Jessie, Crystal and Brooke went to the guys� cars with their bags. Katy had outfits from A&F, AE, Old Navy, Charlotte Russe, Wet Seal and Banana Republic. Kellene bought some stuff from A&F, Charlotte Russe, Banana Republic and FYE. Jessie got 2 outfits from AE and Aeropostal, and a CD from FYE. Crystal got Clothes from A&F, AE, Old Navy, Charlotte Russe, Banana Republic and 2 CDs from FYE. Brooke got something from every store they went to. �Geeze! You girls should have just bought the whole mall,� Frankie commented. �They did,� Greg laughed. �We have to look good for dinner,� Jessie stated. �You already do look good,� Chris said wrapping his arms around her waist. �I know,� Jessie laughed. The other three girls rolled their eyes. Katy and Brooke rode in Matt�s car with Jesse, Frankie, Chris and all the stuff; while Kellene, Jessie and Crystal rode with Greg.
The Explorer and the Lexus pulled into the parking lot of the Cinema Carousel. The ten teens walked into the building together. They walked up to the counter and got their tickets to see Master of Disguise. �Let�s go get popcorn,� Kellene suggested. They had about ten minutes to kill before the movie started. �Okay� Matt, do you want to share with me?� Katy asked. �Sure, I�ll buy,� Matt agreed. �I�m not going to argue with that,� Katy laughed. She grabbed his hand and they walked to get in line to get popcorn. After they were done with that, they walked into the theater.
They were sitting in this order: Matt, Katy, Kellene, Greg, Brooke, Frankie, Chris, Jessie, Crystal, and Jesse. �I really hope this isn�t a good movie,� Jessie said to Chris. �Why?� Chris asked. �So we don�t have to watch it,� she said suggestively. He looked at her and then he put his arm around her. Jessie�s wish did come true� The movie sucked and by the end, Katy and Matt were making out, Kellene had fallen asleep on Greg�s shoulder, Brooke and Frankie were making out, and Chris and Jessie were making out; but Jesse and Crystal were both totally caught up in the movie.
�That movie really sucked,� Greg commented. Kellene nodded her head in agreement. �I thought it was okay,� Frankie said looking down at Brooke. �I liked it to,� Matt and Chris agreed. On the way to Applebee�s, Chris rode in Greg�s car. They all thought that the movie sucked except Jesse and Crystal. �I really liked it! It was so funny,� Crystal giggled. �Your weird Crystal,� Jessie said. �Am I not turtly enough for the turtle club?� Crystal mocked. Everyone rolled their eyes. By the time they got there, they all wanted to strangle Crystal and Jesse.
The rest of the night was pretty uneventful. They ate their food and the guys took the girls home. Greg took Kellene, Brooke, and Frankie home. Matt brought Jesse, Crystal and Chris home and Katy and Jessie got dropped off at Katy�s house last. Katy kissed Matt and said goodbye. �Hey Katy,� Matt yelled out the window. Both of the girls turned around. �I�ll call ya tomorrow.� She smiled and ran to catch up with Jessie. And the two girls walked into the mansion.