Hello, I totally got an invitation yesterday. Check me out.

"It's my birthday. Friday the twenty-first." She grabbed Josie's hand and shook it excitedly. "It's going to be so fun. It's at my house. Dad's getting a DJ and everything."

My face dropped. "The twenty-first? Of March?"

"Yeah, it says there." She pointed at the pink invite and then looked up, frowning. "Can't you come?"

"You're not too busy at a premiere or a celebrity party that night or something?" Josie added, looking at Sophie pointedly.

I swallowed. I had already accepted the invite to the Lord of the Rings screening and asked Jess and Danny to go. I'd told Connor I'd be there.

But could I turn down an invitation to what was probably going to be the most exciting birthday party of our class? This was what I had done everything for-and it was working.

Then, out of nowhere, Brendan Dakers was suddenly looking over my shoulder at the invite in my hand. "It's going to be so cool, Soph," he said, standing so close behind me that the hair on the back of my neck stood on end.

"I know; I just gave Anna her invitation." Sophie leaned into him.

Josie smirked, folding her arms and watching me.

"Good stuff," Brendan said. "You are coming, right, Anna?"

"Uh," I replied, opening my locker door and groaning inwardly as my history textbook toppled out and slammed onto the floor. I bent down to pick it up clumsily, and as I stood straight, struggling to balance it on top of my other books, Brendan reached out. He took the history book and carefully arranged it back in my locker.

"Wouldn't be right without our very own It Girl there," he said, winking.

"So," Sophie prompted, coming around the other side of Brendan so she was back in front of me, "can you come?"

I looked up. Brendan smiled at me.

"Of course I can come." I nodded confidently. "I'll be there."

From: rebecca.blythe@bouncemail.co.uk To: anna_huntley@zingmail.co.uk Cc: marianne@montaines.co.uk; helena@montaines.co.uk Subject: Re: Confused Darling, I hope you don't mind-I've copied Helena and Marianne on your e-mail, because I thought they might also be able to help.

I think it's wonderful that you've been invited to a party! You must go. You're only young once.

I see your dilemma though. In my experience, honesty is the best policy. Explain to the others that you can go to a screening with them another time but you've been invited to a friend's birthday party that you feel you should attend.

Unless you're not close to this girl who is throwing the party?

Mom xxx From: helena@montaines.co.uk To: rebecca.blythe@bouncemail.co.uk Cc: anna_huntley@zingmail.co.uk; marianne@montaines.co.uk Subject: Re: Confused I remember having a very similar problem when Prince Michael of Kent invited me to a black tie ball the same night I had a date with George Clooney.

I picked the date because George would have been very distressed otherwise and I'd just had an eyebrow wax that day.

Helena x From: marianne@montaines.co.uk To: helena@montaines.co.uk Cc: anna_huntley@zingmail.co.uk; rebecca.blythe@bouncemail.co.uk Subject: Re: Confused Mom. That was the worst advice ever. It wasn't even advice. And it was WAY too much information. Please keep your hair removal details to yourself.

Anna, do what you feel is right. If you think that Jess and your friends will be very let down, then maybe the right thing to do is to go to the screening?

But, like your mom pointed out, screenings happen often. Birthdays are only once a year.

Go with your gut.

Marianne x From: rebecca.blythe@bouncemail.co.uk To: marianne@montaines.co.uk Cc: anna_huntley@zingmail.co.uk; helena@montaines.co.uk Subject: By the way Just out of interest, who is this Connor fellow?

Rebecca xxx From: marianne@montaines.co.uk To: rebecca.blythe@bouncemail.co.uk Cc: anna_huntley@zingmail.co.uk; helena@montaines.co.uk Subject: Re: By the way Yeah, he hasn't come up before, and now suddenly you've mentioned him a couple of times?

Marianne x From: helena@montaines.co.uk To: marianne@montaines.co.uk Cc: anna_huntley@zingmail.co.uk; rebecca.blythe@bouncemail.co.uk Subject: Re: By the way Oh how lovely! Is Connor your new beau?

Helena x From: marianne@montaines.co.uk To: helena@montaines.co.uk Cc: anna_huntley@zingmail.co.uk; rebecca.blythe@bouncemail.co.uk Subject: Re: By the way MOM. Please don't use the expression "beau." It last got used in the sixteenth century by people wearing big wigs and too much powder.

Marianne x From: helena@montaines.co.uk To: marianne@montaines.co.uk Cc: anna_huntley@zingmail.co.uk; rebecca.blythe@bouncemail.co.uk Subject: Re: By the way That is not true. It has been used in this century by rappers in dreadful rap songs. I know this thanks to you, darling daughter, blaring that garbage at all hours.

If you ask me, she should spend less time rapping terribly about him and more time making him happy. Then her "beau" might pay her more attention and we wouldn't have to listen to her woes through the medium of rap on the radio.

Helena x From: rebecca.blythe@bouncemail.co.uk To: helena@montaines.co.uk Cc: anna_huntley@zingmail.co.uk; marianne@montaines.co.uk Subject: More confused Anna, what happened to Boursin?

Rebecca xxx PS Helena, I tried rapping once when I was in South Africa. I was actually rather talented. Perhaps you'd like me to teach you some?

From: helena@montaines.co.uk To: rebecca.blythe@bouncemail.co.uk Cc: anna_huntley@zingmail.co.uk; marianne@montaines.co.uk Subject: Re: More confused Oh was that your Boursin? I had some the other day, I do apologize. It was in Nick's fridge and so I put it in the salad. Were you saving it?

Helena x PS That would be wonderful! I bet you're a great rapper, Rebecca. You could give me lessons!

From: marianne@montaines.co.uk To: helena@montaines.co.uk Cc: anna_huntley@zingmail.co.uk; rebecca.blythe@bouncemail.co.uk Subject: Re: More confused Please, neither of you ever rap in public. That's all I ask.

Anna, is Connor into music? Maybe you can ask him to On the Rox to make up for ditching him at the screening?

If he's into you, then he won't care if you cancel the screening and ask him to a show instead.

Way more fun.

Marianne x From: helena@montaines.co.uk To: marianne@montaines.co.uk Cc: anna_huntley@zingmail.co.uk; rebecca.blythe@bouncemail.co.uk Subject: Re: More confused My God, Marianne, is that how you treat men? Ditch them when they invite you to nice, romantic screenings and then lure them to immoral rock shows instead?

As soon as you come back from this jaunt in Barcelona we are sitting down and having a talk, young lady.

Helena x From: marianne@montaines.co.uk To: helena@montaines.co.uk Cc: anna_huntley@zingmail.co.uk; rebecca.blythe@bouncemail.co.uk Subject: What is wrong with you?

Mom, in case you had forgotten, you MARRIED a rock musician. That's how I came about. So don't give me heat about "immoral" shows thank you very much.

And I would hardly call Lord of the Rings romantic. That Yoda dude doesn't exactly set the mood.

Marianne x From: rebecca.blythe@bouncemail.co.uk To: marianne@montaines.co.uk Cc: anna_huntley@zingmail.co.uk; helena@montaines.co.uk Subject: Re: What is wrong with you?

No, my love, Yoda is in Star Trek, not Lord of the Rings.

Rebecca x From: marianne@montaines.co.uk To: rebecca.blythe@bouncemail.co.uk Cc: anna_huntley@zingmail.co.uk; helena@montaines.co.uk Subject: Re: What is wrong with you?

Whatever. They're both basically the same thing, right?

Marianne x From: helena@montaines.co.uk To: marianne@montaines.co.uk Cc: anna_huntley@zingmail.co.uk; rebecca.blythe@bouncemail.co.uk Subject: Re: What is wrong with you?

I actually auditioned for Star Trek once.

I didn't get the part because they said I looked too young.

Helena x From: marianne@montaines.co.uk To: helena@montaines.co.uk Cc: anna_huntley@zingmail.co.uk; rebecca.blythe@bouncemail.co.uk Subject: Sure Stop lying to yourself, Mom. You didn't get the part because you did it in a Jamaican accent.

Marianne x From: rebecca.blythe@bouncemail.co.uk To: marianne@montaines.co.uk Cc: anna_huntley@zingmail.co.uk; helena@montaines.co.uk Subject: Re: Sure I'm sure your audition was wonderful, Helena. I personally think most action films could be brought up a notch if they threw in more Jamaican accents.

Anna darling, if you're struggling with your feelings about Connor and Boursin, maybe you need to take a step back from both of them and think about what you want.

Rebecca xxx From: helena@montaines.co.uk To: rebecca.blythe@bouncemail.co.uk Cc: anna_huntley@zingmail.co.uk; marianne@montaines.co.uk Subject: Re: Sure Thank you, Rebecca, you are kind. The part went to someone who had a botched nose job and eventually had an affair with one of those monkey actors from Planet of the Apes so I wasn't that upset.

I agree with your mother, Anna, you need to think carefully. Ask yourself, who would you rather spend your time with? Connor or Boursin?

Once you've worked that out, you'll know what to do.

Helena x From: marianne@montaines.co.uk To: helena@montaines.co.uk Cc: anna_huntley@zingmail.co.uk; rebecca.blythe@bouncemail.co.uk Subject: Re: Sure I'm confused. Are we talking about men or food?

Marianne x From: anna_huntley@zingmail.co.uk To: marianne@montaines.co.uk Cc: rebecca.blythe@gmail.com; helena@montaines.co.uk Subject: STOP THIS AT ONCE First things first, Yoda is in STAR WARS. Not Star Trek. I'm ashamed of all of you.

Secondly, Mom, how many times do I need to tell you this . . . Boursin is a CHEESE. His name is Brendan. Seriously, it's not that out there. B-R-E-N-D-A-N.

Thirdly, I am not "struggling" with my feelings for Brendan . . . or Connor for that matter. Seriously, we are just friends. And anyway, I only ever really see him in detention. That's pretty much it. So yeah, we're just FRIENDS. So drop that one please because it is so not how it is.

Lastly, I want you all to know that you have managed to confuse me EVEN MORE than I already was.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go and eat some Nutella. I have already consumed an entire bag of strawberry truffles. Do you see the state you have driven me to?!

Love, me xxx From: rebecca.blythe@bouncemail.co.uk To: helena@montaines.co.uk Subject: Anna's e-mail I don't know about you, but I'm sure grateful not to be twelve years old.

Aren't you?

Rebecca xxx

So you're sure you're not mad about the screening thing? Sorry to bring it up again.

Anna, why would I be mad? Of course I'm not mad.

I feel really bad about it. I wish they weren't on the same day.

Yeah.

You and Danny should come to the party. And Connor.

Ha. We didn't get invites.

Well, I don't think that matters. Maybe she hasn't finished giving them out.

Honestly, Anna, don't worry about it. You'll have fun at the party.

So would you if you came.

I'd rather go to the screening. Danny would too. It'll be nice to hang out with Connor and those guys-I don't know them very well.

Oh, okay.

I saw you in the papers this morning. Mom showed me. Your dress was amazing. You didn't tell me you were going to a ball.

Oh that. Yeah, it was a last-minute thing that Helena and Marianne invited me to. The dress was Prada. Me . . . in Prada! Can you believe that?!

Wow. It was very pretty. You looked great.

I steered clear of soy sauce that's for sure. It's so weird. People have started sending me stuff this week. Designers, I mean. It's really cool. I got sent this jacket that I definitely couldn't wear but I think you will love it. You want to come over after school and try it on?

Thanks! By the way, have you asked Marianne or Helena about any photographers I can talk to? I don't mind what sort of photography they do, it can be anything!

Haven't had a chance to ask them. Promise I will.

Okay, thanks. You and Brendan have been talking a lot this week. He seems to aim all his conversations at you during lunch.

Do you think?! It's amazing, isn't it? We just get along really well I guess, although I'm still not very good at talking to him. I know this sounds crazy, Jess, but I have noticed him paying me more attention.

Yeah, we all have.

Do you think it's CRAZY of me to think that there might be a chance of him asking me to the Beatus dance? I know it's ridiculous but the other day he did ask if I had bought a dress for it yet.

Did he?

Yeah! I said that I hadn't because I didn't have a date yet and then he smiled. HE SMILED. What do you think that means?!

I don't know. Maybe he is thinking of asking you.

ARGH! CAN YOU IMAGINE?!.

It would be pretty insane. Are you sure that's what you want?

Of course I'm sure! Why wouldn't I be? It would be GREAT. Jess, the most popular boy in school likes us! This stuff never happens. Isn't this better than before?

The most popular boy in school likes you, not us. I think he puts up with me and Danny. Sophie and Josie make that pretty clear. What do you mean about before?

That's not true! You're much more interesting than I am. They're getting to know us, that's all.