Maybe. The getting to know us bit, that is.

I'd better tell Connor and Max in detention today that I can't go anymore. I keep putting it off. Do you think they'll be mad?

No, Anna, I don't think so. They'll get it, like Danny and I do.

Get what?

The It Girl thing. Better stop passing notes. Ms. Brockley is looking this way.

I wasn't sure if Connor did get it. When I told him he seemed annoyed and almost baffled.

"Sophie Parker?" he sort of sneered as though he wasn't sure if I was joking or not.

"Yeah, I know. I wish it was on another night, but it is her birthday. She can't really switch that." I laughed nervously, attempting to lighten the mood, because the way Connor was suddenly looking at me made me feel very tense.

"But . . . you love Lord of the Rings. You really want to go to Sophie Parker's birthday party? Seriously?"

"Of course I do, she's my friend! Like I said to Max, I'll definitely be there the next time a screening happens. And I can see if maybe you guys can come to her party too or something . . ." I trailed off as we both knew that wasn't an option. Not when it came to Connor.

"That's okay, thanks. I'll pass. So, are Jess and Danny still coming to the movie?"

"Yeah." I nodded, feeling a little deflated. "Yeah, they're still going."

He studied my face and then shook his head.

"What?"

"I just . . ." He looked at me and then sighed and turned back to his work. "Nothing."

"No, what were you going to say?" I encouraged.

"Nothing, Anna, don't worry about it," he snapped.

I don't know why he had to make me feel so guilty when everyone else had been so nice about it. His mood didn't improve with me as the night of Sophie's party drew near. I tried to ask him about his drawings, but he didn't seem to want to talk to me. I even made a comment one day about Gwen Stacy being Spider-Man's one true love rather than Mary Jane, and he barely flinched.

Connor not talking to me made me feel weird.

But the night of Sophie's party I knew I had made the right decision. So many people were going who I wanted to talk to. If someone as popular as Sophie invites you to a party, then you know that you're doing the right thing. Going to Sophie's party and looking like an It Girl meant that I could make friends with people in my grade who never used to talk to me, and if they liked me, then they would start inviting Jess and Danny to things too. Maybe even Connor would come around. Then all of us could hang out together, and there wouldn't be this weird divide.

It made complete sense.

Connor was just being stubborn, I thought to myself as I hunted around my bedroom for my shoe before the party. Maybe if I explained, he would start being himself around me again.

Suddenly my dad yelled up the stairs that we had to get going, and I had to put my thoughts about Connor aside and finish looking for my shoe, which turned out to be lying on top of the silverware in the dishwasher because on the rare occasion that Dad haphazardly leaves it open Dog likes to keep things safe in there.

I picked out another pair of shoes and we set off.

Of course, my dad tried to embarrass me as much as possible. He insisted on coming into Sophie's house with me and hunting down her parents to say hello and to tell them he would be picking me up at eleven o'clock sharp. I cringed as Sophie and Josie stood nearby whispering to each other.

"Happy birthday, Sophie," my dad said to her when he forced me to introduce them.

"Thank you, Mr. Huntley." She giggled. "Congratulations on your engagement. If you and Helena want to come join us at the end of the party, my parents would be more than happy."

"That's very kind, but I'm actually working on a very interesting chapter in my book about gas masks."

It couldn't have been a celebrity party or something cool keeping you from a drink with Sophie's parents, could it, Dad. It HAD to be a chapter on gas masks.

"It's actually very fascinating," Dad began, and I saw Sophie's fixed smile wobble.

"Okay thanks, bye, Dad!" I interrupted, basically pushing him out the door. I made my way back to Sophie and Josie and laughed nervously. "Parents, huh."

"Yeah," Sophie agreed. "You look nice. I like your jacket."

"Thanks!" I said, brushing the leather sleeve. "I'm going to give it to Jess after this."

"Really?" Josie snorted. "I think it's better for you."

Sophie smiled. "I'll see you later. Have fun."

As the pair floated away to greet other guests, I felt uncomfortable and wasn't sure why. I was at the most popular party of the year-and things were getting better already at school; I just needed to embrace it. I tried not to think about Jess and Danny at the screening with Connor-the movie would have started by now. I bet they were all getting along really well. It made sense. Connor would love the fact that Jess was into Lord of the Rings.

I pushed aside the sinking feeling in my stomach as Brendan came over. "Hey, It Girl," he said, pushing his bangs out of his eyes. "Nice jacket."

"Yeah, it's a hit." I smiled back weakly.

"I've been meaning to talk to you." He grabbed my hand and pulled me over to sit on some cushions and rugs that had been laid out in the garden. My stomach flipped in excitement. "I saw that Marianne was on a date with the lead singer of On the Rox. It was in the papers this week."

"Yeah." I nodded.

"That's crazy. They're my favorite band!"

"Really? No way," I said, noticing that our knees were touching. I suddenly felt very hot. "I'm actually going to see them next week. Marianne got me tickets."

"That is so cool!" He leaned in so that our faces were almost touching. "Promise to tell me all about it?"

"I . . . uh . . . yeah." Since it was obvious I had nothing else intelligent to say, Brendan smiled and got up, ready to walk away.

My mouth went dry. "You should come," I blurted out suddenly, unable to tear my gaze from him.

"You serious?" He sat down, grabbed my hand, and squeezed it. "That would be incredible! Thanks, Anna."

I was about to respond when Josie and Sophie slumped down next to us. Brendan dropped my hand quickly. Surprised by the sudden change, my brain kicked in again, and I realized that I had just asked Brendan to the show I had promised to take Jess to.

"I've been meaning to ask you," I said quickly to them, hoping Brendan wouldn't say anything about the show. "How are things looking for the Beatus dance?"

"Oh my goodness, it's going to be the best." Sophie nodded, glancing at Brendan. "The most exciting thing will be the announcement of the raffle of course. It was so kind of your mom to offer the prize, Brendan. We've raised plenty of money, so the dance will look really great."

Brendan shrugged. "No sweat."

"Well, I know that I would be so excited if I won," Sophie said, giving him a big smile. "I would love to learn from someone as successful as your mom."

I reminded myself that Sophie had said at the park that she didn't like Brendan and tried to enjoy the rest of the party.

I was pleased though when my dad pulled up outside the house as promised at eleven o'clock. I smiled as I saw Dog hanging out of the back, his paws resting on the window ledge and his head sticking out.

"Hey, Anna!" I turned around and Brendan was coming toward me. "Thanks again about the show."

"Oh that." I gulped. "Yeah, cool. Maybe don't tell anyone until I definitely have the tickets. Let's keep it between us?"

"Sure," he said, but he seemed distracted. "So . . . um, do . . . you . . . have a date to the Beatus dance?" He shuffled his feet.

I looked up at him. "No," I pretty much whispered back. He smiled, as though relieved.

"Anna!" my dad called from behind me as he beeped the horn. "Come on, I need to get home quickly. I just had an idea about gas!"

Brendan's eyes widened.

"Gas masks," I said quickly by way of explanation. "He's writing a chapter for a book on gas masks. Not just . . . gas."

"Right. Cool." Brendan shrugged. "See you at school then."

He shoved his hands in his pockets, grinned at me, and made his way back into the house. I stood in shock for a few more seconds until Dad started beeping his horn again.

I climbed in the car and Dog immediately attacked, slobbering all over my jacket.

"A good evening?" Dad asked politely, not really listening and clearly still distracted by gas thoughts.

"An interesting one," I replied with a sigh.

How on earth were things so good-I really thought Brendan was going to ask me to the dance-but so bad at the same time? I had offered him tickets that I'd already promised to Jess.

My head hurt.

I AM A TERRIBLE LIAR, so I don't lie very often. Not because I'm a good person. If I could get away with it, I bet I would lie all the time. But something in my face gives me away. Dad says it's because my eyes go really wide and I don't blink the whole time I'm speaking. Apparently it's very creepy and puts him on edge.

The main lies I have told in my life are as follows: 1. Every year I lie about something to get out of sports day. I try to make it different each year, you know, just to make it more believable. Sometimes I want the lie so badly that it actually becomes the truth. Like the time I lied about feeling very sick, and then I got so worked up that Dad was going to call the doctor and I would get discovered that I projectile vomited all over Dad when he had the audacity to ask me if I was trying to get out of going to sports day.

2. That it wasn't me who hid Dad's manuscript behind the radiator that ended up catching fire. This sounds bad to admit because I set Josie Graham on fire, but I SWEAR I am not a pyromaniac. It's just that I'd spilled my grape soda all over Dad's manuscript, and he was going for a meeting with his editor that day so I knew he needed it. I panicked and threw it down by the radiator. He thought he'd lost it somehow, and then later that day when he was in his meeting, making excuses about turning up without a manuscript, the babysitter and I were busy running around trying to save things in his study that had turned into a giant furnace.

3. When I told Mom that Dad had gone to a cooking class. This was a necessary lie. I knew that Mom had always felt guilty about traveling all the time leaving Dad to raise me. I thought that if she believed Dad had improved his cooking skills, she might feel better about everything. I still haven't told her that this never took place and have to be on my toes every time she comes to stay. When she asks Dad how he has no idea how to use a whisk when he went to the most expensive cooking class in London, I have to jump in there with a change of conversation that will distract her. This lie also means that we have to constantly eat out while she stays, but it has to look like a natural decision. I have become very good at this over the years.

4. When I lied to Jess about not having tickets to the On the Rox show. This is the worst lie I've told.

She didn't even look that mad. She just looked disappointed. "Oh, that's okay, Anna."

"Marianne thought she had enough tickets, but it turns out she doesn't."

"Right, well, you can't do anything about that." Jess shrugged. She smiled at me when she saw my facial expression. "Anna, it's not a big deal; don't worry about it."

It was a big deal, because I knew that she had really wanted to see them; she had been looking forward to it for weeks. I had asked Marianne if there was any chance of getting another ticket, but they were all sold out and there were no backstage passes left. I searched Jess's expression.

"We can see them another time. I don't think they're touring for a bit, but next time they come to London we can go." She offered me a gummy bear. I declined. "You'd like them. It's a shame that you can't go either. Who is Marianne taking?"

"Some friends I think." My heart sank at how kind Jess was being.

"Well, that's fair enough. It was nice of her to offer though. Never mind."

"Maybe we can go to another show? Is there another band you like?" I asked desperately.

"Of course. On the Rox are my favorite, but I like lots of bands." She nodded optimistically. "I'm sure you'll get invited to some more."

"Yeah," I agreed, downhearted.

"Please don't get upset, Anna; honestly, it's not your fault." She picked up her bag. "Anyway, the show is right before the Beatus dance, isn't it? This way we can have a relaxing week before the dance."

"You're definitely going to the Beatus?" I asked, momentarily distracted.

"Yes." Jess lifted her eyes to the ceiling. "Has Brendan asked you yet?"

"Brendan? Why would Brendan ask me?"

"I don't know, genius." She chuckled. "Maybe because you've wanted that ever since you heard about the Beatus dance and the past few weeks you two have become quite close?"

"Oh, ha no. He hasn't asked me. Has anyone asked you?"

Jess snorted. "No, not yet."

"Not yet?"

"Well, there's still a few days, Anna; you never know what might happen. Hey, what's wrong? I'm just joking. I'll be going with Danny like we agreed. You look upset."

I wondered if Jess really had been joking. Or did she think someone other than Danny might ask her to the dance? Maybe the screening had gone much better than I'd imagined. . . .

As I got home, I was hit by the overwhelming feeling of wanting to cry. I could hear Dad on the phone in his study, so I grabbed Dog's collar and took him with me into the closet. I wanted to cuddle into Dog's fur, but it became apparent, as soon as I shut the closet door and Dog and I were alone in a confined space, that Dog had rolled in something that day.

As I was chastising him for being smelly, he heard Dad make a sound in the hall, so he tugged free of my grip and barged out of the closet and into the hall, where he proceeded to attack a plug.

"Anna, are you in there?" I heard Dad scramble around the telephone table, and then he was standing in the doorway peering in. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," I whimpered.