The Masqueraded Man (Chapter 1)

"We're all going to the Masquerade Ball, right?" Madeline checked in, pulling a spinach leaf from her sandwich.

"Correct," Andrea answered for everyone.

"What are you doing to your sandwich?" asked Lizzie.

"One of the leaves were rotting," replied Madeline.

"You can't eat rotting leaves?" Skye commented.

Andrea giggled.

"No, it's full of bacteria," said Madeline.

"But I saw you picking your ears and you said they're full of bacteria, too," said Lizzie.

"No, no. Shush."

"You still haven't found a date for the Ball?" asked Andrea.

"No, but the Ball isn't until Saturday so I have plenty of time."

"But no one is going to be your date if you're picking your ears," said Skye.

"They were itchy!"

"I can't wait to go to the dance," Lizzie grinned. "I picked the perfect dress."

"My mom is still working on my dress," said Andrea.

"Why can't you just buy a dress?" asked Debra.

"It's cheaper to have it made. Plus, my mom can design like crazy."

"Then maybe your mom can make me a dress that says 'Date-less' on it," said Madeline.

"Don't worry, Madeline," said Debra. "You will find someone."

"Speaking of 'someones'," started Andrea, "who are everyone's dates?"

"I'm going with my boyfriend," answered Lizzie.

"Of course you are."

"I'm going to ask out Gerald," said Skye.

"Who's Gerald?"

"Gerald Sanders."

"You mean Goth Gerald?" questioned Madeline.

"Like there are other Gerald's."

"But he's scary," said Lizzie.

"I like scary."

"But he looks like somebody dug him up and forced him to go to school," Andrea commented.

"Girls, we all have different tastes. If I want to go out with a goth, then let me go out with a goth. It's not a big deal; I like him."

"Enough to date him?"

"That's only if he wants to."

"Imagine Gerald sitting here," said Madeline. "I would not like that."

"Whatever. You can't stop me. Besides, I won't hang out with him that much at the dance because my band is performing there. Debra, who are you going out with?"

"Darrell," answered Debra. "Just as friends, though."

"You only go to dances with your friends," said Andrea.

"Listen, if I find the one, I will snatch him up and make him a dream catcher."

"Your specialty," added Skye.

"I'm going to the dance with Hugh," Andrea answered her own question.

"Are you guys dating?" asked Lizzie.

"No, just talking."

"Well, it's so great to hear you girls talk about your dates for the Ball," Madeline noted. "I will be going out with space."

"You said you didn't have a date," said Lizzie.

"No, I meant that I will be the only lonely person at the dance."

"Aw, Madeline, we'll hang out with you there," Debra insisted.

"I appreciate that but just to make it clear, I am not a third wheel. I will not dance with you and your dates when a love song comes up."

"There's no way you're touching my man," stated Lizzie.

"Hugh said it's a dream of his to be a part of a 'girl sandwich'," said Andrea.

"Well, tell Hugh to keep that dream to himself," Madeline ordered, "because it's not going to happen."

"You can't slow dance by yourself," said Debra.

"Oh, I've seen the movies. I definitely can slow dance by myself."

"Then that means you would be going to the dance with yourself, meaning you're your own date," said Lizzie. "Meaning you won't be dateless at all."

"I see that you're trying to cushion the blow but I still feel the blow, Lizzie."

"It's good to know that somebody noticed my cushion."

I'll Text You (Chapter 5)

After the weekend, the girls were back in school and all associated with each other in the cafeteria for lunch.

"I just want to say that I am so sorry to all of you," Debra started. "I let this whole texting thing block my eyes from what was real and I am sorry if I isolated myself from you all."

"Oh, Debra, you're a sweetheart no matter what," said Andrea.

"I forgive you," responded Lizzie. "Of course, Debra."

"Wait, we forgive her just like that?" asked Madeline. "You beat me up. Like you actually fought me. I have a cut on my face."

Skye scrunched her eyebrows. "Where?"

Madeline pointed at her forehead. "Right there."

Andrea squinted her eyes. "Where?"

Madeline pointed again. "Right there."

Debra leaned towards Madeline's face. "That little cut."

"It's a dot," noted Andrea. "You can barely see it."

"Dot or not, it's still a cut," said Madeline. "I am too beautiful to look this way. It stung this morning when I tried to put concealer on it."

"It stung when you put concealer on a dot?"

"Madeline, I am truly, deeply sorry," Debra apologized. "I don't know what else to say but I was way in over my head. I'm sorry for... giving you that... that tiny cut on your face."

Madeline smiled. "I can never stay mad at you, Debbie. Hey, I will take a cut to the face if it means helping you."

"Thank you, Maddie."

"It's barely a cut," Andrea commented. "You can make that dot on your face with a sewing pin."

"So are you okay with having no phone?" asked Lizzie.

"I'm sort of okay," answered Debra. "My dad told me he was going to get me another one away. Just one with no text messaging."

"Well, there goes our silent conversations," said Skye.

The girls giggled.

"But my dad said that I can't invite my friends over our house anymore," Debra added.

"All of your friends?" asked Madeline.

"No, he said just don't invite 'the white ones'."

"So I can still come over your house?" asked Andrea.

"Of course."

"Oh, yeah."

"That's a bit racist," Madeline commented.

"Well, you did destroy my phone with Coca Cola," said Debra.

"But it's not like all white people destroy their phones."

"That reminds me," said Lizzie. "I got to get a new cellphone."

"Why?"

"I destroyed my original one."

"See?" inquired Debra.

"That means nothing," said Madeline.

"Man, I am done with texting. It almost ruined my life. If I have to touch something with keys ever again, I will grow nauseous."

"That's too bad," said Andrea, "because in English class, we have to type reports in the computer lab."

"Ah! I am losing chi."

"So you don't need my ointment?" asked Lizzie.

I'll Text You (Chapter 4)

Over the weekend, the girls realized that they have been ignored by Debra as her eyes had been glued to her cellphone all week. Worried about Debra, Madeline decided to text message her about coming over to her house. Debra responded that she did not mind. Feeling like something big would happen, Madeline brought along Skye. They both walked together over to Debra's house.

"A texting addiction?" Skye repeated what Madeline said. "I don't believe that a texting addiction exists."

"If Debra cannot stop texting to save her own life," started Madeline, "then such a thing has to exist."

"Ever since she got that phone, she's been a bit of a spaz."

"And the Debra we know is not a spaz."

"A tiny bit of temper tantrums here and there but nonetheless, she is not a spaz."

"She needs to listen to herself and chill."

Once the girls were close enough to the front door, Madeline rang the doorbell. A few seconds later, an older African-American man opened the door.

"Hello, Mister Lincoln," greeted Madeline.

"Hi," Skye greeted as well.

"Hello, girls," said Debra's father. "What are you doing here?"

"We came to see Debra," replied Madeline.

"We hear she has a problem," Skye whispered.

Madeline nodded.

"Then you came here for the right reasons," said the father. He opened the door wider. "Come on in."

The girls entered with Debra's father closing and locking the door.

"She's been in her room all day. The last time I've seen her, she was texting. I tried to take the phone out of her hands but she tried to bite me so I'm not going to deal with her right now. It was a bad idea to give her a phone. I don't care about the environment but if she did, I should have supported that."

"What does phones have to do with the environment?" asked Skye.

"I don't know; you ask her. I'm going to make a sandwich. Her room is down the hall."

"Know that."

The father walked away as the girls walked from behind him as Debra's bedroom and the kitchen were in the same hallway. As they walked, they passed the living room which had Debra's younger brother, Leroy, sitting on the sofa, playing video games from the television.

"Hi, Leroy," Madeline and Skye greeted to him while walking slowly.

Leroy paid his attention to the girls. He nodded his head. "'Sup, ladies?"

The girls sped up their pace.

"Does he think we're hot?" asked Skye.

"Who said we were not?" replied Madeline.

The girls giggled.

"Actually, a few people," Skye said seriously.

"Yeah, you're right."

They stopped by a closed door, knowing it was the door to Debra's bedroom.

Madeline knocked on the door. "Debra. It's me; Maddie and Skye."

A few seconds later, Debra opened the door without looking up. "Hey, girls," she said, pressing the buttons on her phone rapidly. "How is it going?"

She walked away, letting Madeline and Skye enter the room. Skye closed the door before walking up next to Madeline who was getting closer to Debra, who sat down on her bed with a giant peace sign on the bedspread.

"We're doing well," said Madeline. "How about you?"

"I'm awesome," Debra answered, still not looking up.

"Are you?"

"Yeah."

"How are you doing in school so far?" asked Skye.

"Good. Except they don't allow texting during class hours. How ridiculous is that?"

"Not that ridiculous."

"We've heard that you tried to bite your dad," Madeline threw out.

"Oh, yeah, he's been acting weird," said Debra. "I don't know why."

"Maybe it's because you're the one acting weird."

Debra scoffed. "Yeah, right."

"Debra, who do you text to?" questioned Skye.

"Friends, like Darrell. He is so funny, I can't believe it. L.O.L."

"People don't say 'L.O.L.' in real life," Madeline stated.

"Well, there's a person and that person is me."

"Debra, look at us."

"Can't."

"Yes, you can."

"No, I can't."

"Yes, you can."

"No, I can't."

"Yes, you can."

"No, I--"

"Debra, look at us!" shouted Skye.

"I'm too busy texting."

"Debra, listen to me," Madeline took a step forward. "Texting is ruining your life. And if you don't stop, seriously bad things can happen to you."

"Like what?"

"What if you text while you drive?"

"Maddie, you know I don't drive. But my dad did say he was going to get me a car so I might have to get into that."

"Debra, you helped me when I had that problem."

"A shopping problem," Skye added.

"Now I'm going to help you with your problem."

"Problem?" Debra scrunched her forehead. "I ain't got no problem."

"Oh, if you don't have a problem then look at me."

"It's a free country; I can do whatever I want."

"Then since it is a free country, I can do this."

Madeline quickly grabbed onto Debra's cellphone, making her finally look up. Madeline tried to pull the phone away but Debra hung on to it tightly.

"No!" Debra screamed. "I'm not finished!"

Madeline struggled to take the phone away but did not stop grabbing onto it. "No, you're finished!"

The girls became involved in a tug of war over the phone while Skye watched, not knowing what to do. Debra later grappled Madeline, forcefully knocking her down on the floor and attempting to pull away the phone while climbing on top of her. The girls screamed and rolled around, both of them latching on to the cell phone.

"I got to record this or something," Skye said to herself, watching her friends fighting and shrieking.

After a good minute, Debra took one of her hands off of the phone and used it to slap Madeline in the cheek several times. Madeline finally took her hands off the phone to protect her face. Debra sloppily stood up over Madeline and looked down at her.

"I ain't got no problem!" she screamed.

Madeline tried to pick herself up a bit by lifting up with her elbows. "I got ninety-nine problems but Debra, you ain't gonna be one."

Debra ran to the door and opened it to run out. Skye ran after her with Madeline carefully getting up and sprinting out of the room.

"Debra, don't do this to yourself!" said Skye.

Debra turned her head, still running. "Why? It's in my blood. I can stop anytime I want." Once Debra turned her head back around, she ran flat into the front door. She fell on her back on the floor, not moving at all.

The girls knew the slam was hard by how loud the sound was. They stopped inches away from Debra.

"Oh, my God!" Madeline cried. "Is she dead?"

Debra moaned and switched her head's position.

"No, she moved," said Skye.

"Okay," Madeline sighed. "Where's the phone?"

The girls scanned the lobby floor. Skye eventually found Debra's cellphone in the corner of the floor. She rushed over and picked it up.

Debra tried to lift herself up but dropped down. "Phone," she muttered.

"We're doing this because we love you, Debs'," said Skye, hoping that Debra could hear. She marched inside the living room and looked for anyone that could spark an idea in her head. She immediately spotted a glass of soda on the coffee table. With no hesitation, she walked towards the glass and dropped the phone in, mainly breaking the function of it.

"Hey!" Leroy called. "I was drinking that!"

"Sorry," said Skye. "It was for Debra's own good."

"You're lucky you're hot."

"Okay." She walked out and stood next to Madeline who was helping Debra stand up.

"What did I do?" asked Debra, almost in a groan.

"You ran into a door," replied Madeline.

"You ran into it pretty hard," Skye added.

"Wow, I was really acting crazy, wasn't I?" Debra asked.

"Yeah," Madeline and Skye answered.

"Huh. I'm sorry if I've offended you two. I just really liked texting."

"Well, you needed to stop texting," said Madeline.

"It's all over so we can forget about this," Skye added.

Soon, Debra's father walked out of the kitchen into the lobby with the girls. He was eating a hero sandwich, which was dripping mustard in his collared shirt. "What happened?" he asked with a bite of sandwich in his mouth.

I'll Text You (Chapter 3)

A few days later, around ten O'clock in the morning, third period was getting through the middle. Debra was receiving knowledge in her history class. Technically, instead of receiving knowledge, she focused on her cellphone. As the teacher spoke to the class on a lesson about the American War, Debra text-messaged Lizzie through a conversation. She texted more unnoticeably but the teacher finally caught her.

"Miss Lincoln!" he called.

Debra looked up. "Hi!"

"Are you text messaging in my class?"

"Yes and no."

"What do you mean 'yes and no'?"

"Yes, I am text messaging in your class. And no because I don't want to seem rude about it."

"Well, either/or, put your phone away."

"Whatever you say."

Debra closed her phone and dropped it in her open fringe purse.

The teacher continued to explain the American War, talking about the important factors of it such as significant figures. As he did so, Debra waited until the teacher turned away to face the other side of the classroom of students. She slowly reached into her purse and picked up her phone. She opened it from under her desk and began to type. Once the teacher turned back around, he quickly spotted Debra.

"Miss Lincoln!" he shouted again.

Debra, startled, looked up.

"Are you text messaging again?"

"Yes and no."

"Either/or!"

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry; just don't do it! I'm going to take away your phone."

"No."

"N-No?"

"I have to text my friend, Lizzie, a joke I heard today."

"Where is your friend, Lizzie?"

"She's in study hall. Nobody cares what you do in there."

"Well, I care what you do in here!"

"Sorry."

"Talk to your friend later!"

"I would but--"

"Give me your phone!"

"I can't. I love my phone."

"You're disrupting my class."

"You're talking to me."

"Then get out."

"What?"

"If you won't give me your phone, then get out."

"Can we settle this?"

"Put away your phone and we're settled."

"I can't do that."

"Then go. Get out."

Debra slid out of her chair. "Alright. You need to chill."

"What?!"

"Oh, my chi." Debra sprinted out of the classroom, afraid of her teacher.

I'll Text You (Chapter 2)

On a Monday, after school, the girls met up and chilled outside on the front bench for a while. While they were enjoying the warm weather, Debra decided to ask about the cellphone she had out.

"So how do you work this thing?"

"Are you seriously asking that question?" asked Skye, putting her music sheets.

"The only phone I've used in my life is a telephone."

"You might've well gotten a telegram," commented Andrea.

"What's a telegram?" asked Lizzie.

"I don't know."

"Debbie, if you know how to use a computer, you can use a phone," Madeline regarded.

"Shouldn't I know how to use a computer in order to use an iPhone?" asked Debra.

"Possible," Madeline said in a French accent.

"I think a monkey would know how to use a phone before it had an idea of what it is," stated Skye.

"Guys, don't make fun of me," said Debra. "I never had a cellphone before. I've always been rejecting them. Now that I have one, it's very important."

"We're sorry, Debra," said Madeline. "So it's an old-fashioned phone?"

Debra held up her phone. "What the eyes see are what the eyes can do."

"That's what my grandmother says," Lizzie brought up. "Except it usually has to do something with monkeys."

Madeline got up and sat next to Debra. She received the phone and pressed away the buttons to instruct Debra on the simple things.

"This is how you call," Madeline directed. "This is how you text. You can call when there is an emergency but if there is no rush, you can text somebody. I will put in all of our numbers to go along with your family's numbers. If there is a significant emergency, you just dial 911 and hit 'Call'. That's it. And those are the most important factors of a phone since that is what a phone is meant to do: call."

"Wow, I think I got it," said Debra.

"Monkey see, monkey do," Skye remarked.

"That's what my grandmother says," Lizzie repeated.

"You said that already."

"Oh, yeah."

Madeline handed Debra back her phone. "Now you can call us or text us. Kids of our generation text now so..."

Debra pressed the buttons on her cellphone. "I think I'm getting the hang of this."

Instantly, a vibrating noise occurred. Madeline dug in her pants' side pocket and pulled out her pink cellphone. She turned it on to see a notification on the screen. She went through it and saw a text reading, 'Hello' from an unfamiliar number.

"That's from me."

"Well... hello to you, too."

"No, text it."

"Okay." Madeline opened the messaging section of her phone and started to text back a response to Debra's number. Once she hit 'Send', Debra's phone made a boing sound, making the response from Madeline pop up on her screen.

Debra read, "'Hello'." She chuckled. "I should send you all text messages."

"That's okay, Debbie," said Skye.

When Skye talked, Debra twiddled her thumbs on the phone's buttons. "Done!" she finished.

Cellphone noises occurred simultaneously. The rest of the girls checked their phones, all getting a response of, "Text is amazing!"

"It most certainly is," said Skye. "According to you."

Debra grinned, holding her phone against her chest. "This is a great experience. I can work a phone!"

"Yes, a sixteen-year-old learning how to work a phone is certainly magical," Andrea remarked. "Next year, we'll teach you the value of Christmas."

"I know this sounds stupid coming from me but I am open to new things. Taking in unfamiliar knowledge burns up my chi."

"Oh, I have an ointment at home that soothes burns and itchiness," said Lizzie.

"No, chi. Not 'itchy'. Just chi. It's the energy that flows inside every living thing. And things that make me excited adds new life to my chi."

"You want to be a flower when you grow up, don't you?" asked Andrea.

"Anything I would do for reincarnation."

"I wasn't serious."

"Oh, Madeline! People make symbols when they text, right?"

"Yes, they do so," responded Madeline.

"Can you teach me how to make a yoga pose in my messaging?"

"Girl, people don't make yoga poses... but it's not impossible. Give me your phone."

Debra gave her phone to Madeline. "Feeling the chi."

I'll Text You (Chapter 1)

Over the weekend, Debra practiced her yoga in her relax-decorated bedroom. Once her father entered the open-door room, she stood up straight, coming from a bent position.

"What is up, dad?" she asked.

"Doing your yoga?" Debra's father asked back.

"Every day, all the time."

"I know you're not crazy about this but I got you this." He pulled out a regular cellphone from his pants' pocket.

"What is that?"

"It's a cellphone."

"Oh! No thank you."

"No, you need it."

"But you know how I feel about cellphones."

"I know but you need one for emergencies."

"When am I ever involved in an emergency?"

"Just because you've never been in an emergency doesn't mean you'll never be in one. You can't send letters all the time."

"Letters are natural."

"Then when you're kidnapped, make sure you brought a pen and a piece of paper."

"Dad--"

"No, Debra. You need a phone so I'm giving you one. Here."

Debra sighed before taking the phone. "I don't think I even know how to use a phone."

"You just open it up and make phone calls."

Debra flipped up the phone. "I know but there are letters next to the numbers on the buttons."

"Yeah, you can text with the buttons."

"But... how is that possible?"

"Debra, I swear I feel like I'm talking to an old woman all of the time."

"I am young; I think I am allowed to ask questions." She placed her hand quickly on her waist. "Ow, my hip!"

"Yeah, you're young alright. Ask your friends when you get to school. They have phones."

"Yeah but their phones are so advanced. It's like they talk into little computers all the time."

"I'm pretty sure that they had your type of phone before."

"Okay, then I'll ask them."

"And I set up your account so you use it right away."

"Set up my what?"

"Again, old woman."

"Thanks for considering me of having a phone, dad."

"You're welcome. Maybe I should buy you a car."

"Dad, I told you I don't want a car."

"Walking home to and from school is dangerous."

"Everybody walks to and from school."

"Yeah but their parents don't love them like I do."

"Cars pollute the environment."

"And they get you where you need to go. I'm getting you a car." He headed for the door.

"I don't need a car."

"I'm doing this because I love you," her father said, leaving the room.

"Stop spoiling me! Heart center."

Lizzie's Outfit to "Cool Beans"

Green with Envy (Chapter 5)

On a Friday, Lizzie entered the cafeteria last of her friends. She sat down next to Skye with a big smile on her face.
Madeline scrunched her eyebrows then smiled. "Why are you so happy?"
"Remember Hank?" Lizzie questioned.
"Yes, from you talking about him fifty times," Andrea replied.
"I talked about him that many times?"
"Why are you happy?" Madeline asked again.
"Well, me and Hank... are a couple again!"
"Wow!" Debra's eyes widened. "Congratulations, Lizzie!"
"Thank you, thank you."
"You took him back?" asked Madeline.
"More like he took me back."
"Well, either way, we're happy for you," said Skye.
"Thank you, Skye."
"How did it all start?" asked Madeline. "Like how did it go?"
"Well, since Amber was being the wicked witch of Oz, I thought I would steal Hank away. But I realized it was a stupid idea because it's not nice to steal and I ended up with grass shake in my hair. But it all ended well because he kissed me."
"I'm sorry; can you say that again?" asked Andrea.
"Either way, I liked him and he still liked me so we're together now."
"That's good for you, Liz'," stated Madeline. "Maybe one day, we can all learn from you and get back the ones that got away."
"Ha, I don't need to get back the one that got away," said Andrea. "I bet Kevin is having fun dating himself."
"Wait, you can date yourself?" asked Lizzie.
As Madeline spoke, Hank entered the cafeteria, quickly gazing upon Lizzie. He walked around her table from behind the bench she was sitting on and covered her eyes once he reached her.
"Guess who," he said.
"Mister Garrison?" guessed Lizzie.
"No."
"Why would Mister Garrison cover your eyes and say, 'Guess who?'," asked Skye.
"Makes you wonder, doesn't it?" inquired Andrea.
"Guess again," said Hank.
"Is it Debra?" asked Lizzie.
Debra scrunched her forehead.
"No, it's me," Hank uncovered Lizzie's eyes.
Lizzie gaped. "Oh, Hanky-Panky!" She squeezed him dearly.
"Hanky-Panky?" Andrea repeated.
"Oh, sit down, sit down!"
Skye scooted to the right so Hank could sit in the space.
"What are you doing here?"
"I am officially going to school here now," answered Hank.
"Oh, that's terrific sauce!"
"Terrific sauce?" Andrea repeated as well.
"I get to be with you every day." Lizzie hugged Hank again.
"And us," added Madeline.
"And them! You're going to love my friends."
"You better love us," said Andrea. "If you don't, just so you know, we have tasers."
"Andrea."
"I'm kidding; I have a taser."
"If you do, I would like to see that," said Skye.
"I love them already," said Hank.
Lizzie squealed and hugged him once more.
"This is so cool," admitted Madeline. "We don't often have boyfriends sit with us. And since you two care a great deal for each other, it is finally nice to meet someone who can handle love."
Lizzie started singing to Hank: "I love you, you love me, we're a happy family."
"Your girlfriend likes Barney, too," said Andrea. "Can you handle that?"

Green with Envy (Chapter 4)

After that day, Lizzie still felt feelings for Hank. She did not want to express them to him if he had a girlfriend. But she knew that his 'girlfriend' was a horrible person and did not want Hank to be with her anymore. So she schemed a plan to win Hank over or at least pull him away from Amber as she tried to listen to her heart, not her head.
So two days after, Lizzie made a trip to the Cool Beans diner during the afternoon. She wore a thick trenchcoat on her way to the place. When she entered, she saw Amber, sitting in a counter stool, talking to Hank while he polished glasses from behind the counter.
Lizzie approached the counter. "Hi, Hank," she said.
"Hi, Lizzie," Hank greeted back.
Lizzie looked at his girlfriend. "Amber."
"Leper," Amber responded. "Oops, I mean Lizzie."
"So what's up?" asked Hank.
"I was wondering if I can have a seat as I came to dine," said Lizzie.
"Sure thing. Just let me clean this one last cup and I will show you your booth."
"Understandable."
As Hank polished a glass cup with a wet washcloth, Lizzie sat down next to Amber in an empty stool. She untied her belt and slid off her trenchcoat, revealing a skimpy outfit. It consisted of a bright yellow cropped tee with off-shoulder ruffled sleeves, a ruffled, bright yellow mini-skirt, and bright-colored bangles, all suiting well with her woven sandal wedges with yellow pieces.
Lizzie's sex-appealing outfit caught Hank's eyes. He said, "Whoa" before dropping his glass cup on the floor, shattering it into pieces.
"Lizzie, please, this is a classy restaurant," said Amber. "Not a trashy restaurant."
Lizzie squinted her eyes at Amber. "Sorry, but I was feeling--" She crossed her legs. "--'ruff'. Get it? 'Ruff'? As in 'ruffles'."
"You're not funny."
"I-I-I will show you your seat," stuttered Hank. He walked around the counter towards Lizzie and held her arm to guide her to her table. "Watch out for the broken glass."
"It's behind the counter," Amber stated.
"It's still dangerous."
Lizzie sat down at her table. "Thanks, Hank."
"Sure thing." He pulled out a pad and paper. "What would you like to drink?"
"I would like a glass of waiter. Oops, I mean 'water'."
Hank chuckled nervously. "Coming right up."
He walked away into the open kitchen.
"Nice play on words," called Amber.
"If it came across as sexual," said Lizzie, "it wasn't supposed to be honestly. Like if you spelled 'water' with an I--"
"Shut up!"
"Geez."
Hank arrived with a cold glass of water. He placed it on Lizzie's table. "One of our waiters, Wade, will arrive shortly and take your order."
"Glad to know."
Hank smiled before walking off and going behind the counter. While he paid his attention to Amber, a waiter came out of the kitchen and approached Lizzie.
"Whoa!" the waiter shouted. "Hank, you may have told me she was a friend but you didn't tell me she was a fine friend!"
Hank motioned the 'Cut It' sign in front of his neck while staring at the waiter.
The waiter cleared his throat. "Sorry about that," he said to Lizzie. "My name is Wade and I will be serving you. Are you ready to order?"
Lizzie looked at her menu. "Yeah, I would like a Cajun Style cheeseburger with spicy French fries, please."
"Burger and fries? Aren't you afraid that you will... bust out of your top?"
"Uh... yeah. But I saw this commercial and apparently, eating burgers is sexy. So make sure that there is extra grease on that Cajun Style."
"Wow, you are weird. I can dig that. Your food will ready in thirty minutes."
"I will wait patiently."
Wade walked off into the kitchen. As Lizzie waited, she looked at Hank talking to Amber. She tried to eavesdrop on their conversation by reading their lips but frankly, she could not do that. However, while she looked at them, Hank moved his eyes at Lizzie as well.
Amber started to notice that and squeezed his chin to make him look at her. "What are you doing?" she questioned. "Are you looking at that popsicle?"
"You mean Lizzie?" he inquired. "No, of course not."
"Your mouth is saying 'No' but your eyes are saying 'Yeppity-Do-Da'. What do you see in that trash bag?"
"Excuse me, she is not a trash bag. She's way more sweeter than that."
"Puh-lease. Girls who look like that are not sweet, not even if they dress like a promiscuous lollipop."
"I thought you said she looked like a popsicle."
"Whatever. Go get me my veggie shake like I asked."
"You know, you lose your weight by drinking while Lizzie loses her weight by eating. Which one do you think sounds more terrifying?"
"Are you comparing me to Lizzie?"
"No." Hank immediately walked away and entered the kitchen with an empty glass parfait cup.
Amber turned around and glared at Lizzie from afar, who was minding her business and reading little sugar packets. Infuriated, Amber hopped off her seat and marched towards Lizzie.
"Hey!" Amber caught her attention. "I know what you're doing."
"Isn't it obvious?" asked Lizzie. "I'm reading the nutrition facts off of this substitute sugar. I want to know how many calories of sugar are in a substitute sugar."
"Quiet, you! You used to date Hank and Hank did not tell me for me to know that. I can smell you."
"Oh, well, Hank used to wear this blueberry cologne when we were in middle school. It was so strong that I swear and swore that I can still smell it."
"Stop talking to me like I'm your friend! I'm not your friend. I don't want to be your friend. You're just a piece of garbage that Hank threw away in his past. But I am a special item that he will forever keep. And Hank will never date you unless you turn into me."
Amber walked away with Lizzie feeling depressed yet puzzled. Amber returned to her seat with Hank walking inside the counter and handing her the glass of a green, thick drink. Lizzie looked at them and felt a change in mood. She rapidly get out of her seat and charged towards the couple.
"Hi, again," she smiled.
Amber glared at her.
"What are you drinking?" Lizzie asked. "I want to drink what you drink. I want to do what Amber does. Is that lime? Kiwi? Apples are sometimes green. Can I pound some?"
Lizzie took the glass and chugged it, making Amber much angrier. Lizzie belched a bit and made a disgusted face.
"Well, that is special," she commented. "It tastes like... what green tastes like."
"It's a veggie shake," said Hank. "It's nothing but vegetables."
"Oh, that makes sense. It tasted like manure. And vegetables grow from manure. A smart fact just like what Amber shares. And Amber is smart and pretty and--"
"Shut up!" Amber snapped.
"Amber, what's wrong?" Hank asked.
"Her! That's what's wrong. She's driving me nuts."
"Amber, she's not hurting you."
"I know. But she's killing me. She still likes you, don't you get it? But she needs to know that what's mine is mine."
"But Amber, we never really talked about our... status."
"We don't need to. I get what I want and what I want is you. And this hoochie is not going to take you away from me."
Lizzie relaxed her shoulders. "You know what, Amber? I may dress like a hoochie but I am not a hoochie. I'm a really nice girl with feelings and sometimes, I can't help my feelings. I'm just a teenager so I don't know what I'm doing. I just want to be happy." She stood on an empty stool, then on top of counter. She caught attention from all of the customers in the diner. "I like love. I believe in romance. I'm waiting for the one but maybe, the one is waiting for me. I don't want to get hurt but right now, I'm following my heart and figuring out what I want to do."
"So what you want to do is stand on tables in high heels so people can see your underwear?"
"People can see my--? I thought this skirt was long enough."
"Nope, it's small. Just like your brain."
Lizzie walked slowly along the counter. "Look, Amber, I know you may not like me but I am just being--" Not noticing, Lizzie walked into the glass of the veggie shake and knocked it over, spilling most of the shake into Amber's lap. She gasped and held up her hands. Lizzie gaped. "I am so sorry! I-I didn't even see that."
"You liar! You did that on purpose!"
"No, I did it by accident. Two different things."
Amber picked up the glass and flicked it hard towards Lizzie so what was left of the drink could splatter on her.
"I swear cows would like to drink this," said Lizzie after a few seconds of silence.
"I'll show you who's the real cow."
  Amber climbed on top of the counter and immediately wrestled her down. Hank walked around the counter and tried to pull the girls off of each other. But Amber was too strong and was no match for Hank or the other waiters who rushed out. Some of the customers tried to film the fight on their phones. Lizzie screamed as Amber grabbed her arms and wiggled and wriggled her around, throwing punches that were luckily missed. Finally, Lizzie threw Amber off of herself, making her fall off the counter-top onto the hard floor. Lizzie's struggle to get Amber off of her made her fall off as well.
"Lizzie, are you okay?" asked Hank.
"Um, I fell, too!" Amber sat up.
Hank crouched before Amber. "Amber, I don't think we should see each other anymore."
"What? Why?"
"What do you mean 'why'? You obviously have a problem with Lizzie and I can't be with someone who doesn't give people a chance. Lizzie is sweet and thoughtful and generous. And you are the opposite of those things. I'm sorry, Amber, but we can't date anymore."
"Fine by me. I've been seeing Wade anyway."
She got up and walked away, out of the door. Hank looked up, seeing Wade standing from afar.
"Sorry, dude," Wade said. "I thought you two weren't in a relationship."
"That's okay, man," Hank responded. He walked over to Lizzie, who started to sit up, and crouched down. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah," she answered, wiping the veggie shake off her cheek. "No. Hank, I miss you. And I acted like a brat about it. I'm really sorry but I still have feelings for you. The reason I broke up with you in the first place is because I was foolish. I thought I could do better but I didn't. I really liked you. Maybe love. But you probably don't want to go out with me again since I made a complete fool of myself. So I'm gonna go."
Lizzie turned but Hank grabbed her arm to stop her from moving any further.
"I love you, too," he smiled.
"You do?"
"Yeah. I never really stopped thinking about you. Plus, you're still the same which is why my feelings for you are stronger than ever. I love you, Lizzie."
Lizzie smiled. Hank pecked her on the lips, making him smile as well.
"I still taste like veggie shake," Lizzie said.
"I know." Hank chuckled.
"That was like eating grass. No drug reference."
"I wasn't even thinking about it."

Green with Envy (Chapter 3)

The next day, after school, Lizzie walked down to the Cool Beans diner to see Hank. She was nervous yet she wanted to make things right between him and her. Once she faced the door, she exhaled then opened it. Hank immediately saw her enter.
"Hi," greeted Lizzie.
"Hi, Lizzie," Hank responded.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm just cleaning the counter."
"Cool."
"There's nothing cool about it."
"There can be. I mean I don't clean my kitchen counter. Probably because it's always clean. I think. Anyway, how are you doing?"
"I'm well. You?"
"Sort of well." She walked closer to the counter. "Hank, we need to talk."
"About what?"
"I don't want anything to be weird between us."
"There's nothing weird between us."
Lizzie paused. "Wait, what day is it?"
"I'm sorry. There is something weird."
"Oh, good. I mean not good. I want us to be friends. Just because we used to be a thing doesn't mean we can't still talk to each other and hang out. So how do you feel about that?"
"I agree. We should stop being awkward right now."
Lizzie exhaled. "All of the awkwardness is out. So tell me: why did you move back to Laguna Beach?"
"Well, my family and I first left because my dad got a job out of Laguna. He got fired from that job but luckily scored another job here. So we moved back to Laguna and I am soon to be enrolled at Laguna Beach High."
"Hey, I go to Laguna Beach High."
"Awesome. We'll see each other every day."
"Yeah! And you'll like it there. The water is so clean, it's drinkable. But we're not allowed to drink it from anywhere but the fountains. Doesn't mean it's not clean."
"Well, I'm looking forward to it."
Lizzie grinned. Afterwards, a blonde girl entered the diner and sat in one of the seats by the counter.
"Hey, Hank," she said.
"Hey, Amber," Hank paid his attention to the girl.
"Amber?" Lizzie inquired.
"Amber, this is my friend, Lizzie."
"Hi, Lizzie," said Amber. "I'm Hank's friend as well. But more like a friend than a friend, if you know what I mean."
"No," responded Lizzie.
"Well, Hank knows what I mean, right?"
"Yeah, I know exactly what you mean," said Hank.
"I still don't know what you mean!" Lizzie freaked out.
"Lizzie, calm down."
"Oh, I'm calm. I'm river calm. I'm Laguna Beach High water calm."
"Good. So Amber, when I'm on my break, you want to get a soda?"
"I'd love to," replied Amber.
Lizzie chuckled nervously. "Why get soda when you have soda here? It is a diner."
"You're right," agreed Hank. "I'm going to get us a soda right now with two straws."
He walked away into the kitchen.
"Soda's actually bad for your teeth," Lizzie said to Amber. "Ginger Ale-vitis and whatnot."
"It's 'gingivitis'," Amber corrected. "And don't tell me about tooth decay, like, what is your excuse, Gunk Mouth?"
"Gunk-- Did you just-- You said have a gunk mouth?"
"Well, yes, I did. Your teeth look like they have jaundice."
"Oh, no, you didn't."
Soon, Hank came back with a glass of dark soda holding two straws.
"Hank, I really like your friend," Amber said, changing her mood.
"Oh, good," Hank smiled. "She's nice, isn't she?"
"Yes, she is."
Lizzie created a face of confusion. But quickly, she changed it to a happier face. "I really like Amber, too. She is... She... Yeah."

Green with Envy (Chapter 2)

Until Monday came, the girls met up for lunch at the school cafeteria. There, Lizzie began to speak about her encounter with her ex-boyfriend, Hank, and its details of awkwardness.
"I ran into my ex, Hank," she spit out.
"Ooh, did you two reunite?" asked Andrea.
"No. It was totally awkward."
"How awkward?" asked Madeline.
"So awkward. He could barely talk to me nor look at me."
"It's true," said Debra. "He was really quiet to her while he was loud and about to the other customers."
"Wow, it sounds like you really broke his heart," said Andrea.
"Yeah, I feel so bad," sighed Lizzie.
"Do you still like him?" Madeline asked.
"Meh."
"What does 'meh' mean?" asked Skye.
"'Meh' means yes." Lizzie laid her face down on the table.
"Then why did you break up with him in the first place?" asked Madeline.
"I thought he was a loser!" She lift her head back up. "At my age, you got teased for dating losers. So I broke up with me to date winners. But I missed him, like really, really missed him. And then he moved and I thought I was home free. But no! I'm still stuck on first base."
"Was that a baseball analogy?" asked Andrea.
"Why is he back?" Madeline asked.
"I don't know," answered Lizzie. "I didn't ask him. I was too reserved to talk to him."
"Well, if he's back, he might start going here," said Skye.
"No! The tension will be worse."
"Then you're screwed like a nut, Lizzie," said Andrea.
"And I didn't even wear a good outfit. I wore a frumpy outfit just like how I dress around my parents."
"Ooh, that's not good," said Madeline.
"I know."
"But if you did wear a good outfit, he still wouldn't be able to talk to you."
"Yeah, you know how guys are," nodded Andrea.
"Lizzie, if you want things to be less weird," started Skye, "you two need closure. You two should at least be friends for things to be good again in case he's coming to Laguna High."
Lizzie sighed. "You're right, Skye. I just don't want him to reject me because I broke his heart, stomped on it and poured nail polish remover all over it."
"It's better to take risks than to not take them."
"Depends on the risk," said Andrea. "I mean you wouldn't stick your head in a tiger cage, now wouldn't you?"
"No, but Hank is not a tiger."
"So what would happen if I stuck my head in his cage then?" asked Lizzie.

Green with Envy (Chapter 1)

Over the weekend, Lizzie decided to go to a new diner a few blocks away from her house with Debra. She went with only Debra because the other girls had plans. So they met up at a space between their homes and walked together down to the cafe.
"Why are you wearing all of those clothes?" asked Debra. "I thought your parents let you secretly wear your original clothes as long as they didn't know about it."
"That's a good way to put it," said Lizzie. "I heard that the restaurant has way too much air conditioning. So I'm wearing a sweater and knee-high socks for the weather inside the cafe."
"What's the diner called again?"
"Cool Beans."
"Clever. Because they sell coffee?"
"No, I think they just serve beans."
"Then why are we going there?"
"Don't you like beans?"
"Honestly yes. But what's in it for you?"
"I love new businesses. And my parents say to me all the time to do nice things. So buying food from a new restaurant is doing them a favor."
"That's generous to hear, Lizzie. You have money, right?"
"Of course."
"Okay. So do I."
"You have five dollars, too?"
"Okay, never mind."
"Oh! There it is," Lizzie pointed at the near business. "I hope it's nice on the inside as it is on the outside."
The girls opened the glass doors and entered the diner.
"I told you about that air conditioning," said Lizzie, crossing her arms.
"Wow, it's so clean," Debra commented.
The brunet teenager, who was wiping the counter with a towel, heard the customers and faced them behind the counter. "Welcome to Cool Beans," he declared. "I will be-- Lizzie."
Lizzie's eyes widened. "Hank?"
"You two know each other?" asked Debra.
"Yes," answered Hank, the employee. "We used to--"
"Date," Lizzie finished.
"Yeah, date."
"Oh, wait," said Debra. "I think I remember you. You guys were dating when I first met Lizzie."
"Yeah, met," said Lizzie, frozen.
"Excuse me but I'll be right back," said Hank. He walked out of the counter and into a door right by it.
"I changed my mind," blurted out Lizzie. "I don't feel like helping out the business today."
She tried to walk away but Debra pulled her in.
"Why are you bugging?" Debra questioned.
"I'm not bugging, you're bugging. There are bugs all over you."
"Was the breakup messy?"
"No. Maybe. A little bit. Yes. Why?"
"Why? To know why you're bugging."
Hank came back with two menus and place it on a table. He motioned his hands towards the table to let the girls know that they can sit there. They walked up and sat in the seats of the table, facing each other.
"What would you girls like to drink?" Hank asked, taking out a notepad and a pen.
"I would like a raspberry tea," answered Debra.
"I-I-I would like a, um, water," Lizzie replied.
"Tea and water coming right up," said Hank. "And it's nice to see you, Lizzie."
"Mm-hmm."
Hank walked off into the kitchen.
"I feel like I would remember what happened but I really don't," said Debra.
"I broke up with him because I was getting bored of him. But when I broke up with him, I might have broke him. I never thought I would face him again. Plus, I thought he moved."
"Well, if he moved, he came back."
"Can we please leave? I don't want this to be awkward."
"It's already awkward so we can't leave."
"I am so not sharing that five dollars with you for the bill."
"Whatever, cheapskate."

Dibs! (Chapter 5)

After being told by a teacher to report to lunch without any problems, the girls sat at their usual table in the cafeteria with white and brown stains on their shirts and bruises on their faces. They all looked back at Bret who was sitting in a farther table next to his said girlfriend, talking and laughing.
"I can't believe he has a girlfriend," said Madeline.
"I can't believe you ruined my sweater," added Andrea, tugging her shirt. "It's velveteen."
"How come none of us knew this?"
"Maybe we were blinded by his good looks," Debra conceived.
"Looks never looked so good," Lizzie said, almost in a whisper.
"Was the fact that he was actually ours all in our head?" asked Madeline.
"Could be," responded Skye. "Maybe we thought he was hitting on us but in fact... he was just being nice."
"How can nice be so fooling?" asked Lizzie.
"I don't know," replied Madeline. "But I do know that Bret almost tore us apart."
"Almost?" Andrea inquired. "We were just tearing each other apart out there ten minutes ago."
"Fine, it did tear us apart. And that is so lame of us."
"You're right," said Skye. "We're best friends."
"Meaning we shouldn't fight over a guy we barely know," added Lizzie.
"And our bond is stronger than what a boy can provide," Debra included.
"And no matter how hot-hot-hot he is," said Andrea, "friendship is endlessly important."
"Now that is what I'm talking about," said Madeline. "We need to stick together, not disconnect. We only knew Bret for a couple of days and we already thought he was our boyfriends."
"Typical girl problems," said Lizzie.
"Exactly. We've known each other for years and we're fighting over a boy that we've known for seventy-two hours. Even I can admit that is crazy of me and I can't say I'm crazy."
"I can admit that, too."
"Me, too," Debra said.
"I can admit it," Skye agreed.
"I'm crazy all the time so I know that's crazy," Andrea concurred.
"Hey, we can all get a little crazy sometimes," said Madeline. "I mean look at ourselves. We're covered in cupcake."
"And those were gross cupcakes," said Skye.
"Hey, I made them," glared Lizzie.
"Oh, I didn't mean your cupcakes. I meant the cupcakes that I-- I had yesterday. They were gross. But yours-- mmm!"
"Thank you. I can make you some if you want."
"Nah, I'm cool."
"We should hit the bathroom so we can clean this off," recommended Andrea.
"No," Madeline replied. "We should keep this on. Because when we walk out in the usual crowd of people, our stains will become symbols. Symbols of when the going gets tough and the tough gets going. But no matter what, we all need to stick together through thick and thin which we all did."
"That is a good idea!" said Lizzie.
"Yeah, but we can't walk around every day with cupcake stains on our clothing," said Debra. "We'll attract ants."
"I once wore a shirt that had a stain on it. Afterwards, my Aunt Alex had to live with me and my parents for almost a week. I got rid of the shirt and my aunt was gone like magic."
"Uh-huh," Skye nodded with a crack in her voice.
"Girls, let's promise to never fight ever again," said Madeline. "Like can we all agree?"
The girls consented.
"Dibs!" Andrea suddenly shouted as she saw an unknown boy enter the cafeteria. She hopped out of her seat and ran towards to the boy to greet him.
The girls stared at Andrea interacting with the boy, creating a long silence.
To break the silence, Madeline said, "At least she said 'dibs' first."