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something to celebrate.
    S TAR OF THE S HOW
    â€œOkay, guys. Grab a table and let’s splurge,” Isabel cried, pushing through the door to Montoya’s that afternoon. “The sky’s the limit!” She opened up her wallet and a shadow crossed her face. “Katani,” she whispered, grabbing her arm. “Can we split this? I thought I had more money, but I’ve only got three dollars!”
    â€œNo problem. I’ve got my baby-sitting money,” Katani whispered back.
    It was Friday afternoon, and the popular bakery was crowded with junior high students. Most of the tables were taken, but the Beacon Street Girls found one in the corner. They waved at people they knew and maneuvered their way up to the counter to order drinks. Nick Montoya and his sister Fabiana were helping out in the café after school, and Nick took everyone’s orders. He gave Charlotte a special smile when she ordered her drink. Katani gave her a nudge. Lately, Nick had been paying a lot of attention to Charlotte, and she knew her friends were starting to notice. Charlotte wasn’t sure about Nick as a boyfriend yet. But he was nice… really nice. He’d make a good friend.
    A few minutes later, they were all sitting down, sipping iced hot chocolate and munching on pastries.
    â€œHere’s to Maeve,” Charlotte said, lifting her glass.
    â€œNo one I know has ever won an award before,” Isabel said admiringly, taking a bite of a buñuelo, one of the café’s specialties.
    â€œI haven’t won yet,” Maeve pointed out, taking a delicate bite of her cookie. She pushed her red curls back, frowning thoughtfully. “I wonder how they’re going to do this. Do you suppose they’ll hand out awards? And what should I wear? D’you think it’ll be super-dressy?”
    Katani grinned. “Kind of like the Oscars?”
    Maeve grinned. “Okay, okay. I guess this is a little different,” she admitted. But she was SO excited. “Should I write a speech—just in case?” she asked.
    â€œI could help you,” Charlotte offered.
    â€œAnd I could help with figuring out what to wear,” Katani added.
    Just then, the door to Montoya’s swung open and Anna and Joline came sauntering in. Anna had one arm flung casually around Joline’s shoulder, in that “we are SO cool and such totally best friends” way that she had. It was amazing. Even the now-famous lab incident didn’t affect their coolness. Anna and Joline almost always dressed alike. If it weren’t for the fact that Anna was taller and blonde, you’d almost think they were clones. They managed to wear everything with an attitude that suggested that if it wasn’t a trend yet, it would be by the end of the day. Today, they weren’t dressed identically, but the effect was pretty much the same. Tight, low-rider jeans. Form-fitting T-shirts, and scrunchy terry-cloth sweatshirts, halfway unzipped. They walked up to the counter together to place their orders—water.
    Katani looked incredulous. “WATER at Montoya’s! What a waste,” she muttered.
    â€œSshhhh,” Maeve said. Anna and Joline were walking back from the counter, right toward their table.
    â€œHey, Maeve,” Anna said lazily, raising one eyebrow and looking intently at Maeve, totally ignoring Charlotte, Isabel, Katani, and Avery. She was making it very clear that she was interested in talking ONLY to Maeve. “Pretty cool about that award thingy you’re getting.”
    â€œYeah,” Joline echoed, flicking her long brown hair back with one finger. “Nice going, Maeve.”
    Maeve swallowed. She wasn’t used to having the Queens of Mean bother to talk to her—let alone go out of their way to come over and say hi. “I haven’t actually won yet—” she began. But Anna and Joline didn’t seem to notice.
    â€œIt’s cool,” Anna