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is Yamir.” I smile so they don’t think I’m full of myself.
    â€œHe’s super cute,” Erica adds. “He was definitely the cutest eighth grader last year.”
    â€œThanks,” I say. “I think so too.”
    â€œOf course you do.” Erica rolls her eyes, and I guess a little bit of her old self is coming back. Despite what I told my dad, Erica Crane can’t change completely.
    â€œSo, maybe we can all hang out, and then he can introduce me to some of his high school friends?” Zoe asks, all sweet.
    â€œMaybe,” I say, and then quickly change my tone. “I mean, sure, yeah.”
    â€œGreat!” Zoe ties her hair back into a low ponytail. “I really don’t know many people here yet, you know. It’s January, and I still feel like the new girl.”
    Thankfully, Sunny gets back from the bathroom, so I don’t have to say anything in response to that. Zoe probablydoesn’t know many people because she only hangs out with Erica. You either love Erica or you hate Erica, and there really isn’t much in-between.
    â€œSo, should we start?” Sunny asks. “We only have an hour, right?”
    â€œRight.” I’m glad Sunny reminded everyone of that. Hours and hours with these two with no end in sight is too much for me to handle.
    â€œBy the way,” I tell them, “there are people getting treatments right now, so we do have to keep it quiet. But I know that treatment room A is open, so we can go in there, and I can show you the makeup and everything. Sound good?”
    â€œSounds amazing,” Zoe says. “Your family owns this spa?”
    I nod.
    â€œErica, why are you not BFFs with Lucy?” Zoe asks her. “You could be getting free makeovers and massages, like, every day!”
    Erica doesn’t say anything to that. I bet she wishes her assistant would keep quiet for once.
    Mariah, one of the aestheticians, pops her head out of a treatment room. “Let me know if you need anything, okay, Lucy?”
    â€œI can’t believe you, like, made this spa,” Zoe says, looking at everything as we walk to the treatment room. “Erica wastelling me all about it. It’s pretty awesome. You have your college essay written already.”
    I can’t help but laugh. “My college essay? I haven’t even finished eighth grade yet!”
    â€œI know, I know. My sister just started working on her essay, so my whole family is kind of obsessed with it.”
    Zoe is still talking about college essays, even though none of us have seriously started thinking about college yet. What I hear Zoe saying is that Erica was actually talking about me, telling Zoe about the spa, and sounding kind of impressed. Sometimes you jump to conclusions about people, assuming what they’re thinking, when you really have no idea at all.
    â€œSo, what are you guys thinking for the dance?” I sit down and motion for everyone else to do the same.
    â€œYou want to talk first or should I?” Zoe asks Erica.
    Erica doesn’t answer the question but jumps right in. “We want everyone to get their makeup done here, and we’d like you to do it, and we’d like you to offer a discount. Eighth-Grade Masquerade is special because of the awesome costumes and makeup, and you guys are the makeup experts. What you did for Yamir’s grade was incredible.”
    â€œLucy can’t do everyone’s makeup!” Sunny says, way too loud, and I shush her. “She’d have to start, like, tomorrow! The staff has to be able to help her.”
    Erica glares at me. “Is that true, Lucy? Aren’t you the expert?”
    â€œI wouldn’t say I’m an expert, but I know what I’m doing.” I shift in my seat. I wonder if there will ever come a time when Erica Crane doesn’t make me nervous. “Listen, I like to give each client the time and attention they deserve. I can’t rush