Peyton's POV

"Peyton! Peyton!" I turn around to see my best friend Kayla running towards me, a big grin on her face.

"Oh, hi Kayla." I greet her.

"Guess what! Guess what!" She exclaims. Without even waiting for me to answer, she says, "I'm going to be in the play too!" She starts dancing around as I realize what she is talking about. Our school is putting on a performance of Alice in Wonderland, and we are going to perform it for our parents on the last day of school before winter break. Tomorrow is audition day, and up until this point, Kayla didn't want to be in the play, she said it 'wasn't right for her'. That is why I am surprised to hear that she is actually going for a role.

"Well that's nice." I tell her. "What role are you going for?" I ask. She stops dancing for a minute to think.

"Actually, I'm not sure yet." She says. "Perhaps Alice. I think that would be fun."

"Oh." I say. "Well...ok." She smiles and starts walking away. "But...I was going to play Alice." I mutter to myself.

"Hey don't worry." A voice behind me says. I turn around and see my other best friend, Chloe, walking towards me. She smiles and says, "You have been acting since you were born. I know you will get the part of Alice, even if Kayla auditions for it." I smile at her, grateful for her confidence in me. "Wanna get an ice cream?" She asks. I nod.

"Course I do." We link arms and walk off to the ice cream shop.

One week later...

Kayla's POV

"YES!!! I got the part!!!" I burst out of the auditorium with a huge grin on my face. I start dancing around, but stop when I see Peyton and Chloe walking out. Peyton is looking at the ground, and Chloe is whispering in her ear. They pass me, and Peyton doesn't look up. However, Chloe does, and she glares at me, then turns back to Peyton. I watch them walk into the distance, a mixture of happiness and sadness chaotically tangling around within me.

"Kayla!" I hear someone yell. I turn around and see Jessica, my twin sister, running towards me. "You got it! You got it!" She yells. I can't help but smile as she runs up to me and hugs me. "Congratulations!" She says with a big smile on her face.

"Thanks, Jess." I tell her.

"Everyone's waiting for us, I haven't told them the good news yet, I wanted you to tell them." She informs me.

"Ok, thanks again Jess." She smiles.

"No problem Kayla." We turn and start walking home together.

I can't wait to tell the rest of my family that I got the part of Alice in the play. I am so excited!

My family consists of my mother, a fashion designer, my older sister Olivia, whom we all call Livi, my older brother Noah, and Jess and me. My father used to be a pilot, but one night he was flying in a storm, and the plane crashed, so he died. I miss him a lot. But I know that Mom, Livi, and Noah will be just as excited as I am!

But my heart starts aching when I think of Peyton and the sadness on her face. I sigh to myself as Jessica and I walk home.

The next day...

Jessica's POV

"And don't spend more than 10 dollars!" My mom reminds us.

"Ok we won't!" Kayla yells back while closing the door to our house. I give her a look, and she stares at me blankly.

"What?" She asks. I smile.

"Kayla, come on. You will really spend less than ten dollars?" She smiles.

"Yep!" She declares. I just shake my head. She rolls her eyes and says, "C'mon let's go, we are going to be late to meet Peyton."

"Ok." I say.

"Race you!" Kayla yells, already taking off.

"Hey!" I yell, and run after her. A few minutes later, I reach the ice cream shop. I walk inside and see Kayla already sitting down at a booth with Peyton and Chloe.

Kayla sees me and beckons me over. I walk over and sit next to her. Chloe eyes me suspiciously, but doesn't say anything.

I look down at the table. I have never really been comfortable around Peyton and Chloe, I would rather spend my days reading a good book. Books are my best friends. But Kayla loves hanging out with Peyton, so I put up with them for her sake.

Peyton, as usual, ignores me and continues talking to Kayla. They are talking about the new store, Radical, that just opened at the mall. I would join in their conversation, but I don't, for two reasons, one, Peyton and Chloe would just ignore me if I tried to join in, and two, I'm not much into makeup and dresses and jewelry and all that stuff anyways. So I've learned to just sit back and eat my ice cream quietly.

I devote this time to thinking about all the great books I have read, and that passes the time just fine. Before I know it, the time has come for us to part ways.

I hear Kayla and Peyton making plans to meet up again on Saturday at the mall to go to the new shop, Radical. Ugh. The mall. This I can stand, but the mall, no way. I REALLY hope I don't get dragged into this little outing. As Kayla and I start walking home, I see her slightly tilt her head towards me, but before she can say anything, I say, "No thanks, Kayla."

"You don't even know what I was going to say!" She protests.

"Yes I do." I counter. "You were going to invite me to the mall with you and Peyton. Well no thanks." I say.

"Jess.....c'mon it'll be fun!" Kayla begs me.

"For you, yes. For me, no." I tell her. She gives me a sad look.

"Jess..."

"No! I said no! So just drop it please!" I yell at her.

I am surprised at how harsh I sound. Kayla's eyes widen in surprise as I realize what I just said.

"Kayla...I..." I start to apologize. She shakes her head.

"You know what? Fine. That's perfectly fine." She says, her tone crisp as she makes it clear that I hurt her. Then she runs all the way home.

Kayla's POV

I ignore Jessica's cries for me to wait, to come back, that she is sorry. If she is sorry, then she shouldn't have yelled at me. I run into the house right up to my room, and slam the door.

Luckily, Livi and Noah aren't home, and mom is gardening in the back of the house, so I don't have to deal with them. I think about what happened with Jessica. I was just trying to be nice, trying to include her, trying to let her make friends. And what did I get in return? A rude yell in the face. That's fine, really, it's ok. I don't need Jessica anyways.

I hear her footsteps on the stairs, and I know that she is going to try to talk to me, and I really don't want to talk to her right now. So I hide in my closet. I have just closed the closet door when she comes in the room.

"Kayla?" She asks, getting nothing in return but the eerie silence that fills the room. Finally, I hear her leave. I let out a sigh of relief, then slowly open the closet door.

I creep down the hall to the stairs, and am about halfway down when I hear our house phone ring.

I run down the rest of the stairs and out to the backyard where I see Mom putting bluish purple hydrangeas into a flower bed. She looks up when she sees me.

"Hi Kayla." She greets me.

"Hey mom, the phones ringing" I tell her.

She smiles at me, totally unconcerned, and asks, "Did you have fun with Peyton?"

"Yes mom." I say. "But the phone's ringing."

"Alright, alright, I'll get it." She says before walking into the house.

I turn and admire the hydrangeas for all of ten seconds, then mom comes back outside with the phone in her hand, and says, "It's for you."

For me?!? I think to myself as she hands me the phone. Who would call me? Then I hear Peyton's voice in the other end of the line.

"Hello? Kayla?"

I smile and say, "Hi Peyton, it's me."

"Great." She says. "Listen, I have big news!" She says excitedly.

"Oh ya? What is it?" I ask. "Meet me at Winfred Park in an hour and I'll tell you!" She says.

"Alright I'll be there!" I reply.

"Great! See you then!" I hear the line click as Peyton hangs up. I turn to mom.

"Hey mom, can I meet Peyton at Winfred Park in an hour? She says she has big news!" I ask.

"Sure hon, but you have to take Jessica with you." She replies.

"Umm, can I go alone?" I ask. "Please?"

"Certainly not!" She exclaims. "You and Jessica go together or not at all. Make your choice."

I sigh. "Together."

"Alright then. Have fun, and be safe." She reminds me.

"Ok, we will. Bye!" I run into the house up to Jessica's room and say, "Jess!" She looks up from her book.

"We are going to Winfred Park." I announce.

Jessica's POV

I was just in the middle of Little House on the Prairie, when Kayla bursts into my room and announces that we are going to Winfred Park.

"Winfred Park?" I ask.

"Yep!" She says. "Peyton says she has big news!"

"Weren't you just mad at me five minutes ago?" I ask her.

"Well, yes, and I still am, but mom says we have to go together. You can bring your book." She replies.

"No thanks." I say.

"Please? I'll give you something later!" She begs.

I sigh, and say, "Fine, fine." Knowing very well that she won't give me anything later.

"Yay!" She exclaims, then runs out of my room. I reluctantly grab my book, put on my shoes, and follow her out the house, to Winfred Park.

Chloe's POV

I look around the park. "Are you sure she is coming?" I ask Peyton.

"Of course she's coming." Peyton says. "Look, there she is now." Peyton says, while pointing to a blonde haired girl followed by a strawberry red haired girl. Kayla and Jessica Jackson. Jessica immediately goes over to the grassy field and sits under a tree, then pulls out a book and immediately dives into it. Book worm.

Kayla runs over to Peyton and me, and asks, "What's the news? What's the news?"

Peyton grins and says, "I am going to be in a movie!"

"What?!?" Kayla screams. "Peyton that's so awesome!"

"Thanks!" She says. "It's called Winged Girl, and I get to be the lead character, Megan!" She exclaims, beyond excited.

"Nice!" Kayla says, obviously very happy for Peyton. Huh. Maybe I misjudged her. Peyton grins even wider after Kayla congratulates her.

"Thanks!" She beams.

"Well I got to go home, see you tomorrow!" Kayla says while waving.

"Bye!" Peyton waves after her. We watch Kayla run over to Jessica, then see them start walking home together.

I decide I probably should go home too, so I turn to Peyton and say, "See ya tomorrow Peyton! I will help you practice!"

"Ok, thanks Chloe!" She says. I smile, then start walking home.

The next day...

Chloe's POV

I laugh with Peyton as we walk out of the cold classroom into the bright sun. School is over and I promised Peyton I would help her practice for her part in the movie. Unfortunately, I see Kayla Jackson running up to us.

"Hey Peyton! You ready to play?" Kayla asks, totally ignoring me. Peyton casts her an apologetic look.

"Sorry, but..." Kayla cuts her off and says, "We can do jump rope, hopscotch, hula hooping, hair braiding, talking..." I roll my eyes and decide it is time to take action.

"Go away!" I yell. "I have to help Peyton practice for her role in the movie!"

Kayla gives me a dirty look and says, "I didn't know that you were Peyton. 'Cause I was asking her not you. I was asking Peyton NOT Chloe!" She turns to Peyton and smiles again. "So Peyton, what do you want to play?"

Peyton shakes her head. "Sorry Kayla. Chloe is right. I have to practice my part for the movie that I star in. Remember?"

Kayla frowns and says, "Yes...but...can't you just practice at home? Right now is playing time!" She then starts dancing around. What a fool.

I give her a harsh look and tell her, "Kayla, we said NO!"

Peyton jumps in and agrees with me. "This part is very important to me. I mean, it could determine my whole career in life!"

Kayla stops dancing around and gives Peyton a sad look. "But, but, please?"

Peyton shakes her head. "Kayla, we play all the time. I need to practice. Like I said, this part could determine my whole career in life."

"COULD." Kayla says, rather roughly.

Peyton rolls her eyes. "Fine, fine. It WILL determine my career."

Kayla shrugs. "So? There are other jobs out there!"

"I know, I know." Peyton says. "But I really want to be a movie star!"

"Can't you at least play for just five minutes today?" Kayla asks.

"Kayla, you know how important this is to me." Peyton tries to reason.

"But that doesn't mean that you have to make it more important than playing with me!" Kayla yells.

Peyton's eyes grow wide and she harshly says, "Kayla Jackson! I already answered you! I said I need to practice with Chloe instead of playing today AND THAT'S FINAL!"

"NO!!!" Kayla yells, even louder than before. "I WANT TO PLAY WITH YOU!!!"

Now Peyton is yelling too. "KAYLA, YOU HEARD ME!!! I SAID, NO!!!!!"

I can see that this is going nowhere, so I yell at Kayla too. "JUST LISTEN TO PEYTON ALREADY!!! SHE SAID, GO AWAY!!! YOU CAN PLAY WITH PEYTON ANOTHER TIME!!!!"

Everyone goes silent. It is rare that I yell, and when I do, everyone listens.

"Thank you Chloe." Peyton sighs. Then she turns back to Kayla. "As for you, JUST LISTEN AND LEAVE ME ALONE!!!"

Kayla starts tearing up. Peyton turns to me and says, "Let's go, I need to be away from her."

I nod and say, "Good idea, we can't have you losing your voice screaming at her, let's go, we're leaving her ALONE." I grab Peyton's arm and start pulling her away. I stick out my tongue at Kayla and say, "Bye bye Miss Annoying!!!"

Kayla stutters, then says, "But, but, I'll help you practice all you want!"

I finally loose my cool and completely blow up in her face. "NO!!!" I scream at the top of my lungs. "Because a minute ago you were saying you wanted to play with her, and only after she said no and I volunteered to help her you stepped in just so you can butter her up and offer to help her so after practice you can play with her!"

Peyton whirls around and glares at Kayla. "I ALREADY TOLD YOU! MY MOVIE ROLE COMES FIRST! NOW JUST LEAVE US ALONE!"

I see the anger boiling up in Kayla's eyes and she finally looses it too. "FINE! LEAVE ME AND GO PRACTICE WITH CHLOE! I DON'T CARE! I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT YOU AREN'T A TRUE FRIEND!!! I HOPE YOU NEVER BECOME FAMOUS ANYWAY!"

Peyton glares at Kayla. "WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?!?!?"

Kayla repeats herself. "I SAID I DON'T WANT YOU TO BECOME FAMOUS!!!!!!"

Peyton is beet red at this point, and yells back at Kayla, "WELL YOU KNOW WHAT? I'M GONNA BECOME FAMOUS, JUST TO PROVE YOU WRONG!"

Then Kayla, equally as loud, screams, "AND IF YOU DO, I'M GONNA RUIN IT FOR YOU!" After this, there is a moment of silence. I look over at Peyton and can tell that she is shocked that her so called "friend" said that she would TRY to ruin Peyton's career. I know that she is plotting to get back at Kayla big time. Soon, a sly grin spreads over her face.

She jeers at Kayla, "AT LEAST MY  DAD DIDN'T DIE BECAUSE HE WAS ASHAMED OF ME FOR NOT BEING SMART LIKE HIM!!!!!" The silence is almost too long now. I feel weird, so I am the first one to break it. I snicker.

"Haha LOSER!" Kayla starts crying, and I almost feel bad for her. Almost.

"But, but it isn't true, you know that!" She protests.

Peyton snickers now. "Yeah RIGHT! You're just scared to admit that it is the truth because you're ashamed that you are the reason he is dead!"

Kayla wails and screams for her sister. "Nnnnnn NO! J... Jess!"

Jessica runs over, and she is furious. "What is going on?"

Peyton sneers and her voice is sarcastic as she says, "Oh nothing. Just a friendly chat between two friends. You don't have to poke your nose in, BOOK WORM."

Now I laugh at Jessica. Jessica isn't happy.

She narrows her eyes and replies angrily, "She is my sister. So I WILL poke my nose in." She turns to Kayla, then back around to Peyton. "Oh, and by the way, at least we are actually NICE to people. Unlike you meanies. She then turns to me. "And yes, Chloe, I was also talking to you." I can't believe she just said that! Peyton's mouth has dropped open. She glares at the twins.

To Jessica, she says, "YOU ARE A BIG, FAT, LIAR!!!" Then she turns to Kayla. "Well, it looks like you don't need my help anymore, so good BYE!!!!"

I give then a little wave. "Later CHICKENS!" Then Peyton and I walk away laughing, flapping our arms and clucking like chickens.

Jessica's POV

I run up to Kayla. "Are you ok?" I ask. "What did she do to you?"

"No!" Kayla yells. "Peyton just said that Daddy is dead because he was ashamed that I didn't end up smart like him!"

My heart breaks. "Oh Kayla.... you know that it's not true. Don't worry, she is just trying to be mean." I reassure her.

Kayla looks up at me. "But Jess! She's ruined my life!"

I shake my head. "No, she didn't ruin your life."

"She ruined my social life!" Kayla protests.

"Who cares?" I say.

"I do!" She complains.

I sigh. "C'mon, let's just go home and forget about the whole thing. It doesn't matter what Peyton or Chloe thinks, they are just mean jerks."

"You just don't get it!" Kayla yells at me, then runs away towards home.