“Wow,” Rafe said after about a half hour. “That was amazing.”

“Really?” Patti asked.

“Yeah—” My brother’s eyes were wide, like he was dead serious. “You guys sounded exactly like a tractor falling off a cliff.”

“DON’T LISTEN TO HIM!” Rhonda said. “YOU GUYS SOUNDED GREAT!”

I glanced at my mom. “Yes,” she said slowly. “I think you girls are… improving.”

I groaned. That was the best she could come up with, I thought. And she’s my mom! We must be really bad.

We Stink was going to sink like the Titanic.

Mari sighed. “Well, we’ll just have to get up there and do our best,” she said.

“I’m not worried,” Nanci said. She pulled a bag of chips out of her backpack and ripped it open. “It’s our first gig—it’s okay if we aren’t perfect.”

“It’s okay for you guys,” I grumbled. “It isn’t your school. Even if you embarrass yourselves, it won’t be in front of anyone you know.”

“WHAT’S EMBARRASSING ABOUT BEING AWESOME?” Rhonda wanted to know.

Nanci looked thoughtful as she crunched a chip.

“Do you want to back out?” Patti asked.

Yes, I thought. But then Missy’s evil, grinning face swam into my mind, and I realized that was exactly what she wanted. I’d rather do all Rafe’s chores for six months (which I was going to have to do anyway) than do something to make Missy happy. Besides, I couldn’t let Jeanne down after she’d stood up for us. “No,” I said at last.

Mari smiled. “It’s going to be fine.”

“Yeah,” Rafe agreed. “Like a two-hundred-dollar fine! For a noise violation.” He cracked up at his own joke.

“Oh, be quiet, Rafe,” I told him. I gritted my teeth and looked down at my guitar. Don’t worry, I said to myself. You won’t be that bad.

And even if you are, it doesn’t matter. Things can’t get any worse at school than they are now, right?

Right?

How I Became a Princess

I swear I was about to tell Mom about the pudding and the detention and all of that the minute my bandmates headed home. Really. It’s just… I was a little worried that she wouldn’t let me go to the dance if I mentioned it. I wanted to make sure I said it the right way….

“I CAN’T WAIT TO SHOW YOU MY DRESS FOR THE DANCE!” Rhonda said. She’d followed me home from school again to watch us practice, but somehow I didn’t mind so much. “WHAT ARE YOU WEARING, GEORGIA?”

Mom cocked her head, as if she was interested in hearing the answer.

“I… I haven’t thought about it,” I confessed.