PAIGE

If this is about Ryan, he can visit whenever he wants. You'll work it out.

SAMANTHA

This isn't just about Ryan! It's everything! How could make us move during junior year?

SARA

It's not like schools in Miami don't have a yearbook committee, Sam.

SAMANTHA

(to Sara) How could you be okay with this? I thought you loved living here!

SARA

I do, but South Beach is electric. I could work on my tan, meet some cute boys . . .

SAMANTHA

(snaps) You can do those things here.

PAIGE

I'm surprised at you, Sam. If anything, I thought Sara would give us a tougher time with this decision. You're always up for trying new things.

SAMANTHA

This is different! I'm not going. Aunt Krystal or Granddaddy will let me stay with them.

DENNIS

Samantha, if we go, we're going as a family.

SAMANTHA

Well, then maybe I don't want to be part of this family any longer!

(Samantha runs from the kitchen in tears. Sara moves to follow her.)

PAIGE

(to Sara) Let her go. She needs time. She can't hide from the future forever.

Two: Back to Reality

"There you are!" Paul yells exuberantly as I enter the FA makeup room. "How's our little star? Did you have a good break?" I give him a huge hug. Paul is my hair designer (he's banned the word "hair dresser" from my vocabulary).

"Your skin is glowing," marvels Shelly, my makeup artist, as she wraps her large frame around me. "How was Turks and Caicos?"

"Great," I tell them. My vacation was incredible, but it feels good to be back in my comfort zone. "The weather was perfect every day," I gush. "Matty and I even went parasailing. Don't tell Tom," I add quickly.

"You made it back in one piece, so who cares?" quips Paul. He helps me up into the makeup chair and begins spritzing my wavy hair with water. My phone rings and Paul sighs. "You can answer it, but don't blame me if the curling iron singes your Motorola."

"HI!" Lizzie squeals when I pick up. "I told Mr. Harris that I needed to use the bathroom so I could sneak out and call you. Our flight from Hawaii was delayed last night and I didn't get in till late."

"That's okay. I missed you!" I tell her. "When are we getting together?"

"How about tonight?" Liz asks. "Slice of Heaven at eight?"

"I can't," I say guiltily. "I have a date with Austin." I grab my Sidekick and scroll through the week's schedule. "Tomorrow I'm working late. Thursday I have a meeting. How about Wednesday?"

"Wednesday I have a kickboxing tournament." Liz sounds bummed. "Thursday I have this thing with Josh and Friday night I'm hanging out with Mikayla."

"Who's Mikayla?" I ask as Paul comes dangerously close to burning my ear.

"She's that girl I met in Hawaii," Liz explains. "She's awesome, Kates. She's a freshman at NYU. Her family just moved to Los Angeles so she's out here for winter break. You have to meet her before she goes back."