"I WANT THE JACUZZI THERE!" Laney interrupts. The hammering and the drilling grow louder again. "OVER THERE! Kaitlin, call Seth. No buts. I'll call you later after I deal with this." Click.

Sigh. It's just as well I didn't tell her about my crying fit during the promos taping. She'd tell me I was just being dramatic.

I can still hear the jackhammer in my ears as I make my way through the air-conditioned restaurant to the outdoor patio. Fusion's outside area is really peaceful. Ivy is draped over the concrete patio walls, planted trees provide extra shade, and white twinkling lights dot the bushes even during the daytime. A large stone fountain with two cherubs sits in the center of several wrought-iron tables topped with hydrangeas and small votives. For today's event, I see the restaurant's outdoor bar has been converted into a mini Cinch store being run by girls wearing the brand's signature CI logo. I look around. The place is packed with women I know, or have at least seen, on the big and small screens.

Cinch's marketing chief, Enid Euber, greets me warmly. "Hi, Kaitlin! So glad you could make it. You're at table eight." She points to the far side of the room, where Liz is already seated. She sees me and waves madly. "We have photographers documenting the event so keep your smile handy!" Enid adds as I head over to Liz.

Photographers are an understatement. Cinch's lunches get a lot of coverage, so there are four photographers and at least two video crews working the room. Already, Miley and Vanessa are holding Cinch T-shirts for a camera in one corner while Rihanna, Jessica, and Ashley strike a pose with their purchases in another.

A flash goes off as I hug Liz. We both start talking at the same time and laugh.

"Sit," Liz instructs. She looks good in a curve-hugging rust-colored dress that looks amazing against her olive skin. Liz's shoulder-length brown hair is down and curly. "Let's catch up quick so we can shop," she says. "I have my eye on a limited edition snakeskin pochette that one of the Cheetah Girls keeps looking at. Vacation details. Go."

I giggle. "Totally relaxing and beautiful. I thought about ditching it all and opening my own dive shop just so I could avoid coming home and taking the SATs."

"Stop stressing!" Liz scolds. "You've been studying so you're going to be fine."

"If you call doing half a practice test during lighting changes on set studying, then yeah, I've been studying," I say dryly. "I was getting at least an hour of practice a day while we were on break, but now, between memorizing my lines and doing interviews about FA, I'm lucky if I can squeeze in twenty minutes."

"Picture, girls?" a photographer interrupts and even before we can answer, begins snapping. "Hold up your purchases."

"We haven't made any yet," I tell him and he looks disappointed.

"I'll come back, then," he says. "And Kaitlin, maybe I can get one later of you with Ava and Lauren too."