"That's crazy!" Mikayla tells me. "What if your career washes up? Don't you want something to fall back on?" Liz nudges her and Mikayla seems to snap out of her rant. She takes a deep breath. "Look, you seem like a smart girl. Take it from someone who knows, good SATs are important. I know you're a celebrity and all, and I'm sure plenty of schools would like you for that reason alone, but you shouldn't rely on their charity."

Ouch. My shoulders tighten. "My career is not going to wash up," I say stiffly, feeling the anger bubble up inside me. "I know you don't know anything about Hollywood, but the truth is, if I go to college full-time, then I'm at risk of my career washing up. I appreciate your help, but I know what I'm doing." Study for the SATs! Pick a movie! Pick a TV show! I'm so sick of everyone thinking they know what's best for me. I need time to make the right decision on my own and I need people to stop badgering me about it.

Liz and Mikayla just look at me. Our waitress hovers near the table with our drinks, but seems afraid to approach. I feel my cheeks burn. I can't believe I just snapped at Liz's friend like that. "I'm sorry." I look downward. "The future is sort of a sore subject with me at the moment."

"It's fine," Mikayla says, sounding anything but fine. "I just think it's good to have a backup plan." She turns to Liz. "I'm going to go to the bathroom."

"Geez, Kates, what's with you?" Liz asks when Mikayla's out of earshot.

"Me?" I'm shocked.

"She can come on a little strong, but she's really nice," Liz insists. "Mikayla's really helped me with the college thing. She's got her whole life mapped out. And she loves NYU even more than I do. She practically grew up on campus."

"And you grew up near Beverly Hills. That's way better," I joke, trying to lighten the mood.

"This is serious," Liz sounds agitated. "College is important to me. If you were around more, you'd know that."

"You're the one that's been MIA lately," I point out. "You never return my calls. We haven't seen each other since before Christmas."

"And that's my fault?" Liz asks, sounding angry. "You're the one who has had meeting after meeting and couldn't hang out till February 1st. I've been dying to talk to you, but you're unreachable! You have no idea what's going on in my life."

I feel like the room is closing in on me. "And you have no idea what's going on in mine," I complain. "I am under so much stress. Every time I do talk to you, you cut me off. You don't tell me anything anymore and you certainly don't listen."

"That's because I can't find you to talk to you!" Liz accuses. "Mikayla's been there for me. She knows what I'm going through. You and I both know that college is not your first priority. My next move is college. I want to get into NYU. You have no idea how stressful it is thinking about colleges and the pressure I'm under this year to do well. We have different priorities now. I can't party all the time like you and Lauren and Ava."