"Don't worry about it, Mom." I glance nervously at Nadine out of the corner of my eye. "I'll see you later." Nadine grabs my arm gently and we hurry out the front door. Lately it seems like all I do is run. We sprint down the long brick walkway and jump into the black sedan, where Rodney is waiting.

"Morning, Kates," Rodney mumbles, his mouth full of his usual breakfast, a bagel and veggie cream cheese. "Oversleep again?"

At six feet four inches and weighing in at almost three hundred pounds, Rodney looks like he could lay the smack down on any wrestler in the WWE, but the truth is, he's a big teddy bear. Rodney's been my bodyguard for the past two years. My parents hired him after I was mobbed at a Virgin Megastore in the Valley while buying a John Mayer CD. Rodney's real career goal is to be an action star -- he's appeared as a bouncer in some club scenes on Family Affair -- but the security gig, plus chauffeuring me around, must be good money in the meantime.

I settle into the comfy black seats and stare groggily out the window as the car winds down the long driveway and Rodney punches the security code on our wrought-iron gates. We bought our house in the Los Angeles suburb of San Marino three years ago, when I re-signed my FA contract. I wish I could say I helped pick out the mammoth Spanish-style hacienda, but the truth is Mom and Dad went house hunting without me.

I close my eyes for what feels like a minute when the car comes to a sudden stop.

"Um, Nadine?" says Rodney calmly. I sit up and peek out the tinted windows. The freeway is totally backed up. "Unless you want to radio a chopper, we're going to be late for this shoot." Nadine frowns. "But think of it this way -- they can't start without us." Rodney lets out a big, bellowing laugh.

Since we're not going anywhere for a while, I pull out my Sidekick to text-message my best friend, and only non-celeb pal, Liz Mendes. I know better than to call her house before 10 AM on the weekends. Mr. Mendes doesn't rise before noon. He's an entertainment lawyer who usually wines and dines his celebrity clients (like moi, which is how Liz and I met a few years ago) into the wee hours of the AM.

PRINCESSLEIA25: R U up?

POWERGIRL82: Yes. Got kickboxing.

PRINCESSLEIA25: Y??? U took class yesterday!!!

POWERGIRL82: I have 2 work on my roundabout kick for competition.

PRINCESSLEIA25: U R obsessed!

POWERGIRL82: Cute. U should take a class. Then U could kick Sky's butt.

PRINCESSLEIA25: Not a bad idea.

POWERGIRL82: Want to meet at A Slice of Heaven? 4?

PRINCESSLEIA25: K. I'll be done by then.

POWERGIRL82: C U then!