He said yes.

I asked Graham to the Winter Formal last night.
He said yes.
I bought tickets for us at school today.

We'll be going with Hannah and Natalie and our dates and with some of our other friends.
Well, I did it.  I have a date for Winter Formal.
It took a lot of nerve.

Fever.

Yesterday Simone went back to school and took us with her.  On the way back to school Natalie was coughing a lot.... and now we all have colds and fevers.  Oh well, at least this means we don't have to go to school- hehehe!

Even though we're sick, Simone, being Simone, took pictures of us in her room and wanted me to post them on my blog.  We're all in our PJs, as you can see.  She did let us take a nap in her big bed while she went to class today, and took a photo before she went out.  Here we all are sleeping in Simone's bed.

Since we're sick, obviously I didn't get to buy Winter Formal tickets yesterday or today.  I plan on asking Graham later today or tomorrow.... gulp.  Wish me luck.
Jake texted me to ask if I was feeling okay because I wasn't at school yesterday or today.  Thanks, Jake.  Of course, then he asked if anything was going on between me and Graham.  Does he like me?  If he does, why doesn't he break up with Rachel and date me?
Guys are complicated.
I'm feeling better today than I did yesterday and Simone says if we feel well enough, we're going to school tomorrow.
Maybe if I go to school tomorrow and see Jake I'll figure out what's going on.
Somehow though, I doubt it.

This just doesn't feel right.

I talked to Graham online last night.  A lot.  For nearly an hour.
I honestly don't get why Jake doesn't like him anymore.  He seems like such a cool guy: he's nice and he's funny and he's interesting to talk to.
Maybe Jake got mad at him for switching schools.  But I don't know.
Anyway at school this morning, Jake came running up to me.  "Kylie, do not get involved with Graham!" he said.
"Why not?  He seems cool." I said.
"Listen.  I used to think he was really a great friend, but he isn't.  He's going to woo you and then he'll break your heart," Jake said.
"Jake, do you like me?" I asked.
"As a friend, yes," Jake said.
"Then why are you acting jealous that I might go out with Graham?" I asked.
"Kylie, you just can't do it!" Jake said.
I texted Graham to tell him what Jake said.  "Typical Jake," Graham texted back.  "He overreacts to everything."
I have to admit though, something doesn't feel right about this whole Graham thing.
It isn't right to spend time with a guy just to make someone else jealous.
But even though that's how it began, I am starting to like Graham.
And I'll see if I still feel that way in time for winter formal.
Now I'm at home, writing in my blog, with Molly and Kit arguing (as always) in the background.  Helina and Sarah are crying, Natalie's at her chamber group and Hannah's doing homework in her room.
This weekend, Simone heads back to school.  Just enjoying the last few days home as much as I can, before I have to take an hour long bus ride to school every day.
Peace out.

Sometimes, life kicks you in the rear.... and then you think of revenge.

"Kylie!  One more wrong note and you'll lose first chair."
Well, hello?  Do you think I can focus on the notes?
Okay, I guess I'm being a little overdramatic.  Yes, I'm mad that I've discovered the guy I like has a girlfriend two weeks before Winter Formal.  I was planning to ask him tomorrow.  Guess I can't.  He'll be going with Rachel.
I'm trying to think of another guy to ask.  Not because I like him, but because I want to get revenge on Jacob Ryan Cirino.
I'll find a guy to take to the dance.  A guy who it will make Jake SO angry to see me at the dance with.
May I add that at my school, the winter formal dance the GIRLS ask the GUYS?  Tickets go on sale Monday.  And I'm determined to go.
My guy experience is next to none.  After all, this is the first time in my life I've gone to school with guys.  InnerStar U had a brother school, but I rarely saw the guys from there.  I knew a few guys but I didn't see them on a day to day basis.
Anyways, right now I have to focus on my clarinet.  I do want to sit in the first chair at the big concert.
We played through our song one last time.  Selections from Wicked.  I love Wicked.  Our medley has my four favorite songs: No One Mourns the Wicked, Dancing Through Life, Defying Gravity and For Good.
We finish our song.  "Good job, everyone," the band director says.  "See you next week."
I gather my stuff together and look for Hannah so I can make a quick escape.
I find Hannah.  "Hey, I got a text.  We need to get a ride home," she says.
"Kylie, I bet my dad can give you a ride home."  I turn around.  Jake is standing there.  I do NOT want a ride home from Jake.
"Thanks so much!" Hannah says.  "We REALLY appreciate that."
I glare at my sister.  She knows who this is.
Jake, Hannah and I head for the car.  We climb in, where Jake's dad is waiting.  "Dad, this is my friend Kylie and her sister Hannah.  Can we give them a ride home?  They live near Cambridge."
Your friend?  Yeah, Jake.  More like your type of girl.  You just don't know it yet.
"Of course we can," Jake's dad says.  "Come on in, girls."
"Thank you very much, Mr. Cirino," Hannah says.
"Please call me Matt," Jake's dad says.  "Oh, and Jake, guess who I saw at Target?"
"Who?" Jake asks.
"Graham."
Jake groans.
"Graham who?" I ask.
"Graham Goldman," Jake says with a hint of disgust in his voice.
"Who is Graham Goldman?" I ask.
"My ex-best friend," Jake says.
"Why don't you like Graham anymore?"
"He's turned into a spoiled, stuck up brat!"
Now, we pull into my driveway.  "Thanks for the ride," I say as I drag Hannah out of the car.
"Okay, you can hit me now," Hannah says.
"No Hannah, actually thanks.  I think I know who to take to the Winter Formal now."
"Who?"
"Graham Goldman."
"Have you lost your mind?"
"Nope.  Just to make Jake jealous."
"You're one sneak, Kylie Nicole."
"Indeed I am."
I log onto Facebook and search for Graham Goldman.  I find him, send him a friend request and attach a message: Hey!  I'm a friend of Jake's.  He's told me lots of nice stories about you.... thought I'd give you a friend request.  Not entirely true, but.....
Thirty seconds later a Facebook notification pops up: Graham Goldman accepted your friend request.  Now a Facebook chat message from Graham pops up: Hey!
And we begin to chat.

Dumped.

"Hey Kylie."
I turned around.  Was Jake Cirino REALLY standing at my locker?
"Hey Jake, what's up?" I said, trying to act as normal as I could.
He gave me his blinding smile.  "What's up with YOU?" he asked.
"Not much.  How's the high school search going?"
"Eh, it's going.  We still haven't heard back from my first choice, and I don't find out about scholarships until April."
"We'll definitely miss you next year."
"Yeah, I'll miss you too.  There's just some people here I can't take going to school with anymore.  Rachel really wants me to go to Heights though."
"Rachel?  Who's Rachel?"
"My girlfriend.  She's in seventh grade at Pinewood."
WHAT?  Since when does Jake have a girlfriend?!?!?  "Oh, I didn't know you had a girlfriend," I said, trying to contain the shock and hurt I felt.
"Yeah, we've been together since last spring."
OH MY GOSH!!!  "I never knew that.  I thought when you broke up with Amanda, you'd been single since."
"Yeah, Rachel and I have been keeping it quiet."
"I've got to go now."
"Kylie, are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine."
I was sure Jake had been single since he broke up with Amanda Cochran, who's in our grade at Pinewood.  I never really understood why he dated her.  She acts like she's about five years younger than us, and she's not even pretty.
Okay, maybe I'm just jealous.  Or maybe Hannah just didn't know about Rachel.  I asked her all about Jake the day after I started at school.
The day crawled by.  As soon as I got home, I logged onto Facebook.  "Jake Cirino.  Sex: Male.  Interested in: Women.  Relationship Status: In a Relationship with Rachel Phalen.  Anniversary: April 30, 2010.  Siblings: Luke Cirino.  Parents: Matt Cirino, Cassandra Cirino.  Hometown: University Heights, OH.  Birthday: May 27.  Political Views: Democratic Party.  Religious Views: Catholic/ Jewish."
I clicked on Rachel's name and decided to check out her profile.  Yeah, she's pretty.  Prettier than me....
Then it hit me.  Jake's dad is on the school board.  Rachel's mom is on the school board.  Amanda's dad is on the school board.
Does Jake only date other school board members' daughters?
People say that children of elected officials tend to clique with children of other elected officials.  I knew Jake's dad was on the school board, but he didn't seem like one of those.  I thought he was a nice guy.  Looks like he's like virtually any other politician's kid.  He wants a girl from another powerful family, not a nice girl.
Now I'm interrupted.
"Kylie, I need you to watch your sisters tonight," Simone told me.
"But it's Natalie's turn," I protested.
"The strings are practicing tonight for the big concert.  You know that."
"Fine, what about Hannah?"
"Hannah's going to Nicki's."
Of course I end up getting stuck at home with Kit and Molly fighting like cats and dogs and Helina and Sarah always needing to be fed the day I feel totally dumped.
I KNOW Jake belongs with me.  I just know it.
This Rachel Phalen girl will NOT last with him.

Back to school.......

Well, it always happens: breaks end and we head back to school.  Yippee.
I'd forgotten for a split second and was sleeping, then Simone came into our room and said, "Girls, wake up.  You've got to get to school."
At least I get to see Jake again.
The first thing that happened when I got to school?  My homeroom teacher asked for our winter break packets.  My school's like that.  Obsessed with the OAT.  So they give us practice packets over winter AND spring break.
My first and second period classes are all girls (some of our classes are organized by gender) so I didn't get to see Jake.  Ugh.
Third period: Science Olympiad for MSSP.  Today our teacher was announcing who our partners are for the upcoming competition.  She read off every name, and I dreaded that another girl would be paired with Jake.....
"Kylie," she said as I crossed my fingers... "you'll be doing Crave the Wave with......"
My heart skipped a beat.
".... Avita."
Don't get me wrong, I like her fine, but I was really hoping to be partnered with Jake.
"And Jake," our teacher read, "you're doing the Wright Stuff with Johnny."
Oh, so my crush is partnered with my sister's crush..... very nice.  I glanced at Hannah, and could see disappointment in her face as well.
I couldn't look at Jake the rest of the day without feeling totally let down.
After school as I was leaving, I passed him talking on his cell phone.  Laughing and calling someone on the other end "baby."
Could it be?  Does he - have a girlfriend?

Our New Baby Sister

Well, turns out we got a new addition to our family after all!
Last night before we went to bed, a box was sitting on Simone's bed.  We saw it before Simone came in the room, but decided to wait till she came in to let her open it.  It looked AG size and we were wondering.... was it Felicity?  Or Elizabeth?  Or Grace?  Or Sarah?  Or someone new we may not have even guessed?
Simone was VERY excited.  She ripped the box open and there she was.  Sarah.  Our new baby sister.
Simone held her up and declared, "Okay everyone, this is your new baby sister, Sarah Amelia."
Then, when Simone went to thank her parents, she let ME hold Sarah.
There are perks at times to being the oldest.
"Hi Sarah, I'm Kylie," I said.  "I'm your oldest sister."
Hannah came over to us, carrying Helina.  "I'm Hannah," Hannah said.  "And this is Helina."
Helina giggled and clapped, happy that someone close in age to her had finally joined the family.
Natalie, Molly and Kit came over too.  "Oh Kylie, can I hold her?" Natalie asked.
"Better wait for Simone to get back," I said.  I didn't want to lose any time with her!
"Okay," Natalie groaned.  "Well, I'm Natalie."
"I'm Molly," Molly said.
"And I'm Kit," Kit said.
Simone came back.  "Good thing Sarah's finally here," she told us.  "The eBay people procrastinated in sending her, but she arrived yesterday.  Mom and Dad wanted to wait until today to give her to us, so she can be a New Year's baby."
Then, she took Sarah out of my arms and let Natalie hold her.  Maybe she knew.  She always knows what she wants.
What a nice surprise for right before we go back to school!  Tomorrow..... ugh.
I will post pictures of Sarah soon!  And speaking of pictures, have you checked out Simone's Flickr?
www.flickr.com/americangirl728
Soon there will be photos of Sarah there, too!
Have a great rest of the weekend everyone!
~ Kylie ~