Author's Note: Sorry about the epic suckiness of the past few updates, as well as the lack of them. I've been busy with grad school, as well as getting the paperwork together for my internship. In addition, I have had np internet access at home since late January. I'm actually updating this after work. On a more cheerful note, check out the fan site for a few bits of spoilerish V-Day lagniappe!


Eva stared at her reflection, stunned. Jane grinned and lightly poked her sister in the shoulder. “Not bad, huh?” she asked. “I mean, given what I had to work with.”

“I look so different,” Eva said slowly.

“I just made you look cooler than ever. I just used the pictures in the latest Preteen Magazine as a guide. Mainly, the segment on what guys like. I mean, I couldn’t do it exactly-- you need your glasses, and I couldn’t make your hair grow out about a foot-- but you look pretty decent now. Sean is going to love you!”

“I look old,” Eva finally said. “I look like I’m… I dunno… fifteen?”

“Well, what guy is going to want a kid in the single digits, huh?”

“Sean’s, like, twelve! Do guys really like girls older than them when they’re twelve?”

“Eva,” Leah finally spoke up. “Chillax. If Sean likes you, he likes you. If he doesn’t, then, well, he doesn’t. No big deal. You do look different, though.” Frowning a little, she muttered to herself, “Not right, either.”

“You look great,” Jane insisted. She pulled Eva toward the door. “Go get him, tiger!”


Eva peeked out into the hallway. Coast’s clear, she thought, easing though the doorway and down the hall. Jane and Leah watched her, silently cheering her on. Eva made her way to the front door. Just then, Tiffani stepped into the living room.

Dang, Jane thought. How do parents always know when you’re up to stuff?

“Eva, what’s that on your face?” Tiffani asked, frowning. She peered at her daughter and shook her head disapprovingly. “Look at you, makeup all over your face. And the way you’re dressed! I’d expect this kind of thing out of Jane, maybe, but not from you! March yourself back upstairs and clean yourself up, young lady.”

Eva sighed and nodded, embarrassed to be scolded by her mother. As she headed back down the hallway, Tiffani called out, “And Jane, if you ever put makeup on your sister again without my permission, you’re in serious trouble.”

“Shoot… how does she know?” Jane muttered, scurrying back to her room.


“Well, so much for that,” Eva grumbled, glaring at her sister. “I knew it was a bad idea.”

“We just need to take a different approach,” Jane replied.

“Yeah, and how’s that going to go?”

“You could always do it when we’re at school or something,” Leah spoke up.

“See?” Jane said.

“But Sean doesn’t go to our school,” Eva responded.

“Yeah, but his school’s near our school, right?” Jane answered. “You can just swing by there and say ‘hi.’ Nothing wrong with that, correct?”

“Maybe,” Eva said slowly. “But somehow, I get the feeling this won’t go so well.”