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"Parents," she added, nodding, "have to grow up too."

"Amen to that," Misty said, imitating her.

Star gave her one of her Star looks and then smiled and shook her head.

"Well, look at this," she said, and we leaned over to gaze out the window at the security booth and the gate that led into Jade's neighborhood. "That girl does live like some princess. No wonder she's spoiled rotten."

The guard waved us through and the large gate swung open. We all gaped at the beautiful, enormous houses, each one custom-made.

"Wow," Misty said. "These make my house look like a bungalow."

"What do you think it does to my granny's? I guess I live in a dog house," Star said.

The streets in the development were wide and lined with palm trees. There was even a sidewalk. Occasionally, the houses were broken up with free space, trees, and lawn, and there was a lake at the center, around which all the houses were built. All of them had good-size yards behind them, too.

"Are we still in America?" Misty cried.

"Not my America," Star said.

The limousine slowed and then turned into a circular driveway. We continued to gape as Jade's house came into view. It was as big as she had described. I remembered how proudly she had described it.

It certainly held my attention. The limousine came to a stop and the chauffeur got out quickly to open the door for us. For a moment, none of us moved. We just stared.

"Well, what are we acting like a bunch of silly tourists for?" Star cried. "It's just a big house. C'mon," she said, and stepped out first.

Misty and I followed, neither of us able to stop gaping. As we started toward the tall double front door, it was flung open and Jade appeared.

"I'm absolutely famished," she announced to us, her hands on her hips. "I skipped breakfast waiting for you guys. At least you can walk faster," she added.

Jade was truly the most elegant looking teenage girl I knew. She had long, lush brown hair with a reddish tint that flowed gently down to her shoulders. Her eyes were green and almond shaped. Her high cheekbones gave her face an impressive angular line that swept gracefully into her jaw and perfectly shaped lips. Her nose was a little small, but also just slightly turned up and she was always stylishly dressed and perfectly made-up.

"It's not our fault you live out in the

boondocks," Star quipped.

"Boondocks! This is probably the most desirable gated community in Los Angeles, maybe even the whole West Coast!" Jade bragged.

Star looked around as if deciding whether or not she wanted to move in.

"Um. No graffiti at least," she said, and Jade laughed. "C'mon, c'mon. Everything is set up for us in the back. Did you bring bathing suits?" Jade asked.

"No one told me to," Star said.

"I didn't think of it," Misty said, shaking her head. I was ashamed to say I didn't even own one.

"That's all right. I'll find something for each of you. Worse comes to worse," she added with a coy smile, "we'll skinny-dip."

"What?" I cried.

"Just kidding," she said, and took my hand. "Cat, stop worrying," she ordered. "We're going to have a good time for a change. You have to leave your sadness and troubles outside the door."

"She doesn't know how to stop worrying," Star said.

"Well, let that be the first commandment of the OWP's: no worries?'

"Right," Misty said. "Isn't this great?" she added. "We're together, forever."

She threaded her arm through mine and squealed with delight.