Book 8 in the series.
Ok, I'll admit that after the way Maria has been acting, it was becoming Maria Who (Cares)? in my mind. I am happy to say, this book is a turn for the better.
Synopsis:
It's school play time!
Maria's spine is returned in time for her to get something up her butt. Maria's home troubles are revealed and resolved, and her relationship with Ken evolves. Ken begins to heal and takes another step towards life. It's guys night out! Andy finally get's some dialogue. Liz does her dishrag impersonation. Jess and Jeremy continue to shine. Jess has a secret admirer...can you guess who?
Plot Summary
Opening journal entries
Maria decides to get on with her life, and get over Liz & Conner.
Liz wishes she could change the recent past.
Tia frets over life with Angel far away at college.
Angel frets over the cost of college.
After the lead ends up in the hospital, Ms. Delaney asks Maria to take her place in the school production of Courting Priscilla. After little hesitation, and talk with Ken, Maria decides to go for it. Maria immediately impresses with her performance and talent. Meanwhile, at home Maria has a major inferiority complex regarding her sister Nina, who is away at Brown University, and apparently perfect. Maria hopes the play is her chance to shine.
Jessica (who is also in the play) starts getting mysterious presents from a secret admirer, who is certainly NOT her boyfriend Jeremy. At first Jess, Maria and Tia think it's from Charlie, the guy Jess kisses in the play. But after embarassing herself confronting him...OOPS! Not Charlie. (Gee, I wonder Whoever Is Leaving the Letters?)
Tia (also in the play) is surprised when Angel announces he has taken on a second job, as a bartender at the Riot. Tia is worried about their time together (as in not enough as it is) but Angel has to consider his college expenses, as well as money to visit his best girl once he departs for school. Tia stiffens her upper lip and tries to be supportive. While visiting Angel at the Riot, it is discovered that a)Angel has no time to socialize with his visiting friends b) his boss, Mr. Walker is total Ass and c)This job essentially sucks.
Happy Jeremy tells Jess his dad has a new job, and everything started to change for the better when he met her.
Moving right along, Liz is in the midst of a de-spining, and becomes school dishrag queen in the wake of her explosive argument with Conner. While Conner tries to pretend that he didn't do anything wrong, and essentially lives in denial about the whole Liz thing.
Melissa returns to school, where she blows off Will, and discovers everyone is talking about her. Like DUH, you are in High School, ya know. attempted suicide of a popular person just might get mentioned occasionally!!!!
Maria learns of Liz's recent despining, and is encouraged by Tia and Jess to make up with Liz. In a moment of shining friendship, it's *kisskiss* all my faults all around, *hugz* and at least SOMETHING is going Liz's way.
Meanwhile, Maria's head has begun to swell, as she begins a head long spiral into DIVAitis. However her friends choose to turn the other cheek and tolerate her, because that's what friends do. But, suddenly Maria has the wind knocked out of her. On the day she brings home her parents' play tickets, along with Ken to share her bliss, her parents announce they are going to be in Rhode Island to see Nina get the Presidential Scholarship (is anything Presidential even prestigious anymore, it's like "Here's you cigar"). Maria freaks, asks Ken to leave, and has a conniption. Her parents don't get WHAT the probelm is. (IMHO, that is pretty dumb of them, it's obvious this play is important to Maria). Maria's parent respond by wondering if someone can videotape it for them. (what did lackluster parents DO before the VCR was invented, do you suppose?)Which leads to the revelation that Kodak has played a large part in Maria's life.
Ken starts to hang out with Maria's group, which at first makes him nervous. But after the usual bantering among the girls regarding the play (an extremely charming scene), Ken begins to relax and enjoy himself.
Conner decides it's guys night out (Real men, John Wayne...blah blah blah, I am surprised he didn't grunt like Tim Taylor). The MAN gang includes:Conner, Angel, who also invites Will, and Andy, who invites Ken. They end up at the racetrack. Will get's jockish with Ken, who decides he no longer likes jocks. Ken does however like hanging with Andy, Angel and Conner.
Angel spends his night off with the guys, instead of Tia who tries to be a sport. At Conner's encouragement, they place small bets, which leads Angel to larger bets, and eventually his winnings clear $300. Angel then reflects that he has not only made more than if he worked 5 nights at the Riot, but he could now afford to get Tia something really great for their upcoming anniversary. (There is a definite "other shoe to fall" thing going on here.)
Maria finally pushes Tia and Jess to far. They tell her off during dress rehearsal. Ken tries to defend her, even though he knows she's being difficult. "She has reason," he states. Jess and Tia are unconvinced.
Jess receives tickets from her secret admirer to a concert. Liz and Tia volunteer to go along with Jess, so she can find out who it is, and escape if needs be.
The night of the play arrives, and Maria looks out to the crowd from behind the curtain. As she recognizes faces among the crowd, Maria realizes she no longer has any attraction to Conner. (Maria also mentions being surprised to see Conner, and also Will among the front row, especially since Conner is 3 seats away from Liz). Maria also realizes that she has been acting like a bitch, and is gratified when Jess and Tia come to wish her luck. Maria apologizes and Jess and Tia say "no biggie".
After the play everyone is congratulating the cast. Andy gives Maria, (apparently a resounding sucess) flowers. As the Wakefields, Tia's family, and other friends swarm backstage, Maria reflects sadly on her parents' absence. Ken arrives with a huge bouquet of Roses for Maria who is touched. Better yet, Ken also has brought Maria's Dad. Seems the Slater's Mom is in RI, TAPING Nina's presentation, and Dad stayed home for Maria when he realized how much it meant to her. Then Ken got him a ticket, and arranged a tape for Mom. Touched, Maria cries.
CLIFFHANGER
It's the night after the play, and Tia, Liz and Jess are at the concert waiting to find out who the secret admirer is. In the meantime, Liz and Tia are pointing out every scary person they can find, and exclaiming "There he is!" (which is exactly what I would be doing!) Silence falls as one by one, their eyes fall on the arriving secret admirer.....Will Simmons.
closing journal entries
Will reflects maybe the secret admirer thing was not such a swift move.
Jess screams.
Jeremy wonder what Jess is doing at that moment.
Oh the irony.
