Meg Cabot - Boy Meets Girl

Hertzog Webber and Doyle, Attorneys at Law

444 Madison Avenue, Suite 1505

New York, NY 10022

212-555-7900

To: Stuart Hertzog

Fr: Mitchell Hertzog

Re: You

Right back atcha, buddy.

Mitch

JIFFY-FAX FAX WHILE U WAIT BERKELEY, CA

Dear Mom, Dad, Stuart, Stacy, and Mitch,

Sorry if any of you have been worried about me for the past twenty-four hours. I’m actually fine. I just finally came to a decision about my life, and, well, as soon as I came to it, I decided to put it into action. I didn’t want to wait. But I thought I’d write and let you know that I’m all right. I’m back at Berkeley, actually. I’m with Sarah.

Mom, I know you pulled me out of school because you don’t like Sarah—or don’t like that I love her, I guess, would be more accurate. But a friend of Mitch’s reminded me—Kate, Mitch. She’s really cool. You should try to hang onto her—that Gramps left me some money. I know you always said I wasn’t to touch it, Mom, and that I should save it for a rainy day. But, well, here’s the thing: It’s raining. I’m going to use the money Gramps left me to pay for finishing up school, and then Sarah and me, we’re thinking about starting a kayaking service up in Puget Sound. You know, where the orcas are? Sarah and I just love orcas.

Mom, I know this has probably got you pretty mad, but the fact is, Gramps left me that money for when I turned eighteen, to do with whatever I want. Frankly, I think paying for school where I want to go, and then starting my own business, is exactly what Gramps would have wanted—just like I doubt he minded that Mitch spent his on a trip around the world, or Stacy spent hers on those horses of hers, or that Stuart spent his on . . . Stuart, did you ever even spend yours?

Well, anyway, I just wanted to let you know that I’m all right, and no hard feelings, and stuff.

Stuart, I hope I’m still invited to your wedding and all, but if I can’t bring Sarah as my date, I’m not coming.

Dad, call me sometime. You know the number.

Mom. Whatever.

Mitch and Stacy, thanks for everything.

Love to you all,

Sean

To: Mitchell Hertzog

Fr: Stacy Trent

Re: Sean

She fax you a copy of her letter yet? I’m so proud I could burst. I hope she and Sarah DO come to Stuart’s wedding, whether they’re invited or not. You know they’ll be the only couple there worth talking to.

S

To: Stacy Trent

Fr: Mitchell Hertzog

Re: Sean

Fwd: l Re: You

I wouldn’t count on any of us getting invited. Get a load of the forwarded e-mail.

To: Mitchell Hertzog

Fr: Stacy Trent

Re: Sean

No fair! I want Stuart to refuse to speak to me, too! You get all the luck.

FYI, thanks to Sean’s letter, Mom’s taken to her bed. She got somebody to refill her script for Valium.

My question is: Where the hell is Dad? I thought he was supposed to be home by now. Oh well.

Stace

To: Kate Mackenzie

Fr: Vivica

Re: Lunch

Oh my God, it was so nice to meet you! You really are just as cute as your picture. I’m so sorry Dale wouldn’t marry you like you wanted him to. You totally deserve to have a nice husband . . . especially after you traded plates with me (who knew bococino meant cheese?) It’s no joke, being lactose intolerant. I can’t even have sour cream on my potato skins anymore!

I’m sorry you won’t consider being a model. Really, it is just loads of fun. And I’m almost positive Ricardo could get you a gig or two. I mean, maybe not Vogue, but like, catalog stuff, or something.

Anyway, it was really fun meeting you, and I hope we can get together again sometime soon. I don’t know when, though, ’cause like I said, the band leaves tomorrow for its tour and I’m off to Milan. . . . but I’ll call ya when I get back!!!!!

Love,

Viv

Best Way Messenger Service

Envelope for Kate Mackenzie

The New York Journal

216 W. 57th Street

A Note from

Dale Carter of

I’m Not Making Any More Sandwiches

Liberation Records

Dear Kate,

Look, Kate, I know I’m not your favorite person in the world right now, but I just want to say thanks for not telling Vivica about how I bit off that guy’s finger. I mean, biting off a guy’s finger, that’s like fighting dirty, and I don’t want Vivica to think I’m a dirty fighter. I mean, the guy DID keep shoving his hand in my mouth, so it wasn’t like I had a choice.

But Viv wouldn’t know that. So thanks. Really. For not telling her.

I’m really sorry things didn’t work out between us and all, but I think you’re right about it being better this way. I mean, Vivica is a totally dope girl, and I never would’ve met her if you hadn’t dumped me.

And don’t worry about your security deposit. I feel real bad about all that, and about you losing your job and all of that. So I’m messengering over a check for your share of the deposit and some other stuff. Like, you know, to pay you back for all the shit you bought for the place, like the TV and all. Hope it’ll be enough to help you find a new pad of your own.

Well, okay, I guess that’s it. Peace out.

Dale

P.S. What do you think of this new song?

When the stars come out at night

I call them Vivica

And when the moon, it shines so bright

I call it Vivica

And when the sun comes up, and warms us

with its healing rays

I call it Vivica,

Vivica,

My Vivica.

Content of Check

Dale Carter

0002

207 E. 3rd St. Apt. 10J

New York, NY 10003

March 23, 2004

Kathleen Mackenzie

$10,000

Ten thousand and 00 cents

DOLLARS

NY MetroBank

Park Avenue, New York

MEMO:For the Apt and shit

Dale Carter

:0003058439: 854765339 • 0002

To: Jen Sadler

Fr: Kate Mackenzie

Re: Dale

Oh my God. That freak Dale—you know what he did? Messengered me over a check for ten grand.

TEN GRAND.

What do I DO????

Kate

To: Kate Mackenzie

Fr: Jen Sadler

Re: Dale

What do you mean, what do you do? You cash it!

And don’t tell me you don’t think you should. You EARNED that money. You cooked and cleaned like a slave for him for all those years, and for what? A big fat, “I have to take it one day at a time”? You take that check and you run, don’t walk, to Chase and deposit it, before he sobers up.

To: Jen Sadler

Fr: Kate Mackenzie

Re: Dale

You’re right. I’ll deposit it after work. There’s something else I’ve got to do right now, though.

Kate

Hola! You have reached the line of Ida Lopez. Ida is not here to take your call. Leave a message and she will get back to you.

(Tone)

Hi, Mrs. Lopez? It’s Kate. Kate Mackenzie. You know, from the

Journal?

I just wanted to say thank you so much for the cookies. They were really delicious. You shouldn’t have gone to so much trouble. But thank you so much for thinking of me.

Also I was wondering if your lawyer had been in touch with you yet. Because—I don’t know if you know this yet—but I got my job back, and I just now got the reinstatement papers for you on my desk. Which means the paper wants you back, Mrs. Lopez. With full benefits, and no lost pay from the time you were gone. Oh, I really hope you’ll come back, Mrs. Lopez. We really miss you around here. And you know, Stuart Hertzog just tendered his firm’s resignation as the

Journal

’s attorneys, so it’s not like you’ll be seeing him around anymore, either. Both he and Amy—you know, my boss? They’re gone. So please let me know, Mrs. Lopez, about whether you’re coming back. I’m keeping my fingers crossed!