\\#1 Can't Stay Away;

The book starts off on the first day of school. Liz and Jess, who’ve been forced to endure daily life in Fowler Crest are get ready. They go to school.

Liz and Conner

Liz cuts the cord with Todd, then encounters the entity known as Conner and he makes fun of her in front of the whole creative writing class. [Note: Enid is also in this class.]

Liz later runs into Conner at the library and he makes fun of her some more. He thinks of her as Barbie Two. The next day they have to read each others assignments to the class. They do and seem to come to an understanding and smile at each other like the end of a sick coming-of-age episode of something, but then they go back to being mean to each other.

Liz holds an Oracle meeting and Lila bursts in saying that they should have a fashion editor and Liz boos the idea but everyone else loves it. Maria, being oddly devious, tells Liz to hold a contest for fashion editor and just not choose Lila for the position. Liz chooses a sophomore, Jen Graft, spiting Lila.

Liz then meets Megan Sandborn. In other words, Liz last year. Megan turns a caring ear to Liz’s story of Fowler Crest woe and offers her a room in her house. Mrs. Sandborn calls Mrs. Wakefield and offers Liz a home. Mrs. Wakefield is upset by this and gives the speech about how lucky they are. Lila blows up at Liz at dinner about the fashion editor position and Mrs. Wakefield says she wants to meet Mrs. Sandborn and Megan’s brother is mysteriously absent from this meeting [sensing something fishy about this? I did]. They meet and Mrs. Wakefield says okay and Liz gets ready.

Liz goes to the dance at the end of the book and realizes she likes Conner. Conner doesn’t go to the dance because he realizes he wants to see Liz and he doesn’t want to want to see her. The next day Liz moves in with Megan. She goes into her room and decides to take a shower. She goes in, but someone’s already in there. Conner McDermott.

Jessica, Will, and Melissa

Will and Melissa were starting qb and head cheerleader at El Carro, and they’ve pretty much been demoted with the changing of schools. Neither of them like this very much.

Jess sees Will in her history class and spends the bell looking at him. They meet after school and Jess gives him her number. She has a little pow-wow with the cheerleaders and she feeds on their adoration. Will can’t stop thinking about her.

The next day Melissa finds Jess’s number, calls it and gets Lila. Jess meets Will again in the parking lot and invites him over to Lila’s for a “study session.” He accepts. She has another pow-wow with the cheerleaders and gets ready to meet Will later on. They have a make-out session and she really, really likes him.

Ken quits the football team and Will is made qb. He runs into Jess after he finds out and he tells her. Melissa finds Lila in the bathroom and asks her why she gave Will her phone number. Lila informs her that she’s not the only person at that number. Jess and Will go out that night to celebrate Will becoming quarterback. She likes him even more.

Everyone hears that Ken quit the next day and Melissa is mad she had to hear it from the grapevine. Will tells her [like the good little dog he is] that he wasn’t allowed to tell anyone. Jess tells everyone in her drama class about the date and Tia writes her a note saying that Will has a girlfriend. Jess gets upset and tells him off in front of the football team. The next day she tells a bunch of other girls about it and Melissa overhears. Lila tells her to shut her mouth. Later on, Melissa asks Will about it and he says she threw herself at him. They make up, but you can’t really tell if she believes him or not.

Melissa and her posse spread rumors about Jess, but they never say exactly what these rumors are, guess it’s up to your imagination. Jess goes to the dance and people say strange things to her, like, “Nice zipper!” and, “Easy access!” Then she sees Will dancing with some girl and finally gets a look at Will’s girlfriend, Melissa. She then runs out of there. Melissa Smiles.