Free Some Kind of Wonderful by J. Minter

and for the adults—and our schedule included a bonfire party down on the beach that night.
    "Jackpot!" Meredith said. "What are you guys going to wear?"
    Judith took the schedule from my hands. "Monday night is the bonfire. Tuesday night is a beach-side barbecue. There's an afternoon
     snorkeling expedition. Today there's an Island Adventure Scavenger Hunt. Um, is this a vacation or a military schedule? It's
     like every minute is already planned out." She flipped her hair anxiously. "You said it was going to be relaxing, Flan. I'm
     already stressing. When will I have time to study?"
    "Judith, we don't have to go to everything," I said. "We can pick and choose whatever we want. This schedule's just here to
     give us options. Don't worry— there'll be plenty of free time. Usually people go to things the first night in order to make
     friends, and then make their own plans after that."
    "Personally," Meredith said, taking a sip of pomegranate Honest Tea, "I want to do everything." She pointed at the first group
     activity this afternoon. "I mean, how many times in your life have you had the opportunity to go on an Island Adventure Scavenger
     Hunt?"
    "I know I'm only going to have this set of finals once, so I have to set aside a ton of time to study like crazy," Judith said.
    "I think the secret is pacing ourselves," I said. "Pick and choose what we want, skip what we don't. That's the great thing
     about vacation—we can do whatever we feel like doing."
    I was glad that Meredith seemed so into it all. She dashed off to change into her bathing suit for the scavenger hunt, while
     Judith hauled out her seven hundred-page math book. I felt that a more leisurely pace was in order, so I wandered out to the
     deck and climbed into one of the hammocks in the shade.
    "Why don't we reconvene here at seven o'clock to get ready for the bonfire tonight?" Meredith called on her way out the door.
    I gave her the thumbs-up and leaned back in the hammock, listening to how different the sounds of the island were from the
     sounds of New York. It was so relaxing out here, so peaceful. I couldn't help but close my eyes. . . .
    I was walking down an unfamiliar hallway, but I seemed to know not only exactly where I was going, but also every single person I passed.
    "Hey, Flan — love your outfit! Is that a new boatneck top? You should always wear those!"
    "Flan, you have to promise you'll run for class president this year. You're the only one who can lead our grade"
    "Flan, my cousin, Zac Efron, is coming into town on Friday, and I swore to him that you'd come out to dinner with us. Is there any chance you're free?"
    Of course, I suddenly realized. I was at Thoney, starting classes at the beginning of second semester. Everything felt so easy here, so natural. I was practically floating down the hallway. I smiled at everyone, waved at everyone.
    Flan for President? Why not?
    Of course I'm free to hang with you and Cousin Zac.
    I got to my locker, which didn't even have a combination — it just sprang open when I stopped in front of it. How wonderful! I could never remember my combination at Stuy. I was about to take out my books for my afternoon classes, when I made the mistake of glancing in the mirror of my LockerMate.
    Looking back at me was not my reflection at all. It was the face of Kennedy Pearson.
    "You think you can rule the school so easily, Flan?" Her nasty voice practically spat at me. "Well, guess what? You're wrong! Remember, I can, too!"
    I gasped in horror and slammed the locker shut.
    "Hey, Sleeping Beauty, wake up and check this out."
    I shot up in the hammock. My heart was racing. I rubbed my eyes and noticed Meredith in the hammock next to mine. Something
     hard landed on my stomach, and when I reached for it, my fingers found a necklace.
    It was made of abalone shells and the weird wooden beads that Meredith had shown us last week at Alice's Tea Cup. But somehow,
     the weird wooden beads didn't look so weird anymore. The