Chapter1

Skye closed her eyes under the trees of Quigley Woods. The sun was just rising and shining through the slits in the leaves, leaving a pattern across Skye's face. Her head rested on a familiar boys lap who was now yanking up grass blades and placing them on her face. She smiled and a bit of dirt fell in her mouth.

"Yuck!" she sat up and spit it out before turning on Jeffery. Now he was holding his hands up in surrender but this only made her next move clearer to Skye. She smiled mischievously before tackling Jeffery and tickling him. He curled into a ball and laughed and laughed, only before counter-attacking her in which she fell over laughing even harder than Jeffery.

They were still rolling on the ground when Rosalind arrived carrying Skye's white sweater. "Skye! OH, look at you! Your getting your dress all dirty."

It was true, Skye was wearing a beautiful sky blue dress (against her will of course) that Iantha had sewn for her. Jane had been jealous until Iantha had offered to make her a lavender one. Then of course Batty had to have a yellow one and Iantha felt it wouldn't be right for Rosalind to not have one, so she made her a sea green dress which made Rosalind look absolutely brilliant.

Jeffery got up and offered Skye his hand, who took it and jumped to her feet. She picked up the white sandals she had managed to kick off her feet in the tickle fight and poked Jeffery in the stomach before taking off towards Gardam Street. He was fast on her heels though, at fifteen he had grown not only taller and more handsome but faster and stronger as well. Now he caught up with Skye, wrapped his arms around her waist and spun her around, while she laughed.

A year before Skye would have thought this romantic stuff to be ridiculous fluff, but then Jeffery had asked her out and Skye had said yes, but only after a month of him asking and finally Rosalind had to suggest they just experiment with it but after Jeffery kissed her, Skye knew she was never going back. Jane had been right in the end, once the right guy came along Skye knew exactly what being in love felt like.

Now they just walked side by side and Rosalind jogged to catch up with them. She was in an eyelet lace dress and identical sandals to Skye's. "We have to hurry," she said, "Daddy's already waiting in the car." As they approached the Penderwick's cal-da-sac Skye looked over at Rosalind who even at their early breakfast had seemed unnaturally quiet. She was inspecting Skye's sweater for nonexistent dirt. Skye reached across Jeffery and grabbed the sweater from Rosalind. Rosalind didn't seem to notice, instead she began to pick at her nails which Jane had done the night before, not only was fourteen year-old Jane turning into a distinguished author but also a nail artist. Now Skye swatted at her, "Rosalind what are you so worried about?"

"What if she doesn't like us?" Rosalind responded. She of course was talking about Iantha's mother who after three years worth of invitations had finally found time in her "busy schedule" to meet the family. She had even missed the wedding do to a deal closing for her company. That fact had set their ideas of her at the lowest of the low: an evil mommy, at least for Batty who even at eight still wasn't the most comfortable with meeting strangers, especially ladies who were mean enough to miss weddings.

Skye felt exasperated, "Rosalind I'm sure it will be fine."

Now Jeffery spoke. "Besides if she doesn't she's missing out." He smiled making his freckled nose crinkle up and Rosalind couldn't help but smile back.

Then Mr. Penderwick honked the horn and the three took off towards the car, so not to be late to their brunch with Mrs. Gekovski.