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As the girls walked outside, they were (spewing out?) different ideas of what to do instead

"We could go to Jess’ house," Jen said "She wasn’t allowed out tonight because she got in trouble in school"

"Her parents won’t let us in," Erounded" "I have the BEST idea," Taryn interrupted "We are going to the city to get Rachel a fake I know of a good place in the East Village"

Rachel could tell that Taryn was a bit of a rebel and knew a lot of places from her older brother Ben Taryn had told Rachel that Ben just started college at NYU in the city, and his dore

"Awesoot back into Taryn’s car, a wave of nervousness and guilt swarh Rachel’s body Rachel never lied to her parents and the thought of DRIVING into the city terrified her What if they got into an accident? What if they weren’t back by 11pm? What if her parents found out she wasn’t really at the movies? It was almost too much for Rachel to bear, but she knew that if she spoke up, she would be cast off back into her world of solitude So, she said nothing

Taryn started the car and turned up the music The station was set to Z100, which was apparently the best radio station in New York They broadcast fro Rachel felt the car accelerating as she pulled her seatbelt tighter across her chest She took two deep breaths, quietly, so the girls wouldn’t hear

Rachel tried to stay calm in the back seat of the car She didn’t let on that she orried or that she would be in BIG trouble if her parents knehat she was up to She wondered why the girls didn’t think it was a big deal to head into the city on a randoht She was surprised none of theed or to ask their per more and more out of place This was not what her friends back in Pennsylvania would do Rachel never disobeyed her parents She reed with them, but she never disobeyed It was clear to Rachel that her world was about to change

As the car drove over the Triboro Bridge, Rachel could see all the bright lights of Manhattan glistening in the distance She felt bad she was doing this, but she also felt excited She alanted to go into New York City and had only been there a few tis with her faot out of the car Rachel looked up at the street sign above, which read "St Marks Place" She looked around and clutched her bag closer the throngs of people passed in all directions

"This way," Taryn said as she pointed towards a sign that read, "2nd Avenue" Rachel’s heart beat faster and faster as they walked down the street She felt like a rebel and she kind of liked it After all, it was her fault that they were in the city in the first place If she had had an ID, they would be happily ht now in Bedford So she couldn’t beher a favor: they were helping her get a fake, which would get her into all the "cool" places

Rachel struggled with her inner battle of feeling cool in the city and feeling guilty about lying to her parents

"So, where’s this store?" Rachel asked Taryn

"It’s a block away, on St Marks Place and 1st Avenue It’s in a costuo into the baseirls entered the costue costu on the wall right when you walked in and a red feather boa hung above the out of the sides and belts with metal rivets She definitely felt out of her eleoth store, and she didn’t quite knohat to irlsbasement steps of the store, Rachel saw a black curtain A heavy-set balda tank top, came out from behind it

"What do you want?" he snapped skeptically as he peered behind the

"My friend needs an ID," Taryn said as she pointed at Rachel

"Coirls behind his black curtain

The h She opened the cover and started flipping through the pages of sample IDs

"Which state?" he asked her

"Um, I don’t know," Rachel said, and she turned to her friends

"Get Michigan," Eet New York-- it will be too obvious"

"Michigan," Rachel said to the man

"Address?" he fired back

Rachel didn’t realize she’d be asked so many questions and took out her cell phone She opened up the et an accurate street name

"444 Grand River Avenue," Rachel replied

Four was Rachel’s lucky number and she felt like she could use some luck

"Birthday? You want to be 21, correct?" he asked

"November 1st Yes 21, please" Rachel spat out

"Stand over there," the man said, and pointed to an X made of duct tape on the floor Rachel sloalked over to the X and stood on it

The man snapped her picture

"Wait upstairs," he said

As the girls headed back up the dark musty staircase, Rachel wondered what she would need that ID for, other than o to bars or clubs, but wondered if her new friends did

All of a sudden she heard a phone ringing It was Taryn’s cell Taryn picked up and Rachel wondered who she was talking to "Cool," "Now?" "We’re here" She heard Taryn say