I spent all day Sunday thinking things over. By Monday morning, I’d figured out that while I wasn’t the old, shrinking Mary Anne, I wasn’t the new, tough, vengeful Mary Anne either, the one who carried around the subscriptions and dreamed of stuffing Cokie into her locker.

But I had changed. I knew that Cokie, no matter what she said, could never make me cry again. I knew that when I got in a tough spot, I’d stand up and try to fight my way out. I wouldn’t weep and wring my hands and wait for someone to save me. Sometimes it was fine to get angry and to fight back.

I’d never be like Cokie, or even Kristy or Abby. I’d never start a fight or leap into battle like a demon soccer warrior.

But I would stand my ground.

So when Cokie shot me an evil look in the hall on Monday morning, I didn’t worry about it. I didn’t respond at all. I just walked on by.

We voted for the Most and Best that morning. Mr. Fiske decided to count the ballots himself, with some help from the assistant principal. I guess that’s what they spent their lunch hour doing.

I spent mine talking to people I didn’t normally see at lunch. Logan stopped by the table to say hello, and that was okay. Emily came by, and so did Woody and half a dozen other people, just to say hello.

I didn’t see Cary. I suspected he was somewhere, setting up mischief, making the world a more complicated and interesting place.

Mr. Fiske announced the winners of the election that day before school let out.

I’m not going to tell you every winner, but here are the most important ones:

Claudia won Best Artist.

Abby and Logan got Best Athletes.

Cary and Alan tied for Wittiest.

Emily was voted Most Likely to Succeed and Most Intelligent.

Kristy got Most Likely to Be Elected President.

Amazingly, Stacey didn’t win Class Style Setter. She was chosen Most Likely to be Seen in Dark Glasses in Beverly Hills.

I didn’t win anything, but then I hadn’t expected to.

Cokie didn’t win anything either. Not a single thing. And I think she still expected to. I saw her face as we walked out of the building.

It was not a pretty sight. I don’t think whatever she was ranting about in poor Grace’s ear was very pretty either.

Cokie didn’t see me then, and I was glad. I almost felt sorry for her.

Almost.

After school, Kristy, Claudia, Stacey, Abby, and I headed downtown to the Rosebud Café for celebratory junk food. We settled into one of the old-fashioned booths and Kristy said, “Mary Anne, this is on us.”

I blushed. I grinned. I said, “In that case, I want a double chocolate fudge sundae with extra nuts and whipped cream.”

We were just digging in when Dorianne and Logan walked through the door.

Logan saw us and stopped, looked a little uncertain.

I was able to smile and wave and act perfectly normal. For a moment, I was so carried away with how easy it was that I almost invited them to sit with us.

But then I realized that I wasn’t ready for that. Not yet.

They sat down across the room and I discovered Kristy watching me. I made a little face and smiled.

Kristy looked relieved. She raised her chocolate mint chip shake and said, “I’d like to propose a toast … to Mary Anne, who’s the real Most Likely to Succeed.”

“Hear, hear!” said Abby, and we all drank to that.