"You're going to the prom with Biff?" said Sarah L.
"Yeah," replied her 'sister' Sarah. "We've been on and off for so long... Wait a minute." She did some mental calculation and said "I think that you..."
"That I went out with him once, because it was more than four years ago?" continued Sarah L. "I did. We did."
"Any regrets?" asked Sarah. "At, you know..."
"At losing him to you? No. We were just on one date, and besides, that was really both of us, and besides that, I know everything that happened between you two and I'm not sure I want all that..."
"Neat trick. We don't keep a diary. So wish for one that's just like it would be if we did." She grinned.
"Well, have fun," said Sarah L. "I'm going to the party." They both knew what party she was referring to, of course; the party for next year's high school freshmen was that night. It was like a welcoming party, except it was at the end of the previous year.
There were quite a few people at the party, which was held at one of the younger high school cheerleader's houses. Sarah L. didn't know several of them. Which wasn't surprising, since she had only existed for a few months and everyone she used to know was shifted by four years and many of them weren't even around any more.
"So are you going to be a cheerleader like your sister?" asked Mark, a student from her class.
"I don't see why not," said Sarah L.
"Yeah, since you're a clone, I mean... Never mind." There was a look on his face like a kid caught stealing a cookie.
Sarah L. blinked. "All right. I'll 'never mind'. It's fine. I remember Carol from my class four years ago..."
"Never heard of her," said Mark.
"That's because when I say 'my' I mean 'my sister's'. Anyway, she was a Mormon, and she got more funny remarks as that than I do as a clone..."
Nicole, the brunette cheerleader, sat down. "Hi Sarah!" she said.
"Hi, Nicole, just discussing me. Come on, pour yourself some punch and have a seat."
Nicole was about to sit down when she noticed a white pocketbook. She was about to push it to the side when an Asian girl about her age reached for it and said "Thanks, Nicole." The girl had relatively short black hair and was wearing what seemed to be a white and blue Japanese schoolgirl outfit just like in those Japanese cartoons.
"You're welcome," said Nicole. "Have we met?"
"Uh? Nicole?" replied the girl. "We're not supposed to get drunk here, you know. Everyone's under drinking age and there's a limit to how much beer they can sneak in."
Sarah L. tried to make a welcoming smile at the Asian girl. "Nice to know you," she said. "I'm the clone. May as well get that part over with."
"I know you're a clone!" the girl exclaimed. "It's me, Sarah. Minmei?" At the lack of recognition Minmei hesitated and then added "Sarah? What's wrong?"
Sarah L. shook her head. "Please, humor me and Nicole. Introduce yourself, 'kay?"
"I'm Minmei, I'm a 16 year old Japanese exchange student. I've been in Nicole's class since last year."
"Since last year?" wondered Nicole. "Are you sure? It's like you appeared from nowhere. You're telling me you've been here almost a year? Mark, do you know her?"
"Shouldn't I?" replied Mark.
"Let me try," said Sarah L. Her 'trying' consisted of tapping the nearest person on the shoulder, a high school freshman named Colin. "Colin, do you know Minmei?"
Colin turned and his eyes met Minmei's. He gulped. "Minmei, you're not still angry about that prank, are you?"
"Yes, I am! Why can't you just..."
"Wait, what prank?" asked Nicole.
"The 'see what the Japanese exchange student looks like in the athletic showers prank'. You caught him, remember?"
"I caught him?" said Nicole.
"Why haven't I heard about this?" said Sarah L. "I manage to hear everything else interesting. It's like Minmei came from nowhere, but everyone remembers it as if she's always been around..." Then it finally dawned on her. "Oh, crap. Jon."
