Oh, my gosh. This is an engagement ring.
Looks like one.
[gasps] If I ever get engaged, I want emerald.
Green to go with me being vegetarian.
Whose is it?
It's still there.
[sighs] Justin said that his mom said that my mom said that she's serious with Max.
- Who's Max? - My mom's boyfriend.
[inhales sharply]
I'm gonna call Justin.
[line ringing]
-What up? - Justin! We need to stop a wedding.
Hi. I'm Brandi, with an I.
Hey, Brand-eye. Whose wedding are we stopping?
Her mom is gonna marry Matt.
- Max. - Wait, what?
Look, I found this.
A ring?
Not just any ring. An engagement ring.
What do you mean you found it? Where?
I found it right in here. In-- [sighs]
[Justin] A junk drawer?
- [Sarah humming] - [gasps]
- Ooh. Hey. - [Brandi] Okay.
[gasps]
That was my mom.
Okay, breathe. Relax.
- [breathes deeply] -Doesn't mean anything.
I mean, it's in a junk drawer.
He's right. That's a clue.
Why would she put something so precious in a junk drawer?
I mean, my first tooth is in there.
You should put that under your pillow.
It's probably worth a fortune by now.
[chuckles]
Tooth Fairy jokes in the middle of my crisis?
Okay, I like Brandi. I really like her.
In fact, it's a bonus to have her positive energy around.
But I, Amber Brown, need my crisis space right now.
Yes, dear Diary, it is a crisis.
I can't let my mom get engaged before my dad moves back to the States.
It would erase all… [sighs] …all hope.
Maybe she's holding it for a friend.
Or maybe it's from her past.
Oh, she kept a diamond from a long-lost love.
It's definitely not from her past.
My mom's way too superstitious to let anything old possibly tarnish the future.
She literally throws salt over her shoulder when she's not even cooking.
- Huh? - Exactly.
What's this?
- What's what? - This.
"I picked up your dry cleaning and put it in the front closet.
Looking forward to Red Dragon with you and Amber this weekend.
She can tell us all about her first week as a middle schooler."
They're an "us"?
No, th-- that's me and Mom. We're an "us."
They're a "me and Max," or a "Max and I."
How many Maxes are there?
[chuckles]
More on the back.
"And we can talk to Amber about us"?
[gasps] Dun-dun-dun.
["All Good" playing]
[students chattering]
[Amber] Action!
Cut!
Rewrite!
[Phil] Hi, honey! Dad calling.
Dad coming home. Only days away. Can you believe it?
Just need to find a place to live. Working on that now.
Okay, kiddo. Love you. Talk later.
[Phil] Hi, honey! Dad calling.
Dad coming home. Only days away. Can you believe it?
- Hi! - [gasps] Aw, geez, you scared me.
[chuckles] Thank you.
Who were you talking to?
- No one. - I do that too.
[Hannah] It's a pretty-pajama party.
Music, pizza, makeup, spa treatments, bottled water.
Pretty pajamas, music, makeup, spa treatments, bottled water.
I'm still working on the invite list.
She's still working on the invite list.
Hannah and her pajama party. That's all she talks about.
- That's all for now. - That's all for now.
- Wait, there's one more thing. - There's one more thing.
- The bottled water is flat and sparkling. - Flat and sparkling.
Truth: I don't want to want to be invited, but I want to be.
Does that make sense?
I guess it just feels good to be included.
Don't wanna be, but do wanna be, that is the question?
Yeah. Why does that sound familiar?
Because you just said it. [chuckles]
I guess so.
[students laughing]
- [laughs] - Oh, my gosh.
Do you ever get confused by your wants?
Like?
Like, I want my mom to be happy. But I want her to be happy with my dad.
But she wants to be with Max and wants me to be happy about it.
- Well, yeah, but wants can change. - You think?
Well, I wanted to stay at my old house,
but now that I have you as a friend, I want to stay at my new house.
And I want to be invited to Hannah's pajama party, but don't want to admit it.
- She said she's inviting everyone. - Then we'll be invited?
I don't think I've ever been an everyone.
- [laughing] - [chattering]
But, if I do get invited,
I can wear my cute, pink flannels with little dogs all over them.
- My Aunt Pam gave them to me. - I'm gonna need real, actual pajamas.
I usually just wear gym shorts and a T-shirt to bed.
Don't worry. I've got some you can borrow.
- Oh, and food. - And food.
- Hey, Shawntay. - Can't talk right now, Amber.
Just saying hi.
Pancakes, waffles, and smoothies of all kinds.
Breakfast will be served.
Hi, Hannah!
- Hi. Hello. - Shh!
It's okay.
- Hello. - Hi.
Come on.
See? She said hi back. I'm sure she's inviting us.
She kind of did.
But we can have sleepovers too.
My dad's looking for a place, and I'll be with him half of the time.
You'll have to come stay.
Wow. Two houses? That's so Hollywood.
But that's the thing. I don't want two houses.
Dad should be home with me and Mom.
We need to have a Wedding Stoppers meeting immediately after school.
Def. I have some more ideas.
[mouthing] Oh.
- Hi, Stanley. - Oh, hey there.
- It's Brandi. Brandi with an I-- - Hey, Amber.
Hey, Stanley.
- Oh! - [gasps]
- [Amber inhales sharply] - Man, are you okay?
- [laughs] - She's fine.
- Are you okay? - So embarrassed.
Doing good!
[giggling]
I wish they'd stop moving that pillar!
- Don't look back! - Oh, right. Okay.
- I'm cool. [inhales sharply, groans] - Very cool.
And strong. Whoa. You hit that pole! [chuckles]
It hurt too. I'm waiting to scream once we're outside.
[Brandi] These pajamas are so cute.
I'd actually wear them during the day, like, to lunch or something.
I'll borrow these for Hannah's party.
You want me to take minutes on this meeting?
Have we officially come to order?
Yeah, I think so. Once Amber gets in a full mile.
- [chuckles] - Wait.
So we agreed that when Max takes me and Mom to dinner on Saturday,
that's when they're telling me
- about the engagement, right? - Mm-hmm.
Taking you to a public place, crowded, safer for them.
You can't react. I've seen this in movies.
Well, maybe your mom didn't say yes.
Maybe the ring's in the drawer because she's giving it back.
Then why would she have it at all?
He wouldn't give the ring to someone who said no.
That's true.
Well, maybe she said yes at first.
But then changed her mind because my dad's moving back.
I'm not sure about that last part.
Let's recap, shall we?
Max proposed, your mom said yes, but then had second thoughts,
so she put the ring back in the box.
Max thinks they're engaged,
but she's gonna give the ring back, possibly tomorrow night,
and break his heart, because her ex is moving back home.
- [chuckles] - [Brandi] Ooh.
This is like a movie, and I'm an extra in it.
[scoffs] Okay, Brandi, this is serious.
Yeah, I know. The movie's gonna be a drama, duh.
[chuckles] You're funny.
[chuckles] Thanks.
- Stop. - What?
Getting along so much.
- Yeah, right. - As if.
We need to focus.
[chuckles]
[sighs] My mom isn't wearing the ring because she wants to tell me first.
She'd think it's bad luck to go ahead with it
and to wear it if I wasn't okay with it yet.
So she's waiting.
That makes me feel.
Feel what?
Feelings.
[scoffs]
How do I stall so my mom's still officially single when my dad gets home?
That's all I want.
Just a chance for them to see each other again and maybe they'll feel something.
[Brandi] Simple.
All you have to do is avoid all mom-and-daughter talks
until your dad gets home.
What?
If your mom doesn't have a chance to tell you…
Oh, she won't make the engagement official!
Yep.
I'd like to propose a name change,
from Wedding Stoppers to Engagement Stallers.
- All in favor, say aye. - Aye.
Wait, what do I do at dinner on Saturday?
We'll need another meeting.
Until then, avoid all talks.
Yeah.
["Catch Me If You Can (Reprise)" playing]
[door slams]
[sharpeners whirring]
[door closes]
[Sarah] Amber?
- [blower whirring] - Hey. Um…
[Sarah grunts]
Hmm.
You know, if you actually put it on your finger, I hear it really sparkles.
[groans]
You okay?
Mmm, Amber's just acting weird.
Well, maybe it's this new friend of hers, neighbor, having an influence on her.
- Brandi? - Yeah.
Nah, she's a good kid.
Amber just needs a friend.
She just needs to have some part of her world
away from that sketch pad once in a while.
If I were half the artist Amber is, I'd spend most of my time drawing.
- That's what my dad always says. - That's what her dad always says.
[chuckles]
I love you.
I love you too.
So what? Are you engaged or not?
- Do you hear something? - [gasps]
No.
What year is this grape juice?
So they never said the word "engagement," but they had the ring right there.
Yeah, she saw it all.
And when my mom mentioned my dad, it gave me hope, you know.
I've been thinking about this. Two things to consider.
The Red Dragon has fortune cookies. Your mom's superstitious.
Yeah?
Put 'em together, maybe you'll get a fortune cookie
that says something that'll give your mom a reason to definitely wait.
Well, yeah, that'd be convenient. But what are the odds of that happening?
100% if you write it yourself.
Oh, that's a good idea.
[cell phone chimes]
OMG.
What?
Hannah posted her guest list for her pajama party this weekend.
"Katrina, Melissa, Ariel…"
Almost every girl in the sixth grade is invited.
"Belisse, Molly, Gloria…"
[whispers] Where's our name?
[sighs]
Except us.
Who cares?
Badge of honor. [chuckles]
Right?
[sighs] Yikes. Sorry, you two.
This meeting of the Engagement Stallers ends now at 7:42 p.m.
Operation Avoid All Talks is in play.
Mission: to write a good fortune cookie to ensure your good fortune.
Ba-later.
[computer chimes]
We're still going.
- Where? - To the pajama party.
[chuckles]
- [guests chattering] - [pop music playing]
[whispers] Come on, I see a window.
[whispers] There's nothing.
We can't see anything. They're probably upstairs.
She probably has, like, a master bedroom with a skating rink or something.
- Can you climb? - What?
[Brandi] Scientists hide in bushes and study things,
like elephants and lions in their natural habitat.
[Amber] I cannot believe we're doing this.
[gasps, chuckles]
[gasps] Whoa.
She has a vanity. With lights on the mirror.
Plus a full-length mirror. No, two.
- [Brandi] Mmm. - Look at her bed.
[Amber gasps] With a little set of stairs up to it? Really?
[imitating David Attenborough] Here we see a popular group of friends
in their natural habitat.
They only make up 2% of the school's population,
yet they contain over 50% of its drama.
[laughs]
- [cell phone chiming] - [gasps]
Oh, no. Oh, my Gosh.
- Shh! Act like you're part of the tree. - Okay.
That was close.
[Brandi] Sometimes I think I'd like to be one of them for a day.
Yeah, me too.
But then, after a while, I'd miss myself.
Yeah. [chuckles] I'd miss myself too.
- And yourself. - [laughs]
Oh, look, there's Shawntay!
[Brandi] Hannah's popularity equal.
Yeah, she's school famous.
Uh-oh.
Don't move.
No, no, no, no, please don't.
What's she doing?
Aw. She must be a Taylor Swift fan.
That is such a "You Belong to Me" vintage move.
Okay, that's creepy. [gasps]
Yeah. Let's get out of here.
[grunts]
♪ With my head up in outer space ♪
♪ I know I'll be A-O, A-Okay I know I'll be A-O, A-Okay ♪
[music stops]
Dear Diary. I went on an adventure.
I climbed a tree with my neighbor Brandi and caught a glimpse of popular people.
I learned a couple things.
One: after they go upstairs to bed, they have to go up stairs to bed.
And I learned that as much fun as it was to have an adventure with Brandi--
which it was, very, very fun--
but… [sighs] …it would've been nice for us to be invited to the party.
To be included.
And they don't know what they're missing out on, not including us.
[sighs]
I learned that it hurts not to be included.
Oh, and in other news, earlier today I walked smack into a pillar
right in front of the cutest boy in the whole school.
Yes, it was Stanley.
[sighs] It was so embarrassing.
But I did make him smile. [chuckles]
- Amber? - Mom! I'm talking to my diary!
I am so sorry. Excuse me very much.
I-- I didn't hear anything. I did see that smile though.
[pop music resumes playing]
[sighs]
All good things come to an end?
Okay. [sighs]
Not being engaged gives your ex-husband a chance
and makes your daughter happy?
Then what? What should the fortune say?
[scoffs] Okay.
Ow!
Oh! Sorry. I thought the window was closed.
Just trying to get your attention.
It's okay. [groans] I'm so nervous I barely even felt it.
Good luck tonight.
Did you decide on your fortune cookie yet?
No. I think I just have to go with whatever feels right in the moment
and then pretend to be reading it.
Good luck, brave engagement staller.
Thanks. Any advice?
No.
[cell phone rings]
Oh, it's my dad.
How come you don't answer when he calls?
Because…
Because he calls so few times that I'd rather have the voice message
so I can play it a couple times,
and then it seems like he's calling me more than he is.
Is that weird?
No. It makes me feel.
Feel what? [chuckles]
Um… feelings.
[chuckles]
[Sarah] Amber? You ready?
[Max sighs]
[sighs, chuckles]
I feel like I haven't had a moment with you all week!
Justin called and left a message. I'm listening now.
Okay. I--
Okay! We all set?
- Yeah. - Yeah? [chuckles]
Is there anything else I can help you with?
I'm good. [sighs] Gonna miss this place.
Yeah. But you get to go home.
Yeah. To be with my wife and daughter.
Wait, I thought y--
Yeah. [sighs] Ex-wife.
- Old habits. - [chuckles]
- But yes, to be with my daughter. - [phone rings]
Philip Brown's office. Uh-huh.
Oh, yeah, of course, just a moment.
It's Moose with the two flat about the apartment in the States.
Thanks.
[chuckles] This is Phil.
Moose, what's up, old pal? How are you?
[laughs]
Yeah, I took a look at the photos online and, man, the place looks great.
I think my little girl's gonna love it. So yeah, it's a go.
Uh-huh. That Thursday I'll pick up the keys.
Okay? Okay.
Look forward to seeing you too.
Okay, buh-bye.
[sighs]
She's a great teacher and all, but it wasn't even on the class list.
Amber, honey, Max and I, we--
Um, Mom, le-- let me finish. [chuckles]
Um, so that's all the extra credit I can get.
Well, that and if I turn all my assignments in on time.
Um, and-- and for my volunteer work.
Well, you should be very proud of yourself.
- Thank you. Yeah. - Yes, I am really proud of you, honey.
Thank you.
[clears throat] You know, Amber…
Um, I-- I'll go get our fortune cookies.
- [clears throat] Nice. All right. Dessert. - [Sarah muttering indistinctly]
[Max chuckles, mutters]
It's-- It's important to wait.
And give things time.
So others can catch up to how you're feeling.
I just think that's the most wise fortune cookie I've ever heard.
I agree.
Really?
Yeah. Absolutely.
Dear Diary. I guess-- I guess I'm feeling guilty
for not being happy for Mom when she seems so happy with Max.
I just wanna thank you ladies.
For what?
[stammers] Including me for your dinner tonight.
Mom.
Yeah?
You can wear the ring.
I do believe that my mom could be happy with my dad
and that my dad could be happy with my mom.
And if they were together, it would make me happy.
So happy.
So I, Amber Brown, am wondering… [sighs]
…how do you decide whose happiness is most important?
[Phil] Hey, my dear girl. I found a place. A two flat.
We'll have the downstairs unit, and there's a great family upstairs.
I actually know the guy from college. He's got kids your age.
I think you're gonna like it.
Only got a glimpse of it online, but it has its own little courtyard.
I thought you could have your own garden.
Love you. Talk later.
And then on Saturday, we can play video games at your place.
So cool having that empty apartment for all of us to hang in.
Oh, man, I love that place.
Do you have a chemistry book?
Uh, yeah, right here.
Thanks.
Oh, um,
the days of the empty-apartment hangout, they're gonna be gone for a while.
- What? - My dad rented the garden flat.
Man.
Some guy he went to college with.
Trying to help him out, you know. Single dad. Has a daughter.
Well, then, where are we gonna hang out?
I'll figure it out.
All right, do it quick.
You know that I can't last long without video games.
Trust me.
Whatever.
[pop music playing]