Kristy goes to Claudia’s house the next day after school and finds that she’s no longer wearing makeup. Claudia explains that her parents found out and forbid it. Kristy goes with Claudia up to her room to meet Stacey but encounters Janine along the way. Janine compliments Kristy on her business idea but then starts correcting Kristy’s grammar. Just then, Mary Anne arrives, and she and Kristy meet Stacey for the first time. Right away, Kristy notices that Stacey has a strong fashion sense and understands why Claudia likes her. Mary Anne’s father only allows her to wear braids, and Kristy just keeps her hair in a regular ponytail and dresses casually. Kristy also notices that Stacey is thin, tall, and pretty. She has blue eyes and blonde hair.

Within minutes, Mary Anne is asking Stacey about New York City, wanting to hear about her experiences there. Kristy is shocked by how grown-up Stacey seems and all the things she’s allowed to do, and she suddenly feels very young. When Stacey is asked why she left New York, she awkwardly answers that her dad got a new job.