"Yes, Mr. Bowman," the class answered.

"Good. Alright everyone, follow me," he said, waving his hand as a gesture for the class to follow him.

Elizabeth could hardly contain her happiness. They were finally in Mexico! This was going to be a memorable trip, she just knew it.

"Hey Jess," she said to her sister. "I've got a feeling that we'll be using up the three rolls of film we brought with us."

Jessica grinned. "I got a feeling we'll have to buy three more rolls of films just to be able to take a picture of everything."

Elizabeth couldn't help but laugh out loud. Jessica was probably exaggerating like usual. But then again, who knew? Her sister might just be right. Mexico was a very large place.

After a few minutes of walking through corridors and going on the escalators, they finally reached the baggage claim. It took quite awhile for everyone to get their luggage, but after awhile, they were on a bus to their hotel. Throughout the whole ride, Elizabeth looked out the window at Mexico's loving city. She even managed to snap a few pictures. Elizabeth giggled. She can't believed she took pictures while she was on the bus! Maybe Jessica was right after all, she thought to herself. Before she new it, they arrived at their destination. Everyone filed out and finally managed to get their bags after what seemed like eternity. They entered the hotel. Once they got inside she heard Jessica gasp.

"Wow," she heard her twin say. "I never thought our hotel would look this fancy."

"I know," Mandy replied. "I never knew our school could afford something like this."

"It's nothing compared to the hotels I stay at, but I have to admit, it does look mighty impressive," Elizabeth heard Lila say in awe. Elizabeth rolled her eyes. Leave it to Lila to rub her wealth in at something like a hotel.

"Good morning everyone," a voice suddenly rang out. All heads turned towards the voice. "Hi, my name is Ms. Suzzie, and welcome to The Mexican Empire. I believe you are the group from Sweet Valley, am I right?"

"That's correct," Mr. Bowman smiled.

"Great!" Ms. Suzzie exclaimed. "There are just a few things I need to tell you before I give you the keys to your rooms. First of all, we here at The Mexican Empire, serve our guest all meals. Of course, if you wish to eat somewhere else, that is perfectly okay. Breakfast will be served from seven to nine o'clock, lunch from 11:30 till 2:00 and dinner from 6:00 to 8:00. Is everyone with me so far?"

"Yes," the sixth graders chorused.

"Good, now if you have any questions or need help on anything, just contact our front desk. The number is by the telephone. Well. . .I believe that is all. Are there any questions?"

"No, everything's perfectly clear," Mr. Bowman answered when no one spoke up.

"Okay, I'll give you your keys then," Ms. Suzzie announced. She went behind the counter and gave Mr. Bowman the keys. Elizabeth and the rest of the class made their way to their rooms. Elizabeth was sharing a room with Amy, Maria and Julie Potter. She wanted to share a room with Jessica, but she and her twin both knew that their friends would not be able to get along, so they agreed to be in separate rooms.

"Who wants to have the honors of opening the door?" Elizabeth asked with a smile.

"Oh let me!" Maria exclaimed. Elizabeth gave her the keys and waited as Maria opened the door. The lock seemed to be jammed at first, but after a few tries, they were finally able to step into their rooms. Julie took a step closer, but fell on to something. Amy instantly, reached for the light switch.

"Whoa," Julie said. She seemed to of landed on a bed. Everyone looked at their room with smiling faces, but then, in turned into frowns.

"This is it?" Maria questioned.

"It sure looked bigger in the brochure," Amy commented.

Elizabeth nodded her head in agreement. The room was extremely small. The beds were practically touching, creating one huge bed, there was a small table in the corner with a single chair beside it, and a drawer by the washroom. There was barely any walking space. Elizabeth was wondering how they were suppose to fit all their luggage in the room.

"I sure thought it would of been much more bigger and fancier, by the way the lobby looked," Julie said, breaking into Elizabeth's thoughts.

"It is kind of, um, small," Elizabeth admitted, "but look on the bright side. We're finally in Mexico and we would probably be spending very little time in here, judging from all the activities Mr. Bowman has planned for us."

"You're right," Maria said. "Let's start unpacking and get ourselves settled. Mr. Bowman said to meet him in the lobby in fifteen minutes

. "I get the bed by the window!" Amy exclaimed.

Elizabeth laughed. "This isn't a bus or airplane," she said.

"I know, but still," Amy said in a small voice.

"Let's stop the chit chat and move in," Julie commanded. Her friends nodded and squeezed into their room.

"What's the matter?" Mandy asked.

"I bumped into something, that's what," Lila replied angrily.

"Bumped into what?" Jessica asked.

"I don't know, because I can't exactly see right now," Lila yelled. "Some one turn on the lights!"

"Yes ma'am," Jessica mumbled as she felt the wall for the light switch. She finally found it and flicked it on. She looked around her room eagerly, but her eagerness soon turned into disappointment.

Ellen suddenly laughed. "Ha ha! You just fell on top of a bed, Lila! And you call me the klutz."

"This is our room?" Mandy asked weakly.

"It looks more like a storage closet to me," Lila said grumpily.

Jessica looked around the room and sighed. The room was so small, it was practically smaller than her bathroom. She suddenly spoke up.

"Hey," she said. "Maybe there was a mix up in rooms."

"Nope, sorry," Mandy said, "I already checked. Room 316. This is ours alright."

"Are you sure?" Lila pressed on.

"Yes, I'm sure," Mandy replied firmly.

"I can say now, that this is going to be a long week!" Lila promised.

"Open this door right now!" Jessica demanded with all her might. It was nine o'clock and she still haven't taken a shower yet. Lila has been in there for over an hour. She looked over at Mandy who was relaxing, watching t.v. She had already taken a bath. Why didn't I take a bath first? Oh, right. I was reading my magazine. She looked at the bathroom door again. She couldn't take it anymore and started to pound on the door with both her fist.

"Lila Fowler! Open this door RIGHT NOW!" she screamed at the top of her lungs.

"In a minute," was Lila's response.

"That's what you said half an hour ago!" Jessica wailed. She looked over at Ellen who was whipping up a snack.

"Ellen?" she asked her friend.

"Yeah," Ellen answered.

"Aren't you the least bit angry that Lila has been in the shower for over an hour?" Jessica question.

"Really? I hadn't noticed. I was too busy making us something to eat," Ellen paused. "Alright, making something for me to eat."

Jessica rolled her eyes and flopped down on the bed. Why, oh, why was this happening to her?

"Liz, can I borrow your brush?" asked Amy.

"Yeah. Did you forget yours?" Elizabeth asked.

"Well, yeah," Amy replied, embarrassed.

Maria stepped out of the washroom, and Elizabeth went in. It was the next morning, and Elizabeth and her friends were getting ready for their first full day in Mexico. Before Elizabeth had stepped into the washroom to brush her teeth, she looked out the hotel window and gasped at the view. It was early in the morning and the sun was barely up. Mr. Bowman wanted everyone to be down by seven so they could fit everything into their tight schedule. However, Elizabeth was so excited that she got up before it was even six. The view from her window was magnificent. Her room had a full view of the city and everything in the soft glow of the sun was breath taking. Elizabeth made a mental note to herself that Mexico City was one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

After freshening up, she unlocked the door to the bathroom and prepared herself for the promising day ahead.

An ear screeching sound pierced Jessica's ears. What was the horrible sound? she wondered. Suddenly she remembered it was her alarm clock. She reached over to hit the button, but instead caused another ear piercing sound.

"Ouch!" Lila screamed. "What was that for."

"Sorry," Jessica replied. It suddenly dawned to her that she wasn't at home. She was in a hotel, sleeping beside her very annoying best friend. She reluctantly opened her eyes and searched for the alarm clock. She found it, shut it off and the ringing in her ear finally stopped.

"Oh my gosh!" she heard Mandy scream with panic in her voice.

"What is it?" Ellen moaned out.

"It's six forty-five!" Mandy exclaimed, climbing out of bed in a hurry.

"So? I never get up before seven-thirty"Jessica replied with a yawn.

"Yeah, but we're in Mexico now. And we're supposed be downstairs by seven. That leaves us with fifteen, no make that fourteen minutes to get ready!" Mandy yelled as she disappeared into the washroom.

Jessica's eyes flew wide open. She totally forgot. She got out of bed, only to bump into Ellen, who was scurrying about once she heard Mandy's explanation. Even Lila seemed to be in a frantic, something she'd never seen in her friend before. So, far Mexico wasn't turning out as she planned it. No room service, no shopping. No nothing. She rattled the bathroom knob.

"Mandy hurry up!" she yelled.

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