BFF Breakup Read Online Free PDF Page B

off about them. That’s a really cool necklace you’re wearing, by the way.”
    My hand went to my necklace, a small gold treasure box on a long chain. I was wearing it especially for today. Brooke got it for me on a trip she took to Colorado three years ago. She told me she’d been saving her allowance and birthday money to buy something for herself, but when she saw the necklace, she knew I’d love it. And Idid. I wore it when I needed extra goodness in my day.
    â€œThanks,” I said, tugging it around on the chain. “My best friend gave it to me. I’m hoping it’ll bring me luck or something, get me good classes and easy teachers.”
    She smiled. “Well, it’s really pretty.” We shuffled forward in line. “What are you taking here?” She nodded ahead to the electives table, which we were approaching.
    â€œI’m not sure,” I said, looking down at my choices from the sheet I’d been given earlier. “Maybe Foods for Today? I do love to eat.” It seemed like a fun, if mildly dorky, class.
    â€œNo, don’t. Only the homely outcasts take that class,” Susanna said with authority. “My big sister, Sienna, told me the only acceptable elective is drama. Unless you want to commit social suicide.”
    â€œReally?” Drama sounded like it might be fun, but also a bit scary. Be on stage? In front of people? Saying stuff?
    â€œYeah, take it from me. Sienna said all the outgoing kids take it, so it’ll be easier to make new friends. She also said it helps people who are shy come out of their shells. Not that you seem like you need to.”
    When we got to the front of the line, Susanna nudged me and said, “Come on, we’ll take it together. It’ll be fun!”
    So I did. And it felt good to be pulled along by someone else because I was usually the one pulling Brooke. Doingsomething totally different from anything I’d ever done, like drama, seemed like a great way to start a new school. Brooke was right about one thing: Junior high really was going to be different, but in the best possible way.
    We finished registering together and found that we not only had lunch together, but also—wait for it—drama!
    â€œHow fun!” Susanna said as we headed toward the exit. Like my dad, her mom had opted to wait outside, except her mom was in her car in the parking lot taking a conference call, she said. “I want to complain that she’s not paying attention to me, but it’s probably better this way. She’d just embarrass me. Where’s your mom?”
    â€œWorking. My dad took off to come with me.”
    â€œThat’s cool,” she said. “Hey, you want to meet up on the first day? Like, right out front? That way we don’t have to walk into school alone.”
    I hesitated, thinking of Brooke. I knew without asking that we’d ride together on the first day. Still, there was something about Susanna that I really liked. It felt like we got each other even though we’d only known each other for about five seconds. She knew things about junior high, thanks to her sister, and it seemed like she was dealing with some less-than-outstanding home life stuff too. But I kept thinking about Brooke, and if she’d mind.
    I guess she noticed my hesitation because she quicklyadded, “You don’t have to; it’s not a big deal. I just thought it’d be best to avoid walking into the school totally alone on the first day. Sienna said ninth graders sometimes pick on seventh graders, especially on the first day, so I was just trying to think of our own protection. You’ll probably want to wear the necklace again, just in case.” She smiled, and I realized how ridiculous I was being. Like I could only be friends with Brooke or something.
    â€œNo, that’s a great idea,” I said. “I’ll probably be coming with my friend Brooke, so we can both meet