Friends ForNever Read Online Free PDF Page A

spray on before we came to the lodge.
    â€œYeah, and then we met. On the very first night of camp. And we were instant best friends,” Nicole added.
    â€œI know! I was so glad I finally had someone to talk to about my family problems. You were a lifesaver.”
    Nicole laughed. “You were always asking me a million questions: ‘Who do you spend the holidays with?’ ‘Do you have your stuff at both houses, or do you keep everything at your mom’s and just take what you need to your dad’s?’ ‘Have your parents started dating other people?’ ‘Who comes to the parent-teacher conferences?’ Yak, yak, yak!”
    I smiled at her. “Well, you were the expert. Your parents had been divorced since you were six.” Nicole and I talked about everything that summer—all my worries and stresses and fears. All that private stuff about my parents I hadn’t told anyone before. “I know this sounds weird, but what if we’d been in different groups for that get-acquainted game? Then we wouldn’t have met each other.”
    â€œImpossible. It was destiny that we got in the same group. Anyway, let’s say we didn’t meet at evening program. We had a whole month together. We would’ve met at some point for sure,” Nicole reasoned.
    I laughed.
    I’d like to think that Nicole and I were destined to meet and become BFFs, but sometimes I wondered if it worked that way. Mom had picked out two camps for me to choose from—Pine Haven and Camp Willahalee. The main reason I picked Pine Haven was because of the name. It was easier to pronounce.
    What if I’d picked Willahalee instead? Then Darcy Bridges and Nicole Grimsley never would have met each other. Was it destiny? When good things happen, it’s nice to think that it’s destiny, but when stuff goes wrong, you have to wonder why destiny is giving you such a rotten life.
    The counselors called us inside for graham crackers and milk, and then we got into the good-night circle to sing “Taps.”
    Day is done, gone the sun,
    From the lake, from the hills, from the sky.
    All is well, safely rest,
    God is nigh.
    â€œThis has been a great first day,” Nicole said, as everyone crowded through the doors of the lodge and started up the stone steps toward the cabins. A lot of the old campers were rushing to get to Solitary first so they wouldn’t have to wait for a stall.
    â€œYeah, it sure has. We’re going to have an amazing summer,” I said. I hadn’t had that homesick feeling all evening. I was pretty sure it was gone for good. As much as I wanted this summer to be exactly like last year, or the year before, I knew it didn’t really matter. Even though this new summer could never be exactly like the old ones, I was absolutely positive it would be an awesome one.

Monday, June 16
    â€œAnyone who’s interested in taking riding lessons, you do need to sign up for those—and it’s a good idea to do it as early as possible. I’m going to the stables this morning. Feel free to join me.” Whitney was over on Side B getting her troops in order. Jamie loved the fact that Whitney had put herself in charge. The more Whitney took over, the less Jamie had to do.
    â€œAre you going to sign up for riding lessons?” I asked Sarah.
    â€œNo. I’m allergic to those hairy beasts. Do you mind if I hang out with you and Nicole?” She glanced at Patty, who was looking for something in her trunk. “You should come with us,” she told her. “Stick with the normal people and you’ll be safe.” She made a smirky face in Whitney’s direction.
    â€œIf we’re normal people, what does that make Whitney?” I wanted to know.
    Sarah thought about it for a second. “Deranged. Oh, Whitney darling! I’ll see you after your lesson!” she called over to Side B as we all left the cabin.
    â€œLet’s go to