Girls Acting Catty Read Online Free PDF Page B

jeans, like the top of a muffin.”
    I laughed. Sure it was mean, but it was still funny. And anyway, why should I feel bad when Taylor made me feel lousy on purpose?
    â€œHer muffin top shows in her PE clothes too,” I said. “And the other day, her underwear was sticking out of her shorts.”
    â€œNo!” yelled Rachel.
    â€œSeriously. They were pink with white stars.”
    â€œStars?” asked Rachel. “Think she wore them because she’s so convinced she’s gonna be this huge star?”
    We both giggled.
    â€œShe probably had them showing on purpose,” Rachel said. “You know, to get attention. All her friends are like that. Don’t you hate how they walk around school like they own it? They’re the biggest snobs in the entire sixth grade and, like, proud of it.”
    I didn’t know any of Taylor’s friends except for Hannah, who I’d always liked. She and I sat next to each other in French. She’s tall, with big brown eyes and straight, shoulder-length dirty-blond hair that she constantly tucks and re-tucks behind her ears. Whenever we have to switch papers for grading in French, we choose each other. Last Tuesday, I got a hundred percent and she put a happy face by my score.
    Snobby girls do not draw happy faces. It’s a fact.
    â€œHannah seems okay,” I said.
    Rachel groaned. “Hannah is the worst! She pretends like she’s all sweet and quiet, but it’s just an act. Trust me. If she were nice, she wouldn’t be friends with Taylor. Haven’t you noticed how she follows her around and does whatever she wants like some clueless, pathetic little puppet?”
    I shrugged. “I guess I never really paid attention.”
    â€œWell, now that I pointed it out I know you’ll notice. And you cannot start shaving now, just because of what Taylor said.”
    I didn’t know when I’d start shaving, but it didn’t seem like the kind of thing Rachel should be able to decide for me. I mean, I’m glad she was on my side and everything, but she was acting weird— too angry for something that didn’t even happen to her.
    â€œBut what if my legs are too hairy? People are noticing, obviously.”
    â€œLet’s see.”
    I rolled up my jeans and Rachel leaned closer to inspect my calves. “Your hair is so pale, you can hardly see it.”
    â€œThat’s what I used to think.”
    â€œYou know, once you start shaving you can never stop. Your hair won’t be all soft and smooth like it is now.”
    â€œIt won’t?” I rolled my jeans back down and crossed my legs.
    Rachel shook her head. “Nope. The razor cuts it at a different angle, so it’ll feel all stubbly. My mom waxes, but waxing looks like torture.”
    My only experience with wax involved wax lips, but somehow I doubted that’s what Rachel was talking about. “What’s waxing?” I asked.
    â€œIt’s when they brush hot wax on your legs and then cover it with cloth. When the wax cools down it sticks to your hair and then they rip the cloth off really fast and it takes the wax and all your hair with it.”
    I gasped. “No!”
    â€œSeriously. It’s totally painful, because it rips the hair out from the follicles,” Rachel explained. “But it lasts longer, for the same reason.”
    â€œIt doesn’t take your skin off with it?” I asked.
    Rachel shook her head. “Nope. But I’d still never do it. Shaving is much better.”
    I didn’t want to admit it out loud, but shaving didn’t seem so much better to me. I know it’s not supposed to hurt, but it still involves running a razor blade up your leg, and I just don’t get how that can’t be painful.
    Ever notice how commercials for razor blades always feature some woman shaving in a gigantic tub filled with bubble bath? Well, bubble bath makes me sneeze. So what happens if I