Pink & Green is the New Black Read Online Free PDF Page B

around chatting.There’s usually pizza and chips and soda. It’s pretty fun, actually.
    â€œAsk Evan if he’s going,” I say.
    Last summer I was all annoyed that Evan and Sunny spent so much time together, but for some reason it doesn’t bother me as much anymore. It feels like Evan is just another friend now. They’re really good at balancing their time together and their time with their friends. It’s admirable—but also kind of frustrating, since I seem to be failing at my own relationship.
    â€œOkay, I’ll call later. He has tennis after school.”
    Sunny knows his whole schedule, like they’re some kind of married couple.
    I go downstairs to get more snacks, and then Sunny tells me I have a text message.
    I immediately hope it’s from Yamir, even though I’ve been feeling better about things since our accidental phone call. He wished me luck, and as sad as it sounds, I can live on that for a while.
    â€œIt’s Erica,” Sunny says, rolling her eyes.
    â€œErica?” I look at my phone.
    Wondering if we can check out the spa tonight to start preparing. Zoe, me, you, and Sunny. Let me know.
    â€œSo, let’s go,” Sunny says. “We don’t have anything else to do.”
    â€œI have to ask my mom and grandma. There may be an event tonight.”
    Sunny says, “You used to know everything that went on there. You’re totally slacking.”
    I hit her gently on the arm. “Ha-ha. I’m not slacking. I’m just in school, and they have staff to take care of things. I did my job, and now I can relax.”
    â€œOkay, so text her back. This is gonna be fun.”
    I don’t know about fun, but I guess it can’t hurt. Unless Erica is trying to trick us or humiliate us. But I think she’s moved on from her silly pranks. She seems really serious.
    I call Grandma at the pharmacy, and she tells me it’s fine as long as we don’t disturb the customers. This is a change too. Normally she’d make sure she or Mom was there with me, but I guess she trusts me more these days. She knows I can handle it. Plus, Charise is working the pharmacy counter until nine o’clock, and there will be a few people doing late spa treatments. It’s not like we’ll be totally alone.
    Erica and I text back and forth, and we agree to meet there at seven. I tell her that we can only stay an hour. Truthfully, we’re allowed to stay until closing at nine, but I don’t want to commit to that many hours with Erica Crane.
    Improvements or not.

Lucy’s tip for surviving eighth grade:
    Be open to new ideas.
    My dad drives Sunny and me over to the pharmacy, and he keeps asking us questions. “Are you sure this is a good idea, Lucy?”
    â€œDad, it’s for school.”
    â€œBut Erica Crane? Isn’t she a troublemaker? I should’ve saved all the e-mails you’ve written me about her.”
    â€œPeople change, Dad.” Okay, that may be true, but I doubt it’s true in Erica’s case. She’s still mean and competitive. But I don’t need to tell my dad about that, because I know her well enough to know she’s not being mean. Not yet, anyway.
    Still, I get why he’s asking these questions. I’m a little bit worried myself. I try to play it cool, though, and give her the benefit of the doubt.
    We pull into the parking lot and Dad says, “Well, have agood time. Good luck.” He gives me a kiss on the forehead and high-fives Sunny.
    â€œYou have a cool dad,” Sunny says. “He’s, like, responsible like a dad, but then fun like a kid. It’s pretty much the perfect combination.”
    â€œThanks, Sun.”
    We walk into the spa and it smells delicious, as always—lavender and eucalyptus with traces of vanilla.
    â€œLucy!” Grace, the spa receptionist, greets Sunny and me like we’re celebrities. “What can I do for you