Reel Life Starring Us Read Online Free PDF

everything.”
    â€œOkeydokey.”
    Finally, Chelsea and her friends stroll in. They’re carrying Dunkin’ Donuts cups. And I thought I was the only eighth grader who drank coffee. I got the habit from my bubbie and her friends. They always sit around sipping coffee and eating babka and telling jokes, and I join them whenever I can. It’s a grandmas-telling-jokes club, and even though I’m nowhere near grandma age, I really enjoy it. I’ve been doing it since I was really little, like six or seven, which is how I developed a love for coffee. I don’t believe that whole it’ll-stunt-your-growth thing.
    â€œYou’re late,” Mr. Valakis says to them.
    â€œWe were in Mr. Oliver’s office,” one of Chelsea’s friends says, talking with her back to Mr. Valakis as she walks to her seat.
    â€œWith coffee?”
    â€œUh-huh,” another friend says. “We were discussing the anniversary gala. Our moms were there, too, and they brought coffee for everyone.”
    Mr. Valakis squints a little like he doesn’t quite believe them. “I see.”
    Chelsea and her friends keep sipping their coffee as they start to work on their project. I expect Chelsea to come over to me to get to work on ours. But she doesn’t. She stays with them.
    I just sit here. I want to go over to them. I want to tell Chelsea my ideas, but I feel like I can’t.
    The clock on the wall with the oversized numbers ticks loudly, and I stare at it, noticing minute after minute go by. We literally haven’t done a single thing on this project. It’s only my second day here and I’m already a delinquent. Everyone around me is working.
    This isn’t me. I’m not that girl, the one who didn’t do what she was supposed to do.
    I stare at my notebook and keep writing stuff. That wayif anyone asks, I can just say I’m jotting down ideas for the project. Which I am. Trying to, at least.
    â€œChelsea,” Mr. Valakis calls out to her. “Please get to work. I don’t want to have to say it again.”
    She huffs like someone offended her and stands up. Her friends say things like “Good luck, Chels” and “Bye, Chelsers, have fun” in these totally sarcastic, mocking tones.
    After Chelsea sits down next to me, she starts talking. “So we just had this meeting with Mr. Oliver. He’s our principal—you know that, right? Anyway, my friends convinced me to see if I could get switched onto the science projects group with them, but apparently he feels really strongly about this video thing and he thinks I can do a good job with it.” She rolls her eyes.
    â€œYeah, well, obviously I need your help learning about the school.” I hear her friends in the back of the room talking and laughing. I try to ignore them. “But I can handle the video stuff.”
    She stands up, puts her hands on her hips, and yells to her friends to be quiet. Then she sits back down.
    â€œWell, we’ll just get it done as quickly as we can.” She takes the last sip of coffee. “But we’re gonna have to meet after school in the library to do the shooting. We can’t disrupt any classes during the school day.”
    â€œOh.” I try to stop myself from jumping up and down in my seat. Chelsea and me, hanging out after school! This is great. And I didn’t have to say it first! This is my chance to have friends the way I thought I would. My chance to be someone here. My chance to be happy here.
    â€œYeah, I know.” She rolls her eyes again. She thinks I’m upset. Wow—I didn’t realize I was that hard to read. “Anyway, meet me in the library after ninth period. We’ll see what we can do.”
    I nod. The bell rings, and everyone leaves the classroom.
    I walk out alone, but I don’t dwell on it. I feel hopeful. I feel like things are looking up.

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