Twice As Nice Read Online Free PDF Page B

guess I underestimated the size of my feet. Sorry.”
    Lauren put her hands up to her head.
    â€œDid it get in my hair, Charlie?”
    â€œA little. I’ll go inside and get you a dish towel.”
    â€œThanks. I don’t want my hair to be all sticky and gross.”
    I dashed into the kitchen. GoGo was putting the dishes in the dishwasher. Sammie, Alicia, and Sara were sitting on stools at the counter.
    â€œI need some towels,” I said, heading for the drawer under the sink. “For Lauren.”
    â€œWhat’d she do?” Sammie asked. “Smudge her eye makeup?”
    I opened the drawer and took out a couple of clean towels.
    â€œCharlie,” Sammie said. “They asked you to join the Junior Waves, didn’t they? I just know it.”
    â€œSo what if they did?” I answered. There was irritation in my voice.
    â€œDon’t you see? They only want you so you’ll make their application look good. Aside from Lily March, none of those girls have decent grades, or have ever done any community service. Your grades and our tennis titles will help them qualify. That’s why they’re asking you.”
    â€œThat’s not true,” I snapped. “You don’t know everything.”
    â€œPrincipal Pfeiffer just turned down an application from our friend Etta to start an Electronic Dance Music Club,” Alicia said. “He said she had to prove that she could improve her grades and participate in other extracurriculars, too. Otherwise, starting a club could be too distracting.”
    â€œI have to go,” I said.
    â€œJust think it over before you agree,” Sammie begged.
    Suddenly, I felt like I was going to explode. And I did.
    â€œThey’re my friends, Sammie!” I yelled, surprising myself at how much emotion came pouring out all at once. “Don’t you see? I don’t have any other friends!”
    My eyes filled with tears.
    â€œYou have us,” Sara said. “Come with us to Truth Tellers. You’ll find a lot of friends there. Everyone is very accepting.”
    â€œWe’re having our regular meeting tomorrow after school,” Alicia said. “Just come and see what it’s like. You’ll be surprised how much fun it is.”
    â€œAnd we don’t want you for your credentials,” Sammie said. “We want you just because you’re you.”
    It was a sweet offer, it really was. At the same time, though, I knew that deep down I was not a Truth Teller type.
    I looked over at GoGo for advice. She had stopped dishing out the chips and was listening carefully.
    â€œWhat do you think I should do?” I asked her.
    She just shook her head.
    â€œI can’t make these decisions for you. That’s what growing up is all about. Sometimes you make the right decision. Sometimes you make the wrong one. You learn from both.”
    That was no help. Clearly, I was on my own.
    I grabbed the towels and headed out to the deck, letting the door slam behind me.

“Welcome, Truth Tellers, one and all,” Ms. Carew said. “Please gather in our acceptance circle.”
    It was the next day and I was standing at the door of Ms. Carew’s room. She’s my English teacher, but also the sponsor of Truth Tellers, which meets every Monday at three fifteen. Sammie and Alicia and Sara were already inside, hanging out with about ten other members of the club. I had arrived five minutes earlier but just couldn’t get myself to step over the threshold into the room.
    I had stayed up late discussing my situation with GoGo. She knew that Sammie wanted me to reject the SF2s and join Truth Tellers. GoGo told me that it was my decision who my friends should be, and no one else’s. When I went upstairs to get ready for bed, Sammie kept hammering me with her view that the SF2s were using me to get what they wanted. She wouldn’t quit.
    In desperation, I called my mom in Boston. She suggested that