Messages 10 03 AM Mary Ann 97 What color should we paint our nails Is light blue too babyish for 5th grade Purple or dark green maybe We get together every year before school starts to make sure we’re ready and that’s what we’re doing today IDK I grab a few of bottles of polish and stuff them into a bag Then I put Cheeseburger back on my bed and give her a goodbye pat I walk to the kitchen to tell Mom I’m ready to go Someone is excited says Mom when I walk into the kitchen Mary Ann and I have a lot to do to get ready I tell her Mom looks at Max who is sitting at the table He’s busy texting which is something he’s been doing a lot of lately I’ll be back 10
in twenty minutes Mom says to Max But he doesn’t look up Are you texting Sam again I ask him He texted her a lot on our trip to the Grand Canyon I try to look over Max’s shoulder but he pulls his phone to his chest That just confirms my suspicions I give my brother a do-you-really-think it’s-a-good-idea-to-be-texting-a-girl-who-isn’t your-girlfriend look But Max ignores me and keeps texting I follow Mom outside I can’t wait to get my schedule tomorrow It’s going to be so much fun to have homerooms I really hope my friends and I are all in the same one I tell her as we drive off Mom laughs I’m not sure you’ll all be together but I’m happy to see how enthusiastic you are she says I’m not sure why but I’m extra 11
enthusiastic about fifth grade I just have a feeling it’s going to be great But when I get to Mary Ann’s house that feeling disappears as fast as butter melting on hot pancakes I’m not the only person Mary Ann invited over Hi says Mary Ann Zoe’s here too Great I say Part of me gets why Mary Ann invited Zoe She lives a block away from the Winstons new house and we’ve always been friends with her But the only people who’ve ever been part of our getting-ready-to-go-back-to-school sessions have been the two of us Plus this is only the second time I’ve even seen Mary Ann since I got back from the Grand Canyon and the first time was just for a few minutes when she stopped by my house so I could give her the mini cactus I brought back for her 12
