we whispered stories we’d imagined about the ghosts and murderers and creatures and villains who lived within its walls My stories were scary but Beth’s usually made us giggle which helped ease our fears when walking past The House But today I was alone Just like every day this week and last week and the week before Ever since we’d started seventh grade a few months ago Beth had made up one excuse after another to avoid walking home from school with me She’d say I’m going to stay after to make posters for Spirit Week or My mom is picking me up and we’re going to the mall or I’m going to help Mr Billings clean up the science room All excuses never the truth The truth was that Beth was becoming Miss Popular and I was anything but She didn’t
want to be seen with me anymore She preferred to spend her time with the cool crowd especially her new best friend Avery Beth and I had been best friends all through elementary school When we started junior high I didn’t think anything would change not about our friendship anyway That first day hundreds of new faces lined the halls and cafeteria and Beth and I stuck close together But after that first day things did change Beth changed She wasn’t interested in anything we used to do like watching anime cartoons or making up ghost stories Now she was only interested in the latest fashions and designer boots Beth was really focused on what everyone else was wearing too She and Avery took turns carrying around a secret notebook Inside they wrote down everything all the girls in our class
wore every day Next to each girl’s name they’d draw a smiley face for clothes they liked or a frowny face for clothes they didn’t How did I know this Well one day last week when Beth reluctantly agreed to come over after school I peeked at the notebook while she was in the bathroom Of course I looked for my name Frowny faces for every single day And Beth had even written Yuck next to my manga T-shirt I was stunned Beth had always liked that shirt At least she’d always said she did What upset me the most is Beth knew how much I loved manga comics She knew my dream was to write my own manga-style series one day I knew Beth didn’t love manga as much as I did probably no one did but the fact that she would make fun of it devastated me After she left that day I told my mom I
needed new clothes My mom laughed We just bought you a bunch of new clothes for school she said Yeah a couple new manga T-shirts and a Wonder Woman sweater I knew I’d get more Yucks next to my name if I wore those They’re not the right clothes I muttered But you begged for them at the store Mom said frowning in surprise I gave her my most convincing stare I would like a designer handbag And suede boots And a black skater skirt from Nordstrom I told her Like the one Avery wore today Mom laughed The only way you’re getting those is if you buy them yourself Myself How on earth would I ever save up enough money Another gust of wind jolted me from my thoughts
