No Don’t even bother stuttering your way through an excuse just do me a favor and pay attention Remember you have a test coming up next week and crop rotation just might be one of the questions Miss Harrison turned to the rest of the class Now where were we Her voice droned on and on Olivia turned and smiled at Natasha sympathetically The two were best friends and had been since they first met up as four-year-olds in the same preschool They were now in their first year of high school enjoying feeling grown up carrying their books from class to class around the massive never ending hallways giggling as they frequently got lost only to arrive red and breathless to their next class They had made new friends too There was Ellis with her dark curly hair and large brown eyes Natasha envied her Then there was Marcie though Natasha couldn’t make up her mind about her just yet She was the complete opposite 10
of Ellis pale with long straw like blonde hair and somewhat on the quiet side Pale and interesting I guess if you were being nice thought Natasha She hastily scribbled a note and passed it to Olivia without Miss Harrison noticing Meet you outside the library at four Olivia quickly pushed the note inside her notebook and gave no sign of having received anything Natasha looked at her watch Ten minutes past four Where on earth was Olivia Just then she saw Olivia Marcie and Ellis wind their way up the long path from the front of the school stopped just beside her new favorite lip gloss in the bathroom and had to You took your time She smiled as all three girls Sorry Natasha it’s my fault said Ellis I left my 11
Gosh no said Marcie My mom would freak go get it You never know who you might see on the way home Ellis was always experimenting with lip gloss and eye shadow and always on the lookout for free samples She would come to school drenched in perfume having spent the weekend in the perfume department of the nearest store pink it’d look great on you out She says there’s plenty of time to put all that junk as she calls it on my face Anyway I’d rather keep my money for important things I’m going to buy some new headphones this weekend at least they will last longer than your makeup will The girls turned to see Scott Gregson across from them He was the best looking guy in their grade and everyone had their eye on him If you’re going home I’ll walk with you You should try some Marcie Look it’s a pale Hey Ellis someone shouted from behind them 12
Don’t you just wish you had her confidence Ellis smiled See what the junk on your face does for you girls she muttered Sure Scott I was just saying goodbye to the girls See you tomorrow everybody And off she went pink lips glistening dark curls bouncing backpack slung casually over her arm sighed Olivia Yes and her hair and her teeth and her eyes replied Natasha Never mind Make the best of what you’ve got is what my mom always says Now let’s see what could you make out of the three of us And as the three started to make their way home they laughed together picking out the parts of each other that they thought were the best Okay Natasha said Olivia you give me your tiny waist Marcie can give me her small perfectly shaped feet and I can probably get away with using my own hands if I paint my fingernails and with 13
