TTYL (31 page)

zoegirl:

so how did it go when u dropped off maddie's box? sorry i had to leave so early!

SnowAngel:

at least u got to help me put everything together. oh, and your poem was fabulous. *strikes pose* u r our buddy, our buddy to stay, till ur all dried up and peeled away.

zoegirl:

that part was from an old garfield comic about a dead toad. i can't take credit.

SnowAngel:

who cares, it's funny. and it's perfect for maddie cuz it's mushy but not too mushy. she'll love it.

zoegirl:

did u see her when you delivered it? was she at home?

SnowAngel:

she was, cuz i saw her in the living room, peering at me from behind the curtains. i thought for a minute she was gonna come out, especially when she figured out what i was doing, but she didn't.

zoegirl:

damn

SnowAngel:

i even texted her! i was like, “peekaboo! i seeeeeee you!” but she ignored me.

SnowAngel:

but maybe our care package will be just the thing. she can't hold out forever.

SnowAngel:

it's sunday, if you haven't noticed, and, if you haven't noticed, i've been VERY patient, just sitting at Sbux waiting for you to call.

SnowAngel:

but did u call? no. no u did not.

zoegirl:

what was i supposed to call you about?

SnowAngel:

r u kidding? TELL ME HOW CHURCH WAS, FOOL!

zoegirl:

oh, that

SnowAngel:

did mr. h talk about the hot tub again?

SnowAngel:

did he make any moves when u were in the car together?

zoegirl:

this time i got my mom to drop me off and pick me up. i thought about riding all that way with him and got freaked out.

SnowAngel:

why'd u even go, then?

zoegirl:

well, i do like the church service. i honestly do. and i was worried i'd hurt his feelings if i just didn't show.

SnowAngel:

huh

SnowAngel:

so did he say anything at all?

zoegirl:

he told me he liked my dress. he whispered it really softly during one of the hymns.

SnowAngel:

was he being creepy or cute?

zoegirl:

i don't know. both?

zoegirl:

cute, mainly, but i get scared at the thought of being alone with him.

SnowAngel:

uh, zoe? *flicks zoe's head with finger* hate to break it to u, but if ur scared to be alone with a guy, that's called creepy. i think it's time to cut this one loose, soldier.

zoegirl:

what am i supposed to tell him? he bought sparkling apple juice for us and everything!

SnowAngel:

WHAT?!!

zoegirl:

whoops. i wasn't going to mention that.

SnowAngel:

mr. h bought sparkling apple juice? why?

SnowAngel:

OH! for your big hot-tubbing date?!! that is so dorky i think i'm gonna cry.

zoegirl:

he's going to get strawberries and chocolate too, only i'm pretty sure i don't want to go anymore.

zoegirl:

help!

SnowAngel:

this is crazy, zo

zoegirl:

i know

SnowAngel:

want me to call the school board?

zoegirl:

omg, don't even say that. he would be so dead. and so would i!

zoegirl:

anyway, he trusts me. he would freak if he knew i'd told anybody, even you.

SnowAngel:

but c'mon, what is he thinking? that it's normal to be hitting on a 15-year-old student?

zoegirl:

it's my fault for going to backwork all those times. i gave him the wrong idea.

SnowAngel:

u don't seriously believe that, do u?

zoegirl:

kind of

SnowAngel:

first of all, u didn't give him the “wrong” idea, cuz up till now u've totally been crushing on him and u know it.

zoegirl:

i know, which is why i feel so bad.

SnowAngel:

but second of all, HE'S the grown-up. if it's anybody's fault, it's his.

zoegirl:

i don't want it to be anyone's fault. i just want it to be over.

SnowAngel:

so tell him

zoegirl:

what if i'm wrong? what if he just, u know, wants to talk about the Bible?

SnowAngel:

*snorts*

SnowAngel:

in the hot tub while sharing a bottle of sparkling apple juice?

zoegirl:

anyway, everything'll be fine. i'll think of something and it'll all be fine.

SnowAngel:

if u say so

zoegirl:

i've got to go do my homework. but really quickly: any word from maddie?

SnowAngel:

if there was, i would have told u.

SnowAngel:

o. m. g.

SnowAngel:

if i hear one more joke about maddie and the gold club, or maddie charging admission, or maddie being a titty-tease, i'm gonna scream.

zoegirl:

i know!

zoegirl:

and think how awful it must be for maddie. over the weekend she can forget about it (maybe), but then today she had to plod right back to school and deal with it all over again.

SnowAngel:

i'm surprised she came at all. i'd stay at home with a mysterious illness.

zoegirl:

she'd have to face everyone eventually. she couldn't skip forever.

SnowAngel:

i wld. i'd flee to a convent and become a nun.

zoegirl:

you would be a terrible nun.

SnowAngel:

what r u talking about? i look good in black. i'd just have to do away with that headdress thing they wear.

zoegirl:

it's called a wimple

SnowAngel:

god, even the name is dreadful. *pretends to be a nun: excuse me while i put on my pimple—i mean dimple—i mean wimple!*

zoegirl:

don't be a nun, angela.

SnowAngel:

*waves away zoe's foolishness*

SnowAngel:

oh, and u wanna hear something really lovely?

zoegirl:

what?

SnowAngel:

maddie was late to geometry, and there were only two seats left: one next to me and one next to barry beryl. guess which one she picked?

zoegirl:

not barry. really?

SnowAngel:

yes, it's true. she chose barry “the sneeze” beryl over her best friend since 7th grade. namely, me.

zoegirl:

oh, angela. that's so wrong!

SnowAngel:

maddie's not really gonna ditch us forever, right? i mean, deep inside she's still the same maddie, and she knows we're still the same angela and zoe. right?

zoegirl:

i don't know, angela. i thought she would have come around a long time ago.

SnowAngel:

yeah, me too

SnowAngel:

THIS IS SO MESSED UP!!!

SnowAngel:

zoe! BEN SCHLANKER ASKED ME OUT! *squeals and dances about*

zoegirl:

he did? how did THIS happen?

SnowAngel:

today at drama club he made an announcement about a poetry slam at the coffee connection tomorrow night, and he invited us all to come.

zoegirl:

this counts as asking you out?

SnowAngel:

yes, cuz even tho he was talking to the whole room, he looked right at me when he said it. *shakes booty in sexy circles*

zoegirl:

uh, ok

zoegirl:

what's a poetry slam?

SnowAngel:

it's when a bunch of ppl get up and read their poems, and everyone gets a score from 1 to 10. the audience boos or cheers to help the judges decide, and the winner gets, like, fifty dollars and a free pizza.

zoegirl:

is this something you *want* to attend?

SnowAngel:

don't u think it sounds fun?

zoegirl:

actually, yeah. i'm just surprised you do.

SnowAngel:

ye of little faith. i adore poetry.

zoegirl:

mmm-hmm

SnowAngel:

and now we will play pretend, starring moi and ben schlanker.

SnowAngel:

there we r at coffee connection sipping our cappuccinos and having an extremely sophisticated conversation about… about…

zoegirl:

coffee?

SnowAngel:

about ART. and ben looks into my eyes, which r as blue as a summer sky, and says, “oh, angela, your eyes r as blue as a summer sky.”

zoegirl:

ack

SnowAngel:

then he cradles my face in his hand, like he's protecting me from the harsh reality of life, and kisses my eagerly parted lips.

zoegirl:

and the judges raise their cards to show a
unanimous score of 10! and the coffeehouse goes wild with applause!

SnowAngel:

of course for this fantasy to come true, i first have to decide what to wear.

zoegirl:

how about some clothes?

SnowAngel:

no time for jokes! must go ransack my closet!