Better Off Friends

It was then that I knew this would be the first of many

family meals we’d have together. I wanted to start a tradition

with this new, growing family. Sure, the Rodgerses and I

weren’t related, but family doesn’t have to be blood relations

only. I think family is more a state of mind.

“You know, that reminds me.” Dad put his finger in the air.

“I’ve been meaning to have a conversation about the school

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year. I’m fine with Macallan being dropped off here on

Wednesday, or any day really. She’s been babysitting around

the neighborhood and spending a lot of time here by herself

during the summer, so she doesn’t have to come over to your

house.”

Both Levi and I exchanged a look. I was pretty sure it was

the same look, or at least I hoped it was. I liked going to his house and hanging out with him and his mom. I didn’t like

coming home to a house that was empty of people, yet full of

memories.

Dad continued. “I think I’ve been a little overprotective.

Our little girl is almost in high school. I can’t believe it.”

Dad’s eye drifted to a spot on the wall right behind me. I

didn’t need to turn around. I knew what was there: a photo

of my parents’ first dance on their wedding day. Dad had

said something funny to my mom, because they were both

laughing.

“But we love having Macallan over,” Mrs. Rodgers said. I

immediately felt better. “Right, Levi?”

I found myself holding my breath. I knew Levi wanted to

make some more guy friends, but I hoped that wouldn’t mean

we couldn’t still hang out. We talked about things that I

couldn’t with my girl friends. I liked not always obsessing

over boys or what we were wearing the next day. Levi and I

talked about real things. And he made me laugh more than

anybody had been able to do in years.

Levi looked straight at my dad. “It wouldn’t be the same

without her, Mr. Dietz.”

I was so relieved to hear his response that my eyes began

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to burn. I got up and started clearing the table. Levi did the

same. Once we set the plates down on the counter in the

kitchen, he gave me that crooked smile of his.

“Dude, that was close. Blimey if I’d know what to do without you.”

I felt the exact same way.

When we got our schedules for eighth grade, we discovered

that the unthinkable had happened.

Emily, Levi, Danielle, and I had been split up for lunch.

The only bright spot was that we’d been divided down the

middle, so no one was left alone. Emily and Levi had first

lunch, while Danielle and I were relegated to second lunch.

Emily was the most concerned about the lunch disaster,

which surprised me. She’d always been the type of person

who can walk into any room and start a conversation with a

stranger. But she was uncharacteristically worried about

eighth grade. All summer she kept saying that this would have

to be our best year since none of us knew what would happen

next year when we got to high school. A lot of this fear, I

knew, was because Emily’s older sister had gone, to quote

Emily, from “it girl to so last season” once she got to South Lake High School.

I found myself extremely anxious on Levi’s behalf while I

was in history class. Was Emily sitting with him? Would she

have abandoned him to sit with some of her cheerleading

friends or Troy, her current crush?

My worries faded once I got to the hallway and saw Emily

and Levi walking together, laughing about something.

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“Hey!” Emily greeted me. “Stay away from the sandwiches

at lunch — they’re super soggy.”

Emily winked at Levi. I felt a slight pang of jealousy rise

up inside me. Which I instantly knew was silly. I wanted Levi

and Emily to be friends.

Emily offered to walk me to my locker after we bid Levi

good-bye. At least I’d see him later in English.

She linked her arm with mine. “You didn’t tell me Levi got

a haircut. He’s so cute!”

“Oh” was the only response I could think of.

“So . . .” She let the word hang in the air. I knew what was

coming.

I decided to cut her off at the pass. “What’s going on with

Troy?” I asked.

Emily had a new crush at the start of every school year. It

always went like this: Emily declared a crush, she let her

crush be known, the guy asked her out, they dated, and then

she moved on to her next crush. She’d had eight legitimate

boyfriends before the start of eighth grade. I always teased

her that she’d run out of boys by the time we hit senior prom,

but she promised she’d move on to college guys by then. I had

no doubt this would be true.

“Ugh, Troy. I don’t know.” She gave me a look that made it

clear she did know. “Levi’s still this total mystery. Will you talk to him for me?”

I no longer had an appetite for lunch. Did I really want my

best friend dating my — well, Levi had become one of my best