California Diaries #7: Dawn, Diary Two by Jennifer Burns Read Free Book Online Page B

when Sunny sauntered by, arm in arm with
    some hunk from the senior class. When they passed my locker she didn’t even look at me. I tried to forget about Sunny and concentrate on the gift Amalia handed me. But I couldn’t. Sunny had just passed up the perfect opportunity to mend our friendship. All she had to do was give me a friendly look. I wasn’t expecting presents, just a smile. I would have smiled back. It could have been the beginning of the end of our fight.
    Maggie tugged on my sleeve. “Open it,” she said. I pulled off the rest of the wrapping paper and saw Amalia’s gift—a cartoon she had drawn of me and a baby on surfboards. The baby is on a little surfboard and wearing nothing but a diaper. And the drawing of me actually looks like me. Amalia is so talented.
    I wonder if I will surf with Elizabeth some day. When she’s fifteen, I’ll be
    twenty-eight. Will Elizabeth baby-sit for my children? Wow! That is a weird thought.
    No wonder I can’t concentrate on finals.
    But I have two more to take, starting right now. Mrs. Barkley just came in the room.
    Friday evening 6/19
    Finals are finally over! I’m sure I passed everything, but I don’t think my marks will be as high as first semester. I can’t worry about it. I’m just glad tests are over and I can focus completely on all the other things that are on my mind—like getting organized to go to Stoneybrook. I can’t believe I’m leaving for the summer two days after Carol and Elizabeth come home.
    Then there’s Maggie. I’m really worried about her—more than ever. Here’s what happened today.
    After finals Amalia and Maggie met me at my highly decorated locker. Amalia
    suggested we go for pizza to celebrate the end of finals and the arrival of Gracie.
    We practically ran to the pizza parlor. It was mobbed. We found a small table in the back that was meant for two and fit in an extra chair.
    “I’m starving,” I announced. “I was too worried about the English final to eat much lunch.”
    “Me too,” said Amalia.
    Maggie didn’t say anything, but I knew she had to be hungry too. All she ate at lunch was a small pile of lettuce and cucumbers from the salad bar with no dressing and once slice of avocado.
    When the waitress finally reached us, we ordered a big pie. Half olives—
    Amalia’s choice. And half artichoke hearts—which I know is a favorite of Maggie’s.
    Amalia and I ordered regular colas. Maggie ordered a diet cola. Of course.
    “Could you make one of the artichoke slices without cheese, please?” Maggie
    asked the waitress.
    The waitress made a notation on her pad and left.
    Amalia and I exchanged a glance. Amalia’s expression showed me that she
    thought Maggie was being very weird about food too. “Maggie,” I said. “Pizza without cheese? You’ve never eaten it that way.”
    “Cheese is very fattening,” Maggie said.
    “And delicious,” added Amalia. “Plus, it belongs on a pizza.”
    “Is it a crime to want to lose a pound or two?” Maggie asked. She pointed across the room. “He, look, there’s Ducky and Alex.”
    Ducky and Alex had just walked through the door. Alex was hanging behind
    Ducky. Ducky turned to him and said something. Alex shook his head no. Then he turned and walked out. Ducky followed him. Poor Ducky. The end of the school year is supposed to be fun.
    Our pizza arrived. It was perfection. Amalia and I were on our second slices when I noticed that Maggie was only halfway through her cheeseless slice.
    I had a flashback of four little girls sitting in this same pizza parlor. Sunny and I sat on one side of the booth. Maggie and Jill on the other. We thought we were so grown-up because we were there without any adults. We ordered an extra-large pizza, double cheese. We were carefree and happy and sure that we would be friends forever.
    “Maggie, remember the first time you, Jill, Sunny and I were allowed to go for pizza alone?” I said. “We thought we were so grown-up.”
    Maggie