Ttfn Read online

mad maddie:

  and u think the bad thing has to do with angela’s dad and lip liner woman?

  zoegirl:

  i didn’t say that

  mad maddie:

  anywayz, ur crazy. enough bad stuff happened to us last year to last a lifetime.

  zoegirl:

  tell me about it. let’s see, first there was me and mr. h, then angela and her boy problems, and then as if that wasn’t enough, you went all psycho with your wrong and terribly misguided jana obsession.

  mad maddie:

  “obsession”? that’s a bit of an exaggeration, wldn’t u say?

  zoegirl:

  no. you were like her clone, mads. you started to talk like her, dress like her …

  zoegirl:

  i am *so* glad you’re over that.

  mad maddie:

  listen, pal. if i’m not allowed to mention mr. h, then ur not allowed to bring up jana.

  zoegirl:

  fine, then you know how i feel.

  zoegirl:

  but don’t you see the pattern? it was last year right around thanksgiving that all that bad stuff happened, and now here we are, right around thanksgiving again.

  mad maddie:

  nooooo, zoe. it was BEFORE last thanksgiving that all hell broke loose, cuz over thanksgiving itself, we were blissing out on cumberland island. or have u forgotten?

  zoegirl:

  of course i haven’t forgotten!

  zoegirl:

  why didn’t we plan a trip for this year? weren’t we going to make it a tradition?

  mad maddie:

  oops, too late now

  zoegirl:

  see! that’s what’s making me feel this way. we’re too complacent, just going along like everything’s fine.

  mad maddie:

  yeahhhh, cuz everything IS fine.

  mad maddie:

  don’t worry, zo. life is good, and ain’t nothin gonna change. see ya at angela’s!

  Sun, Nov 21, 7:42 PM E.S.T.

  SnowAngel:

  zoe! it’s been so long since i saw u—almost a whole hour! u left your sweatshirt at my house, dumb-dumb head.

  zoegirl:

  oops, sorry. would you bring it to me tomorrow?

  zoegirl:

  is maddie still there?

  SnowAngel:

  she just left, *after* patching the butt of her jeans with duct tape cuz she realized they were ripped. it cracks me up, this “i’m such a crazy-ass” stage she’s in.

  zoegirl:

  crazy like at donovan’s wedding?

  zoegirl:

  it blows my mind that her mom would call her … what she called her … and she would think it’s funny.

  SnowAngel:

  but her mom was drunk. she didn’t MEAN it.

  zoegirl:

  yeah, but that makes it even more mind-blowing. do YOU get drunk with YOUR mom?

  SnowAngel:

  hahaha. my mom would be the one marching around and slapping drinks out of people’s hands.

  zoegirl:

  i like maddie’s mom a lot. and of course i love maddie. i just worry about her sometimes.

  SnowAngel:

  oh, she knows what she’s doing. probably.

  SnowAngel:

  what’d u think about chive?

  zoegirl:

  i don’t know. i need to meet him before i decide.

  SnowAngel:

  i wish she was still going out with ian.

  zoegirl:

  agreed. ian is such a good guy.

  zoegirl:

  you think they’ll ever get back together?

  SnowAngel:

  no, cuz u know how maddie is. when she gets hurt, that’s it. there’s no looking back. and ian really hurt her, even tho he didn’t mean to.

  zoegirl:

  and even though she’ll never admit it out loud. she’s so funny that way, always having to be so tough.

  SnowAngel:

  like with chive and the whole smooch-and-run incident, u mean?

  zoegirl:

  exactly. i know maddie thinks that’s fine—it’s her typical maddie no-big-deal approach—but sometimes i think she’s putting up a front. i mean, when you fool around with somebody, it has to mean *something* doesn’t it?

  SnowAngel:

  u would think so, yeah

  zoegirl:

  she and i talked about that at your house, actually. it was while you were downstairs searching for the dvd. i think i maybe said some things i shouldn’t have.

  SnowAngel:

  ooo, like what?

  zoegirl:

  like that i don’t agree with the whole friends-with-benefits philosophy. like i think that works out great for guys, but not so much for girls.

  SnowAngel:

  i don’t think that’s a bad thing to say. why is that a bad thing to say?

  zoegirl:

  i’m just worried i came off a little harsh. i kept talking and talking, and all these words came out of my mouth, like … word-vomit. somehow being with maddie just brings that out in me.

  SnowAngel:

  word-vomit. lovely. it’s pretty hard to offend maddie, tho. i’m sure it was fine.

  SnowAngel:

  so did u notice my parents and how freaky-deaky they’re being? they’re thoroughly hiding something. it is so obvious.

  zoegirl:

  huh

  zoegirl:

  well, whatever it is, i wouldn’t worry about it.

  SnowAngel:

  ???

  SnowAngel:

  what happened to “i’m sure it’s something good” and “maybe they’re taking u to hawaii!”

  zoegirl:

  nothing, it’s just

  SnowAngel:

  just WHAT?

  zoegirl:

  ok, fine. your dad *did* seem a little off.

  SnowAngel:

  how so? tell me, tell me, tell me.

  zoegirl:

  i don’t know. he didn’t stick around and tease us the way he usually does.

  zoegirl:

  i guess he just seemed strung out.

  SnowAngel:

  cuz it is no doubt very exhausting doing price comparisons b/w PT Cruisers and VW bugs. omigod—do u think he’s getting me a bug?!!

  zoegirl:

  er … i’m not sure that was the vibe i was picking up.

  SnowAngel:

  if i got a bug, i could put a daisy in that little flower-holder thing. i think that is so cute, how they come with their own little vases.

  SnowAngel:

  but a used car would be ok 2. ANY car would be ok. then i wouldn’t have to rely on u and maddie all the time.

  zoegirl:

  i know i said to stay positive, but what if it’s not a car?

  SnowAngel:

  what, now u think it’s something bad after all? like that my parents r getting a divorce, or that my dad’s got cancer?

  zoegirl:

  angela, no! i’m sure it’s not that!

  SnowAngel:

  it’s not like those thoughts haven’t crossed my mind. i overheard my mom talking to my aunt sadie on the phone, and she was saying things like “i’m completely overwhelmed” and “don’t know how we’ll tell the girls.”

  zoegirl:

  oh crap, angela

  zoegirl:

  did she mention anything about … anything else?

  SnowAngel:

  anything else like what?

  zoegirl:

  hold on—just got a text from mads. be right back.

  SnowAngel:

  zoe!!! u r supposed to be talking to ME, not maddie!

  SnowAngel:

  get back here this instant!!!!

  Sun, Nov 21, 7:59 PM E.S.T.

  zoegirl:

  angela’s all freaked about her parents—she brought it up, not me—and i feel really weird about the whole starbucks encounter. should i tell her about seeing her dad with the lip liner woman?

  mad madd
ie:

  shit, don’t ask me

  zoegirl:

  i’m sure it’s nothing, but at the same time i don’t want to be the one to bring it up.

  mad maddie:

  then don’t

  zoegirl:

  but if it was *my* dad, i’d want to know.

  zoegirl:

  i think.

  mad maddie:

  u think 2 much, zoe. that’s your problem.

  zoegirl:

  you’re right, you’re right. no need to worry angela over something that could be nothing until we find out for sure!

  Sun, Nov 21, 8:04 PM E.S.T.

  zoegirl:

  hey there, i’m back

  SnowAngel:

  yr on my bad list *glowers fiercely*

  SnowAngel:

  abandoning me like that when my father could very well have a deadly disease!

  zoegirl:

  i’m 99 percent sure your dad doesn’t have a deadly disease. really, i am.

  SnowAngel:

  so what’s going on with maddie, who’s apparently so much more important than me?

  zoegirl:

  please. she had a biology question.

  SnowAngel:

  ???

  SnowAngel:

  u guys aren’t in the same class.

  zoegirl:

  i know, but mr. mack uses the same exact lesson plans. boring boring.

  SnowAngel:

  oka-a-a-ay, but i’m taking bio too. why didn’t she ask ME her question?

  zoegirl:

  you poor thing! you’re having a hard day, aren’t you?

  SnowAngel:

  yes *sniff, sniff*

  zoegirl:

  oh, angela. you better go have some chocolate, or better yet some ben & jerry’s. or both.

  SnowAngel:

  perhaps i will. in bed with my bunny slippers on and a drop of lavender oil on my pulse points for relaxation.

  zoegirl:

  SnowAngel:

  *takes deep calming breath. takes deep calming breath again*

  Sun, Nov 21, 8:10 PM E.S.T.

  SnowAngel:

  it CLD still be a car. my dad cld be strung out about car payments … cldn’t he?

  zoegirl:

  angela, put it out of your mind. you’re going to drive yourself crazy. now go get that new york super fudge chunk!

  SnowAngel:

  ok, ok. good night!

  Mon, Nov 22, 4:17 PM E.S.T.

  SnowAngel:

  *stomps into room and plops down on bed*

  SnowAngel:

  am i a happy camper? no, i am not. care to hazard a guess at why?

  zoegirl:

  er … did something happen when you got home from school?

  SnowAngel:

  i caught my mom talking to my aunt sadie AGAIN, and in front of her on the coffee table was an empty container of maple pecans, which she only eats when she’s stressed. so i confronted her, and she finally admitted that something IS going on.

  zoegirl:

  she did? whoa.

  zoegirl:

  did she say it has to do with … life changes?

  SnowAngel:

  life changes?

  SnowAngel:

  omg, do u think my mom’s going thru MENOPAUSE?

  zoegirl:

  menopause?! no, i was talking more about … life changes in general. when people, u know, change.

  zoegirl:

  but that doesn’t matter. just tell me what she said!

  SnowAngel:

  *groans*

  SnowAngel:

  what she SAID is that she didn’t wanna talk about it w/o my dad and chrissy. so we’re going to dinner tomorrow night, and they’ll tell us then. chrissy and i get to pick the place—anywhere we want.

  zoegirl:

  anywhere you want to go? oh no!

  SnowAngel:

  what?

  zoegirl:

  nothing, it’s just that it’s so Lifetime Movie of the Week. parents *always* let the kids pick the restaurant when they’re about to give bad news.

  zoegirl:

  i remember one about a girl whose parents were getting divorced, and her friend was like, “don’t pick mcdonald’s, because then you’ll never wanna go there again. pick some place you really hate.” so she picked a chinese restaurant and ended up getting sick all over the table.

  SnowAngel:

  i’m not picking mcdonald’s, and i’m not picking chinese. i’m sorry, but i’m picking some place really good, cuz if they’re gonna give us bad news, they’re gonna have to do it over a super-nice meal.

  zoegirl:

  and then there’s that strategy, which is equally good.

  SnowAngel:

  oh god

  SnowAngel:

  i’m probably not getting a car, am i?

  zoegirl:

  well …

  SnowAngel:

  i’m gonna call maddie. i have to tell her what’s going on.

  zoegirl:

  chin up, angela. just remember: everyone loves you no matter what!

  Tues, Nov 23, 7:31 PM E.S.T.

  mad maddie:

  hola, zo. ever since i got home from school i’ve been thinking about angela. u figure she’s left for her big family dinner?

  zoegirl:

  she’s probably in the middle of it this very second.

  zoegirl:

  i’m worried.

  mad maddie:

  i had the craziest thought about what might be going on. forget the mr. silver’s-having-an-affair theory: what if angela’s mom is preggers?!!

  zoegirl:

  what???

  mad maddie:

  she’s not THAT old, u know. she could have some eggs left. and maybe the woman mr. silver was talking to was just a friend, someone he could spill his guts to. and that’s why he looked so nervous, cuz he didn’t know what u’d overheard.

  zoegirl:

  oh man, angela would *freak* if her mom’s pregnant.

  mad maddie:

  it would explain all the hush-hush-ness

  zoegirl:

  you’re right, it would

  mad maddie:

  and i really don’t think mr. silver’s the type to have an affair, do u?

  zoegirl:

  i’d be so sad if he was.

  mad maddie:

  we’ll know soon enough, i guess

  mad maddie:

  in other news, i may be crippled for life. u may have to call me gimpy. or the gimpster.

  zoegirl:

  huh?

  mad maddie:

  i was taking a shower and the conditioner was all at the bottom of the bottle, so i turned it upside down and shook it and it flew out of my hand and hit my foot. it totally cut my toe open. blood was, like, swirling down the drain.

  zoegirl:

  owww!

  mad maddie:

  “death by conditioner.” i can c the obituary now.

  zoegirl:

  “instead of flowers, the family has requested donations to aveda.”

  mad maddie:

  ha. only i’m a paul mitchell girl.

  zoegirl:

  paul mitchell doesn’t lather

  mad maddie:

  it does if ur not afraid to slab it on. u gotta be fearless, girl.

  mad maddie:

  lemme know if u hear anything from angela!

  Tues, Nov 23, 8:03 PM E.S.T.

  SnowAngel:

  call me! now!

  zoegirl:

  are you at the restaurant?

  SnowAngel:

  yes. call me!!!

  Tues, Nov 23, 8:25 PM E.S.T.

  zoegirl:

  maddie, you’re not going to believe this

  mad maddie:

  believe what? did u talk to angela?

  zoegirl:

  just now. she is beyond upset.

  zoegirl:

  maddie, her dad’s not having an affair—he lost his job.

&n
bsp; mad maddie:

  he what?

  zoegirl:

  he was fired. isn’t that terrible?

  mad maddie:

  WHY?

  zoegirl:

  i don’t know. “downsizing” is what her dad told her.

  mad maddie:

  omg

  zoegirl:

  and get this: it happened over a month ago. i mean, mrs. silver knew, but not angela and chrissy.

  mad maddie:

  he’s been hiding it this whole time?