to be first in line when 24-Hour Makeover comes here to shoot their show.”
“What are they talking about, Maddie?” Vi asked. “Is 24-Hour Makeover really coming here?”
I looked at her, not sure what to say. If I denied knowing anything about it, everyone around me would correct me. If I told her it was all just a rumor and we weren’t 100 percentsure about it, I’d be busted for gossiping for sure. Even if I said it was definite, it was pretty obvious here that I was the one who’d started everyone talking about it. They were coming to me for answers.
“Maddie met the producer,” Kathina explained. “Hey, maybe there’s a way we could get Travis Fisher to be on the same team as us.”
That wasn’t helping. It was as if Kathina’s mention of Travis’s name reminded Vi of what had gotten me into trouble with her in the first place. And now, here we were, in the middle of the biggest gossip session I’d been involved in for as long as I could remember. I wanted out.
“May I speak with you a moment?” I asked Vi. I figured it was better if we did this alone.
Vi wasn’t looking at me, though. Her attention was fully focused on Kathina.
“So you’re telling me that Maddie found out about this 24-Hour Makeover thing,” Vi said slowly.
“Yes,” Kathina answered.
“And she told everyone it was happening,” Vi said.
“Yes.” This from both Kathina and Chelsea.
“And now everyone’s talking about it,” Vi finished.
“They’re supposed to be keeping it quiet,” Sarah said. “Talking about it could blow it for us all.”
Vi looked over at me. That settled it, I knew. Not only had I been starting gossip, I’d told people something I wasn’t supposed to. That was gossiping of the worst kind.
“If you’ll excuse me, I need to go to the girls’ room before class.” Vi stood, picked up her tray and her books, and left.
“I have to go,” I said. I had to at least try. I didn’t really stand a chance, but she was my best friend. Even if she didn’t forgive me today, maybe she’d get over it eventually and forgive me.
“Wait!” I heard Chelsea call out as I took off after Vi. I just ignored her. There was nothing Chelsea could say that was more important than what I had to do now. I ignored the fact that everyone in the cafeteria was probably staring at me and ran until I was out in the hallway. Vi was only a few steps away.
When I spoke, I echoed Chelsea. “Wait. Vi.”
She didn’t wait. I should have expected that. I’d just have to catch up with her.
As I walked alongside her, she kept her gaze focused forward, not even glancing my way. This was it. She’d completely ignore me. That was fine. I just had to say what I needed to say and hope it got through to her.
“I know I messed up,” I said. “I know I did. I know what you’re trying to tell me and I’m working on it.”
Still nothing. I had to keep talking anyway.
“Everyone was asking me,” I defended myself. “They were all waiting for me to say something. I felt like if I didn’t say something, they wouldn’t like me anymore. When they’re all staring at you, you feel the pressure. It’s so hard. It’s like a bad habit that I can’t get rid of.”
It wasn’t the best speech I’d ever given, but it was all I could come up with at the last minute like this. I knew I had to think quickly, because pretty soon the bell would ring and she’d go to class and I’d have to give up. So I did my best.
“Doesn’t it count that I’m trying?” I asked. My voice sounded kind of high-pitched, like I was begging. “I’m trying because you’re my best friend and I want it to stay that way. Our friendship means that much to me. Doesn’t that count for something?”
Nothing. Nothing but silence. Was I wasting my energy? I had to keep going.
“No matter what, you’re always going to be my best friend,” I said. “That won’t change. I’ll prove to you I’ve changed somehow.”
Vi stopped and
“What are they talking about, Maddie?” Vi asked. “Is 24-Hour Makeover really coming here?”
I looked at her, not sure what to say. If I denied knowing anything about it, everyone around me would correct me. If I told her it was all just a rumor and we weren’t 100 percentsure about it, I’d be busted for gossiping for sure. Even if I said it was definite, it was pretty obvious here that I was the one who’d started everyone talking about it. They were coming to me for answers.
“Maddie met the producer,” Kathina explained. “Hey, maybe there’s a way we could get Travis Fisher to be on the same team as us.”
That wasn’t helping. It was as if Kathina’s mention of Travis’s name reminded Vi of what had gotten me into trouble with her in the first place. And now, here we were, in the middle of the biggest gossip session I’d been involved in for as long as I could remember. I wanted out.
“May I speak with you a moment?” I asked Vi. I figured it was better if we did this alone.
Vi wasn’t looking at me, though. Her attention was fully focused on Kathina.
“So you’re telling me that Maddie found out about this 24-Hour Makeover thing,” Vi said slowly.
“Yes,” Kathina answered.
“And she told everyone it was happening,” Vi said.
“Yes.” This from both Kathina and Chelsea.
“And now everyone’s talking about it,” Vi finished.
“They’re supposed to be keeping it quiet,” Sarah said. “Talking about it could blow it for us all.”
Vi looked over at me. That settled it, I knew. Not only had I been starting gossip, I’d told people something I wasn’t supposed to. That was gossiping of the worst kind.
“If you’ll excuse me, I need to go to the girls’ room before class.” Vi stood, picked up her tray and her books, and left.
“I have to go,” I said. I had to at least try. I didn’t really stand a chance, but she was my best friend. Even if she didn’t forgive me today, maybe she’d get over it eventually and forgive me.
“Wait!” I heard Chelsea call out as I took off after Vi. I just ignored her. There was nothing Chelsea could say that was more important than what I had to do now. I ignored the fact that everyone in the cafeteria was probably staring at me and ran until I was out in the hallway. Vi was only a few steps away.
When I spoke, I echoed Chelsea. “Wait. Vi.”
She didn’t wait. I should have expected that. I’d just have to catch up with her.
As I walked alongside her, she kept her gaze focused forward, not even glancing my way. This was it. She’d completely ignore me. That was fine. I just had to say what I needed to say and hope it got through to her.
“I know I messed up,” I said. “I know I did. I know what you’re trying to tell me and I’m working on it.”
Still nothing. I had to keep talking anyway.
“Everyone was asking me,” I defended myself. “They were all waiting for me to say something. I felt like if I didn’t say something, they wouldn’t like me anymore. When they’re all staring at you, you feel the pressure. It’s so hard. It’s like a bad habit that I can’t get rid of.”
It wasn’t the best speech I’d ever given, but it was all I could come up with at the last minute like this. I knew I had to think quickly, because pretty soon the bell would ring and she’d go to class and I’d have to give up. So I did my best.
“Doesn’t it count that I’m trying?” I asked. My voice sounded kind of high-pitched, like I was begging. “I’m trying because you’re my best friend and I want it to stay that way. Our friendship means that much to me. Doesn’t that count for something?”
Nothing. Nothing but silence. Was I wasting my energy? I had to keep going.
“No matter what, you’re always going to be my best friend,” I said. “That won’t change. I’ll prove to you I’ve changed somehow.”
Vi stopped and
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