Too Much Drama by Laurie Friedman

life.”
    May looked like she was going to throw up and Krystal looked doubtful. “Isn’t that a little dramatic?” she asked.
    I had to give her that. “Maybe, but trust me when I tell you jealousy can mess things up in a big way.”
    â€œHow do you know?” asked Krystal.
    I thought about telling her what happened with Brynn when she got jealous about Billy and Sophie’s relationship, but it was TMI and beside the point. “It happened to a friend of mine.”
    I looked at Krystal and waited. I’d said enough, so the next move was hers. But to my surprise, May spoke up. “Krystal, you’re a great athlete. It’s awesome having someone so good on the soccer team. I think we have a strong softball team too.” May shrugged. “I’m glad I get to play with you.”
    Krystal smiled and looked pleasantly surprised. She hesitated. “You too, May. Teammates?” she said.
    â€œTeammates,” said May.
    Krystal grinned and so did May. I had a mouth full of cookie, so it was a little hard for me to, but as soon as I washed my cookie down with some lemonade, I high-fived them both. Then I told May it was time to go.
    In the big sister department, I’d done enough good for one day.
    6:25 p.m.
Disappointed
    I just called Leo. I wanted to tell him what happened with May, but I got his voicemail.
    I left a message. Maybe he’ll call back.
    Or maybe he won’t.
    10:49 p.m.
Asleep
Awake
    Leo called back, but I was actually already asleep. “What’s up?” he said into the phone. I did my best to shake myself awake, but as I started telling him what happened with May and Krystal, I heard laughter in the background. I finished the story, but when I did all Leo said was, “That’s great.”
    I guess that’s how most people would respond. From most people, that would be fine. But Leo always has something witty, unique, or insightful to say.
    So hearing him say,
“That’s great”
. . . just wasn’t so great.

Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be.
    â€”Abraham Lincoln
    Tuesday, February 10, 7:09 p.m.
Billy’s big news
    Since we’d worked so hard to prepare for the competition on Saturday and don’t have another one coming up for over a month, Ms. Baumann gave us the week off of practice. Yesterday, it felt weird leaving school and going home at 3:15, so this morning I asked Billy if he wanted to hang out after school.
    We went to his house, and it was a lot like old times. His mom gave me a big hug when I got there and said how happy she was to see me. Billy and I ate popcorn and mini Reese’s, and drank lemonade at his kitchen table. Then we hung out in his room, looking at old photos and listening to music. That was our pattern for as long as I can remember. The only thing that was different this time was that it didn’t include Brynn.
    Since third grade, it had been the three of us. We did everything together, even over the summers. I have so many memories of my arms linked through theirs as we walked the path from the Arts and Crafts shop or the tennis courts back to our bunks at camp. We were the Three Musketeers for a long time.
    I took a box of old photos of us from grade school from a shelf over Billy’s desk and settled into the floor of his room next to him. “It’s kind of weird without her,” I said. Billy knew who I meant.
    â€œYeah,” he said. But he didn’t make a move to look through the photos. I wasn’t sure he felt as nostalgic as he sounded.
    â€œDo you miss being friends with her?” I asked.
    Billy let out a sigh. “I’ve tried talking to her,” he said. “I even went over to her house on New Year’s Day after the confrontation at the diner. I wanted her to know I was really sorry about what happened between us. But her mom came to the door and said Brynn didn’t want to talk to me.”
    â€œWas