TTFN by Lauren Myracle

invited our whole family over for new year’s eve, and of course my dad said yes.
SnowAngel:
can u imagine a worse way to ring in the new year? i begged my dad to let me stay home, but he refused.
mad maddie:
bastard
SnowAngel:
what about u? what r u gonna do for new year’s?
mad maddie:
i’m hanging with my man chive, and probably meade and brannen and whitney. we’re going to a concert at the omni. it’s a battle of the bands.
SnowAngel:
huh. r whitney and chive still an item?
mad maddie:
do u know how much he would hate it if he heard u call them that? an “item”?
SnowAngel:
so r they?
mad maddie:
i guess, altho they can’t be THAT serious, cuz sometimes chive and i still fool around. like yesterday we were on a beer run, and at a stoplight he just leaned over and kissed me out of the blue. a LONG kiss.
SnowAngel:
and u let him?
mad maddie:
what do u mean “let” him?
mad maddie:
whitney may be his girlfriend, but that’s just cuz … i dunno. cuz she’s pretty. cuz she does the girl thing and pouts when he doesn’t call her. but i’m the one he talks to about music and life and shit. we’ve got, like, a connection.
SnowAngel:
hmmm
SnowAngel:
but then—don’t be mad—why does he make u hide it?
mad maddie:
give me a break. we’re not into rules, angela. the world is bigger than that.
SnowAngel:
oh
mad maddie:
what does that mean?
SnowAngel:
nothing!
mad maddie:
yes it does. u said it like u don’t believe it, i can tell.
SnowAngel:
did u smoke the bag of pot he gave u?
mad maddie:
as a matter of fact i did. do u have a problem with that too?
mad maddie:
it’s just POT, angela. nobody’s gonna get hurt from a little pot.
SnowAngel:
if u say so
SnowAngel:
just … be careful, all right?
mad maddie:
i’m having fun, angela. be happy for me.
SnowAngel:
ok, ok
mad maddie:
good luck tomorrow night with glendy. call and tell me how it goes!
    Fri, Dec 31 , 5:30 PM E.S.T .
zoegirl:
helloooo! i can’t chat for long—i’ve got to get ready for tonight—but i wanted to talk to u one last time before the new year. is that dorky or what? i’m turning into my grandmom. every year, on the night before my bday, she calls and says, “i just wanted to talk to u one last time while you’re ____, honey.”
SnowAngel:
awww
SnowAngel:
what r u getting ready for? do u have big new year’s eve plans?
zoegirl:
oh
zoegirl:
um, not really, just a party
SnowAngel:
a party? with who?
zoegirl:
actually, it’s not a party, it’s more like people are just going to hang out from work.
zoegirl:
it’s no big deal
SnowAngel:
will doug be there?
zoegirl:
huh, i don’t know
zoegirl:
but i wish i was doing something with *you* instead. you and maddie, that is. like last year when we made chocolate fondue and maddie fondued a tomato. remember?
SnowAngel:
u could still do something with her even tho i’m not there.
SnowAngel:
why aren’t u?
zoegirl:
cuz we both have plans already, i guess
SnowAngel:
that’s lame. have u seen her at all this whole vacation?
zoegirl:
well, we’ve both been out of town
SnowAngel:
i talked to her about chive.
zoegirl:
you did? what did she say?
SnowAngel:
she got defensive, and then i felt bad for bringing it up. and then … i dunno. i decided to let it go.
zoegirl:
angela!
SnowAngel:
i don’t wanna spend my time with her arguing—i get so little time with her as it is.
SnowAngel:
anyway, it’s her life. she knows what she’s doing.
zoegirl:
does she?
SnowAngel:
as much as any of us, i guess
    Sat, Jan 1 , 11:34 AM E.S.T .
zoegirl:
mads! happy new year!
mad maddie:
oof, if u say so
mad maddie:
can u txt me later? i’m kinda hurting here.
zoegirl:
hurting how? are you hungover?
mad maddie:
maybe just a tad
zoegirl:
just give me a second. it’s important.
mad maddie:
*groans* wassup?
zoegirl:
i have something to tell you, that’s all. it’s