Read Online Amigas and School Scandals by Diana Rodriguez Wallach - Free Book Online
Authors: Diana Rodriguez Wallach
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social pages of the Main Line Times , Madison abruptly shifted the conversation toward a new topicâmy birthday plans. And while I realized turning sixteen was a monumental moment in Madisonâs life from which all else circled, I just wasnât feeling the same enthusiasm (though I had a hard time getting this point across to my friends, no matter how bluntly I put it).
Realistically, I didnât have the largest social circle, and inviting the entire sophomore class, all 276 of us, didnât seem appealing (nor a financial undertaking I could reasonably talk my father into). So, if I were to go through with the dreaded celebration, I would have to resort to inviting either my honor society classmates or a bunch of relative strangers whom I passed in the hallowed halls of Spring Mills, but to whom I rarely uttered a syllable. Sure, Madison had no problem doing this when it came to her party. She shared classes with jocks and cheerleaders and class clowns, while I was not a blip on their radar. And even if I were (due to the superstar Latina down the hall), I wasnât sure I wanted to spend my birthday celebrating with them. They werenât my friends, nor did I wish them to be.
âYou could have a theme party,â Madison suggested as she grabbed a catalog off my desk. âMake everyone wear white. Or throw a Parisian bash with mini Eiffel Tower favors. Or hire a fortune teller ...â
âOr you could throw the whole thing at that cool new bowling alley in the city, or rent out a club and have live music,â Emily offered as she leaned against a bed post.
âGuys, Iâm sorry, but I just donât know if Iâm into it. Itâs not like Iâve got much time to plan. My birthdayâs in a month.â
I was sprawled lazily on my bed, staring at my giant poodle cuddled in a ball at the foot of the mattress. His subtle snoring was more interesting than this conversation.
âMariana, itâs your Sweet Sixteen. You have to have a party,â Madison ordered as she flipped through the designer lingerie catalog.
My mother was on a mailing list for every clothing and home goods store in the Western world. We received at least two color spreads per day, along with at least one mail-ordered product.
âYou could just rent out a restaurant or something,â Emily suggested.
âYeah, and bore us all to death?â
âSo? If thatâs what she wants ...â
My mind drifted from the conversation. I couldnât stop thinking about Lilly. She had found new friends in a single day. I suddenly felt embarrassed for latching onto her so tightly in Puerto Rico. She must have thought I was a loser. Why couldnât I adapt to Utuado like she was adapting to Spring Mills? And why wasnât she happy with just being friends with my friends? I was sure Madison and Emily would warm up to her eventually.
âMariana! Are your friends staying for dinner?â my mother called from downstairs.
I looked to Emily and Madison, who both shook their heads.
âNo!â I screamed toward the kitchen.
âHey, did you tell your dad about that woman moving here?â Madison asked, looking up from her catalog.
I groaned, standing up from the bed and shoving my polished toes into a pair of flip-flops. Tootsieâs curly head popped up; he was annoyed that I had disturbed him. I rubbed his belly. âNo, not yet. Iâm thinking of bringing up Teresa over dinner. God, I canât tell you how much I hate this. I just want my family to be normal again.â
âLike it ever was?â Madison joked.
âSeriously, thereâs nothing you can do,â Emily said, her expression hardening as she pulled a hair elastic from her wrist. âAt least itâs your aunts and uncles who are fighting, not your parents.â
She gathered her dark brown hair atop her head, her short locks creating more of a bunny tail than a ponytail. It looked nothing
Realistically, I didnât have the largest social circle, and inviting the entire sophomore class, all 276 of us, didnât seem appealing (nor a financial undertaking I could reasonably talk my father into). So, if I were to go through with the dreaded celebration, I would have to resort to inviting either my honor society classmates or a bunch of relative strangers whom I passed in the hallowed halls of Spring Mills, but to whom I rarely uttered a syllable. Sure, Madison had no problem doing this when it came to her party. She shared classes with jocks and cheerleaders and class clowns, while I was not a blip on their radar. And even if I were (due to the superstar Latina down the hall), I wasnât sure I wanted to spend my birthday celebrating with them. They werenât my friends, nor did I wish them to be.
âYou could have a theme party,â Madison suggested as she grabbed a catalog off my desk. âMake everyone wear white. Or throw a Parisian bash with mini Eiffel Tower favors. Or hire a fortune teller ...â
âOr you could throw the whole thing at that cool new bowling alley in the city, or rent out a club and have live music,â Emily offered as she leaned against a bed post.
âGuys, Iâm sorry, but I just donât know if Iâm into it. Itâs not like Iâve got much time to plan. My birthdayâs in a month.â
I was sprawled lazily on my bed, staring at my giant poodle cuddled in a ball at the foot of the mattress. His subtle snoring was more interesting than this conversation.
âMariana, itâs your Sweet Sixteen. You have to have a party,â Madison ordered as she flipped through the designer lingerie catalog.
My mother was on a mailing list for every clothing and home goods store in the Western world. We received at least two color spreads per day, along with at least one mail-ordered product.
âYou could just rent out a restaurant or something,â Emily suggested.
âYeah, and bore us all to death?â
âSo? If thatâs what she wants ...â
My mind drifted from the conversation. I couldnât stop thinking about Lilly. She had found new friends in a single day. I suddenly felt embarrassed for latching onto her so tightly in Puerto Rico. She must have thought I was a loser. Why couldnât I adapt to Utuado like she was adapting to Spring Mills? And why wasnât she happy with just being friends with my friends? I was sure Madison and Emily would warm up to her eventually.
âMariana! Are your friends staying for dinner?â my mother called from downstairs.
I looked to Emily and Madison, who both shook their heads.
âNo!â I screamed toward the kitchen.
âHey, did you tell your dad about that woman moving here?â Madison asked, looking up from her catalog.
I groaned, standing up from the bed and shoving my polished toes into a pair of flip-flops. Tootsieâs curly head popped up; he was annoyed that I had disturbed him. I rubbed his belly. âNo, not yet. Iâm thinking of bringing up Teresa over dinner. God, I canât tell you how much I hate this. I just want my family to be normal again.â
âLike it ever was?â Madison joked.
âSeriously, thereâs nothing you can do,â Emily said, her expression hardening as she pulled a hair elastic from her wrist. âAt least itâs your aunts and uncles who are fighting, not your parents.â
She gathered her dark brown hair atop her head, her short locks creating more of a bunny tail than a ponytail. It looked nothing
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