Read Online Next Year in Israel by Sarah Bridgeton - Free Book Online Page A

friend?
    “Cool,” Mia said. Maybe Jordyn and she were burying their popularity hatchet? As Mia had predicted, Jordyn had become kind of nice since she’d hooked up with Caleb. Maybe the popularity contest would work itself out. Mia could be just below Jordyn on the social ladder, which would make me way higher than I had been at home. Life at the kfar was good!
    “You went to the bathroom a law-abiding kfar- nik,” I said. “Then, poof, you change into a sneaky wild child. What’s in the toilet paper? And why was Ben in our hallway?”
    Mia’s eyes danced. “To tell us about the free night. Don’t worry. We won’t get caught.”
    “There’d better not be a pop quiz tomorrow that I should have studied for.” I eyed my backpack on the floor. “How are we getting home?” Getting there was no problem. Tons of clubs in Tel Aviv were only a short bus ride away. Coming home was the issue. There was no bus service from Tel Aviv to the kfar after midnight.
    “Taxi,” Mia said.
    “Is Caleb coming with us?” I asked, wondering what I should wear.
    Jordyn smiled. “Nope.”
    I nodded at Jordyn’s face.
    “You can use my makeup,” Jordyn said, as if I were her dress-up doll.
    “Thanks.” I changed into my denim miniskirt and white tank top. We were on the verge of friendship.
    “Your top’s a disaster.” She zipped up a low-cut black dress.
    So much for being nice. “What’s wrong with it?” I asked. It was a classic fashion piece, basic and neutral.
    She grabbed two inches of material around my belly. “Too big. Why do you dress like this?”
    “To be comfortable,” I said semi-truthfully. Why bother with pretty clothes? It would only draw more attention to me. Derrick’s entourage, who did most of his dirty work, would yell, “Pugly’s dressed up.”
    “Wear this.” Jordyn gave me her hot pink tank top.
    The stretchy material glided on easily. “It’s too tight. I—”
    “It looks great.” Mia said.
    Jordyn smiled. “Thank God, it fits.”
    “Finally,” Mia said, “you’re dressing properly.”
    Jordyn twirled me around to face the mirror. “This is what you’re supposed to look like.”
    Loser no more. The pretty girl in the mirror showing off her cleavage was me. And I had friends!
    Jordyn fiddled with her hair. “A body like yours has the upper hand.”
    “She needs to use it.” Mia tucked her black top into her jeans.
    “I’m not a user,” I said sarcastically.
    Jordyn nodded. “Then, what are you?”
    “You decide.” I picked up Mia’s pink lipstick that was on the sink basin.
    There was a knock on our door.
    “We’re studying,” Mia hollered.
    “Hebrew or beer?” Ben’s voice rang out. He had come back to our room.
    Jordyn opened our door. “Girls’ night out.”
    “Stop by our room afterwards,” he said.
    I felt a prickle on my back, like tiny legs were needling my skin. “Do I have a bug on me?”
    “It’s a flying roach,” Ben said.
    “Get it off me,” I wailed.
    Jordyn picked up my workbook and swatted at it. “I’ll flick it off.”
    Those flying roaches showed up at the worst times—Ben was watching. Then again, a disgusting bug was a small tradeoff. I was creating a new identity. I handed Ben my camera. “Take our picture.” I wanted to remember that I had friends for the rest of my life.
    He took my camera. “Huddle together.”
    I sat down on the edge of my bed.
    “Not there,” Jordyn said. “The bug patch will be in the photo.”
    I moved to Jordyn’s bed.
    Mia parked herself next to me. Jordyn said something to Ben in Hebrew.
    “What did you say?” Mia asked.
    Jordyn sat down on the other side of me. “Nothing.”
    “Say beer ,” Ben said.
    “Cheese,” we said.
    “Tell us what you said in Hebrew.” Mia sounded annoyed.
    Ben put the camera down. “You could come by my room later.”
    “We’ll try,” Mia’s tone softened.
    Try? She was milking the coy game dry.
    “Walk us to the bus stop,” Jordyn said as we strolled