Love or Something Like It (12 page)

I said the first thing that came to mind. “But what about your art school? You love it.”

“Well, I'm kind of bummed about that.” Sophie paused. “But how cool is it that we'll be going to school together?”

“Wow! It's like … going to be great!” I was fumbling. I knew that's how I felt—how I should feel—but I couldn't put my words together in a way that sounded good.

Sophie was quiet for a minute, like she was taking in my response. “Are you sure you think so?”

“Of course!” I said. “I'm really sorry about your parents, but I'm super excited you're moving to Faraway. I mean, I can't even believe it!”

It was the right thing to say, because when I finished, Sophie said she was glad I'm excited. “I have to go,” she said. “But we'll talk soon.” Then she laughed. “Soon we'll be talking all the time. How cool is that?”

“Very!” I said. Then we hung up, and I sat down on my bed. I'm still sitting here. I'm not even sure how long it has been. But when Sophie told me her news, it's like my brain split and went into two directions.

One part went right to thinking about Matt and how he's going to feel when Sophie's going to school with us this fall. He liked her. It would be hard for any boy not to. She's so cute and cool. He said we'd see how things are when school starts, but he didn't anticipate starting school with me
and
Sophie. Even though I'm starting to think maybe I'm better off without a boyfriend to worry about, I'd be lying if I didn't say that I'm more freaked out than ever about what's going to happen with Matt with Sophie in the picture.

But I hate myself for even thinking like that when Sophie just told me her parents are separating. She was there for me when Matt and I broke up. That was nothing compared to what she's going through. I need to be there for her now. And I want to be.

So I'm picking the other path. The path of possibility. Sophie is moving to Faraway! She's going to be my new almost-family best friend, and I honestly can't wait.

I hope Matt doesn't fall madly in love with Sophie. That would be weird in lots of ways. But I'm not going to think like that. As I told May earlier, it's easy to think the worst will happen, but it almost never does.

Bottom line: I'm ready to move forward. High school, here I come.

About the Author

Laurie Friedman has a lot in common with April Sinclair. She was the oldest of three girls, grew up in a small Southern town, and kept a journal in which she wrote about the excitement of falling in love for the first time and the heartache of breaking up. She remembers that time as being completely awful—but is grateful for all the material it gave her to write about.

Ms. Friedman is the author of the Mostly Miserable Life of April Sinclair series as well as the popular Mallory series and many picture books. A native Arkansan, she now lives in Miami, Florida, with her family and her adorable rescue dog, Riley. You can find Laurie B. Friedman on Facebook or visit her on the web at
www.lauriebfriedman.com
.