TTYL (15 page)

SnowAngel:

i wrote rob that email. i'm not gonna show it to
maddie cuz she'd just be mean, but do u wanna read it?

zoegirl:

angela. are you sure rob's really worth it?

SnowAngel:

here's what it says:

 

Dear Rob, I just wanted to say that it's totally cool if you want to hang out with other people. Obviously Tonnie is just a friend, because why would anyone choose her when they could have me? Ha ha, just joking. But anyway, we shouldn't let her come between us, because I think we have something really special. Call me, ok? Love, Angela.

zoegirl:

oh. well, that's… very nice.

SnowAngel:

do u think it's too much that i said “love”? cuz i DO love him. but i don't wanna scare him off, especially when he's already feeling guilty. i don't wanna overwhelm him.

zoegirl:

don't take this the wrong way, but are you absolutely positive you want to send it? maybe you should just give it some time.

SnowAngel:

what good would that do? anyway, i already DID send it.

SnowAngel:

omigod, why? do u think i shouldn't have?!!

zoegirl:

i didn't say that

SnowAngel:

u think i shouldn't have sent it.

SnowAngel:

crap. crap!

SnowAngel:

u think i'm a freak, don't u? is HE gonna think i'm a freak? oh no, this is terrible!

zoegirl:

hold on, angela. just wait and see. there's nothing more you can do.

SnowAngel:

i cld write him again. i could try to be more low-key!

zoegirl:

NO, angela. just wait and see.

SnowAngel:

right. ok.

SnowAngel:

but i'm gonna go check my email in case he's already responded

SnowAngel:

he didn't write back.

zoegirl:

oh, angela

SnowAngel:

but maybe he hasn't had time to read it. maybe he's been super-busy.

zoegirl:

maybe so

SnowAngel:

i'll check first thing in the morning and tell u what he says!!!

SnowAngel:

zoe, i need u!

zoegirl:

i'm here, i'm here. what happened?

SnowAngel:

I HATE TONNIE WYNDHAM!!! *clomps about in a flying rage*

zoegirl:

what happened?

SnowAngel:

i called rob—just to talk, cuz he never did email me back last night, and in french he was all weird—and he hemmed and hawed and asked if we could do this later.

zoegirl:

“can we do this later”? that's what he said?

SnowAngel:

he said he was playing Call of Duty. i was kinda hurt, but i was like, “sure, whatever.” and then over the phone i heard this voice whining, “ro-o-o-ob, look behind you! don't die!” TONNIE WYNDHAM WAS AT HIS HOUSE!!! THEY WERE PLAYING CALL OF DUTY TOGETHER!!!

zoegirl:

NO. WAY. what a loser.

SnowAngel:

i know! i HATE her!!!

zoegirl:

actually, i meant rob.

SnowAngel:

it's not *his* fault. she probably showed up
unannounced. he doesn't know how to say no to her, remember?

zoegirl:

angela, can you hear yourself? ROB IS A LOSER!

SnowAngel:

but he's so cute! and i miss him so much!

zoegirl:

yeah, but he's treating you like dirt.

SnowAngel:

he is?

zoegirl:

he IS

SnowAngel:

oh

SnowAngel:

well, then i'm not gonna call him back! i was going to, just to let him apologize, cuz i'm sure he feels really shitty. but he'll just have to call me himself!

zoegirl:

good for you

SnowAngel:

we'll see how he likes that, huh?

zoegirl:

omigosh, i did it. i just told angela what a loser rob is and that she has to get over him!

mad maddie:

ooo, way to be tough. did she listen?

zoegirl:

i don't know. but maybe?

mad maddie:

yay, zoe. WAY TO GO!

SnowAngel:

i've made up my mind: i'm gonna stop letting this rob business tear me up.

mad maddie:

for real?

SnowAngel:

cuz it's just stupid, right? why should i waste my life pining after him when all it's gonna do is make me miserable?

mad maddie:

now you're talking. good girl, angela.

SnowAngel:

so i'm on my way to his house right now, only i just biked up a really steep hill so i stopped to take a break. *pant pant*

SnowAngel:

but i'm five minutes away, and when i'm there, we can finally just talk and get it all out.

mad maddie:

ANGELA!!! i thought u meant

mad maddie:

nvm. but didn't u already talk and get it all out, that day in french?

SnowAngel:

no, cuz that's when he thought we weren't gonna be together anymore, which is ridiculous. i mean talk it out in a good way, so we can work out all our problems.

mad maddie:

so ur just gonna show up on his doorstep?

SnowAngel:

yeah, cuz then he can't turn me away.

mad maddie:

er… doesn't that tell u something?

SnowAngel:

i've caught my breath. bye!

mad maddie:

shake a leg, zo. up and at 'em.

zoegirl:

huh?

mad maddie:

angela's biking over to rob's. she's almost there, and she said she's gonna make him talk things out once and for all.

zoegirl:

oh no

mad maddie:

so get your mom to drop u off at angela's house. say u've gotta help her with her math or something.

zoegirl:

why? she's already left!

mad maddie:

yeah, but we'll be there when she gets back.

zoegirl:

ohhhhh

mad maddie:

we're the ones who have to pick up the pieces!

zoegirl:

you doing any better today? you ran off after sixth period before i could find you.

SnowAngel:

too busy crying. go away!

zoegirl:

but… you answered my text. you can't be THAT busy.

SnowAngel:

well, i am. and my thumbs hurt. and also i keep
hoping rob will text or call or email or SOMETHING, and that he'll tell me it was all a big mistake. that tonnie was talking out of her ass, and that the only reason he didn't tell her to shut up was cuz he's too nice of a guy.

SnowAngel:

pathetic, i know

zoegirl:

i don't think he's going to, angela.

SnowAngel:

i said I KNOW! god!

zoegirl:

all right. it's your life!

mad maddie:

have u checked on angela?

zoegirl:

she's a mess. she didn't want to talk to me.

mad maddie:

she wldn't talk to me, either. i texted her, and she said go away. i called her, and she answered, but she was all pissy.

zoegirl:

it's like she's mad at us for being right.

mad maddie:

i know.

zoegirl:

i think she skipped french too, because she didn't want to deal with seeing rob. and i'm glad we ate lunch in the courtyard, because kristin said he and tonnie were all lovey-dovey during lunch.

mad maddie:

yeah, kristin told me that too. don't they have any respect?

zoegirl:

obviously not

zoegirl:

well, at least now angela knows.

mad maddie:

uh, yeah. i'd say the run-in at rob's house probably did the trick. what did tonnie say when angela confronted them? “u brought it on yourself by being so blind”?

zoegirl:

as if angela should have read the signs and figured it out herself, without rob having to spell it out.

mad maddie:

altho the signs WERE there. i mean, WE knew.

zoegirl:

still, rob is a total wimp. it's basically like he had tonnie break up with angela for him.

mad maddie:

oh well. u win some, u lose some. i just hope angela gets out of her funk before tomorrow, cuz in only 7½ short hours…

zoegirl:

u turn 16! wh-hoo!!!

zoegirl:

are you ready for maddie's party?

SnowAngel:

we've got almost an hour before we're supposed to be there, zo.

zoegirl:

i know, but i'm so excited! aren't you?

zoegirl:

megan just called to get directions, and she really thinks maddie has no clue.

SnowAngel:

maybe. i dunno.

zoegirl:

angela! snap out of it. this is MADDIE'S PARTY, remember?

SnowAngel:

i'm just… i'm not really in the party mood.

zoegirl:

so get in the party mood. forget rob and forget tonnie. are they really more important than your best friend's party?

SnowAngel:

*flutters fingers lethargically in air*

zoegirl:

are you dressed, at least? what are you going to wear?

SnowAngel:

ur just asking to cheer me up. ur trying to distract me.

zoegirl:

no, i really want to know.

SnowAngel:

*sighs*

SnowAngel:

mermaid print shirt, faded levi's, maddie's bottle-cap belt, brown leather clogs. scent: hard candy.

zoegirl:

that sounds so cute! i bet you look TERRIFIC.

SnowAngel:

oh, and my blue old navy hoodie tied around my waist, in case it gets chilly.

zoegirl:

excellent idea

SnowAngel:

u know, i really DO need this tonight. after my hell week, i mean. i just need to get out and be with u guys.

zoegirl:

i hear you. oh, and check this out. mr. h asked what my plans were this weekend. isn't that odd?

SnowAngel:

he DID?

zoegirl:

after english, after everyone else left the room. it's odd, isn't it?

SnowAngel:

i dunno. a little, maybe.

SnowAngel:

what did u say?

zoegirl:

that we were having a surprise party for maddie. he asked if boys were coming, and i said no. then he got this funny look on his face and said, “good.”

SnowAngel:

what does THAT mean?

zoegirl:

that he doesn't want me lured away by some sophomore hottie, because he wants me for himself? JUST KIDDING!!!

SnowAngel:

shit, zoe, i bet that's exactly what it meant.

zoegirl:

i said i was KIDDING.

SnowAngel:

i mean it. he's flirting with u.

zoegirl:

you really think so?

SnowAngel:

omg, u sound pleased.

SnowAngel:

u better be careful, zo. take it from me: ALL GUYS SUCK.

zoegirl:

maybe so. that doesn't mean all MEN do!