TTYL (26 page)

SnowAngel:

something is clearly wrong if i'm at the mall and i can't even find the enthusiasm to go to victoria's secret, right?

zoegirl:

for you to pass up victoria's secret? yes, something is wrong.

zoegirl:

what's going on? is it about maddie? are you worried about her too?

SnowAngel:

i called her from the gap and told her the pastel sweater sets were on sale, and she didn't even snort.

zoegirl:

ooo, that's bad

SnowAngel:

so now i'm sitting by the fountain staring at all the pennies in the water. all the lost wishes.

SnowAngel:

it's very depressing, zoe

zoegirl:

(((((((((hugs)))))))))

SnowAngel:

did maddie tell u anything about what happened? u know, at that frat party?

zoegirl:

uh, not really. just that she didn't have fun. did she tell you anything when you talked to her just now?

SnowAngel:

the same thing

zoegirl:

huh. well, she'll snap out of it. she'll be okay.

SnowAngel:

i guess. only… i kinda think there's more going on than she's admitting.

zoegirl:

what do you mean?

SnowAngel:

well, u didn't hear it from me, but i think something happened b/w her and jana.

zoegirl:

so she DID tell you!

SnowAngel:

tell me what?

zoegirl:

about how maddie called jana a… a mean word for a lesbian… but only because margaret called her that first.

SnowAngel:

what's a mean word for a lesbian? i'm confused.

zoegirl:

starts with L, ends with O…

SnowAngel:

lesbo. right. hate that word.

zoegirl:

and that's what maddie and jana had that big fight about. isn't that what you're talking about? and then after that maddie got wasted and made a fool out of herself?

SnowAngel:

omg, she told me not to tell you!

zoegirl:

she told *me* not to tell *you*!

SnowAngel:

that is sooooo maddie. i can't believe this!

SnowAngel:

except i hadn't heard about the lesbian remark, which throws a new spin on things.

zoegirl:

it does?

SnowAngel:

i'm talking about the whole shirt thing. cuz if jana wanted to get back at maddie, u'd think she'd do something that didn't involve, like, a girl doing a striptease. cuz what does THAT say about jana, u know?

zoegirl:

HUH?

SnowAngel:

don't make me say it. it's too embarrassing. and for everyone to be throwing money? i know maddie was drunk, and i'm not BLAMING her, but god.

zoegirl:

angela, what are you talking about?

SnowAngel:

wait… u said she told u!

zoegirl:

i'm beginning to think she left some parts out.

SnowAngel:

*gulps* uh…

zoegirl:

you have to tell me, angela. you started it, and you have to finish it. WHAT HAPPENED?

SnowAngel:

shit

SnowAngel:

well, maddie got drunk on kool-aid punch, right?

zoegirl:

yes. i know that part.

SnowAngel:

she didn't exactly explain it, but i get the sense that jana got her to do, like, a table dance in front of the whole party.

zoegirl:

no way. that's impossible.

SnowAngel:

she ended up with somebody else's shirt on, zo. and no bra.

zoegirl:

oh god.

zoegirl:

oh my god.

zoegirl:

all she told me was that she'd gotten a little out of control.

SnowAngel:

that's one way to put it

zoegirl:

CRAP, angela

SnowAngel:

i know

zoegirl:

this is terrible. i can't even get my head around it. she took her SHIRT off?

SnowAngel:

but listen, we've got to be super careful not to let on that we talked. she'd be furious if she knew.

zoegirl:

uh, YEAH. i think we should pretty much not bring the party up at all, but if SHE wants to talk about it, she can.

SnowAngel:

mainly we'll just act normal, altho we'll be extra extra nice to her.

zoegirl:

sounds good

zoegirl:

still, angela.

zoegirl:

god.

SnowAngel:

it's strange that maddie hates how much her dad drinks… but then she goes out and does the same thing. it's strange, isn't it?

zoegirl:

i know. i thought of that too.

SnowAngel:

poor maddie!!!

zoegirl:

want to hear something gross?

mad maddie:

i guess

zoegirl:

i ran into megan at eckerd's, and she was buying one of those long wraparound bandages for her two-year-old brother. apparently he fell off a chair, only the chair fell with him, and it landed on his hands and peeled three of his fingernails off. isn't that awful?

mad maddie:

oh, ick

zoegirl:

i know. they have to keep his hand wrapped up for like a week, which is why megan was buying more bandages.

zoegirl:

she said his fingers look all sad and raw, like little sea creatures without their shells.

mad maddie:

poor kid. that sucks.

zoegirl:

yeah

zoegirl:

that's all i have to say, really. i just wanted to shoot the breeze.

mad maddie:

shoot away

zoegirl:

i already did

mad maddie:

oh

zoegirl:

so… i guess i'll go to bed.

zoegirl:

unless you have anything you want to talk about?

mad maddie:

nope, not really

zoegirl:

that's ok. you're doing all right, though?

mad maddie:

hmm, let's think. jana's still acting as if i no longer exist, terri and margaret whisper to each other every time they see me, and i still haven't gotten up the nerve to call ian.

mad maddie:

ohhhh, and you and angela r walking on eggshells around me cuz u think i'm gonna collapse. so yes, i'm absolutely fabulous. thx for asking.

zoegirl:

i'm sorry. i didn't mean to make things worse.

zoegirl:

is there anything i can do?

mad maddie:

yeah, go to bed and stop worrying about me. it makes me feel pathetic.

zoegirl:

you're not pathetic, maddie.

mad maddie:

whatevs. night, zo.

zoegirl:

uh, ok. good night.

SnowAngel:

mad-a-lad-a-ding-dong!

mad maddie:

ouch. tone down the enthusiasm, i beg u.

SnowAngel:

where'd u disappear to after math?

mad maddie:

nowhere, i just went home.

SnowAngel:

but i thought we were going out for ice cream!

mad maddie:

u had a drama club meeting, remember?

SnowAngel:

u could have waited for me. it only lasted an hour.

mad maddie:

i felt like going home, that's all.

SnowAngel:

well. let's go now. *bats eyelashes adorably*

mad maddie:

no thank.

SnowAngel:

why not?

mad maddie:

i'm not in the mood.

SnowAngel:

how can u not be in the mood for ice cream? c'mon, sling yourself into the gremlin and come pick me up.

mad maddie:

sorry

SnowAngel:

pralines 'n' cream, mint chocolate chip, chocolate mousse…

mad maddie:

i said no, angela. give it up.

SnowAngel:

u can't stay holed up forever, u know.

mad maddie:

oh god, here it comes

SnowAngel:

it's true! u've got to show jana that maybe she thinks she can drop friends whenever she wants to, but that *you're* sticking with us, baby. u don't need a friend who calls her other friends “lesbos,” anyway.

SnowAngel:

be strong. show her that you cldn't care less what she thinks of u.

mad maddie:

that's a great plan. only i DO care.

SnowAngel:

but why?

mad maddie:

wait. who told u about margaret calling jana a lesbo?

SnowAngel:

u did

mad maddie:

no, i didn't

SnowAngel:

obviously u did, or how would i know?

mad maddie:

fuck

mad maddie:

did u talk to zoe? don't lie!

SnowAngel:

what r u talking about? of course i talked to zoe. i talk to zoe every day.

mad maddie:

u know what i mean. did u talk to zoe about… that night?

SnowAngel:

no!

mad maddie:

did u?

SnowAngel:

NO, i swear!

mad maddie:

ANGELA!

SnowAngel:

if i tell u, will u promise not to be mad?

mad maddie:

omg! i can't believe u!

mad maddie:

PLEASE tell me u didn't tell her about the x-men shirt. PLEASE.

SnowAngel:

she said u'd told her! i thought she already knew! it's yr fault for telling us each a little bit and then expecting us not to worry about u!

mad maddie:

i hate u, angela. i really do.

SnowAngel:

don't say that. it was totally an accident, ok? i'm sorry!!!

mad maddie:

FUCK. did u tell her everything?

SnowAngel:

not EVERYTHING, just… everything u'd told me. but come on, we're talking about zoe. she doesn't care!

mad maddie:

FUCK.

mad maddie:

zoe is the last person on earth i wanted to know about this. she already has so many things to feel superior to me about. now she thinks i'm a slut too.

SnowAngel:

ur not a slut

mad maddie:

yeah, just like ur not a lying bitch.

SnowAngel:

maddie!

mad maddie:

fuck off, angela. go sob to zoe about it and STAY OUT OF MY FUCKING BUSINESS!!!