“We were friends, I guess.” The wheels spun under her fingers. “When we were little. Like grade two and up. We used to hang out and stuff. I used to horseback ride too, and we had lessons together.”

Gilly and Berry used to. . .ride together?!

“Then she started being friends with Tanner and Sarah, that whole crew. And we just kind of. . .stopped being friends.”

“Wait, what? Why didn’t you say that? Like earlier.”

“I mean, isn’t it kind of obvious I had some friends when I was a kid?” Berry crumpled her chip bag and shoved it in her pocket. “I told you what they’re like.”

She snuck a gauging glance my way. I think my mouth was hanging open.

“Whatever,” she said hurriedly as she scrambled to her feet, “it’s fine.”

“Sounds like it sucked, though.” I tried to catch Berry’s eye. She bent down to tie her bootlace.

“Yeah, well, a bad friend isn’t a friend, right?” Berry straightened and tossed her skateboard on the walk in front of the steps. Then she hopped down the steps two at a time and leaped onto the board in a flow of motion. With a solid pump and a flick of her foot, she zinged around a flock of stray cheerleaders before looping back.

“That sucks,” I said, picking up where we left off.

“Yeah,” Berry said, kicking her board up into her hands. “I mean, we were twelve or whatever. It’s just, like, weird. I guess. So.” She spun her board on its nose. “Do you still want to hang out or. . .?”

I jumped to my feet. “Berry! Oh my gosh of course I want to hang out. I mean. Of. Cou rse.”

Berry let her board drop to the ground. “Sure.”

Suddenly I wanted to give Berry a hug. But she picked up her board and held it across the front of her body. Like maybe she didn’t want one.

I shoved my lunch stuff in a bag. “Let’s hang out tomorrow, okay?”

The bell rang. “Sounds good.” Berry waved as she headed off to band practice. “Break a leg!”

“You’re saying that to someone who will probably be in a flying apparatus.”

“I know.”

The fact that it was first day of rehearsals, to me, explained Mr. Davidson’s formal attire, which I had been admiring since I spotted him in the hall that morning; a waistcoat with matching blue coat and pants, and cowboy boots. I thought he looked pretty impressive, and honestly, I was sad I hadn’t gone for my green A-line go-go dress with matching tights (which would have been more Peter Pan).