BooksBarbecue
Back When We Were Friends
Chapters (52)
  1. Cover
  2. Praise
  3. Dedication
  4. About the Author
  5. 31
  6. 14
  7. 31
  8. 14
  9. 31
  10. 14
  11. 31
  12. 14
  13. 31
  14. 15
  15. 31
  16. 16
  17. 32
  18. 16
  19. 32
  20. 17
  21. 32
  22. 17
  23. 32
  24. 17
  25. 32
  26. 17
  27. 32
  28. 18
  29. 32
  30. 18
  31. 32
  32. 18
  33. 32
  34. 18
  35. 32
  36. 18
  37. 32
  38. 18
  39. 32
  40. 18
  41. 32
  42. 18
  43. 32
  44. 18
  45. 32
  46. 32
  47. 33
  48. 33
  49. 33
  50. Acknowledgments
  51. Discussion Questions
  52. Booklist

“It’s OK,” I said eventually. And, on that cold bench, with the playground dissolving around us, I realized it was OK. At least, I thought it was OK. I wanted it to be OK. I’d missed her too much for it not to be. “And...cutting you out. I know it was cold, but... I...”

“No. I got it. I was devastated, of course. Angry, even. But I got it. I just didn’t want to admit to myself what had happened.”

“Maybe it wasn’t such a big deal...”

“It was. I knew it was. And I’m sorry, and I’m so happy you’re here, and you’re letting me apologize. I feel so lucky for that. For this second chance. Cuz, Fern? I really want us to be friends again.”

I looked into her eyes and the strength of love I felt for her was almost romantic. She eyed me wearily, her heart held out in her hand. I took a breath and decided to take it.

“I really want us to be friends again too.”

15

january 2001

It turned out Jessica and I didn’t need the others. We sat, cross-legged, on my bed facing one another, palm to palm, eyes locked, under my collage wall. I tuned in, staring into Jessica’s eyes for answers, noticing how perfectly she’d blended two shades of green eye shadow.

“OK, so I’m thinking of a number between one and five,” she said. “Are you ready?”

I nodded.

“Go.”

She projected the number to me and I took deep breaths, letting the message come through. Two...no...three. It was definitely... “Three,” I said.

She let out a squeak. “Yes!”

“No way.”

“Yes. Oh my God! We did it, we’re psychic.” We started laughing from our stomachs, feeling elated and a little bit freaked out.

“Let’s not get too excited. It might’ve just been a fluke. My turn.”

Jessica redid her ponytail. “You’re right. Phew. Let’s take a moment to cleanse ourselves.” We closed our eyes and waved our hands over our faces.

“I’m going to think of a color this time,” I told her. “Are you ready?”

She nodded and we lifted our palms so they kissed again. I took a deep breath and tuned into my psychic power, ready to broadcast to my best friend. “OK go,” I said, finding her gaze again.

“Green,” I whispered in my head ’til it itched. “Green, green, green, green, gr—”

“Green!”

I screamed and rolled off the bed onto the carpet, kicking my legs up into the air. “We’re psychic!” Jessica rolled off too, giggling. “We have powers. Oh my God. Shit! What are we going to do with them?” I was practically hyperventilating. I’d kind of always suspected I was a psychic, but to have it proved, using such scientific methodology, was almost too much to bear.