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  So why wasn’t she?

  Chapter Three

  “Get out of my way, puh-lease!” barked Ivy Daly from behind Egg Díaz in the lunch line Monday afternoon. Even when Ivy said something polite, it sounded obnoxious.

  She was dressed mostly in purple, with a short skirt, polka-dot leggings, and a loose yellow chiffon shirt over a tank top. She also wore little black flats with purple bows on them, and her hair was swept back into a fishtail braid with purple and yellow barrettes. Madison always marveled at just how color-coordinated Ivy could be. Did she spend hours obsessing over every detail of her outfit? Madison had been so proud of her own sunburn-friendly ensemble this morning, but compared to Ivy, Madison’s fashion sense was taking a siesta.

  “Um, you’re in my way,” Ivy repeated. Loudly.

  Madison could see that Egg was ready to fling a spoonful of gluey mashed potatoes at her head.

  The year before, all the boys seemed to ooh and ahh over Ivy, but this year things had changed—really changed. Everyone got tired of Ivy’s dumb comments and mean-girl attitude. Once Poison Ivy’s “drones”—Rose and Joan—disappeared, the equation changed. Rose Thorn finds new, less bossy pal + Phony Joanie moves away = Poison Ivy is rendered powerless.

  It took some getting used to, seeing Ivy this year in a totally new realm where she was not the queen bee. Madison’s feelings for Ivy were always so complicated.

  Madison Finn and Ivy Daly’s friendship began on the playground when they were toddlers. Ivy was the closest thing to a sister Madison ever had. But thanks to a humdinger of a falling-out in third grade, things cooled off. Last year, the pair had a brief bounce-back and shared a few nicer-than-nice moments, making Madison wonder if there was friendship potential again.

  And yet.

  Fact: Ivy Daly was not the most reliable of friends.

  Madison worried that if she gave Ivy any indication of weakness, Ivy would chomp her head off like a praying mantis on the Science Channel.

  So Madison figured it was better to chomp first, check for wounds later.

  “Ivy, can’t you just wait your turn like everyone else?”

  “What’s your malfunction?” Ivy asked.

  “Malfunction?” Madison asked, getting her attitude on. “I thought we decided we would try to be—”

  “We decided,” Ivy interrupted. “Right.”

  She took her tray, flicked her red hair, and huffed off in her too-cute flats. Madison noticed that Ivy was barely able to balance her chocolate milk with the plate of salad and an extra helping of tater tots along with the huge backpack on her shoulder. Ivy went to sit down with a few kids Madison didn’t know very well, including a new girl in a turquoise shirt that read SURF CHICK.

  Fiona waved to Madison. She’d gotten them all the usual seats at their table. Aimee and her other pals Lindsay and Madhur were there, too.

  Madison took a seat near the others. “Poison Ivy attack. Am I bleeding?”

  “What happened?” Lindsay asked.

  “I wonder how long it’ll be until Ivy wraps the new girl around her perfectly manicured finger. I can tell she misses her minions. Surf Chick is totally next in line,” Aimee said.

  “I don’t know,” Madison said. “That’s a little harsh. Ivy just seems—”

  “Worse than ever!” Fiona joked.

  The actual word Madison was thinking of was sad, but she didn’t want to say that out loud. She didn’t know for sure that Ivy was sad. Maybe she was just tired. She felt badly about speaking to Ivy like that.

  “Ugh, who cares about Ivy?” Madhur said.

  “We waste so much time worrying about someone who doesn’t care about us at all,” Lindsay added, grabbing a banana off Madhur’s tray. They often stole food from each other.

  “At least we can still sit together in the back,” Aimee commented.

  “It is our table.” Madison smiled. “We need a plaque or something that says BFFS ONLY.”

  “Swap for chocolate!” Madhur cried, snatching an extra chocolate-chunk cookie from Lindsay.

  “Okay, everyone, I have an announcement.” Aimee stood up and tapped on the table like her fingers were drumsticks. “Big news. The deadline for filming the reality show in Far Hills is coming up, so it could happen any moment now. And our dance studio officially made the final list. I am soooo close!”

  Madhur and Fiona squealed at the same time. “Wow!”

  “Yeah,” said Madison. “Wow. Close to what?”

  “Madison, if this really happens and Madame Elaine picks me to film and if they show me dancing”—Aimee got a dreamy look in her eyes—“life as we know it could change forever.”

  “Change?” Madison asked. “Way to be dramatic, Aim.”

  “If it happens.” Lindsay said. “When will you know for sure?”

  “Linds!” Madhur thunked Lindsay in the arm. “Don’t be negative! Of course it’ll be awesome sauce once Aimee is a TV star.”

  “Oh, it’s not that I don’t think it totally could happen,” said Lindsay, quickly backtracking.

  “Because it totally could,” Fiona added.

  “We believe in you,” Madison said. “It’s just—”

  “Look guys, I know my life on reality TV is a long shot,” Aimee said with a concerned look. “But if it does happen, not only will I be famous, but you guys can be on reality TV with me, too! A good plan, right?”

  “I’m going to be that friend who always hides when the camera is around,” Lindsay said.

  “Being on a reality show would be a good excuse to get a new haircut,” Madhur said thoughtfully.

  “Hey!” Madison interjected. “Don’t you think we’re getting a little carried away?”

  Aimee made another “announcement” and kept talking about the maybe-it-will-happen reality show. Madison wanted to ignore all of it, but what would happen if the show did make it on the air and was a hit? Could Aimee be the next big thing?

  There were an awful lot of “what ifs” to consider.

  Madison knew a lot about filming since her mom was a movie producer for Budge Films. So she knew that nothing was ever a sure thing when it came to movie making. Aimee was, as wise Gramma Helen would say, “putting the cart before the horse.”

  “Maybe the TV-show producers will let us all have walk-ons as your best friends for life?” Lindsay added.

  “I have an idea!” Fiona blurted out. “I’ll suck up to the producers when they come to Far Hills and convince them to do another reality show about the Far Hills Rangers soccer team. Ha!”

  “As if!” Madhur barked. “If you do that, then I’m getting them to make a show about the smartest kids at school. That would be me in the starring role, of course.”

  Aimee gasped. “You guys crack me up. Stop or I’ll pirouette on your heads!”

  “Maybe they can film that for TV ratings!” Lindsay said.

  “Hey.” Aimee grinned. “Imagine if they started filming and they liked Madame Elaine’s so much that they made a spinoff series just about us.”

  “We’d have to cast Ivy as the evil villain,” Lindsay said.

  Everyone laughed aloud. Out of the corner of her eye, Madison caught a glimpse of Ivy moving tater tots around on her plate as she stared into space.

  Madison realized that, over the years, friends meant different things at different times. That friendships seemed to zip and dip like the Giant Fang, Madison’s favorite roller coaster ever. Sometimes they even left you feeling like your stomach was doing flops. But in the end, friendships always seemed to steady, coming back to the place where it all began, just like that crazy ride.

  The bell rang, and everyone dumped their lunch trays and rushed off to their lockers. Madison looked for Ivy again on the way out, but she was gone.

  Eighth graders had lockers for the first time this year, so Madison was of
ten found between classes hanging out by her—as luck would have it—orange locker. All the students decorated their lockers as if they were the teeniest rooms ever, with posters, mirrors, and all sorts of swag. Mom got Madison a mini magnetic board with little orange magnets.

  Taped up to the inside of Madison’s locker door was her daily schedule. Some days the periods were all mixed-up, so she had to check it a lot, even though it was early October.

  Period

  Monday

  Tuesday

  Wednesday

  Thursday

  Friday

  1

  SS 310

  SS 310

  SS 310

  SS 310

  SS 310

  2

  Math 309

  ENG 305

  ENG 305

  ENG 305

  ENG 305

  3

  Health

  Spanish

  Health

  Phys Ed

  Math 309

  4

  Lunch

  Lunch

  Lunch

  Lunch

  Lunch

  5

  Elective

  Music

  Art

  Spanish

  Elective

  6

  ENG 305

  Math 309

  Math 309

  Math 309

  Phys Ed

  7

  Lab Science

  Lab Science

  Lab Science

  Lab Science

  Lab Science

  8

  Tech

  Elective

  Spanish

  Tech

  Newspaper

  So far, the transition into eighth grade had gone smoothly. Today, Monday, Madison had her elective after lunch. The fall semester elective for her section was American Cinema, which incorporated media, English, history, and technology into one class. All the kids loved it because Mrs. Wing made it fun. Plus, you got to watch movies during school.

  Last year, everything about Mrs. Wing had made Madison smile: the way she talked, the way she dressed, and the way she always seemed to know exactly what someone was thinking before he or she even asked a question in class. This year was even better.

  In addition to teaching the new elective for the eighth graders, Mrs. Wing still taught technology and advised for the school’s website, so Madison saw a lot of her during the school day.

  And what a blur today was! Madison was exhausted just thinking about it. After the last bell rang, kids flooded the hallways like a tidal wave. Egg, Dan, and Chet formed a minipack that rode the wave down the hall. Madison waved to them as she moved on by.

  Dan sure looks cute right now.

  Madison nearly crashed into someone’s locker, distracted by her own secret thought. What was she thinking? Dan was not allowed into the “he looks cute” category of boys inside Madison’s head, was he?

  Apparently, he was.

  “Hey, Maddie!” Aimee called out when she saw Madison rushing down the hallway. “Wait up! Let’s walk home together!”

  As they walked, Madison tried not to scream, because all Aimee did was talk, talk, and keep talking about nothing but the reality show. Madison had other things on her mind. A certain someone was coming home later—Phinnie—and she wanted to see him more than anything. They reached Aimee’s house first, of course, and Aimee begged Madison to come inside, just for a little bit.

  “Let’s go up on the roof and talk,” Aimee said. The roof was the secret spot outside Aimee’s bedroom window, a small landing where Aimee and her pals would lie out and gaze at the stars at night. It was the perfect place to escape—just a little bit—from the real world. It made talking with friends that much better.

  “Okay,” Madison said reluctantly. “But I have to get home soon. Mom will be looking for me.”

  There were dead leaves on the landing, but the colors were warm reds and browns, and the air smelled like burning logs. Even if the weather was still warmish, people dusted off their fireplace tools and built fires in the fireplace. Bring on the cozy! Madison noticed wisps of smoke rising from chimneys set against the pale pink twilight sky. It was still light out, but the fat, round moon was clearly visible. Aimee and Madison lay on their backs, talking.

  “I wish Spanish wasn’t so hard,” Aimee complained. “And technology.”

  “Maybe you’re just distracted by the whole reality-show thing.”

  “Maybe,” Aimee said. “I saw Ben today. He said he might be able to help me with homework.”

  Madison laughed. “That’s because he’s the smartest dude in the eighth grade—and he still likes you. Did you see Dan in class?”

  “Dan?” Aimee asked. “You mean Ben, right?”

  “Ben! Yes, of course. I don’t know why I said Dan. Duh.”

  “No, I saw him in the hallway. Remember, our lockers are near each other?”

  Aimee stood up and pretended to do some fancy dance move. Madison hated it when Aimee did this—especially up high on the roof.

  “You’re making me nervous,” Madison said.

  Aimee flopped back down and tickled Madison, who screeched with laughter. The street below had been fairly silent, but now all their goofing around echoed loudly in the air.

  “MADISON? ARE YOU UP THERE?”

  The girls jumped and grabbed each other.

  “HELLO? I CAN HEAR YOU!”

  “Hello?” Madison called out. Was that Mom?

  “COME DOWN, MADDIE! WE NEED TO GO NOW! I TOLD YOU TO COME STRAIGHT HOME TODAY!”

  “Your mom is so funny.” Aimee commented then shouted over the edge, “We’ll be right down, Mrs. Finn! Sorry, it’s my fault Maddie’s late!”

  “FYI, she isn’t Mrs. Finn anymore,” Madison quietly reminded Aimee on the way downstairs. “I think she’s going to change her name back. She’s been acting weird lately about Dad and life and—”

  “According to you, your mom’s always acting weird,” Aimee said. “Isn’t that just how moms are? Weird? Most moms would have rung the doorbell or at least called first, but your mom yelled out from the street.”

  “So embarrassing, right?” Madison added.

  “By the way, you didn’t tell me anything about what’s going on with your dad,” Aimee said. “You mentioned something about him and Stephanie. What’s up?”

  Madison shrugged. “We can talk another time.”

  This was typical Aimee: Talk about herself until it was time to go and then ask all the other important BFF questions.

  Madison grabbed her book bag, and they headed downstairs. “You okay staying home by yourself?” Madison asked.

  “Hey, she’s not by herself,” a voice grumbled from the kitchen door. It was Aimee’s oldest brother, Roger, eating a bowl of yogurt and granola, talking with his mouth full. “Mmmmhiy
a Mmmmaddie.”

  “Hey, Roger,” Madison said. “Did my mom call first?”

  “Mmmmmnope.”

  Aimee leaned in for a squeeze. “E-me later, ’kay?”

  Maddie walked onto the porch, where Mom was waiting. Mom barely acknowledged Madison or Aimee as she paced on the steps, talking on her cell phone.

  They started walking away just as Aimee called out, “Good-bye, friend!” Aimee’s voice rang out through the air. Madison turned to see her standing on the porch, waving.

  At least someone was paying attention to Maddie.

  Madison slowly walked toward home with her head down, kicking at leaves. They were scattered here and there, maples, elms, and oaks. Even with the warmer temps, some trees had begun to shed their bounty into piles on the sidewalks. The leaves weren’t all bright autumn reds or oranges—not yet—but the air smelled so much like fall—the best fragrance in the world.

  As they turned onto their walkway, Mom finally got off her phone and scooted up to Maddie.

  “So sorry about that.”

  “Yeah, Mom, whatever,” Madison said, maybe a little too curtly. Mom winced. Then she unlocked the front door and let Madison step inside first. She stopped right inside the door, listening, expecting to hear the clickity-clack of her best friend running across the wood floors to greet her.

  But there was no sound.

  “Mom, where’s Phin?”

  “Phin?” Mom gasped. “Oh, Phin! I knew there was something …”

  “Something? What happened? Is he okay?!”

  “I completely forgot!”

  “You forgot?” Madison said. “You forgot to pick up Phinnie? Really, Mom?”

  Madison was tongue-tied. She imagined poor Phin at the clinic, left behind.

  Mom felt terrible—that much was clear. She collapsed onto the bench in their front hallway. When Madison sat down, Mom took Madison’s hand into her own and looked at her pleadingly.

  “I can’t believe I forgot to get him discharged, Maddie. There’s been a lot going on with work. I just—”

  “Forgot? But what could possibly be more important than Phin?”