Bad Best Friend

1

Everybody stand next to your best friend, the gym teacher said.

I bumped Ava s shoulder with mine.

We were already standing next to each other, of course.

We ve been best friends since third grade, basically since the day she moved here. No. A few weeks after. Still, nearly forever. It s not like we were making a big, momentous decision right there in front of the entire eighth grade. Everybody knows Ava and I are best friends.

So I wasn t worried or anything. Knowing, hundred percent, that you can choose her, and that your best friend will of course choose you right back, right away, in front of everybody, no hesitation? Best feeling in the world.

But Ava didn t bump me back.

I rolled my eyes at Ava and whispered, We re not even supposed to have best friends, I thought.
It s a rule at Snug Island Primary School: We Are All Friends Here! There s a poster saying that at the entrance. Ava and I make fun of how fake it is. Come on in and start your day with a lie, kids! We walk under those words literally every day: We Are All Friends Here! The only SIPS teacher who d ever admit it s not exactly true, that we re maybe not all friends, not all equal friends, don t even necessarily like each other all that much? It would be Ms. Andry, the ancient gym teacher. She s so over it, no time for that politically correct fakery. Ava and I love how fully fried Ms. Andry is.

Ava wasn t saying anything back to me.

She was looking at her sneakers.

I looked at her sneakers too.

That s why I saw her sneakers step-together-step away from me.

Toward Britney.

I smiled at Ava. My mom always says, Smiles, sunshine, and a quick cleanup make everything better! Why is Ms. Andry always so extra? I whispered to Ava.

Ava always says, Why is Ms. Andry so extra?

This time, Ava didn t say anything.

I mean, what s even her actual plan? I whispered.

Ava forced out a little one-ha laugh. But she still wouldn t look at me.

Ms. Andry

Rachel Vail never intended to become a writer. As a teenager she believed her only skill was eavesdropping, and therefore she planned to become a spy. But as a freshman at Georgetown University, Vail realized that her skill could be put to use. By writing down conversations she overheard, the stories in her head evolved into plays, and eventually into novels. Vail is the author of Wonder and lives in New York City with her husband and their son.