Friends till the End

by Laura Dower

  Phin was the only X factor at the party. He sniffed everyone’s ankles with his little pug nose and he moved from guest to guest without stopping, his curlicue tail moving in fast circles. He wasn’t really begging, although he made out like a real beggar: everyone tossed scraps and cookies and crackers directly into his open mouth.

  Pant, pant, yum.

  At one point, Madison spotted Mom and Dad standing together, over by the buffet. They were standing very close. Too close. Dad had his hand on Mom’s back. She was holding back a laugh, Madison could tell. She had her lips pursed as Dad spoke. Then Dad rubbed her back. What was going on? They seemed to lock eyes and hold hands and…Wait a minute!

  Where was Stephanie?

  Madison searched the room for her stepmother. Did Stephanie know that Mom and Dad were standing over there—that close—talking? Did she care?

  When Madison glanced back over at Mom and Dad, she saw them embrace, warmly, as if they weren’t going to let go.

  “Well, hello, you.”

  Madison turned around and came face to face with Stephanie.

  “Oh!” Madison said. “Whoa. I didn’t see you there.”

  “Sorry about that,” Stephanie said. She smiled. “I see your dad and mom are proud of you today.”

  Madison shrugged. “I hadn’t noticed…”

  “They sure look proud,” Stephanie said, glancing over in their direction. She stroked the side of Madison’s head, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “And I’m very proud of you, too, Maddie. You made it through a tough year. That science award was a big wow. Did you hear your dad chanting in the audience? I couldn’t shut him up.”

  “Aw, it wasn’t that tough a year,” Madison said.

  Stephanie raised an eyebrow. “If you say so…”

  “Well,” Madison sighed. “Maybe a little tough, but just sometimes…”

  “We’re always here for you, Maddie,” Stephanie said, “and when we move into the new house, things will only get better…”

  For some reason, Madison felt a little choked up. How could she have thought Stephanie and Dad and Mom were acting weird? The opposite was true. Even if the idea of Dad and Stephanie moving into some kind of McMansion gave Madison the heebie-jeebies.

  “Maddie Finn! And Stephanie!” Gramma Helen cooed as she swept toward Madison. “What are you two gals giggling about?”

  “Giggling?” Madison asked.

  Stephanie laughed. “Would you excuse me? I’m going to grab Jeff for a minute.”

  Gramma nodded. As Stephanie walked away, Gramma took Madison’s hands in hers. The skin was cool and wrinkled. Madison loved the way Gramma touched her, outside—and in.

  “Some party!” Gramma said. “So why do you look blue?”

  “No,” Madison said. “I’m not blue! Not at all. I’m happy, actually. I was just thinking about everyone who is here. I love you all so much.”

  The doorbell rang, and Phin let out a howl.

  “Shhhh!” Madison yelled at her dog. She hustled over to the door and flung it open. On the porch landing stood Aimee, with her dad and her dog, Blossom. The two dogs started sniffing each other hello as Aimee and her father walked inside.

  “It’s a big day for you two, eh?” Mr. Gillespie said.

  Madison nodded. “Thanks for stopping by, Aim.”

  “Would I ever miss a party? My mom is coming over in a little while.”

  “You remember my grandma, right?” Madison asked, indicating Gramma Helen.

  Madison was about to close the front door when someone ran up the porch steps. It was Madhur; her parents followed.

  “You came!” Madison said.

  “Duh!” Madhur said. “I promised. I don’t break promises. You know that.”

  Madison nodded and gave her newest friend a big squeeze. “Come on in,” she said, saying a quick hello to Mr. and Mrs. Singh, too.

  No sooner had everyone wandered into the main part of the house than a glass was heard being clinked.

  “A toast!” Mom said to the group. She raised her glass into the air. “First of all, thanks to everyone for coming to the party. It’s wonderful having everyone together—again—in the house like this…”

  “Hear, hear!” Dad said.

  Madison watched them shooting each other glances, just as they had in old times—only very differently. Stephanie, Gramma, and the rest of the guests cheered them along.

  “I believe we have some presents for the newest soon-to-be eighth grader in our midst,” Dad said.

  Madison felt a little self-conscious, but she managed a wry smile. Aimee and Madhur joined her on the sofa as she opened her MUD gifts (the name Mom gave them).

  The first small package was wrapped in polka-dotted paper and multicolored ribbon. The card read: To my honey bear. That meant it was from Mom.

  Madison tore into the wrapping.

  “Careful!” Mom said.

  Inside the package was a monogrammed cell phone case that protected the phone when it was dropped on the ground or in water. It was just like one Madison had seen celebs carrying in photos from an issue of Star Beat.

  “That is the coolest!” Aimee said. “It’s so…Ivy Daly!”

  Mom made a face. “Really?”

  “No!” Madison scolded Aimee. “I can’t believe you said that…right here in front of everyone…”

  “It’s not like the drone patrol is here,” Aimee said.

  “Yeah,” Madhur said. “Open up your next present!” She handed the next gift to Madison. This one was a lot bigger. It was wrapped in plain blue paper with a white card on top.

  The note read: For Maddie to keep smiling and filing. Love, Dad and Stephanie.

  Madison looked up at both of them and carefully tore the edge of the paper. “I have no idea what this is,” she said coyly. Dad had mentioned getting Madison some new writing software and a DVD burner for her laptop.

  Sure enough, that was what Madison found inside the package.

  The rest of the goodies on the pile were equally as cool. Stephanie had left Madison a bonus gift on top of the one from Dad. She had gotten Madison an enormous makeup basket and a coupon for a “day of beauty” at one of the new spa shops at the Far Hills mall. Gramma Helen’s card contained a round-trip ticket to Chicago for a summer visit. Uncle Bob’s and Aunt Angie’s gift was right to the point: cold, hard cash. As Madison opened it, Angie winked and said, “The best gift of all.” Uncle Rick and Aunt Violet gave money in their card, too—Amercian money and not Canadian, of course.

  All in all, Madison made out.

  After the opening of the gifts, Mom served up hot food and salad and freshly baked nut breads. Madison realized that she was hungrier than hungry. She dived in to a plate of grilled vegetables and whole wheat pasta. Her girlfriends did the same.

  “Isn’t Egg coming?” Aimee asked. “Or Hart? And what about Fiona?”

  “They’re all coming later, I think,” Madison said. “I think Fiona’s dad had another one of his meetings…”

  “Do you really think she’s going to move back to California?” Madhur asked.

  Madison dramatically clutched at her chest. “I hope not,” she said. “What would we do without Fiona?”

  “I thought more of us would be at your party,” Aimee said. “What about Lindsay? She told me she’d be here.”

  “She’s totally coming,” Madison smiled. “But later—with Aunt Mimi!”

  “Mimi!” Aimee let out a little chuckle. “How fabulous is that?”

  “Who’s Aunt Mimi?” Madhur asked.

  Madison explained. “We celebrated Lindsay’s thirteenth birthday this year in New York City with Aunt Mimi. She’s this totally out-there, cool aunt—like the kind everybody wishes she had. She’s got this huge apartment in the city, and her favorite thing to do is shop.”

  “Till she drops,” Aimee added.

  “I’m sorry I wasn’t hanging out with you guys earlier this year,” Madhur said. “I missed out on some of the rea
lly good stuff.”

  Madison threw her arm around Madhur’s shoulder. “But you’re here now. That’s all that matters.”

  The family-and-friends party grew as the afternoon wore on. A few of Mom’s colleagues from Budge Films came by to offer their congratulations on Madison’s moving up. Although Madison knew that going from seventh grade to eighth wasn’t really the biggest deal in the world, everyone made it seem like an important milestone. Madison figured that any excuse for a party made people happy. Egg would say it was the free food.

  Madison wished her best guy friend was there at that moment, making fun of her as usual. She wondered if he and Mariah would come with Señora Diaz. And she wondered whether Hart were coming. He had said probably not, that he had his own family obligations to deal with first. But he had indicated that there was still a sliver of a chance.

  Mom clapped to get everyone’s attention and asked a few people to dim the lights and draw the curtains. Then, with the assistance of one of the Budge Film editors, she turned on the TV. A homemade video came into view. On the screen was Madison as a little girl.

  Oh, no.

  Madison cringed. Mom, it seemed, had made a documentary of Madison for the party.

  Help.

  Luckily for Madison, it was only a three-minute video, devoted not only to her, but also to her friends. Aimee cheered at her own image up on the screen.

  Strangely, Phin had calmed down with the arrival of more guests. He and Blossom stayed together, tails wagging, keeping low to the ground, where the crumbs fell. But they didn’t have to beg. The guests generously gave them food, from cut-up peppers to chips and crackers. Madison knew the dogs would get stomachaches, but she didn’t want to stop their fun.

  By the time Mom had loaded the table with her meringue pie, cocoa cookies, and a new platter of fruit salad, the doorbell was ringing again. More guests! First, Lindsay and Aunt Mimi showed up, as promised. Aunt Mimi wore a flamboyant caftan and turban and had jewelry up and down each arm. Lindsay grabbed Madison around the waist the moment she walked inside, all hugs and tears. For some reason, she was the most emotional of the whole group of BFFs—except for Madison, of course.

  Eventually, Egg, Chet, and Fiona showed up. Sadly, Mariah didn’t come (she had a party at her boyfriend’s house), but Madison knew she’d see more of Egg’s sister over the summer. After all, she was Madison’s “fill-in” big sister, too.

  Egg came into the house with his obnoxiousness level set on High.

  “Hey, where’s the food? Where’s Dan the Man?” he asked Madison. “Where’s your party dress, Maddie? Where’s your boyfriend?”

  Madison pinched his arm. Aimee and Madhur each gave him a pinch, too.

  “Hey! No fair! Quit pinching me!” Egg wailed.

  “Oh, shut up,” Fiona said. “You’re such a…”

  “Dude!” Chet cried, giving Egg a slap on the back. “We’ve only been here a minute, and you’ve already got Fiona mad at you…”

  Fiona crossed her arms and pouted. Across the room, a cluster of grown-ups laughed out loud. Egg turned around, as if maybe they were laughing at him.

  “Paranoid?” Aimee quipped.

  “When did everyone get so serious?” Egg asked. “I was only fooling around.”

  Fiona rolled her eyes. “Can’t you just chill out? For once?”

  “Hey, is Drew with you guys?” Madhur asked Egg and Chet.

  “Nah,” Chet answered, getting as close to Madhur as possible without standing on top of her toes. “He’s got his own party going on.”

  “Tomorrow,” Aimee said.

  “Yeah, and Drew has butlers and pool guys and gardeners to do all the work! So that’s no lame excuse for not being here.”

  “Chill,” Fiona reminded Egg.

  Egg grinned. “What? What did I say? I’m totally chill. Man, I’m an ice cube.”

  Everyone had to smile. No matter how annoying he became. Egg usually got the last laugh.

  Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

  Something rumbled in Madison’s pocket. Her cell phone was set to VIBRATE. Madison lifted it out and read the display. It read HJ.

  Hart was calling her right now!

  Madison scrambled to punch the right key and pick up the call, but the phone stopped ringing. A moment later, a text flashed on the display. Madison opened it up.

  Where r u? I’m @ this family thing w/Drew…

  Madison smiled. So that’s where they were. She’d nearly forgotten. Hart and Drew were cousins. Usually, their families celebrated a lot of the holidays and big events together. Big events like MUD.

  She kept reading. It was a long message.

  I can’t wait 2c u @ the pool thing 2morrow. BUT I need to really talk 2 u about something v. v. important ok? It’s kind of a big deal ok? C u I8r g8r. xo H.

  Madison couldn’t wipe the smile off her face when she read the last part. Hart never ever signed a note or a text with an X or O. That meant he was sending her a hug and kiss. A kiss! He was getting serious.

  But then Madison went back to the other part of the message—the part about needing to talk, really talk. What did that mean? Her curiosity was piqued. What could be so important? Why hadn’t he given her any better clues?

  “Maddie!” Fiona came over and grabbed Madison’s elbow. “I think a bunch of us are talking about going down to the lake in a while. My mom was just talking to your mom about giving everyone a ride. Go grab your suit in case we jump in.”

  “Wait. We’re all going swimming?” Madison asked. “But tomorrow is the pool party.”

  “So?” Fiona said. “It’s hot outside. Let’s go swim. It’s not like we can’t swim two days in a row, silly.”

  “Nah, I can’t,” Madison shook her head. “I have to help my mom clean up all the food and the dishes,” Madison said.

  The truth was, her mind was elsewhere. She was still thinking about Hart’s text.

  “Maddie?” Fiona gave her a little punch. “This may be one of the last times that we all hang out as seventh graders…Your mom gets it…She just told my mom that we should all go…and that means you, too…”

  “What do you mean, one of the last times we all hang out?” Madison asked.

  Hold on. She didn’t like the sound of that. Was Fiona implying that maybe one of them would be gone over the summer? Was it Fiona herself who would be gone? As in, moving gone?

  All at once Madison’s mind was at full tilt, programmed to overthink.

  “Okay, okay, fine…I guess I could go,” Madison said slowly, “since you’re twisting my arm…”

  “Maybe Hart and Drew will even show up,” Fiona said, leaning across to really twist Madison’s arm.

  “Ouch!” Madison cried out playfully. “I’ll go. I’ll go.”

  Madison glanced around the room again. Gramma and Mom were over in one corner, picking up a few cups and plates. Uncles Rick and Bob were chatting with Dad. Stephanie and Aunt Violet were in some deep discussion with Madhur’s mother. Madison felt safe there, right now, surrounded by all those people that mattered to her.

  But she felt something else, too.

  All through seventh grade, Madison had grown accustomed to expecting the unexpected, but was it possible that this time around, the unexpected could spell trouble, instead of pleasant surprises, for her? Something told her that the moment she left the party, things could—and would—change.

  With a deep breath, Madison told her friends to wait while she headed upstairs to get her things. She was going to need a lot more than her moonstone earrings to survive the postgraduation party scene.

  Chapter 19

  THE MORNING OF DREW’S pool party was the sunniest—and hottest—June day on record in Far Hills. Luckily, the air conditioner at 5 Blueberry Street blasted cool air through Madison’s bedroom. She rolled over onto her blankets, reached for her laptop, and powered it up.

  A Little Bit of Luck

  Talk about relieved. The party did NOT continue @ the lake yesterday
. The sun just vanished and these thick clouds moved in so fast, cool and creepy @ the same time, like that movie Twister. We decided it was better 2 just hang on my porch where we played Monopoly for about twenty minutes until Egg declared he was bored stiff. He and Chet and Madhur went into Mom’s office to play some killer video game. The rest of us stayed outside gossiping. I thought I saw Rose Thorn walk by (she lives close to me) but maybe it was this other girl who goes to private school. I think her name is Edith or something old-fashioned. Who knows? There are a lot of new people moving in everywhere. I guess it makes sense, since so many other peeps are moving away.

  I love this feeling of waking up in AC, buried under the comforter. I know Phinnie loves it, too. But he’s been acting so strange since the party. I think he ate too much people food. Sometimes I am convinced that Phin thinks he’s a person and not a pooch.

  I’ve been racking my brain trying to think about what Hart could possibly have 2 say 2 me @ Drew’s party 2day. He’s never secretive like this. Maybe he wants to confess his true love for Ivy! HA! HA! HA! Hold on while I pee laughing.

  I’ve decided that I need 2 look as hot as possible 4 this party. First of all, seventh grade is over (whoa) and that means eighth grade is coming and I need to try a little harder. LOL. Second, I have 2 do it 4 Hart, of course. But I also have to look good b/c everyone will be taking loads of photos. Note to self: I do not want 2 go down in history as former seventh grader AND style reject.

  Rude Awakening: Gramma Helen always says a little luck can go a long way on the path to happiness. But I don’t need to go that far. Just from here to Drew’s place and back again. Is that so much to ask for?

  I better run. Aim’s waiting and we’re supposed 2 be over @ Fiona’s in half an hour. Her dad is giving us the ride to the party. Maybe when we’re w/them, he or F’s mom will spill the beans about a big move back 2 California? I wonder. Someone has to admit something sooner or later, right? They can’t go on pretending like there isn’t some big change a-coming.

  Phin danced through the piles of clothes on Madison’s bedroom floor. First, jeans; then, a peasant skirt; and finally, a pair of lemon-colored capris, upon which Madison finally decided, even though she considered the possibility that they might get dirty. When it came to clothes and shoes, there were always so many options to consider.