TBH, This Is So Awkward

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TBH, This Is So Awkward Page 5

by Lisa Greenwald


  xoxo Pri

  Cecily, Gabrielle

  CECILY

  Pri doesn’t even get that I’m mad @ her . . .

  Doesn’t she c how dumb it was 2 do that & how much she hurt V’s feelings

  Gabs, hello

  R u there

  GABRIELLE

  I’m here . . .

  IDK what 2 say.

  It’s all messed up

  I’m scared of writing anything bc of my mom w/ that app!

  CECILY

  Ugh ok

  Bye xox

  From: Gabrielle Katz

  To: Colin Hayes

  Subject: no subject

  colin,

  hey. i’m emailing you instead of texting bc my mom has that app to see my phone and i’m freaked out. meet me at my locker tomorrow before school and i will tell you who sent the note.

  —gabby

  From: Prianka Basak

  To: Gabrielle Katz

  Subject: Mad at me, too?

  Gabs,

  Are you mad at me, too? It was an accident. I didn’t mean to hurt Victoria’s feelings. Can we talk?

  I miss you!

  Pri

  Cecily, Mara

  CECILY

  My friends turned crazy, I think . . .

  MARA

  CECILY

  Pri got in major trouble bc she was mean to Victoria on text

  She got her phone taken away & promise u won’t tell any1—Gabs is the 1 who sent note to Colin.

  MARA

  OMG OMG OMG OMG

  CECILY

  PROMISE YOU WILL NOT TELL ANY1.

  MARA

  = sealed.

  CECILY

  Com

  E over after school tomw?

  MARA

  MEMO

  From: Mr. Carransey, Principal Yorkville Middle School

  To: ALL SIXTH-GRADE STUDENTS, ALL SIXTH-GRADE PARENTS

  Re: Valentine’s Day Dance

  Dear sixth graders and parents:

  The Valentine’s Day dance has been canceled. Students were warned about the consequences of their behavior, but the social cruelty continued. It’s more than that—I see you when you are talking to one another, and sometimes you do not even lift your heads to talk face-to-face. Your eyes are glued to your phones. Do you value your phones more than social decency? Spend some time thinking about this.

  Sincerely,

  Edward Carransey

  Principal

  Yorkville Middle School

  Be the change you want to see in the world. —Gandhi

  Colin, Gabrielle

  COLIN

  R u sure bout that note?

  GABRIELLE

  Uh huh

  COLIN

  Doesn’t make sense

  We r just badminton partners

  GABRIELLE

  Trust me

  COLIN

  I don’t like her tho . . .

  GABRIELLE

  So just forget about the note, k

  COLIN

  U r kinda weird

  GABRIELLE

  Am not

  GTG

  Dear Diary,

  I did another dumb thing. I can’t even put it in writing. I think my mom is snooping. Everything feels terrible. I want to run away.

  Love,

  Gabby

  Cecily, Mara

  MARA

  So much fun hangin w/ u yest

  CECILY

  I KNOW

  Good thing we r normal 1s in our groups so we can hang

  MARA

  Totally

  Every1 is bonkers

  But I have to tell u something . . .

  Promise not to freak?

  CECILY

  Ummmm

  MARA

  Sooo Gabby’s locker is next to mine & I heard her talking to Colin before 1st period . . .

  CECILY

  Yeah

  MARA

  She told him u sent him an anonymous love letter or something?

  CECILY

  What

  Me?

  R u sure you heard right

  MARA

  Yeah . . . It was like she didn’t know what to say or something . . . Seemed SO SO SO weird

  CECILY

  Ummm I am so confused

  People r just getting weirder

  MARA

  I KNOW

  CECILY

  Let’s run away 2gether 2 our own island or something

  MARA

  OK!!!!

  CECILY

  I am so embarrassed tho

  I don’t like Colin!!

  We still have to play badminton together

  What should I do??

  MARA

  Pretend u don’t know . . . Just act normal

  CECILY

  UGH this is soo annoying

  Does any1 care about getting the dance back

  MARA

  IDK

  CECILY

  I want to skip school 4ever

  I am in a fight with Prianka

  & now Colin thinks I like him

  & tbh this is soooooo awkward

  MARA

  It’ll be ok

  Just hang w/ me

  CECILY

  M girls + C?

  MARA

  Hee hee

  We don’t even call ourselves that anymore

  CECILY

  K, nighty night

  MARA

  SWAK

  From: Prianka Basak

  To: Cecily Anderson

  Subject: I MISS YOUUUUU

  Hi, Cece,

  I miss you so much. I don’t know when I’m getting my phone back. Please talk to me, Cece. I wrote Victoria an apology letter. I need to tell you what happened at Bal Vihar on Sunday. I think Vishal wants to go out with me. What should I do? I really miss you. . . .

  xoxo Pri

  Prianka Basak’s Sad Missing Her Phone Poetry Book

  Poem 1

  Prianka is sad

  Her phone is gone

  When will she get it back?

  How does anyone survive without a phone?

  I wish I knew

  From: Gabrielle Katz

  To: Prianka Basak

  Subject: CAN YOU USE THE PHONE AT ALL??

  Pri,

  I’m writing this from computer lab. I really need to talk to you in private. Can you use the phone? Like a landline? It is really important.

  xo Gabs

  READING LOG

  V— Here are my reading log pages. So sorry again about that group text. I feel so bad for Auggie. Middle school is hard enough with a regular face, ya know? —G

  I know—but even saying “regular face” sounds insensitive, to be honest. Thanks for apologizing. Here are my pages. —V

  From: Prianka Basak

  To: Gabrielle Katz

  Subject: NO PHONES ALLOWED

  gabs,

  i’m not allowed to call/text/anything. i am only allowed on email to get school assignments, so even this is illegal. meet me in front of the cafeteria before 1st period tomorrow and we can talk. me and vishal are a real couple! omg. too bad I can’t talk to him at all outside of school or bal vihar. BOO HOO.

  smooches, pri

  Cecily, Gabrielle

  CECILY

  I am so so so mad at u btw

  I figured u’d at least tell me urself what u did, but I had to hear from like 3 other peeps

  GABRIELLE

  I am so sorry, Cece

  I wanted to tell him it was me

  But at last second I froze & I was like “well, Cece can handle anything” so I said u

  But I am so so sorry

  CECILY

  DON’T CRYING CAT FACE ME!!!!!

  WE ARE PAST EMOJIS RIGHT NOW

  I don’t like Colin

  I don’t like any boy right now

  I need a break, ok

  Please don’t text me anymore

  GABRIELLE

  Please please please
forgive me

  I will do anything

  CECILY

  I SAID DON’T TEXT ME ANYMORE

  Poem 2

  We wish and wish and wish and wish

  But some things don’t come true

  It is the way of life

  Might as well get used to it

  From: Gabrielle Katz

  To: Colin Hayes

  Subject: Hi

  Dear Colin,

  I need to tell you something. It was me who wrote the note. I don’t know why I lied and said it was Cecily. I guess because you are badminton partners and it seemed believable and I got scared. I have liked you for a really long time. I guess that’s all I have to say.

  From, Gabby

  Hi, Cece. I’m writing you this note because you said not to text you anymore, but you didn’t say I couldn’t pass you a note between classes. I am so so sorry about what I did. I don’t have a good excuse, really, but I got scared. Can we please talk? xoxo Gabs

  Dear Gabs, I know you’re sorry. Thanks for apologizing. But honestly, I just can’t deal with the drama right now. I’m still really mad and I think I just need a break from you and Pri for a bit. —Cece

  Gabrielle, Victoria

  VICTORIA

  Gabby, r u there

  GABRIELLE

  Yeah

  Hi

  VICTORIA

  Just wanted to say that I saw u crying after school 2day by the bus line

  I felt really bad but I didn’t know what 2 say

  So I’m texting u now 2 check in

  GABRIELLE

  Oh, thanx

  That’s really sweet of u

  U r def the Summer of Yorkville

  VICTORIA

  R u ok

  & YAY!

  Summer is my fave char in WONDER!!!!!! “If you can get through middle school without hurting anyone’s feelings, that’s really cool beans.”

  GABRIELLE

  Seriously

  I guess my friends & I can’t do that . . . Cecily is mad at me & Pri still doesn’t have her phone but all she cares about is Vishal & I sent Colin that anonymous note & then I admitted it was me, & I haven’t heard anything from him since & my mom said we are definitely moving this summer . . .

  VICTORIA

  Wow that was a long text

  Longest text I’ve ever gotten

  That is prob so dorky to say

  GABRIELLE

  LOL not dorky

  VICTORIA

  Maybe Colin doesn’t know what 2 say

  Boys r kinda slow LOL

  GABRIELLE

  LOL. Maybe

  VICTORIA

  It’ll all work out

  GABRIELLE

  U think?

  VICTORIA

  Yes

  Def

  If u ever want 2 talk or uh text I’m here

  GABRIELLE

  LOL

  Thanx, Victoria

  Cecily, Mara

  CECILY

  So do u think I should write that email 2 the grade about putting our phones in Mr. Carransey’s office 4 a day

  MARA

  I think it’s a great idea

  CECILY

  His secretary said she’d put out a box and just make sure all phones are labeled

  I think it’ll make a strong point

  MARA

  Def

  CECILY

  I’m nervous—what if no1 does it?

  MARA

  Well, send the email & then ask people to respond if they’re gonna do it

  Ya know

  CECILY

  Good idea

  From: Cecily Anderson

  To: 6th Grade Students

  Subject: Phones and texting

  Dear classmates:

  By now you have all heard that Mr. Carransey canceled the Valentine’s Day dance because of social cruelty in the school. It is in the other grades, too, but mostly our grade. I thought we could all prove that we value each other more than our phones, by doing a phone drop. We’ll all put our phones in a box in Mr. Carransey’s office and leave them there overnight. Hopefully he will be pleased by this and realize that we are done with social cruelty and texting and social media, and he will reconsider having the dance. Please reply and let me know if you will be participating. Then I will provide instructions.

  Sincerely,

  Cecily Anderson, 6th grade rep

  Cecily, Mara

  CECILY

  OMG—have gotten so many responses

  MARA

  Everyone is gonna do it?

  CECILY

  I think so!

  I’ll give it a few more days

  MARA

  Yay we are totes getting our dance back

  CECILY

  YAAAAA

  Dear Diary,

  Colin still hasn’t responded about the note. Cecily isn’t talking to me. I am embarrassed to bring it up to Pri. So embarrassed.

  Love,

  Gabby

  PRIANKA

  Guess who has her fone back????

  GABRIELLE

  Welcome back

  CECILY

  Welcome back but I’m still not talking 2 either of u

  GABRIELLE

  Right, well, this is texting not talking

  CECILY

  BLARGH

  GABRIELLE

  Cece, I liked ur idea of the phone drop

  PRIANKA

  I liked it 2

  CECILY

  Thanks

  GABRIELLE

  How’d you get ur phone back, Pri?

  Cecily HAS LEFT THE CHAT

  Prianka, Gabrielle

  GABRIELLE

  Sheesh she’s really not talking to us

  PRIANKA

  Guess not

  GABRIELLE

  Soooooo how’d u get it back???

  PRIANKA

  Well

  Long story

  Ready?

  GABRIELLE

  Yesssss

  PRIANKA

  Well, my parents said I couldn’t get it back until I realized what I’d done & how my words affect others so I was like, uhhhh . . .

  But then I realized what I could do

  In my meeting with Mr. Carransey I told him I could start a task force

  Like a group

  GABRIELLE

  I don’t get it

  PRIANKA

  Like we could have meetings and stuff 2 make sure every1 is being nice & using their phones for good

  GABRIELLE

  Ummmm ok sure

  PRIANKA

  Isn’t it genius

  We r going 2 start in march!!

  GABRIELLE

  I guess?

  PRIANKA

  GABS, it is genius

  GABRIELLE

  Congrats, Pri

  U got ur phone back & u r helping humanity 2 . . .

  PRIANKA

  YES YES YES!!!!!

  DEAR PRIANKA:

  I GOT THESE LETTERS AT THE COMIC BOOK STORE. AREN’T THEY COOL? IT HELPS TO PASS THE TIME IN STUDY HALL. DO U THINK WE’LL GET THE DANCE BACK?

  —VISHAL

  Cece, Hope you go to your locker before lunch to see this note!!! I just walked by Mr. Carransey’s office, and the box for phones is almost full! GO YOU! xoxo Mara

  From: Colin Hayes

  To: Gabrielle Katz

  Subject: Note

  Dear Gabby,

  Thanks for telling me about the note. Sorry I forgot to write back for so long. It’s cool that you like me.

  —Colin

  Prianka, Gabrielle

  GABRIELLE

  What does that email mean??

  PRIANKA

  IDK

  Guess he thinks it’s cool

  GABRIELLE

  Do u understand?

  PRIANKA

  Not really

  Hee hee

  GABRIELLE

  UGH

  BYE

  Cece, I am so so so sorry about the who
le thing with the note. Please forgive me. Meet me outside the cafeteria for lunch. I am so so sorry.

  I love you. Gabs

  MEMO

  From: Mr. Carransey, Principal, Yorkville Middle School

  To: ALL SIXTH-GRADE STUDENTS

  Please meet in the auditorium after third period.

  Thank you,

  Edward Carransey

  Principal

  Yorkville Middle School

  Be the change you want to see in the world. —Gandhi

  Cecily, Mara

  MARA

  OMG, CECILY!

  U did it

  U got the dance back

  CECILY

  Well, we ALL did it

  Every1 dropped their phones

  The whole grade

  MARA

  I can’t believe it

  SO EXCITED THO

  CECILY

  Me too!!!!

  Dear Cece,

  Congrats on all your hard work on getting the dance back. I just want to say sorry again for the note thing. It was inexcusable. Please find with this note a bag of peanut m&ms. Your favorite. Please forgive me.

  xoxo Gabs

  BFFAE 4 REAL

  CECILY

  OK, u guys, thx 4 all the notes & emails & everything

  I’m done being in a fight

  PRIANKA

  4 real?

  GABRIELLE

  YEAH??

  CECILY

  I missed u guys

  But here r new ground rules

  READY?

  PRIANKA

  YUP

  GABRIELLE

  YUPPPPPP

  CECILY

  1. No texting fights

  2. Make sure u know who u r group texting

  3. No lying about secret admirer notes

 

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