The Pages Between Us

by Lindsey Leavitt

  “I bet this baby will be BANANAS for her blanket!”

  “What flavor is this lollipop? APE?” (Instead of grape. Get it?)

  By the end, we were just making gorilla noises and throwing bananas back and forth. Maybe you had to be there to get it. Hilarious.

  We got SOOO many blankets done! The lady who organized all the activities was so excited, she wants to host a sewing night with the girls and have us make more stuff. Then I said I can knit and everyone thought that was the coolest thing ever. So we’re going to start knitting things at Tessa’s house on Thursdays. She wants us to set up a store in her neighborhood like Danny does and sell even more. Maybe we’ll do an online shop someday. I mean, if they’re any good at knitting. But I bet they will be. They’re such awesome girls. I’m glad I gave them a chance despite You Know What.

  And you really missed out on the soups. Even the organic kinds you like were yummy. I got the recipe for the enchilada one and I made it for my family last night using some leftover turkey from Thanksgiving. My brothers each ate two bowls and my mom was so relieved to not have to cook that she said she thinks clubs really are a good idea. Educational, non-educational, just as long as we’re talking school clubs I can go to any of them.

  Her one rule was I had to write an apology note to Danny and invite him to my party, but that’s a small price to pay for all the fun we’re going to have. I don’t know what I’m going to come up with to say to him. I hope Tessa will understand that I have no choice about inviting him.

  My sister told me Danny probably likes me and that I’ve been doing my hair cuter lately (have I?), which was really nice for her. First to speak to me at all, and then to say something positive. Although double gross on Danny. Like he even would.

  I’m glad you feel like you’re able to make friends now. Me too. I always thought having a lot of sort-of friends would be more work, but it really isn’t. You just laugh in the group, say a couple of funny things, and it’s all good. Oh, I invited all the church girls to my birthday! I really need to go over this list one more time before I write out invitations. My mom’s going to do them with me tomorrow. I get to pick them out from her stationery shop. Just me and her. Cool, right?

  But sorry, back to you. That’s great about the regional tournament. Good luck at your first match tonight. I would totally come and watch, but I don’t have a ride and I want to go to LEGO Club. They’re building famous Washington monuments now. And I’d rather not run into Steve Polaski and his Eyes of Judgment.

  I just hope Chess Club doesn’t swallow up your whole life until you forget about all the other things that matter to you. But it probably won’t. How much chess can a person really play anyway?

  Later skater!

  PIPER

  Grateful: Monkeys!, broccoli cheese soup, eating with my whole family, picking out paper for my invitations, seeing you again today, and everything is good again ☺

  Chapter 23

  Piper,

  You won’t believe this. The Chess Club always meets after school but . . . guess what? Last night we held a special meeting and we all went to Dairy Queen! Twelve of us took over the back three booths, all with the manager’s consent. (He also happens to be Ellie’s dad so I think he was just happy to watch her play.)

  We played two games with a partner, then rotated (but we got breaks so we could fill up on Oreo Blizzards). And then the two top players who won the most matches were given a gift certificate . . . to Chevy’s!

  So how did I do at my matches, you ask? I’m not gonna lie . . . I killed it! I went on the offensive more, didn’t subordinate my pieces, protected the queen, and used my bishop for sneak attacks—all the things Dad taught me. And it worked! I played six games and won five, only losing to Steve Polaski, but part of me wonders if I didn’t let him win. He IS the club captain, and when I took both his rooks, I could see sweat forming on his forehead. And then he started to develop an eye twitch. Poor guy.

  I won five matches and now I have a Chevy’s gift certificate! That means I can ask Dad to take me and hopefully we’ll talk about . . . I don’t know . . . STUFF!

  I have no idea yet if I made it into the top four to move on to the regional tournament, so I’m crossing my fingers and toes (but not my elbows anymore because it hurt after a few minutes). They let us know this afternoon, so cross your elbows for me since you’re flexible.

  Okay, so it wasn’t just winning five matches that made my night. Afterward, we all hung out outside on the patio and ate corn dogs and French fries. Then Ellie and I and a bunch of other people (I won’t bore you with everyone’s names because you don’t know them) made French fry castles, just like you and I used to do with your Tater Tots, except that Ellie has this amazing ability to lay down crinkle fries like she’s making a log cabin and the base of our structure was indestructible. We were able to go up three floors! And then, you won’t believe it, the guys started breaking up pieces of their corn dogs into little miniature people and we made up this whole scene where Lord Corn Dog was being taken over by the evil Darth Blood (which was actually a blob of ketchup with dabs of mustard for eyes—sounds silly, but it really did look sinister).

  It was like I glided among them gracefully like an Olympic skater. You should’ve been there. But you’re busy with the soup stuff and it sounds like you changed your mind about those girls and had fun, so that’s good. Right? That’s a good thing?

  I want to believe it’s a good thing—I really do.

  So today I was at lunch and Jordan grabbed some extra napkins for me when he noticed I didn’t have any. I was sitting with Ellie and he laid them down next to me and said, “I had some extras—thought you might need some.” And he shot me this I’m-such-a-nice-guy smile.

  Yeah, Jordan may be a nice guy, but I never meant for him to read that note and suddenly start acting like Mr. Wonderful. I meant for Jackson to be my Mr. Wonderful. Even though I asked him in math class if he wanted me to sharpen his pencil since I was headed that way and he just shrugged and didn’t say anything. I don’t get it—maybe he had a Math Headache? I get those sometimes when I’m solving a word problem.

  But honestly, I sort of feel like I don’t have time to deal with either one of these guys. Chess is taking up my free time, and when I’m not doing homework, I’m studying chess tutorials on YouTube.

  So last night my dad walked in on me. “Whatcha watching?”

  I quickly clicked my tab over to a Gilmore Girls episode since I didn’t want him to know that I was studying chess. My plan is to wait until I’m chosen for the regional tournament, then leave the tournament invitation on the kitchen table under his travel coffee mug and surprise him.

  “I’m watching season two, episode five.”

  Dad nodded. “A wise choice.”

  “Wanna watch with me?” I patted my bed and scooted over to make room. It would also be the perfect time to spring the Chevy’s gift certificate on him.

  “Can’t tonight, gotta grade papers.”

  “How about we play a game real quick?” I asked, gesturing toward the chessboard.

  He looked at the carpet, not me. “Sorry. No time.”

  He doesn’t have enough time . . . for me.

  Sigh.

  But before he closed the door, he peeked his head back in and added, “Good night, Chicken.”

  Chicken. That’s the name he always called me when I was a little kid. I loved it because Jason never had a nickname. We were just Jason and Chicken.

  I almost called out to him so I could tell him about the Chevy’s gift certificate. Almost. I just knew it would hurt too much to hear him say he didn’t have time to go.

  If I make it to the regional tournament though, Dad and I will finally have something to do together. It’s the type of thing he CAN’T wiggle out of. Right?

  Gotta sign off now, it’s getting late. And even though I’m pretty tired and groggy, if my calculations are correct, we haven’t seen each other in five days except for the fifty-two m
inutes of French class yesterday. But that doesn’t count since it was in a different language.

  We still have the shelter on Mondays. You’re still planning on doing that, aren’t you?

  I can’t wait for your birthday party. It’s gonna be awesome . . . just you wait and see! Are we having spinach and pesto pizza (so yummy)? Please don’t tell me you’re still planning on only ordering pepperoni. Step it up—do something exotic!

  Olivia

  Grateful for:

  1. Winning five chess games

  2. Witnessing Ellie create a French-fry castle that could withstand a tsunami

  3. Blinkie sitting on my lap while I watch YouTube

  4. Jumbo-size Oreo Blizzards

  5. Dad at least sticking his head back in one more time to call me Chicken—in a good way

  Chapter 24

  Olivia,

  Hey, sorry that we seem to be getting less than fifty minutes lately. I tried to find you after class yesterday, but I saw you walking away with Ellie. And I was going to wait for you today, but then Bethany had a note she needed to pass to me and we ended up walking to our lockers together.

  Did I tell you Renee is going out with Travis now? They seem like a weird match, since you know how chatty Renee is and Travis always just sits there like a jar of paste.

  Wait, have you met them yet?

  So I’m writing this really fast during sixth period so I can drop off the notebook in your locker before we meet up tonight at the animal shelter. Seriously, how is it possible that I literally haven’t seen you in over a week!

  Yes, of course I’m still working at the shelter. I know we’ve both been so busy lately, but I’m not going to give up on Trigger. Or filing things for dogs like Trigger.

  Anyway, that all sounds cool about Chess Club. I’m glad you’ve found your people. Even if your people can be a little bit snobby, that’s great that they are so nice to you. I’m sorry I can’t invite Ellie to my birthday, though. I tried to get more people invited, but Mom said it’s like fifteen dollars a person and they are already spending a fortune. It’s a good thing I’m dropping the soap-opera angle—I would have to start a spin-off series with all the guests! And I don’t really know her anyway.

  Have your parents met her yet? Ellie sounds like your mom’s cup of tea. (Although maybe not because her dad owns a Dairy Queen. Hopefully Ellie’s mom is a football fan. Or from the South.) Maybe you guys can play doubles chess against them. Is that a thing? If not, I’m making it a thing. Tell your chess friends I invented a new game!

  I never in a million years thought I would say this, but I’m starting to miss the Jackson Whittaker updates! We’ve spent three years dissecting every time you’ve breathed the same air as him, and now you TALK to him in class and it’s

  No Big Deal. Bethany abbreviates everything. Saves loads of time, trust me.

  Shouldn’t we be writing a script so you can talk to him at my birthday party instead of talking about a regional tournament? Isn’t that why we started the clubs in the first place?

  So I finally wrote my OIL—Official Invite List. I’ll attach it in here. It sure took a while. And I have a BIG SURPRISE to give you tonight at the shelter! You are going to love it. I’m so excited, I feel like I’m that lady in The Sound of Music, spinning around and singing about all my favorite things. Tra-la-la!

  Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens,

  Piper

  Grateful: one thing is enough. And I’ll give it to you tonight!!

  Birthday invite list . . .

  1. YOU

  2. Bethany Livingston

  3. Tessa Ramsey

  4. Eve Pinkler

  5. Scarlet Kingborn

  6. Joel Lamier

  7. Ryan Dawson

  8. Troy Addelson

  9. Jackson Whittaker

  10. Jordan Goldberg

  11. Dana Huffington (she begged me!)

  12. Andrea and Danny

  13. Felicity from LARP!

  14. Brittan Tanner (I need to come up with extra money because I’m over but I couldn’t cut back.)

  See? I don’t have room for Ellie. But you’ll have JACKSON, so not worried about you a bit.

  Chapter 25

  Piper,

  You’re right. I haven’t even talked to you about Jackson! The fact that I was able to put words together in a sentence that even resembled normalcy is a huge feat for me, right?

  I talked to Ellie and the other girls from Chess Club at lunch about him. They all think I’m ready to try another note to him. One that has his name on it so that it will land IN HIS HAND. I’ll put one of the girls on alert to make sure Jordan isn’t anywhere in the northern hemisphere when I give it to him.

  I’ve been practicing what I’m going to write by jotting stuff down on my lunch napkin. It’s starting to come together. Sort of.

  And I can’t wait to see you at the shelter tonight too. You have a surprise for me?? Well, guess what? I have a surprise for YOU!! Can’t wait to show you.

  Wheeeeeeee

  —Olivia

  Chapter 26

  Olivia?

  Why are you late? Why aren’t you here? I had my mom drop me off fifteen minutes early so I could see you! So I could give you . . . ta-da!

  THIS INVITATION . . .

  Isn’t it just the most amazingest? I’ve never owned a piece of paper that is lovelier. Someday, I will pull aside my children, and my children’s children, and say, “Come, my child. Come see the moment when your grandma, Nobel Peace Prize Winner and President of the United States, first started her pathway to excellence.”

  “Grandma?” Little Henry will say (btw, he’s also a piano prodigy or something. I’m going to have remarkable offspring). “Has anyone else seen this rare artifact?”

  I will look out the window and smile wistfully. “Only a select few. Fourteen lucky peers, in fact. The Smithsonian asked to display this precious paper, but I declined. I believe one guest sold their invitation on eBay for one trillion dollars. I don’t blame them. My twelfth birthday party was spectacular!”

  My mom drove me around after school to pass them out. It was so much fun! She was so smart to have set the date nine days earlier than my real birthday. The first weekend of December isn’t as busy as the rest. There aren’t office parties or holiday choir concerts or cookie exchanges. It’ll actually be about my birthday and not Christmassy! Plus, Pottery Palace was super booked. I’m so glad everything worked out. Oh, and when I dropped off Jackson’s invitation, he asked IF YOU WERE GOING TO COME TOO. It’s like all of our dreams are coming true.

  I just looked out the office window and you are here! I’m going to GET ALL SCREAMY and start RanDomLy cApiTaliZIng. And Miss Jill has us both cleaning out the file cabinet all afternoon, so we have loads of time to plan plan plan. So yeah. Invitation! Best surprise ever, right?

  It’s Time to Make the Right Move!

  Kennedy Middle School is proud to support their team

  in the Central California Regional Chess Tournament!

  Our players . . .

  STEVE POLASKI

  SARAH WASHINGTON

  ANDREW BASKIN

  And newcomer . . .

  OLIVIA WESTON!!!

  Date: SATURDAY, DEC. 6

  Time: BEGINNING AT 2 P.M.

  Chapter 27

  P—

  I’m writing in This Notebook because I know once you get done fuming over there, you’re going to be curious what I’m scribbling in here.

  Piper. Why didn’t you tell me you were doing your party so early? I just naturally figured it would be, like, on YOUR REAL BIRTHDAY. This regional tournament has been set since the beginning of the school year. The regional tournament doesn’t care about when I joined or when you were born. The regional tournament is not going to be changed. And the regional tournament is what I will tell MY children and grandchildren about someday. Don’t you get that? I worked hard and I earned this. I even beat out Ellie. She was named the alternate. I
found her in the bathroom, rubbing at her eyes. I knew she was crying, but she claimed it was allergies. I feel awful for beating her since SHE’S the one who taught me everything. But she shook my hand, like a good friend.

  I know those invitations are going to be worth a trillion dollars someday, but can’t you change the date? Imagine if I won, or placed, and my dad was sitting there watching me?

  Everyone wants to come to your party. They’ll make it happen.

  Sliding this over to you. Talk to me.

  O

  Chapter 28

  Olivia,

  So OTHER PEOPLE can make my party happen, but you aren’t other people, right? No, you are part of the SPECIAL people, and special people put tournaments before best friends. Maybe you can have ELLIE go to the mall with you after. Go have TEA with your mom.

  I know you do chess because it’s important to feel close to your dad. But haven’t you ever thought that this party is important to me because of my family too? There isn’t ever anything that is just about me! I’m just the kid in the backseat driving around to everyone else’s destinations. Designing and delivering those invitations with my mom was the first alone thing we’ve done in forever. Dad even helped us write the addresses out. Just the three of us at the kitchen table.

  I’m not as different from you as you think.

  And I’m so confused. You want me to drive to twelve other people’s houses and de-invite them? What should I say? “Oh, sorry. This time doesn’t work for Olivia. Chess is a priority.”