�Hey, guys!� a familiar voice said, and the three girls looked up to see Madison standing in front of them. Alyson smiled widely, and Tara echoed her.
�Hey, Madison. This is Siobhan. She�s in our English class.� Alyson introduced her new friend, who smiled at Madison, �Hey.�
�Hey, Siobhan.� Madison said, and glanced towards her usual table, and then back at the three girls, �So, what�s up?� she asked.
�Ooh, you just reminded me of something Tara and I were meaning to ask you two; Madison because we�ve known you for a year and Siobhan because we�ve known you a good month. Would you like to come to my house on Halloween night?� Alyson asked.
�Really? I�d love to!� Siobhan said shyly, �I�d have to ask my mom, but sure!�
�Ooh, I really, really, really wish I could, but my friends and I are gonna do some stuff on Halloween. But if it�s early-ish, I could come to yours first.� Madison looked disappointed.
�Well, we have to take my little brother out before dinner, but afterwards Tara and I were going to go to the neighborhood school�s Haunted House. It would be around seven or so.� Alyson explained.
�Okay, that sounds good. 1329 Prescott, right?� Madison asked.
�That�s it.� Alyson confirmed, �We�ll see ya then!� she and Tara smiled at Madison, who glanced over at her friends, who were looking over at her with not-so-happy expressions on their faces.
�Gotta go!� Madison said, and hurried over to her group.
�You can�t keep hanging out with those weirdoes!� a girl named Theresa shouted.
�They aren�t weirdoes, they�re my friends!� Madison cried.
�Well, you can�t be friends with them and us at the same time. You�re just gonna have to choose!� another girl by the name of Diane exclaimed.
Madison went beet red, �A real friend wouldn�t tell me who to be friends with!� she yelled back, �So I guess you guys aren�t my real friends!�
�Go, Mads!� Alyson cheered under her breath. Siobhan flushed with pride, and Tara grinned. She�d never been stuck up for like that, except, of course, by Alyson on numerous occasions.
All five of the girls at Madison�s table walked off in a huff, and Madison stormed towards the three girls, her face red and her eyes filling with tears.
�Madison?� Alyson asked as the girl reached them, �Come on honey, let�s go somewhere more private.� she said, leading Madison off in the direction of the same bathroom they�d been in only 15 minutes before, Tara and Siobhan following.
�I can�t believe that Theresa! It�s her fault, you know, she�s the one who thinks she�s in charge. Diane was my best friend and she�s turned her against me!� Madison cried, as soon as the bathroom door shut behind them.
�Oh, Mads.� Tara whispered, and hugged the girl. Alyson smiled. Her best friend had amazing empathy for others, that she herself didn�t posses.
After a few moments, Madison pulled away, �How much longer until the masses come back?� she asked.
Siobhan checked her watch, �12 minutes. We�ve got time.� she assured the taller girl.
Madison sniffled, �I guess we�re on for Thursday night.� she smiled at Alyson, Tara, and Siobhan in turn.
�Yeah, okay. It�ll be a lot of fun with the four of us.� Alyson grinned.
*March, 2001*
Alyson, Madison, and Siobhan exchanged worried looks, but before anyone could say anything else, they heard an all-too-familiar voice at the table next to them.
�Ooh, look who�s a crybaby? Cry, baby, cry!� a voice taunted.
�Which poor soul is Oliver picking on now?� Madison asked, craning her neck to see. Oliver Platt was the 10th-grade bully, and picked on everyone he could find that looked like an easy target. He�d already targeted the four girls, but when Madison and Alyson had showed him what they were made of, he�d never bugged them again.
Alyson groaned and looked around for teachers, but there seemed to be none. She stood up and stalked over to Oliver and his two cronies.
�Platt, what are you doing?� she asked, drawing herself up to her full height of 5 feet, 4 and a quarter inches.
�Not that it�s any of your business, Almond, but I�m just having a little fun with this snot-nosed little girl here.� Oliver grinned crazily, and drew himself up to his height of just an inch taller than Alyson. Alyson glanced over at the African-American girl with tear-streaked cheeks.
�Uh-huh. Well, stop it right now or you�ll have to mess with Madison and I...bet you�d like to do that again after the fun we had last fall? Remember that, huh?� Alyson taunted.
Oliver puffed up his cheeks and thought for a moment. Madison got up and went to stand next to Alyson, too. Oliver backed down immediately, and growled before he and his 2 friends walked away.
Madison sat next to the girl, �Hey, you okay?� she asked.
Alyson sat on the other side, �Did Oliver say something to hurt your feelings?� she asked. The girl sniffled and shook her head, �No, I was already crying, he just cornered me.� she sniffled again and wiped her eyes.
Siobhan and Tara had come over by then, �Hey, what�s your name?� Siobhan asked.
�Kennedi Limon. My family just moved here from California.� Kennedi introduced herself.
�Nice to meet you, Kennedi. I�m Alyson and that�s Madison, Siobhan, and Tara. Do you want to tell us what the matter is, sweetie?� Alyson asked.
�My parents...they just separated and my mom moved me and my little sister, Kendra, here from San Francisco. My dad and big brother are still there, and I miss them, and I don�t want them to get a divorce...and now I feel silly talking to people I just met about my problems.� Kennedi sniffled, looking embarrassed.
�Hey, don�t worry. Siobhan did the same thing when we first met.� Madison smiled, glancing at Siobhan, who smiled back.
�My parents are divorced.� Alyson put in, �When I was eight. It really stinks for awhile, but in my case, my parents had been fighting for so long it was almost a relief to have no more fighting. How long has it been, honey?� Alyson asked.
�About a month. We moved here about two weeks ago, and when Mom heard about this ski trip thingy, she thought it was a good idea.� Kennedi explained.
�Well, it is if you love to ski like Ally and Tara!� Siobhan exclaimed, �Me not so much. This is only my second time.� she explained.
�It�s my first. I haven�t even been out on the slopes yet. Mom wanted me to socialize, but I haven�t been able to find anyone to ski with.� Kennedi sighed.
�You can come with us! Maddi can give you and I a lesson, she�s been trying to teach me all morning.� Siobhan suggested.
Kennedi smiled, �Sure!�
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