My mom is going to email ur moms
She is very mad
Wanted 2 warn u
Bye luv u guys
GABRIELLE
Wait what
Explain more
PRIANKA
So confused
Cece, where r u?
GABRIELLE
Victoria, r u still here?
PRIANKA
WIGO
GABRIELLE
4 real
No clue
From: Priscilla Melford
To: Manjula Basak, Elizabeth Anderson, Diana Katz
Subject: Technology problems
Hello, Manjula, Elizabeth, and Diana:
I am deeply disturbed by the way our daughters communicate. Every time I look at Victoria, she is “texting” your daughters.
Victoria was “messaging” in study hall in school and her computer has been confiscated for a week.
Please speak to your children about this. I’m concerned. Victoria was never this “attached” to technology before. I am glad she has made friends, but this is unacceptable.
Thank you,
Priscilla
SQUAD
GABRIELLE
Omg
Did u hear what happened 2 Victoria
PRIANKA
That she is in loooooove with Arjun
It’s ooc
CECILY
Even Victoria is in luv with some1
PRIANKA
IDK
But what happened 4 real
GABRIELLE
LOL
U r gonna laugh
She was caught iMessaging with Arjun so now she’s suspended and she lost comp privs for 1 week
CECILY
Wahhh
PRIANKA
That’s terrible
GABRIELLE
IK
Her mom is sooooo mad
That’s what she was warning us about
CECILY
Srsly this is why I said no iMessaging in school 4 real
PRIANKA
Totally
CECILY
Guys, I am the only 1 in the grade who is not in luv w/ some1
WTH
Prianka, Gabrielle
PRIANKA
Why is Cece being so weird
I feel like she’s on some kind of power trip bc she is in charge of the booths 4 spring fair & bc she is class rep & always @ meetings
GABRIELLE
Pri, that’s so rude
ALSO NO SIDE CHATS
PRIANKA
Just sayin
She’s also so weird about boy stuff
Did u ever realize that
Why is she scared of boys
GABRIELLE
Stop
She is who she is
Remember tolerance
& accepting each other
PRIANKA
IK but still
Victoria—r u ok? XOXO Gabs
:( not really. My parents are so so mad at me. I may never get my phone back or be able to use the computer. Crying. XOX Victoria
Hang in there. It’ll be okay.
Thanks. U r a good friend.
Vishal, Prianka
VISHAL
Yo
PRIANKA
Yo yo yo
VISHAL
R u free 2 go 2 the movies w/ Arjun & Victoria this wknd
PRIANKA
Ummm
VISHAL
IDK what that means
PRIANKA
I’m thinking bout it
I thought she was in soooo much trouble
VISHAL
IDK
Arjun just asked me
PRIANKA
Ok I’ll go
VISHAL
Cool
Bye
Hi Hi Best Neighbor Ever Dear Cecily,
I had so much fun hanging with you yesterday. I am so sorry I lost your other letter and never wrote back. Please forgive me. We will def do that backyard camping trip.
But I forgot to ask and I need to know who first suggested marriage booth. Now everyone is obsessed with it. I am so curious. I don’t get it. And I kind of hate how all the girls are so boy crazy. There is more to life than talking about boys! Ya know?!!?
Also, so so happy you love my “inspiring-messages wall” at the fair! It will look so cool when we have little pieces of colorful paper all over covered with happy, inspiring things on them.
I didn’t even realize this when I first thought of it but it goes with the theme this semester of looking inward and exploring our diversity or whatever it’s called.
What do you think of my calligraphy? Just started a calligraphy class at the community center.
Cool calligraphy, right?
Want to come over for pizza Friday?
XOXO Mara
Hi Mara—
Nice calligraphy. Impressed!
I can’t tell you who suggested it, I have to keep all ideas anonymous. But yeah, everyone is obsessed. So weird.
I am so glad you feel the same way I do about all the boy craziness. There is so much more to talk and think about. The boys in our grade are soooo immature.
Yes pizza this Friday!!!!!!!!!!!
XOXO Cecily
Dear Diary,
I haven’t written in you in soooo long. TBH, I kind of forgot about you. So sorry! I know that’s really mean. Things are good though. I’m going on a camping trip with Cecily and Prianka this summer. But I am so so nervous about it. I don’t even know if I like that naturey adventure stuff. I pretty much hate hiking. And what if I don’t like the other kids? Sometimes I wonder if I will just bail last minute. Would my friends hate me? I still love Colin. Just in case you were wondering. :)
Anyway, that’s all for now. Bye!
XOXO
Gabby
Arjun, Victoria
VICTORIA
Finally got my phone back
How r u
ARJUN
Ok
VICTORIA
What’s wrong
ARJUN
Peeps from my old school r still bugging me
They r emailing me all this rude stuff & texting me
My mom may have to call the police
So messed up
VICTORIA
That’s terrible
I’m sorry
ARJUN
Thx
VICTORIA
I’m happy u r here tho
ARJUN
LOL
Me 2
Glad I met u
VICTORIA
Awwwww just got an amazing idea
ARJUN
?
VICTORIA
U should make a speech at an assembly one day soon
Abt what happened to u & how we can’t let it happen here
Raise awareness and stuff
U know they r always asking 4 student speakers
ARJUN
4 real?
VICTORIA
Yes def
ARJUN
IDK
I just got here
VICTORIA
That’s why its so powerful
I was new this yr 2
And it’s sooooooo hard
ARJUN
Yeah IDK
VICTORIA
Well think about it
ARJUN
K
gtg
See u tomrw
VICTORIA
Bye
SQUAD
PRIANKA
Omg I am freaking out about this double date
It suddenly feels soooo serious
I can’t even change my emojis RN
Where r u guys
Answer me
R u 2 hanging w/o me
I mean honestly who would’ve thought my 1st double date wld be w/ Victoria??????
Helloooooooooooo
SQUAD
CECILY
So sorry
Had to stay after to meet w/ Mr. C & othe
r teachers about spring fair
Sorry my responses are so slow
Super hectic times for this 6th grade rep LOL
PRIANKA
Where is Gabs
CECILY
IDK
PRIANKA
So weird
So what should I do about this double date
Do I sit b/t Vish and Arj @ the movie
CECILY
IDK
U know I have no idea about any of this stuff
I can ask Ingrid b/c she has some boy experience
PRIANKA
Noooooo
CECILY
LOL
OK
So just go w/ it
It’ll be ok
PRIANKA
Fine whatever
GABRIELLE
Hiiii, guys
Sorry I am chiming in so late
U r never going to believe this
Ready
CECILY
Ummmm scared but ok
PRIANKA
Same
GABRIELLE
Sooooo . . . Colin came up to me @ the bus line
And he sat next to m
me
& then he asked if he could walk me home
PRIANKA
WHATTTTTTTTTTTT
CECILY
GO ON
GABRIELLE
So I said ok
My mom was gonna be home though sooooo awk
And he came over for like 15 min
CECILY
Wowie
GABRIELLE
WAIT
We walked outside when he was leaving
AND HE KISSED ME RIGHT THERE BY THE SIDE OF MY HOUSE OMGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG
PRIANKA
Whattttt
GABRIELLE
I KNOW
I was not ready
I mean I was bc I’ve liked him 4ever
But I didn’t expect that AT ALL
CECILY
U had ur 1st kiss today
TBH THIS IS A BIG DEAL
And u told us over text
OMGGGGGGGGGG
GABRIELLE
I knooooowwwww
What does this mean
PRIANKA
Ummmmm
He obv likes u
GABRIELLE
Yeah
But I mean do we hang out again
Do we kiss all the time now
CECILY
LOL
Not in school
PRIANKA
Def not
This is sooooo weirddddd
GABRIELLE
Bugging out
CECILY
I gtg help my mom bring in groceries
Talk later
PRIANKA
I want more deets, Gabs
Pleaaaaaseeeeeeeeeee
GABRIELLE
That’s really ittttttttt
But srsly buggin
PRIANKA
K I gtg 2 Xoxoxo
GABRIELLE
Bye, loves
Cecily, Mara
CECILY
U there
I have 2 tell u something
Promise u won’t tell
MARA
Hi yea
CECILY
Gabby had her 1st kiss 2day
Isn’t that so crazy
MARA
OMG yes
CECILY
I have never liked any1
have u
MARA
Noooooo
CECILY
K
MARA
LOL
Dear Cece,
I kind of like how we write each other real letters, don’t you? Anyway, you are the best neighbor in the world. You’re an amazing 6th grade rep, and an all-around wonderful person! Don’t stress about the boy stuff. You rock. XOXOX Mara
Vishal, Prianka
VISHAL
Yo
PRIANKA
Yo yo
VISHAL
R u & Victoria meeting us @ movies
PRIANKA
Ummm IDK
I guess so
VISHAL
K see u there at 4:30
We need time 2 get snacks
PRIANKA
K
Victoria, Prianka
PRIANKA
Can ur mom drive us 2 the movies
My mom has to take my bro to soccer
And my dad is out of town
VICTORIA
Sure
R we meeting Vishal & Arjie there
PRIANKA
Yes
VICTORIA
K don’t say anything about Arjie and Vishal coming
PRIANKA
K
LOL u call him Arjie
VICTORIA
Y LOL
PRIANKA
Just funny nickname
VICTORIA
Okkkkk
I’ll be at ur house at 4:15
PRIANKA
K bye
CECILY
R u at the movies
Bugging out 4 u
Need all deets
PRIANKA
We r here
In line 4 snacks
Victoria has her arm around Arjun LOL
I think he is soooo confused
CECILY
Y confused?
PRIANKA
Bc Victoria like scooped him up
IDK I can’t explain it
CECILY
I want all deets when u get home
PRIANKA
K def
CECILY
Promise
PRIANKA
Of course bye xoxoxoxo
CECILY
Xoxoxoxo
Unknown, Cecily
MAYBE: CAMILA
Hi, Cecily, this is ur # rite
It’s Camila from English
I want to bring food in for the fair
My dad makes amazing tamales
Sorry if this is 2 late 2 text u
Camila, Cecily
CECILY
Hi sorry just got all of these
Sounds great
I put ur # in my phone now LOL
CAMILA
K good
Nighty nighty
From: Colin Hayes
To: Cecily Anderson
Subject: Idea
Hi,
Remember when we were badminton partners? LOL.
But for real I had an idea. I think some money raised from Spring Fair should be donated to refugee families. Ya know how it’s so hard for them to even come here? And then get resettled? A refugee family moved in with some peeps around the corner from me and I know they would love to get their own place but it is so hard. They also have like 5 kids.
There are so many families like that I bet.
Anyway, just an idea.
Peace,
Colin
Dear Diary,
Is that what I will call you? I wonder if I will ever really write in you. No offense. But I’m not really a diary person. We also have a journal for school now and it’s sort of gotten me into the idea of writing down my thoughts but I’m glad to have a private one.
Aunt Sheila brought you to me when she came to stay last summer and I just saw you sitting on my shelf looking so lonely and I have a lot on my mind so I figured I’d write in you.
Anyway . . . I can’t fall asleep.
Not much going on. Well, that’s not true. Colin kissed Gabby. And Prianka is on a double date right now. So I guess I feel kind of left out in that area. And everyone is obsessed with this marriage booth thing at Spring Fair. But I don’t really like anyone. At least I don’t think I do. I mean, Kenny Fong is kind of cute but we don’t really talk except for when he asks me what the math homework is. At least Mara doesn’t like anyone either. That makes me feel better. She’s lived next door my whole life but we only became friends this year. So weird.
Also it’s weird that everyone is so
excited about a marriage booth at the fair. Like why can’t we just be kids for a little longer? It feels like everyone is in such a rush to be grown up and I don’t get it. I like being a kid.
Any advice?
LOL. I didn’t think so.
Well, see ya soon.
Love,
Cecily
UPDATE
PRIANKA
I just snuck out to the bathroom
Gotta make this quick
Vishal put his arm around me in the movie for 13 seconds
I counted but then he took it away
What does this mean
GABRIELLE
LOL No clue
R u having fun tho
PRIANKA
Uh I think so
IDK
CECILY
R Victoria and Arjun all cuddly
PRIANKA
Kinda but not too much
They r sharing popcorn
CECILY
Wowwwie
PRIANKA
What if Vishal wants 2 hold my hand or something 4 the rest of the movie
GABRIELLE
U can always say ur hands r sweaty
PRIANKA
K good idea
GABRIELLE
Go back 2 the movie, Pri
U r doing great
PRIANKA
K bye
Colin, Gabrielle
COLIN
Yo
GABRIELLE
Hi hi
COLIN
I hope that wasn’t weird the other day
IDK what happened
GABRIELLE
Um it wasn’t that weird
COLIN
Ok good
GABRIELLE
So what else is up
COLIN
Nothin
Playin video games
GABRIELLE
Cool
COLIN
U
GABRIELLE
NM
Excited 4 spring fair
R u
COLIN
Yeah
GABRIELLE
Cool
COLIN
Cool
Dear Journal,
OMG I can’t even write what happened because my mom snoops. (HI, MOM! STOP SNOOPING! NOW! I KNOW YOU’RE STILL READING! STOP!)
Anyway, something major happened. That’s all. Bye! Love you!
—Gabby
From: Cecily Anderson
To: Colin Hayes
Subject: RE: Idea
Hi Colin,
Lol badminton!
That is a great idea. Sorry I am so slow to reply. Life is so hectic being 6th grade rep. It’s more meetings than people realize! And I am already starting to plan Spirit Week! Wait for that in June . . . :)