I will make sure some of the money we raise goes to refugee families settling in Yorkville.
Bye!
Cecily
I’m not afraid of storms, for I’m learning how to sail my ship. —Louisa May Alcott
CPG4EVA
PRIANKA
U guys r never going to believe this
R u there
Hellloooooo
CECILY
Hi sorry
PRIANKA
Gabs
GABRIELLE
Hi here 2
Sorry
What happened
PRIANKA
Ready
CECILY
Yes just tell us
PRIANKA
K so at the end of the movie we were waiting for our rides and we were all just standing around and then Victoria goes to Arjun “I know this is gonna be weird but I wondered if we could, like, go out?”
And then Arjun was like “but we are out right now”
And then Victoria said “I mean like as a couple”
And then Arjun was like “oh, um, ok that works”
LOL LOL LOL
GABRIELLE
OMG
CECILY
I KNOW
PRIANKA
It was soooo funny
CECILY
What did Vishal say
PRIANKA
He was cracking up so much
GABRIELLE
This is so so funny
PRIANKA
I think Arjun is so overwhelmed
He went from major bullying in his old school and then moved and now there is a girl in love w/ him here
CECILY
And did u hear he is going to speak at an assembly
About racial tolerance and stuff
PRIANKA
IK
It was Victoria’s idea
This is so crazy tho
GABRIELLE
I think it’s good
Yorkville is a nice place
CECILY
Def def def
GABRIELLE
What’s up w/ u & Vishal, Pri
PRIANKA
WDYM
GABRIELLE
IDK
R u a couple
PRIANKA
No clue
CECILY
We don’t need to all have bfs, Gabs
GABRIELLE
I know
Was just asking
Sheesh
U r obsessed with telling us what to do about boys
CECILY
I’m just saying
GABRIELLE
I don’t have a bf
CECILY
But u kissed Colin
GABRIELLE
Yeah but still
PRIANKA
K I gtg, girlies
See u tomw
CECILY
Bye
GABRIELLE
Xoxoxoxox
Prianka, Gabrielle
GABRIELLE
That was awk
PRIANKA
IK
I AM IN LOVEEEEEEEEEE
VICTORIA
U guys
I am in luv w/ Arjun
4 real
& I know he came here 4 a bad reason but I kinda feel like it was meant 2 be
PRIANKA
LOL
Silver lining
VICTORIA
Yeah bc we R THE SILVER GIRLS
GABRIELLE
LOL
Glad u r so happy, V!
* * *
Journal Assignment
At lunch today, go up to a classmate you don’t know very well. Ask questions about them—the first three that come to your mind. Write down the questions and the answers and how you felt about this exercise. Have fun!
WHATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
GABRIELLE
OMG u guys
This journal assignment is ooc
I can’t just go up 2 any1 in the grade
CECILY
U will be fine
GABRIELLE
At 1st I was so into this journal stuff bc it was a good way to bump up my average
But now I am so
PRIANKA
LOL it is a bit nutty
CECILY
Guys, it’s not a big deal
Prianka, Gabrielle
GABRIELLE
Ok I know we said no side chats
But srsly what is up with Cece
She’s like so cold and weird
Always saying how she is so busy bc 6th grade rep
Puhleaaaaaasssseee
PRIANKA
IK
Maybe we need 2 speak 2 Ms. Brickfeld
GABRIELLE
Hmmm
Dear Journal,
So I went up to Sanda Yanusz at lunch today. I don’t know her at all. I didn’t even know her name. We weren’t in the same elementary school. I just looked around the cafeteria and picked a person and said, “Hi, I’m Gabby. Can we talk for the journal assignment?” And she said, “Yes! I was so scared to go up to someone and I’m so happy you came up to me!”
We talked for ten minutes. She has two brothers and they’re identical twins. Her favorite food is pizza and I also said, “What’s one cool thing about you that not many people know?” She said, “I actually really like bugs! They don’t scare me at all and I love to watch them. But I don’t tell people because it seems so embarrassing.”
I really liked this exercise. I think I will say hi to Sanda in the hallway all the time now. And hopefully she says hi to me too!
—Gabby
Arjun, Victoria
VICTORIA
Arjun, I had soooo much fun @ movies w/ u
Did u have fun
Where r u
Helllooooooo
Victoria, Prianka
VICTORIA
Hi, Prianka
Do u know where Arjun is
PRIANKA
LOL
He’s here now
My mom had a bunch of fams over
R u jealous LOL
VICTORIA
Grrrr
He didn’t respond 2 my texts
PRIANKA
He’s not looking @ his fone
Don’t worry
Gtg bye
HELP ME
VICTORIA
U guys I need ur help
I think Arjie hates me already
NICOLE
Y
VICTORIA
He didn’t respond to my texts today
I found out where he is but still
KIMBERLY
Calm down, V
He’s obv busy
Of course he likes u bc u r awesome!
NICOLE
Yeah!!!
VICTORIA
K deep breaths
NICOLE
LOL
VICTORIA
Bye smooches
Dear Journal,
I have been so busy with Spring Fair I didn’t get a chance to do this journal entry. I went up to one of the girls who sit at the back table in the cafeteria. Everyone thinks they’re so popular but I don’t know if they really are. I ended up talking to a girl named Phoebe McGellin. She wasn’t super friendly. I asked her what she’s most proud of and she said that her dance team got second place in a competition. Then I asked her what she’s most scared of and she said getting struck by lightning. Then I asked her what her favorite movie is and she said she doesn’t really have one.
It was an okay experience but it’s hard to talk to someone you don’t really know. She said she knew who I am since I’m the class rep.
I think one thing I’ve realized this year and especially since doing this journal is that I feel really different from everyone else. I may not look different but I just don’t feel the same as the rest of my grade.
I don’t know why. And maybe no one knows I feel like this. Maybe even my own friends don’t know. I like being the class rep and running meetings but I feel like
I am kind of on the outside looking in. I bet everyone thinks I am so confident since I am on student council. But I don’t feel that way at all.
—Cecily
SQUAD
PRIANKA
OMG
A news team just showed up at Vishal’s house
Apparently there r stories like Arjun’s fam all over the country and they r doing a story on it
CECILY
4 real?
Horrible
R U SERIOUS
PRIANKA
YES
Will tell u more later
GABRIELLE
Wait sorry I am slow & missed this whole thing
CECILY
Scroll up xoxo
Gabby—will you marry me at the marriage booth at the fair? —Colin
Colin—I will consider it. —Gabby
Prianka, Gabrielle
GABRIELLE
Pri, u there
PRIANKA
Yo
GABRIELLE
Colin asked me 2 marry him @ the fair
PRIANKA
OMG
GABRIELLE
I’m not telling Cece
She will get upset
PRIANKA
Ok
Well mazel tov
GABRIELLE
LOL
SQUAD
CECILY
U guys, did u see the list 4 camping trip
Sooooooooo excited
PRIANKA
I am soooooooooo excited but I can’t forget to buy the flashlights and the shower caddy
Vishal and Arjun are gonna be so bored w/o me LOL
CECILY
LOL we r going 2 have best time
PRIANKA
Hello CAMPING PREP STARTS RIGHT NOW
GABRIELLE
Yeah about that . . .
PRIANKA
What
GABRIELLE
I feel like I haven’t been totes honest with u guys . . .
I’m getting rlly nervous
CECILY
Gabs, it will be gr8
PRIANKA
Better than gr8
Uber fab
GABRIELLE
Just sooooo nervous
I don’t really like all that nature stuff LOL
IDK about the adventure course stuff
PRIANKA
U can’t bail, Gabs
CECILY
We will be there w/ u
GABRIELLE
IK
I gtg talk l8r
Prianka, Cecily
PRIANKA
OMG CECE
I think Gabs is gonna bail
CECILY
Stop
PRIANKA
No 4 real
CECILY
Stop side chatting, Pri
PRIANKA
K fine bye
Cece, this is gonna be OPERATION CONVINCE GABS SHE HAS TO GO ON THE CAMPING TRIP. I’m writing you a note since you hate side chats. We will leave a note in her mailbox every day like we did with the Yorkville ones. Okay? Write back and let me know you got this. XOXOXOXO Pri
Pri—yes, I got your note. But calm down. She’s just nervous. Let’s not freak out yet. She’s still going. We just need to reassure her. We don’t need to do the mailbox notes.
Love you, Cece
Vishal, Arjun
VISHAL
Yo
U ready for ur big speech
ARJUN
No, dude
Why am I giving a speech again
VISHAL
LOL IDK
ARJUN
& why so soon
VISHAL
No 4 real u will be gr8
ARJUN
This is wack
VISHAL
No stress, bro
U will crush it
ARJUN
LOL thank u
Peace
VISHAL
Peace, bro
Gabs, are you still nervous about the camping trip? Please don’t be. We will have the best time. Also what is this sub even talking about? I have no idea. I love you! Pri
I am nervous and excited and I have no clue what he is talking about either. But I am so scared we are gonna get in trouble for passing notes, so don’t write back to this one. OK? But I love you. XO Gabs
From: Arjun Gobin
To: Victoria Melford
Hi Victoria,
Will you read my speech and tell me what you think? I’m really nervous. I didn’t even show this to Vishal yet. Thanks for your help.
Arjun
Speech for Assembly
Hi, everyone. Good morning. For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Arjun Gobin. There are probably a lot of you who don’t know me since I’m new here.
The area that I came from in Florida was really different from Yorkville. It was not a tolerant place at all. I was bullied based on what I looked like. People tormented me because of my religion even though they didn’t even know my religion. No one even took the time to find out. Kids I have known forever turned against me. I was told I was not welcome there. Eggs were thrown at my home.
This all happened out of nowhere. I can’t say for sure why this started happening but it somehow became a normal thing. The school board and teachers and principal tried to step in but the cruelty continued. Eventually it became so difficult to stay there that my family and I moved here and we are staying with my cousins, my dad’s brother’s family.
You’ve all been welcoming and kind to me. I’ve only been here a short time, but I can already tell that there are so many different types of people in Yorkville, different religions and ethnicities. It doesn’t even seem like a big deal to be different here.
I wanted to tell you a little bit about what happened to me so that we are sure to never repeat it here. We need to embrace our differences and learn from one another. Sometimes I think people are scared of people who are different. So the only way to fix that is to take the time and talk to our peers and our classmates and our neighbors. Then we can work together to make our school and the world a better place.
Thanks for listening and for welcoming my family and me to Yorkville.
Have a great day.
Guys, I have the best idea. I bought this notebook at the school store. We’re going to start a group packing list. I’ll write a few things, then pass it to one of you, then you write a few things and pass it to the next person. We’ll add stuff each day and then go shopping together or order online and we’ll all have what we need. Sound good?
OOOOH I love a new notebook. Amazing idea, Pri!!! I am totally on board. We can pass it to each other between classes but let’s not make it a big deal so people don’t feel left out. LOVE YOU GUYS!
Yes, I love this idea too!! This is definitely making me less nervous. Okay, I’m starting the list.
Sunglasses
Sunscreen
Cute dresses
SQUADDDDDDDD
GABRIELLE
Did u guys hear that Phoebe McGellin is marrying Emilio Carbonelli at the fair
PRIANKA
Whatttt
How r u even keeping track of this
CECILY
Yeah and why do u care
GABRIELLE
CECE
U R SO RUDE
CECILY
We don’t even know them
Prianka, Gabrielle
GABRIELLE
Ok now things r really weird
PRIANKA
IK
GABRIELLE
We r never going to make it camping
PRIANKA
STOP
U R JUST SCARED
GABRIELLE
Well Cece is being soo rude
PRIANKA
Calm down
From: Cecily Anderson
To: Gabrielle Katz, Prianka Basak
Subject: What is going on?
Dear Gabs and Pri,
I am just going to c
ome right out and say this. I feel like things are really distant between us. I am not sure why. We had the drama with Victoria and we got past that. And we figured out our summer plan and I am really excited about it. I know you’re nervous, Gabs, but it will be great.
But I feel like it always comes back to boys with you guys, and everyone is obsessed with this dumb marriage booth. And I just don’t get it. Is it possible to still be BFF with you guys if I’m not like totally in love with a boy? Are you bored of me? Have we outgrown each other?
Love, Cece
PS: Sorry so many questions.
PPS: I really hope we can still be BFF.
Arjun, Victoria
VICTORIA
Yo Arjun
Just read ur speech
AMAAAAZZZZZIIIINNNNNGGG
ARJUN
Really?
R u telling the truth
VICTORIA
Yes so so so so good
ARJUN
Ok thank u
VICTORIA
U will be so great
ARJUN
I never shoulda agreed 2 this
VICTORIA
Yes u should
Glad u did
ARJUN
Ok
VICTORIA
I gtg C u tomw
ARJUN
Ok bye
Prianka, Gabrielle
PRIANKA
What should we wb 2 Cece
I feel like she is so upset
GABRIELLE
Me 2
I don’t want there 2 be drama b/t us
PRIANKA
Me neither
That was obvs never our intention
GABRIELLE
But why does she get so upset w/ boy stuff
PRIANKA
IDK
& I don’t like how she makes us feel bad about it
GABRIELLE
Same
PRIANKA
I will wb & say we should get 2gether 2 discuss