No Longer Besties: And Other Assorted Teenage Drama

By Tara Michener

Most teenage girls would give anything to be 17-year-old Madisyn Parker…

...have each meal prepared from scratch by their high-powered pastry chef moms, live in large, luxurious houses and receive diamond encrusted tennis bracelets as gifts from their dads. But to truly be Madisyn Parker would also involve being brutally bullied by your former best friend, pining away after a guy who barely notices you and wondering where your newly absentee dad has run off to…and that’s just for starters…

…still want her life?

Being a teenager comes with drama, but this is out of control…

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jun 7, 2011
• ISBN: 9781463401191

Tara Michener

Tara Michener is known for her smile, sense of humor and the love of Twizzlers and Diet Coke. The author of the “Who I Am” series and Summer Camp Survival, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Public Relations and is pursuing a Master of Arts in Counseling. Tara lives in Michigan with her “hubistrator” Jason. Find out more about her Teen Books By Tara bookclub at www.taramichener.com

Book preview

Chapter One

A ll I could hear was my own heavy breathing, which always happens when I am confronted with a fight. I stared at Trina’s long black hair cascading down her back and tried to avoid her angry green eyes. My hands felt clammy and words wouldn’t form in my dry mouth. Avoiding her eyes was tough, so I closed my own eyes and said a small prayer for help and hoped that God would answer it. I now tend to get very religious when Trina Harris and her crew come around. Trina was so close, I felt her hot breath on my face and hoped that someone would come to my rescue soon, or at least give Trina a breath mint. I opened my eyes and looked away, trying to peer into the nearby windows of Eddington High school. They were so foggy with years of grime, I could barely make out the desks and chairs. No way I would find a teacher to help me. I saw a watery reflection of Trina and myself in the windows and got lost in it, until Trina’s angry voice brought me back to where I was, standing in the school yard waiting to get hit.

Madisyn, I said give it to me right now!

I felt warm tears trickle down my cold face and wished I could be braver. Trina’s hands were balled into tight fists, ready to bruise my damp face. A crowd gathered, but no one tried to help, so I slowly slid off my beautiful bracelet and reluctantly handed it over to Trina. My stomach cramped with apprehension as I stared at my naked wrist. My wrist revealed a lighter patch of skin indicating the place that my bracelet used to occupy. Trina unclenched her hands as she touched the jewelry with admiration. She smiled and her green eyes sparkled like the circle of jewels.

Thanks so much Maddy. It fits me perfectly, she said sarcastically.

She stepped away, but before I could breathe a sigh of relief, she got really close to my face. Listen up, the next time that I ask you for something, don’t make me wait so long for what I want or you will be picking up your teeth off of the ground. Loser.

Her twisted, angry face made me feel sick. She got her stolen property, why couldn’t she just go? Trina finally walked away with the crowd of nosy spectators. Giggles and laughter filled the schoolyard and everyone left me alone.

Don’t get me wrong. I love to be alone. When I am by myself, I get to create my own version of reality where I am the popular girl and really pretty, and friends can’t wait to talk to me.

I felt the gravel beneath me as I sat down in the lonely schoolyard. I needed to take a second to breathe before I walked home. I realized that my sleeves had been stained with tears from my unofficial face wash. I reached into my purse, which was slung across my body, and took out my compact. In the small glass, I could see jagged trails of tears streaking through my foundation. My brown eyes stared back at me, sad pools of coffee-colored remorse. My dark skin was blemish free. I wasn’t beautiful or anything, but the sadness made me feel almost ugly. I closed my eyes tight and thought about a world where I was no longer a victim, but a happy teenager. I pictured Jeremiah Wilson holding my hand as we posed happily for the school yearbook. I had on a cheerleading outfit, and in my fantasies, it fit me perfectly because cellulite did not exist in daydreams. Trina would run up and ask to hang out and Jeremiah and I would just laugh out loud and ignore her. I began to feel a little smile start at the corners of my mouth.

My eyes flew open. I suddenly tasted dirt. Gagging, I looked up to find Trina Harris smiling down at me, her hands dusty. My new outfit was covered in the filth that she had thrown.

I am so sorry Maddy. I just could not resist the temptation to show you how much I really hate you. She brushed dirt off of her hands. Actually, bracelet or not, I was looking forward to causing you at least a little bit of pain. She winked at me. Don’t ever make me wait that long again when I ask you for something. Her evil smile revealed her retainer as she skipped away, leaving me all alone.

Like I said, I don’t mind being alone. I do mind being dirty.

Chapter Two

T rying to shake the dirt out of my coarse hair was pretty useless, but I kept trying as I walked home. My golden lab Nancy, who is usually outside to greet me at the end of the school day, looked at me with curious eyes. If everybody was as kind as she was, I would never have anything to worry about. Remembering Trina’s evil green eyes as she towered over me in triumph made me shiver, and I felt myself wanting to cry. I smiled at Nancy and gave her a good scratching behind her ears. Sitting with her on the front step with my best friend delayed the questions waiting for me in the house. I hugged her tight and wished that she could tell me what to do.

What has my life become? I whispered into her soft fur.

I waited for an answer and realized that if I heard Nancy talking back to me, I had much bigger problems. I giggled at the thought, not something I did much any more. I had been teased and mistreated by Trina and her followers for over a year, and every day was a new battle.

I looked at Nancy and sighed. How did it get so bad? I asked, and my lab looked at me like she had no idea herself.

The first time I saw Trina Harris, her green eyes were friendly. I sat down beside her in our gym class, and she whispered that she liked my athletic shoes. I thanked her and smiled back. After gym class, she tapped me on the shoulder and introduced herself.

I just moved here from St. Louis, Missouri, she said and smiled brightly, showing me a mouth full of colored braces that matched her green eyes. People like to say that I was born from Misery. She laughed.

My friends call me Maddy, and just that quick, we became close friends.

Trina’s mom and dad had just separated, and she was happy for the distraction of sports and extra curricular activities. Trina and I both burned a lot of calories playing soccer for the school team and stayed up late many a night loading them back in with pizza, chips and other delicious junk food.

Remembering those days made me sad all over again, and tears ran down my face. What happened to the girl who had the kind eyes and the soft smile? She had to be inside somewhere. How could Trina turn so cold and begin lashing out at me? Nancy’s friendly bark reminded me that it was time to go in. I held her close and was grateful she would never change her mind about our friendship. Even if she could not answer my questions, I understood that she cared deeply for me.

Delicious smells greeted me as I walked into our grand house. I turned the corner from the front hall into the dining room and caught a glimpse of my mom limping around the kitchen, making our dinner. I smiled at her kindness. She always made us a special meal even though she was in pain.

Maddy, I am almost finished with the…

Her words trailed off as she stared at my dirty face and dusty hair. My eyes lowered, and I felt my brain race. I was so busy feeling sorry for myself, I forgot to think about how I was going to explain this one to her. For a long time, I had been keeping a pretty big secret from my mom. I did not want her to know about Trina, not at all.

What in the world has happened to you, Maddy?

Mom walked toward me looking like her heart had just broken in two, but I mustered my best smile. I shrugged and took her clean hand in my dirty one. Mom, Trina and me were just playing a crazy game of extreme soccer with everyone after school, and it got a bit messy, as you can see.

She looked relieved, laughed and shook her head. You and Trina are two peas in a pod.

And I wanted her to keep thinking that. My mom is sick, you see. She was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. She tried her best to be positive, and I could not help but join her. I laughed