Best Friends Forever?

By Tina Wells

The Hollows is going on a ski adventure! Journey to Switzerland with Zee as she takes on the slopes in Book 6 of The Zee Files.

The school winter field trip promises a week of snow-filled fun that everyone in year nine is looking forward to—everyone except Zee. Not only is this her first trip anywhere without her parents, but Zee doesn't know how to ski! What if she falls and embarrasses herself? Will everyone laugh at her?

Then right before the trip, Zee gets some shocking news: her best friend Ally is transferring… to The Hollows! Zee knows she should be excited, so why does she have a weird feeling about it?

• Language: English
• Publisher: West Margin Press
• Release date: Oct 31, 2023
• ISBN: 9781513135052

Tina Wells

Tina Wells founded Buzz Marketing Group when she was only sixteen years old. Today, Tina continues to run her company and lives outside of Philadelphia. Tina says, "Mackenzie's crew reminds me now of my own group of friends! And like Mackenzie, I had big dreams and worked hard to make them come true."

Book preview

1

FRIENDLY ADDITION

In a cozy dorm room at The Hollows Creative Arts Academy, Mackenzie Zee Carmichael lay in her bed, nervously biting her lip. The upcoming year-nine winter field trip to Switzerland has her feelings tied up in knots. She smiled when she thought about traveling to a posh ski resort with her friends, and the idea of sipping hot chocolate around the fire and staying up late eating s’mores made her swoon. But she grimaced when she thought about what her new friends would think if she stumbled down the slopes head over skies, like a clumsy abominable snowman.

Sure, everyone else is stoked for a ski trip, Zee thought to herself as she Googled how long does it take for your fingers to get frostbite on her phone. But I don’t ski—how am I going to survive a week on a school ski trip and not embarrass myself?

For most of her thirteen-year existence, Zee had lived in California, where people could play outdoors without layers of fleece and wool clothing. She’d skied before on family vacations to the mountains, but she never got the hang of it.

Since her family relocated to the U.K., Zee has acclimated both to a new boarding school and a new way of life in a colder climate. In the fall, she had started her first term at The Hollows, located in the English countryside. Aside from making new friends and getting used to the English school curriculum, Zee also found her warm California bones adjusting quickly to the colder climate—she found delight in the changing of the leaves in the fall, and snow on her morning walks to class in the winter.

But this ski trip had the potential to upend the comfort she’s finally found in her new life at The Hollows. What if I face plant on the slopes? What if I break a leg and need to be airlifted to the hospital? Zee thought to herself.

Zee’s roommate, Jameela Chopra, stood near her dresser, already pulling out cashmere sweaters and long underwear to pack for the trip. An accomplished ballet dancer, Jameela moved quickly and gracefully around the room as she grabbed clothes and shoes. Ooh, this would be perfect for s’mores around the fire, Jameela said, holding up one outfit.

Zee looked at Jameela and raised an eyebrow. I thought you said you weren’t going to ski because you didn’t want to risk hurting yourself on the slopes, Zee said.

I’ve been skiing since I was four, Jameela said. One or two runs won’t be a big deal.

Zee looked away from her roommate and sighed. Jameela was the only other person in year nine who seemed to have little desire to ski, concerned that an accidental fall could hinder her ballet practice. But even she was ready for the slopes. As for their other friends, Tom Anand and Jasper Chapman have been swapping stories about their coolest ski tricks since the trip was announced. Archie Saint John, Zee’s close friend (and ex-boyfriend), had a house near where the ski lodge was located and has been skiing since he could walk. Zee’s dormmate and popular YouTuber Izzy Matthews was already plotting how she could mount a GoPro to her helmet while she skied to get footage for her vlog. And Valentina, the princess of the island Costa de Alba and the newest student at The Hollows, has skied all over Europe, as a princess does.

Great, I’ll be sitting in the lodge alone while everyone else skis, Zee thought.

Zee got up and walked toward her closet, looking for ski-appropriate clothes. Aside from a few printed pullover sweatshirts and her Hollows uniform pieces, there wasn’t a lot of heavy-duty—much less waterproof—skiwear to choose from. Maybe Mom could send me some ski pants, Zee thought. And I’ll definitely need to order some long underwear.

A vibration sounded from her backpack. Zee walked over to her desk and fished through the bag for her phone. Her mom’s face popped up on the screen. That’s strange… Mom doesn’t normally ring me during the week, Zee thought.

She picked up the phone. Hey, Mom, what’s up?

Hi, dear, Mrs. Carmichael’s chirpy voice sang into the phone. Got a second?

Sure, Zee said nervously. What’s happened? she wondered. Did a teacher write another letter about my grades? Or maybe Dad’s getting transferred to another job in another country and we’ll all have to move again immediately, before the ski trip? Then I won’t have to worry about going viral as an embarrassing meme when someone films me wiping out on the slopes!

It’s about Ally, her mother said, interrupting her thoughts.

Ally Stern was one of Zee’s best friends from California. They were inseparable at their old school, Brookdale Academy, before the Sterns moved to Paris a few years ago. Recently Ally’s parents split up, and right before the holidays Ally found out that her mother had a new boyfriend. Though Ally didn’t talk about it much, Zee knew that all these changes with her family had been tricky for her friend to deal with.

Mrs. Carmichael said, I’m sure you know Ally’s been having some… challenges at home lately.

Uh-huh, Zee said, flopping onto her bed as she listened.

Well, her father just called, and he’s decided it would be best for her to enroll at The Hollows.

Zee sat up in surprise. "Um, what?!" she said loudly into the phone. Jameela turned quickly toward Zee, startled at the noise. Zee jumped out of bed and stepped out of the room, partly so she wouldn’t disturb Jameela and partly so she could have some privacy to discuss this urgent matter.

Yes, well, Mrs. Carmichael continued, it’s become quite… well, her mother was on the phone with me and she sounded very sad. Ally doesn’t want to stay in Paris with her mother and her new boyfriend, and her father has become very busy because of work. Anyway, things happened quickly for her family to arrange Ally’s transfer, but she’ll be arriving tomorrow. She might even be going on that school ski trip.

As Zee found an empty armchair in the corner of the dorm lounge, her mind processed everything her mom told her. My best friend is coming to The Hollows, she thought. Ally and I will be reunited! We can hang out and chat all the time! Wonder what room she’ll get? Will she live near me?

Suddenly, Zee’s mind pivoted to what happened during winter break. She and her family had returned to Malibu for the holidays and Zee had planned to spend her days with Ally and her other BFF, Chloe Lawrence-Johnson, having sleepovers and baking cookies. The Carmichaels hosted a big holiday party and everyone showed up—even their music teacher, Mr. P, came—but Ally was only there for a few hours and left early. She eventually came over to Zee’s again for a sleepover during the break, but things between them seemed different from before. Zee couldn’t help feeling like Ally was slowly outgrowing Zee, or at least was so distracted by her family situation she wasn’t able to concentrate on being a good friend to Zee.

Darling? Say something, Mrs. Carmichael urged.

I—I just… I don’t know what to say, Mom, Zee said. Her mouth moved quickly as she tried to express herself. Ally is my best friend, but we haven’t been on the same page for a while. And our trip to Malibu wasn’t as great as I thought it was going to be. She was worried about her parents most of the time. Especially her mom with the new boyfriend. I just can’t believe things have gotten so bad she’s getting sent away to another country for school.

Ally’s home life has gotten complicated, Mrs. Carmichael tried to explain tactfully. Anyway, her dad thought sending her to The Hollows to be with her best friend and to pursue her writing would be better than feeling lonely and unhappy in Paris.

Zee blinked hard as she tried to digest the information. On the one hand, she was excited that her best friend would be joining her at The Hollows. Maybe we’ll have classes together and she can join Izzy’s study group with us. Maybe she’ll join the school paper? There’s always the literary journal too.

Wow, Zee finally said. This is all just so sudden. Wait, why didn’t Ally call me?

She’s likely dealing with a lot right now, Mrs. Carmichael said.

Zee looked around blankly at her surroundings. Her stomach started to rumble as she felt excited but also nervous about what this would mean for her school days. Life was just starting to settle into a groove. Things were good with her Hollows friends, good with her roommate, good with most of her classes. But will Ally’s arrival make things complicated again? Obviously I want to hang out with her