Tammy? Oh, no, that’s going to be so awkward. We haven’t said a word to each other in weeks

The classroom is a happy hubbub, noise and chatter and everyone giving their take on the latest announcement.

“Girls! Girls, I know you’re excited,” Mrs. Gerber says, raising her voice slightly, but still smiling. “I have one more thing to say. There will be two girls leading the program, Ashira Newman and Tammy Fischer. I’m sure you’ll do a great job.”

My smile stays plastered on my face, but my heart has just dropped to my toes. Tammy? Oh, no, that’s going to be so awkward. We haven’t said a word to each other in weeks.

Act normal, pretend everything’s okay.

I turn to Tammy as if we’re being introduced for the first time, give a little wave. She smiles back, a wide, too-happy smile. Fake, fake, fake. Oh, no.

I still can’t really figure out what happened. We were friends sort of, or maybe she was friends with me, then she wasn’t, and now I’ve been, well, busy with new friends. The scenery girls. Faiga.

And I know that Tammy’s lonely.

Ugh, I haven’t been nice but also, what should I have done? Gone running after her? No.

Well, we’re working together now. I wonder if she’s going to use it as an opportunity to make friends again.

Spoiler alert: she doesn’t.