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"What happened?"

"Well, when I was at my very most miserable—and I mean miserable, you should have seen lasses—"

Marah giggled

"I got up and went to school "

"And?"

"And Aunt Tully aiting at the bus stop She was the coolest-looking girl Id ever seen I figured shed never want to be friends with me But you knohat I found out?"

"What?"

"Inside, where it counts, she was as scared and lonely as I was We became best friends that year Real friends The kind that dont purposely hurt your feelings or stop liking you for no reason "

"How do you make friends like that?"

"Thats the hard part, Marah To make real friends you have to put yourself out there Soirls can be really et hurt, you just pick yourself up, dust off your feelings, and try again Soirl ill be friends with you all through high school I promise You just have to find her "

Marah frowned at that, thinking

The waitress delivered their meals, left the bill, and walked away

Before she took a bite of her cheeseburger, Marah said, "Emilys nice "

Kate had hoped Marah would rerade school but had drifted apart in recent years "Yes, she is "

Kate saw her daughter finally se They talked about little things through lunch, mostly fashions, about which Marah already obsessed and Kate knew next to nothing When shed paid the bill and they were ready to leave, Kate said, "Theres oneand pulled out a se "This is for you "