Table of Contents
GROSSET & DUNLAP
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Morgan, Melissa J.
TTYL / by Melissa J. Morgan.
p. cm.(Camp confidential ; 5)
Summary: Having left summer camp to return home and start 6th grade at
their respective schools, the girls from bunk 3C use a blog to keep one another
informed of their struggles adjusting to school and to new situations at home.
eISBN : 978-1-101-04090-4
[1. FriendshipFiction. 2. WeblogsFiction. 3. Middle schoolsFiction.
4. SchoolsFiction.] I. Title. II. Series.
PZ7.M82545Tty 2005 [Fic]dc22 2005012724
http://us.penguingroup.com
chapter ONE
Natalie> SATURDAY
: Natalie! U there?
: jenna!!! omg, whats up? camp only ended sat but i miss u so much already. hows home?
: Okay. Im at my dadstotally boring. Just surfing the Net with Adam.
: hi, adam.
: Hes getting food right nowI had to IM u and say he got a text msg from Simon last nightjust saying hi and whatever and then he was like, I am totally glad to be homejust miss my friends and obviously Natalie.
: aww, thats so sweet!!!
: Totally. R u gonna keep seeing him?
: ?? dont know. ct isnt that far but... theres this guy here i had my eye on last year...
: Really? Whats his name?
: kyle.
: U mentioned him at camp.
: got to gohannahs here, were going back-to-school shopping!!! talk to u on the blog! bye!
: Oh yeah, forgot about Julies blog. Id luv to go shopping, if I wasnt stuck at my dads.
: NATALIENYC is unavailable.
Natalie couldnt believe how excited she was to see Hannah. It had only been a couple of months since Hannah had jetted off to Europe and Natalie had boarded the bus to Camp Lakeview, but it felt like a lifetimeand so much had happened in Nats life that she knew a huge catching-up session was in order. So the obvious thing to do the second she got home from camp? Call Hannah, and invite her to go shopping the next day! Natalie was beyond thrilled to be back in New York City, where no one considered denim cut-offs and a tank top to be the height of fashion.
Shed brought tons of cute summer outfits to camp, but had never worn any of them, except to the campwide social events. And school was going to start on Tuesdaythe day after Labor Day, shed officially be in middle schoolso she definitely needed new fall clothes. Plus, Hannah had told her about a school social for all incoming sixth-graders on the first Friday backjust one more reason to get a cute new outfit.
Natalie was talking to Jenna online when she heard the door buzzer ring at the Upper West Side apartment where she lived with her mom. She was practically out of the study before she remembered to say good-bye to Jenna, and then she ran down the hallway to the living room, superexcited to see her best friend.
Hannah, wearing a little purple miniskirt and a black top, was standing in the foyer talking to Natalies mom, who was still in her pajamas even though it was after noon. For the umpteenth time, Nat was reminded of how great it was to be backshe and her mom had brunched on bagels and veggie cream cheese, watched a couple of cartoons, and just taken it easy for the morning. It had been so long since Natalie had slept past seven that her body automatically woke her upbut shed ignored the internal alarm, rolled over, and promptly fell back asleep.
Hannah! Natalie shrieked.
Natalie! Hannah screamed. The two girls leapt at each other, hugging ferociously. Oh my God, it is so good to see you, Nat! Hannah said. I thought this day would never come!
Natalie laughed. So melodramatic, she said, teasingly. Some things never change. Im thrilled to see you, too! But I gotta tell you, seeing your adorable skirtIm pretty anxious to get out and get shopping!
Natalies mom laughed. Thats my girl. She crossed the living room and picked up her purse from the red easy chair, which was Natalies favorite place in the house to curl up and read a magazine. Drawing out her wallet from the bag, she looked up at Natalie. Be responsible, Nat, she said, handing over a credit card. You know the back-to-school budget. Try everything on before you buy it, and make sure that you love everything you get.
Natalie rolled her eyes good-naturedly. Oh, I will, Mom... she said. As she and Hannah went out the door, she leaned back in. Arent I always responsible? she asked.
Her mom laughed, and Nat closed the door. She and Hannah headed to the elevators. I swear, Natalie said, Ive forgotten how to use an elevatorI couldnt remember what floor we lived on when I first got home!
But Im sure you didnt forget about takeout, right? Hannah teased. What was the first thing you ordered?
Spicy tuna roll... mmm .. Natalie said, closing her eyes at the memory. Edamame... miso... red-bean ice cream...
Snap out of it, sushi princess, Hannah said. The green light above one of the elevators blinked. You remember how to get to the lobby?
Natalie only smiled in response.
In the lobby, Mr. Bartok, one of the regular door-man in Natalies building, held the door and tipped his hat as the two girls sauntered out to the street. Good-bye, ladies, he said. Winking at Natalie, he added, Good to have you back!
Thanks, Mr. Bartok, Natalie replied. Have a great day! On the sidewalk, she looked at Hannah. Uptown, or down?
Oh, youve been gone longer than I have, Hannah responded, shielding her eyes with her hand and looking up and down the street. You choose.
Hannah, youve only been back for a week!
I know, but youd be surprised how much damage I can do in a week.
Natalie laughed. Good point. Okay, lets just head south. Its gorgeous outwant to walk?
Sure, Hannah said. They walked in silence for a few minutes, and Natalie looked up at all the buildings. She had forgotten how tall everything was after spending a summer in a place where the highest things around were trees. All around her there were crowds of people pushing and walking and biking and driving. At camp there had been lots of campers, but nothing like this.