The Best Friend Read online

  “I’m so happy for you, Gillian.” Lishia grinned. “Seriously, that’s the best news of the day.”

  “Thanks . . . I mean for everything.”

  Now Megan came over to join them, and Gillian said she couldn’t go for coffee, but Lishia explained why.

  “That’s so cool,” Megan told Gillian. “Congratulations!”

  “Thanks.” Gillian grinned.

  “Make us proud,” Lishia said.

  “Too bad we don’t have a good basketball team to cheer for,” Megan teased.

  “Doesn’t matter.” Gillian looped the strap of her duffle bag over a shoulder. “I’m just happy to be cheering again.”

  As they walked to the car, Megan asked Lishia if she was worried about Riley coming after her now. “I mean, she must be pretty furious.”

  “I’m sure she’s mad at me, but I’m not too concerned.” Lishia shrugged, then smiled. “For starters, I have some pretty good friends helping to watch my back.”

  “Yeah, that’s true.”

  “But besides that . . .” Lishia sighed. “I know God’s looking out for me.”

  Megan nodded but still looked a little concerned.

  “And I think that once Riley realizes it’s really over—you know, when it sinks in that she can’t control me or manipulate others—well, she’ll probably want to keep a low profile for a while. Don’t you think?”

  “I hope so. And it’ll probably help that she’s suspended from school for a few days. That’ll give her a chance to cool off. But I don’t know, Lish, I wouldn’t put much of anything past that girl.”

  “No, me neither. I guess I learned that lesson the hard way.” Lishia pulled on her coat. “And as weird as this might sound, I think I learned a lot about friendship from Riley too.”

  Megan looked doubtful. “How is that possible?”

  “I learned that instead of looking for someone to be my best friend, I need to learn how to become a best friend myself. Because if I can’t be a best friend, I probably don’t deserve one. You know?”

  Megan gave a sheepish smile. “Hey, I’m willing to give you a try . . . I mean as a best friend.”

  Lishia laughed. “I’d consider that an honor.” As they got into the car, Lishia realized that it really would be an honor. Even though she’d never felt like she’d had much in common with Megan in the past, she knew that Megan was truly a good person. And Megan had stood by Lishia during some pretty hard times too. So Lishia decided that she would do this wholeheartedly. She would do everything she could to become a really good best friend to Megan. And with God (aka her very Best Friend) showing her how, she knew it could happen!

  MELODY CARLSON is the award-winning author of over two hundred books with sales of more than five million. She is the author of many teen books, including Just Another Girl, Anything but Normal, Double Take, and the Diary of a Teenage Girl series. She is also the author of several Christmas books, including the bestselling The Christmas Bus, The Christmas Dog, and Christmas at Harrington’s. Melody was twice nominated for a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her books. She and her husband live in central Oregon. For more information about Melody, visit her website at www.melodycarlson.com.

  Books by Melody Carlson

  * * *

  Just Another Girl

  Anything but Normal

  Never Been Kissed

  Double Take

  The Jerk Magnet

  The Best Friend

  Allison O’Brian on Her Own, vol. 1

  Allison O’Brian on Her Own, vol. 2

  Devotions for Real Life

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