The Truth About Twinkie Pie Part 14

She glanced up at me. "Did you ever try a quick Internet search?"

"No." I shook my head. I wasn't sure how to explain. "I just-I knew it wasn't anywhere. I knew. But this part of me"-I pointed to my heart-"this place inside me just... liked wishing, and asking for it. I've never had anything of my mama's, and I know it's just... lipstick, but it feels more like... it feels more like I'd be finding a piece of her. And that would be a miracle."

Ida looked at me with her kind eyes. "Miracles and lipstick. I like it."

"And then right before we moved here, this No-Good Lying Son of a Walnut who was dating our friend Lori, he said that sometimes companies bring back old colors.... I didn't think much of it. But then this girl I know-my friend Haven-she said the same thing. So for the very first time, I thought maybe I could really find it. And if I could get it-really and truly get it-then it would be like Mama coming back and bringing me and DiDi together again and everything would-" I hiccupped. "It would fix everything, Miss Ida. I just know it."

Ida nodded and gave me a moment of quiet before she started talking again. I appreciated it. "Well, what your No-Good Son of a Walrus was talking about-"

"Walnut."

"Really? Well, Walnut, then-though personally, I find Son of a Walrus more humorous. What he was talking about is what we call a reissue."

"Reissue?"

"It means that for a limited time, a company may celebrate a popular retired color by selling it in stores again." She started typing quickly on the keyboard.

"Really?" I asked. And I held my breath.

"Look at this," Ida said.

The screen began filling up top to bottom with hundreds of ideas about where I could find Cherries in the Snow. It was crazy.

"Miss Ida?"

"Hmmm-yes, dear?"

I paused. "DiDi and I had a fight. Well, we've had a couple of fights lately. And I think, well, I know I said some pretty mean things to her."

Ida was watching me. Really close. But I liked the way she was doing it. Not like some pie judge, trying to see what kind of pie I was from the outside. But more like maybe she wanted to know what kind I was on the inside. And like it was important to her.

"I thought if I got her Cherries in the Snow for her birthday, then we'd both-we'd always have part of Mama with us. Do you think she'd like that?"

I don't know why Ida would know. But I just wanted her to like my idea while I was in that messy office inside the beautiful store where there was a pink-and-green-ribboned door covered with thank-you notes and a polite way to say KEEP OUT.

"I can't imagine a lovelier gift," said Ida. "I do have to get back to the store, but you are more than welcome to stay here and search online as long as you'd like."

I looked at that list of all the places Cherries in the Snow lipstick was waiting to be found. "Is it okay-could I please just print this? I-I think I want to do this with some-some friends I have."

Ida smiled and pressed Print. A fresh, smooth, miraculous sheet of paper flew practically right into the air. Ida caught it and handed it to me. "Friends are always a good idea."

The paper was light and cool and perfect. "Thank you, Miss Ida."

She held out her hand. I held out mine and we shook.

"I hope you find what you're looking for," she said.

twenty-nine.

The next day was Sunday. I called Haven, figuring I would start off like it was all about the Stargazers, but I knew what I really wanted. What I needed. To call places on that list from Miss Ida without DiDi around. And the truth was I wouldn't mind talking about what had happened with Trip on that hill while the sun was setting. Wasn't that what having girls who were friends was all about? I guess what I needed was someone to talk about Girl Stuff.

As a rule, DiDi and I don't buy each other gifts. If there's any extra money at the end of the month, DiDi sticks it in my college fund, which I think she's had around since I was in preschool. So whenever it's our birthdays, DiDi will say, "Happy birthday, Double G, I just put one percent of your college tuition in the bank."

Every year on my birthday, she'll make the prettiest Twinkie Pie ever and say it's for both of us, but nine days later, when her birthday comes around, she never wants me to make a fuss. Then she spends the day sitting in front of a mirror staring at herself. It's a fact: Good-looking people sure can be weird about getting old.

But this year, things were going to be different. I was going to make sure DiDi had a gift this year. The best gift ever. It was like Mama had left me a path to follow. My star birthmark. The Stargazers. Miss Ida. And finding Cherries in the Snow. I was going to get DiDi that lipstick. Like I'd told Miss Ida, I just knew in my heart that if we had a little bit of Mama with us, things would be better.

I cleared my throat three times while Haven's phone was ringing.

Haven picked up. "Hey!"

I sighed in relief.

"Hi. Haven. Um. It's G-uh-it's Leia."

"I know, Leia. You're kind of the only person who doesn't just text me. What's up?"

Even though I was just about bursting with wanting to talk about the list and Trip, I figured the Recipe for Success would have me play it cool, so I didn't sound so needy and desperate. Then maybe after we'd finished all our Stargazers stuff, I'd find a way to work in everything else.

"I was just thinking we should meet-today-and discuss some of our plans for the Stargazers and what some of, um, our next goals are."

There was this long pause.

"Oh... um... I guess we could do that, but..."

My heart tumbled down the stairs to my toes. "Don't worry about it," I said. "We don't have to-it was just an idea."

"I'm sorry-I'm just not in the mood to do school stuff today."

"It's okay.... Listen, I'll just see you-"

"Do you-would you like to come over and just hang out instead?"

My heart peeked out from its sad heap on the floor. "Really?"

"Only-only if you want."

"I do! I-I mean, sure. That'd be cool."

"Okay, great. I'll text Al. Then maybe we can go to a movie or shopping-or just do girl stuff."

"Girl Stuff." I wondered if Haven could hear the smile on my face. "Girl Stuff would be-perfect. I'll ask DiDi to drop me off in a little bit-if that's okay."

"Anytime is okay."

"Thanks! See you then."

"See you, Leia."

Sometimes things that you think are going to be hard turn out to be easier than pie.

Easier-Than-Pie Pudding

* 2 boxes of instant vanilla pudding mix * 4 cups milk (for pudding) * 1 box of chocolate wafers * Your favorite creamy peanut b.u.t.ter * 3 bananas, sliced * An 8-ounce tub of whipped topping Everyone thinks this dessert is a whole big production, but really it's easier than pie.

Go on and make the pudding. Do I have to explain how? Beat the pudding mix and milk with a whisk for 2 minutes. Then just let it rest there for a spell. 'Cause if you ask me, it's hard work being pudding.

Get yourself a nice 9-by-9-inch gla.s.s dish and start layering your ingredients. Spread each of your chocolate wafers with a thin smear of peanut b.u.t.ter. Lay them on the bottom of the dish, peanut b.u.t.ter side up. Then add a layer of pudding. Sliced bananas. Whipped topping. Repeat till you reach the top. End with a layer of whipped topping. Crush a handful of chocolate wafers and sprinkle over the top.

Put it in the fridge for several hours, till firm.

Now, what could be easier than that?

Serves 810.

thirty.

When DiDi found out that Haven was having me and Allie over, she wanted me to take the Easier-Than-Pie Pudding she had in the fridge.

"I was going to bring it to the salon for everyone to munch, but I'd much rather you and your new girlfriends enjoy it."

I could tell DiDi was working hard to make things okay between us. Like they hadn't been since Mace's haircut. Or the tailgate. Or, pretty much, since we moved here.

"Okay."

"Okay, then."

"... Thank you."

"Anytime, G-I mean, anytime, Leia."

At Haven's house, the girls just about did flips over the pudding. Instead of serving it all formal, like in Giant crystal goblets, Haven just handed each of us a soup spoon and shouted, "On your marks! Get set! Go!" And we all dug into the middle of it, scooping and gobbling as fast as we could. It was fun and silly and just about everything I always wanted to have with girlfriends.

I only got to meet Haven's dad, since her mom was traveling again. He had just brought Haven's little brother back from his kindergarten swim cla.s.s. I thought he was the cutest little thing ever, but Haven a.s.sured me there was a reason she called him the Beast. I thought her dad might be the shy and nervous type like she was, but he was actually really friendly and goofy and kept trying to hang out and joke around till Haven got all embarra.s.sed and begged him to leave us alone.

All I have to say is that Girl Stuff is F, U, N, FUN.

We listened to all of Haven's music and danced around the room.

We went through last year's yearbook and talked about which boys were cute and which weren't.

Her dad kept bringing us snacks and drinks and then more snacks, which the Beast kept trying to steal, but Haven said he was on a strict diet to keep him from being hyper and wasn't allowed to snack between meals.

At one point, Allie said something about the tailgate, and Haven nudged her and quickly changed the subject. Allie slapped a hand over her own mouth, and it got a little awkward. This is the weird thing. It also made me feel glad. I took it to mean that they had decided ahead of time not to mention anything about it-even though they had seen the whole fight with DiDi and Mace's mom. That they wanted today to be just about making me happy, and I don't think anyone had ever done that for me before.

We decided to start trying on all the clothes in Haven's closet, which honestly, I didn't really get. I mean, why would you try on someone else's clothes? But Haven and Allie seemed to want to do it, so I went along. Allie wanted to start with fancy party dresses, so Haven handed me one that was sort of silvery white and swirly, with little straps on the shoulders. I had never had anything like it. Of course, since I'm the size of a peanut, it was way too long and really roomy on me you-know-where, but it was beautiful. Then Haven got out this huge crate of makeup, and we put on pink blush and glossy lips and sparkly eye shadow.

"You look soooo pretty!" Haven said, standing beside me in the mirror. She was wearing this fluffy pink number that looked like one of Mama's desserts. Allie was in yellow.

"Yeah?" I looked at my reflection, and I have to admit it was nice not looking like a little kid for once. "I guess I kind of feel pretty."

"No wonder Trip lo-o-o-o-ves you," Allie said.

I could feel my face go all hot and red. "He's doesn't. Really-we're just-he's-"

Haven looked at me in the mirror. "It's okay if a boy likes you, Leia. Just because Trip is chasing after you doesn't mean anyone thinks you're chasing him back."

"Do you... do you really think he's-chasing me?" I looked again at my reflection.

Allie popped a minichocolate chip cookie into her mouth and brushed the crumbs off her fingertips. "Well, that's pretty much what everyone is saying, so..."

Haven grinned. "Did you ever kiss?"

"No!" I yelled. Then I hid my face in my hands and moaned while the two of them crowded around me.

Allie kept poking me and saying, "She did! She did! Admit it!"

I lowered my voice even though no one else was even close to hearing. I knew this was true, because Haven's house was bigger than a bowling alley and she had a whole wing to herself. "Well, I thought-maybe-he was going to Friday at his house, but then his parents came home."

"That is so embarra.s.sing!" said Allie. "What did you do?"

"Nothing. It was time for me to go home anyway."

"You know, he kissed Mace last summer."