TBH #4 Read online

  DEDICATION

  For Sonia, who’s been my friend

  since we were CPG4eva’s age!

  CONTENTS

  Cover

  Title Page

  Dedication

  Prianka, Vishal

  Mom, Prianka

  Home Home Home Home Home

  Home Home Home Home Home

  Gabrielle, Colin

  These Photos

  R U Guys Home

  Heyyyyyy

  Unknown, Gabrielle

  Gabrielle, Cecily

  Hearts 4 Days

  Prianka, Victoria

  Vishal, Prianka

  Prianka, Victoria

  Mama Anderson, Prianka

  Mom, Prianka

  Prianka, Victoria

  Unknown, Gabrielle

  Gabrielle, Cecily

  Silver Girls Pool Day

  Best Summer Ever 2.0 Party @ the Pool Day Woo

  Mom, Prianka

  Mom, Gabrielle

  Silver Girls 2gether 7th Grade?!?!

  Mama Anderson, Prianka

  Prianka, Victoria

  Mama Anderson, Prianka

  Silver Girls Swimming Together Forever

  Gabrielle, Cecily

  Eli, Gabrielle

  Gabrielle, Cecily

  Mom, Prianka

  Unknown, Prianka

  Pool Day!!!!

  Colin, Gabrielle

  Ivy, Gabrielle

  Outdoor Explorers 4 Life

  Definitely Not Best Summer Ever 2.0

  Vishal, Prianka

  Victoria, Prianka

  CPG4eva 4 Real

  Victoria, Prianka

  Eli, Gabrielle

  Ivy, Gabrielle

  Victoria, Prianka

  Hello from India

  We Don’t Have Lunch Together OMG Help Me Now What Is Going On OMG

  We Don’t Have Lunch Together OMG Help Me Now What Is Going On OMG

  We Don’t Have Lunch Together OMG Help Me Now What Is Going On OMG

  Mom, Cecily

  Gabrielle, Cecily

  Gabrielle, Victoria

  Victoria, Cecily

  Intervention?

  Victoria, Cecily

  Miss My Girls

  Where Are My Girls

  Mara, Cecily

  Longest Group Text in the History of Texting

  Cecily, Gabrielle

  Mara, Cecily

  Mom, Cecily

  Coming Home from India Early

  Coming Home from India Early

  Original CPG4eva

  Mara, Cecily

  Mom, Cecily

  Ingrid, Cecily

  Victoria, Cecily

  CPG4eva

  Cecily, Victoria

  Home Home Home

  Mara, Cecily

  Sooooooo . . . . . .

  Where Are My Camping Peeps

  Glossary

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Books by Lisa Greenwald

  Back Ads

  Copyright

  About the Publisher

  Prianka, Vishal

  PRIANKA

  OMG I am sneaking 2 use the phone

  Don’t like being so disconnected

  Don’t like camping either

  R u there

  VISHAL

  Yes hi

  PRIANKA

  That’s all u can say?

  I am breaking rules here

  VISHAL

  Sorry

  PRIANKA

  Grrrrrr I gtg just got cau

  From: Outdoor Explorers Staff

  To: Mr. And Mrs. Basak

  Subject: Screen policy

  Dear Mr. And Mrs. Basak,

  Prianka was caught using her phone earlier today to text a friend. As you know, we are completely screen-free on Outdoor Explorers. The counselors have confiscated her phone and will return it at the end of the trip.

  She has received a warning. Any further infractions will require us to take more serious action.

  With best wishes,

  The Outdoor Explorers Staff

  Guysssss, can you believe after all that buildup we only have a few days left of our camping trip? OMG. I was totally dreading this and I loved it beyond belief. It went so fast. I am so sad it’s over. Although it will be good to get away from Darren’s 24/7 guitar playing! xoxo Gabby

  I know! I feel like it was one of those life-changing experiences where we look back and are so amazed it even happened. I mean, for the rest of our lives we are going to remember waking up at 5 a.m. and going on that crazy long hike and watching the sunrise. I really want to do it again next summer. Maybe even the longer one. Gabby, you’re like a different person when living in a tent. You’re like so hyper and friendly and silly all the time. I love it! Bring this Gabby back to school with us! :) Love u guys forever, Cece

  You guys! OMG. You are all crying about this trip ending and I am soooo excited to get home. SO happy I only got in trouble one time. And hahaha they have no idea how many times I snuck my phone. Who knew I was such a rebel? I guess camping brings out something different in each of us—and not all good things!

  Is there something wrong with me that I hate hiking and really don’t like being outside that much? I am nervous that I am more of an indoor person. What does this mean for my future life? Netflix, I miss you!!!!!

  But for real—since I was SO not into this camping thing, can we please make a pact that when we get home we make it the best summer ever (for the time I’m around which isn’t much bc of India). Okay? Promise? Respond below. Xoxoxoxoxo PRI THE EXTRAORDINARY

  Lol, Pri! You like being outside, though. You love the beach and that’s nature too. Duh. I am amazed we kept this notebook going the whole time and no one stole it. Or tried to snoop. Do you think we’ll keep in touch with Ivy? I like her a lot but I don’t know. Is it rude that we talked about her here? Do you think this notebook is the same as group chat?

  Ack. What if she does try to snoop? She’s just so amazing, though, right?

  Yes to the pact. When we get home it will be Best Summer Ever 2.0!!!

  Yes to the pact. Of course.

  And am I really that different here? I don’t know. But thanks for the compliment!

  But also, Pri, not everyone likes the same things. Duh. That’s why there’s chocolate and vanilla (thanks to my grandma for teaching me that expression).

  Yes to the Ivy thing. She is SO cool. She taught us how to change under our towels. Hello, life skill! We have to keep in touch with her. I am just so glad we had so many cool bunkmates. How will I go back to just living with my mom at home? Boo hoo.

  Luv, Gabs

  I didn’t expect to be homesick! I don’t even like my parents that much. JK. I love them, but for real. I leave for India pretty soon after we get home. Then I’ll be homesick for you two!

  WAHHHH.

  Anyway, Operation Best Summer Ever 2.0 starts in a few days! Xo Pri

  Mom, Prianka

  MOM

  Prianka darling, I hope you do not see this message, since you are not supposed to be on your phone. But if you do, we are sorry you do not like camping. But that is not an excuse to break the rules. We will discuss more when you return home. We love you. Mama and Papa

  From: Yorkville Middle School Administrators

  To: Yorkville Middle School Students

  Subject: Summer assignment

  Hello, Students!

  Hope you’re enjoying summer. Don’t forget to work on this summer’s writing assignment: How have you changed since this time last year?

  With permission, some of the essays will be posted (without names).

  All the best,

  Yorkville Middle School administrators & staff

  OMG, Pri. I can’t believe you
snatched your phone back. But pls stop showing us. I don’t want to know about school right now. Feels so far away and I like that. Will deal with assignment when home.

  Xo Gabs

  Same. Love, Cece

  OUTDOOR EXPLORERS ROSTER

  Dear Explorers,

  Well, our camping trip is sadly coming to an end. Together we learned so much—how to work together, how to live together, how to enjoy our beautiful planet Earth together. We learned how to be 100% screen-free!

  And now we will return home. We will share all that we have learned and experienced with our friends and families.

  Together we can heal the world. (Yeah! Yeah!)

  Please find a roster of all the participants and please keep in touch with everyone—including your counselors!

  We’ll be sharing our online photo album with all of you as soon as we get home and return to our screens. You will be able to update and add to it, so we can all stay up-to-date on each other’s lives.

  We miss you already!

  Your fabulous counselors—

  Darren, Aviva, George, Marley, Everett, and Vee

  I am back to poetry

  That’s how sad I am on this trip

  Cece and Gabs love it

  I do not

  They are happy outdoors

  I am not

  I am alone with my feelings

  So alone

  I am not meant for camping

  And I was so excited to do this trip

  Life is odd

  Um, Cece, do we really have to write a note to each person on the trip? Wahhh. I know you will love it but I am wahhh. So this is your note. LOL. Xoxo ILYSM, Pri

  Gabs, you’re the best. Thanks for sitting with me all those nights when I was homesick. I still think the cheese here tastes like toothpaste. LOL. Potty pals 4ever. Will miss u when I have to pee alone at home. ILY4evs, P

  Hi, Jake—it was fun getting to know you this summer. Good luck with your science fair thing. —Prianka

  DEAR CECILY, I HOPE YOU CAN READ MY HANDWRITING. IT’S REALLY BAD. HAHAHA. ANYWAY, IT WAS SO FUN GETTING TO KNOW YOU. I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU WERE ABLE TO DIVE FROM THAT HIGH BOULDER INTO THE WATERFALL. WOW. HOPE YOU’LL KEEP IN TOUCH. —JAYLEN

  Hi, Gabby, never forget slimy rocks and heaps of potatoes. LOL. You’re so funny. You’re also the most fun, daring, adventurous, chill girl I’ve ever met. Can I please come sleep over? I know everyone loves you, but can I be your BFFFFFFFFFF? Say yes. I LOVE YOU! xoxo Ivy

  Dear Prianka,

  What can I say? I know this trip was a struggle but you powered through and our group was better because you were here. Aren’t you glad you didn’t go home early? I hope you will always stay the bold, confident, powerhouse girl that you are. It’s okay to say what’s on your mind and I am glad you know that. The world needs strong superhero girls like Prianka Basak! Please keep in touch. Lots of love, Vee

  Ummm guys I’m tucking this note into shared notebook because I don’t want anyone on this bus to see it and I am scared I will drop it. Read asap and tell me what you think. OMG.

  Dear Gabby,

  Well, we were supposed to write a note to every person and I did but I saved the last one for you and it took me so long to figure out what to write so that’s why you are getting it so late. The whole time we’ve been on this trip I wanted to talk to you and get to know you better but I was so shy. I will never forget the night we had to do clean up together. You were so funny the way you were trying to sweep the eating area. Anyway, I think you’re really awesome. It would be great if we could keep in touch. I know it’s weird because we didn’t talk a ton on the trip. But maybe we can get to know each other better now. My cousins live kinda near you. I hope you don’t think I am totally crazy. I just think you’re really fun and smart and super pretty. Also, I don’t usually write these notes to girls. Just in case you were wondering.

  Okay, bye.

  —Eli

  OMG GABS!!!! What are you thinking right now? Eli was super cute, I thought.

  He was super cute. And he was funny, too. That one day we did the trust falls I had a fun time with him. He liked you the whole time and never said anything? Crazy. Boys are dumb.

  I KNOW. Well, there’s nothing I can do now. I guess I can email him or text him when I have my phone back.

  True. Okay gotta stop writing. Getting carsick on the bus. Discuss more at home. Xoxo

  Wait, Gabs, I am writing you on the back of this sheet because I can’t find paper and also don’t want to use notebook if Cece isn’t writing now. BUT what do you think? Is Eli on this bus?

  No, his parents picked him up because they’re going to Vermont on vacay. I only know that because they drive like a gigantic SUV, which is weird bc we were on a nature trip. Whatever though. Crazy about the note, right?

  YES! And funny we are writing this on a paper about s’mores. Way to waste paper, people! Cracks me up. Are you going to contact him?

  Well, s’mores are important. And as for Eli . . . I don’t know! Maybe?

  Okay out of room on this paper. Going to dig in my backpack for something else.

  HOW TO MAKE THE PERFECT S’MORE

  By George and Marley

  1. Make sure your graham crackers are ready and out of the package.

  2. Make sure your chocolate is broken into small pieces.

  3. Put chocolate on each half of graham cracker.

  4. Find the perfect roasting stick.

  5. Gently insert stick into marshmallow.

  6. Stand close to fire but not directly on top of fire.

  7. Roast marshmallow until one side is charred but do not let the entire marshmallow get charred.

  8. Gently take marshmallow off stick.

  9. Place the charred side onto the chocolate piece.

  10. Put both halves of graham crackers together with marshmallow and chocolate oozing together in the middle.

  11. VOILÀ! THE PERFECT S’MORE!

  Home Home Home Home Home

  PRIANKA

  Guysssss, reunited w my & it feels soooooooo gooooooooddddddd

  Where r u

  R u serious?! U r not so excited 2 be back with ur

  I don’t believe this

  & hello - we r supposed 2 b starting BEST SUMMER EVA 2.0 rn

  Where r u

  Hey, Gabs, I know you’re camping and won’t see this for a while but check out what I made at art camp. We had to take a photo and then paint it and I had a photo of you from that locker clean-out day. You can keep this.

  Peace, Colin

  Home Home Home Home Home

  GABRIELLE

  Sorry missed these texts

  Guess what??? Colin dropped off a drawing @ my house when I was away

  Omg

  PRIANKA

  Gabs, u have 2 boys in love with you

  GABRIELLE

  Haha no

  Anyway I don’t like either I don’t think

  PRIANKA

  Colin’s such a talented artist

  PRIANKA

  Why did I have no idea

  GABRIELLE

  IDK he really is though

  His art stuff makes him so much cuter I think

  PRIANKA

  4 real

  GABRIELLE

  Haha yeah artists are amazing

  PRIANKA

  Haha ok

  CECILY

  Hi, guys, I am so behind on these texts

  Was looking @ website 4 camping trip next summer LOL

  PRIANKA

  Of course u were

  CECILY

  What? I loved it

  PRIANKA

  I know

  GABRIELLE

  I did too

  Don’t hate, Pri

  U know I was sooooooo scared 2 go

  PRIANKA

  I am not hating

  Gabs, u were so 2 go & ended up loving it soooo much

  It’s ok 4 us to like diff things

  But omg that was so not my
thing

  CECILY

  WE KNOW

  PRIANKA

  Don’t scream @ me

  CECILY

  Sorry

  It was just super obv u weren’t into it

  I felt really bad the whole time

  PRIANKA

  It didn’t stop u from having fun

  Right?

  GABRIELLE

  No

  PRIANKA

  Cece

  CECILY

  No but I did feel bad

  PRIANKA

  Well sorry

  CECILY

  It’s ok

  I gtg

  Trying to still stay kinda screen-free

  PRIANKA

  U too, Gabs?

  GABRIELLE

  IDK we’ll see

  PRIANKA

  Guyssssss

  Who has started school essay thingy

  CECILY

  We just got home but I’ve been writing it in my mind

  LOL I’ve written a bit

  Doesn’t need to be that long

  PRIANKA

  K going 2 catch up on

  GABRIELLE

  K smooches

  Double smooches

  PRIANKA

  Ily2sm

  Prianka Basak

  Summer essay assignment

  The concept of change is very strange. (I didn’t mean for that to rhyme, sorry.) It’s because we don’t see ourselves changing. It just sort of happens. But the thing is, I think I’ve changed a lot since last summer. I used to go along with whatever people wanted, and now I speak up. I’m okay with saying what things I like and what things I don’t like. I’m proud to be more outspoken and open with my feelings.

  Gabrielle, Colin

  GABRIELLE

  Hi

  COLIN

  You’re home?

  GABRIELLE

  Yup

  I got ur painting

  Thank u

  COLIN

  Do u like it

  GABRIELLE

  Yeah it’s really good

  COLIN

  Thanx

  GABRIELLE

  What r u working on now

  COLIN

  Different stuff IDK

  GABRIELLE

  Take pics & send 2 me

  COLIN

  Maybe but they r not done yet