The next morning, the Duran sisters sat side by side eating breakfast at the kitchen island. Gabby threw back a couple of breakfast taquitos while scrolling through social media. Her old Miami friends’ feeds were filled with beach selfies and sunlit smiles.

“Aw, Katrina and Michelle. I miss those girls,” said Dina, peering over Gabby’s shoulder. “You should call them. There’s no reason you girls can’t be friends.”

“Mom, it’s been three weeks and we moved eight states away. They’ve already moved on,” said Gabby. She stared at an image of three girls cracking up. What she wouldn’t give to be one of them.

“They have not moved on,” insisted Dina.

“They’ve already replaced me. You see this girl? I don’t know this girl.” She held up the phone for her mom to see. “Say hello to Gabby 2.0. The new me.”

Gabby swiped through picture after picture of Katrina and Michelle with the mystery girl. The fact that they’d filled her spot so quickly stung. “Can we just move back to Miami?” Gabby asked.

Dina smoothed her black dress; her hair and makeup were camera ready. “Gabby, I know this has been hard for you. But it is what’s best for the family. I mean, the school district here has a gifted program that can challenge Olivia in ways her old school just couldn’t.”

Gabby didn’t understand why her social life had to suffer just because her sister was some kind of brainiac.

“And Mom was offered an on-air position for Local 6. How could she pass that up?” chimed in Olivia.

“Maybe this will cheer you up: I’m on mugs now!” Dina held up a Local 6 News Team mug with her face on it.

“Mugs, Gabby!” said Olivia, bursting with excitement.

Gabby stared at the coffee cup and her face broke into a giant smile. “Wow, that does actually make me feel
better.”

“Really?” Dina smiled.

“Nope,” Gabby said emphatically. Look, she was thrilled about her mom’s success; she’d worked tirelessly to rock her career. But that didn’t change how Gabby felt about Havensburg. It was the pits.

“I’m glad you two have a new job and a new school. But what do I have here?” asked Gabby. She already knew the answer to her question. She had nothing. Nada. Blank emoji.

Dina hated to see her daughter rattled. “You’re gonna find something, Gabby. I know you,” she said with an encouraging nod.

Gabby stood, not all that cheered up, and grabbed a handful of taquitos for the road. She had to get to school. Because nothing said fun like a day at Havensburg Junior High.