Free The Pages Between Us by Lindsey Leavitt

also the son of a billionaire oil tycoon who—
    GAME MASTER: Piper . . . Cat Lady. You need to let the role-players create their own characters. You focus on you.
    It went longer, of course. And guess what? I loved it! Who’d have thought? The actual role-playing wasn’t the fun part. I liked writing the script more. And directing is so me. It made me incredibly excited to get the cast set for my own birthday! If I was Game Master, things would have been bananas.
    I want to host my own LARP sometime and use some of my subplots from playing Barbies with Andrea . . . I mean, babysitting Andrea. I should start adding brain surgery into my bag of ideas. Also monkeys.
    The only UN-fun part was when the grouchy Game Master said Cat Lady had been eaten by a polar bear. Where’d the polar bear suddenly come from? And how did a polar bear get on a tropical island anyway? So many plot holes.
    The problem with casting birthday party guests at LARP is that we weren’t allowed to talk to anyone out of character. But I did get a chance to talk to the bride, Felicity, for a little bit after. And I think you’ll agree the convo equals total success. . . .
    ME: Wow, you’re really good at crying on cue.
    FELICITY: Thanks! I stare in my mirror for hours and think of sad things and it helps.
    ME: Seriously? That’s so cool.
    FELICITY: I totally liked your coma idea. If LARPing doesn’t work out, you should think about being a director.
    ME: Do you ever do any acting outside of LARP?
    FELICITY: Tons. Drama Club is amazing too. You should come!
    ME: What about . . . a life-situation kind of LARP? Like if I had a birthday party, and wanted you to pretend to be someone else the whole time.
    FELICITY ( tilts her head ): Like . . . a birthday clown?
    ME: Or a tragic heroine who is down on her luck but about to write an amazing New York Times best-selling novel. And also has an evil twin?
    FELICITY: Sure. I guess. There are no small parts, just small actors.
    SO FELICITY IS IN!
    Ugh, I’m such a McChatterson! So anyway, LARPing was awesome. And if Felicity doesn’t end up making the cut, maybe she’s someone we could be friends with—if we ever want another friend.
    But I’m okay if that “if” never happens.
    Tomorrow! French Club! Which means . . . MACARONS !! (Or croissants. Or even baguettes. I will be happy with any pastry.)
    Piper
    Grateful for: Da Bruise (not the actual bruise, just the name I came up for it), retelling events to you like it’s a movie, macarons , Flynn being potty-trained, the way the name Felicity feels when you say it. Try it. Fill-is-it-eee.

    From: [email protected]
    To: [email protected]
    Subject: Re: Piper gets her LARP on!
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    Piper,
    Don’t worry about my parents reading our emails. I know they did this whole family email account because they took a class on Protecting Your Child in a Modern World, but they’re both so busy that they never log in.
    I love that you pretended to be a Cat Lady . . . all to cast your birthday party attenders. YOU’RE MY HERO. I’m so impressed you stayed in there and totally committed to that role.
    I’m not going to make it to another club tomorrow because I’m going to stay out of school one more day. No, my bruise and toe sprain aren’t THAT much of a medical emergency, but Dad wants to keep an eye on them.
    Not seeing you again at school is downright depressing, but get this! Dad and I are going to spend the entire day together having a movie marathon and playing chessgames where he will—without a doubt—beat me. I’ve never won a game against him.
    I’ll give you a report on how it goes tomorrow by email since you are still the Keeper of the Notebook.

    From: [email protected]
    To: [email protected]
    Subject: Olivia’s Day Off
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    As predicted, my dad beat me every chess game.
    I get the feeling he wishes I would win, but I just