Gossip

I'm really happy—honestly, thrilled—that my classmates Francesco and Joelle broke up. I didn't like it one bit when they were together, kissing all the time. They sat at the desk right behind mine, and I'd turn around and tell them, "You two, cut it out!" Everyone would laugh, and I'd say, "What are you laughing about? This is serious!" I actually like them both. We talk all the time. But they shouldn't have been dating. They were together right up until the last day of school before Christmas break. Then when we came back on January 7th, they weren't a couple anymore. Finally! It was about time! I was so happy when I found out they'd split. I told everyone. I threw a little party. Yes! Joelle is a real friend of mine. She cares about me and talks to me a lot. I told her she shouldn't date Francesco anymore. She just laughs and says okay. Now Francesco is free, and that makes me happy. He even has this cool quiff and won't cut it, even though the teacher told him he has to. When I see him I get so nervous I don't even say hi. If I run into him on the street near school, I walk to the other side and don't answer when he calls out. I pretend I don't hear him. Then I tell everyone that he's the one who doesn't say hi to me. I even tell people he pushes me and makes me fall. But that's not true. As soon as I heard he and Joelle broke up, I wrote him a nice letter asking, "Why do you push me? Why don't you say hi?" He wrote back saying he doesn't push me and he does say hi. I know he's right, but I keep telling him he doesn't greet me. That way he says hi more often, and better. And I'm happier. Francesco is my love. My other love is Elia, but he lives in Brescia and I only see him when I'm at the beach. For my birthday, Elia called me and sent me a video with birthday wishes. He told me that this year, since I'm sixteen and grown up now, I can go dancing with him at the disco. I'm really happy about that invitation.