Better Off Friends

by Elizabeth Eulberg

  I’m much better off with the fantastic crew at Scholastic behind me. I know how much work goes into getting a book out into the world, and appreciate all of your efforts. Four scoops of custard to Tracy van Straaten, Bess Braswell, Emily Morrow, Stacy Lellos, Alan Smagler, Leslie Garych, Lizette Serrano, Emily Heddleson, Candace Greene, Antonio Gonzalez, Joy Simpkins, Elizabeth Starr Baer, Sue Flynn, Nikki Mutch, and all the sales reps.

  Thanks to my agent, Rosemary Stimola, for sprinting the distance with me time and time again.

  I owe so much to my family, especially my parents for enduring the torture that was researching Culver’s and Friday night fish fries with me. And my siblings: Eileen, Meg, and WJ, for always cheering on their baby sis. It means the world to me.

  I’m so grateful that I have wonderful friends who also make excellent readers: Rose Brock, Jen Calonita, and Bethany Strout. Your input made this book so much better.

  In the words of the Almighty K. Clark, my life would suck without: Chris Miller, who bravely drove on the wrong side of the road during our trip around Ireland; Susan North and Amy Miller, who let me crash at their places when I needed peace and quiet; Mark Dowd, Amy Royce, Justina Chen, and my Facebook friends for answering my questions about ACL surgery; Macallan Durkin, who let me borrow her name. And of course my wonderful author friends who’ve made what can be a very solitary job into a community of awesome.

  I’d be remiss to not acknowledge the brilliant Nora Ephron, who not only gave the world Harry and Sally, but countless other timeless characters and stories. I’ll always have what she’s having.

  To every bookseller, librarian, teacher, and blogger who has recommended my books and every reader who has picked up one of my books: I wouldn’t have this job without you. I know every day how lucky I am to have it, and never take it (or you) for granted. THANK YOU!

  ALSO BY ELIZABETH EULBERG

  The Lonely Hearts Club

  Prom & Prejudice

  Take a Bow

  Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality

  Elizabeth Eulberg can totally be just friends with certain boys, as long as they have good taste in music. It also helps if the boy is a Green Bay Packers fan. When she’s not busy going through potential friends’ iPods, she’s busy writing about what she finds out from being friends with guys. She’s also the author of The Lonely Hearts Club, Prom & Prejudice, Take a Bow, and Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality. You can find her on the web at www.elizabetheulberg.com.

  Copyright © 2014 by Elizabeth Eulberg

  All rights reserved. Published by Point, an imprint of Scholastic Inc., Publishers since 1920. SCHOLASTIC, POINT, and associated logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Scholastic Inc.

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Eulberg, Elizabeth, author.

  Better off friends / Elizabeth Eulberg. — First edition.

  pages cm

  Summary: Macallan and Levi are best friends from the first day they meet in seventh grade, but over the years their close friendship keeps interfering with their dating life because everyone else regards them as a couple.

  ISBN 978-0-545-55145-8 (jacketed hardcover) 1. Best friends — Juvenile fiction. 2. Friendship — Juvenile fiction. 3. Teenagers — Juvenile fiction. 4. Dating (Social customs) — Juvenile fiction. 5. Interpersonal relations — Juvenile fiction. [1. Best friends — Fiction. 2. Friendship — Fiction. 3. Dating (Social customs) — Fiction. 4. Interpersonal relations — Fiction.] I. Title.

  PZ7.E8685Bet 2014

  813.6 — dc23

  2013019024

  First edition, March 2014

  Cover image © 2014 by Michael Frost

  Cover design by Elizabeth B. Parisi

  e-ISBN 978-0-545-55146-5

  All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher. For information regarding permission, write to Scholastic Inc., Attention: Permissions Department, 557 Broadway, New York, NY 10012.