G3+Group+3

__ Just Friends  __ By: Priya Gupta and Meredith Glaubach Period 3 I cover my face with my hands as I weep over the departure of my best friend, Brooke. It had only been three hours, but it felt like three years. The warm October sun fills the gaps between my fingers, trying to drown me in my bitter sweet memories of Brooke. In my attempt to recall our breathtaking moments, I could only think about that she’s gone. Her last words kept repeating over and over inside my head. //I'll see you in a few months Emma. Take care of yourself. Bye! // She then leaned into me and gave me a hug as a teardrop ran down my cheek. It is then that I realized that she was actually going away; it was not just some terrible nightmare. It was one of the worst feelings I ever experienced. The moment when we said our last goodbyes was the moment where I realized that she’s gone. She's gone: the worst two words that have ever gone through my head. It's not even that she's going across town or even the state; she's going across the COUNTRY! She will be more than 6 states away, 1701 miles. That's A LOT, more than her parents would let her travel. She’s going to Texas, while I’m all the way in Connecticut. She was not only my best friend, she was like a sister to me and now I'm not going to see her for a three WHOLE MONTHS! If three hours is this hard, I wonder how terrible 3 months will be. Even worse, school is starting in a couple of days and I have no idea how I am going to manage without her. I peer through the foggy window of the school bus, seeing the reflection of nobody special. If I were still in the 8th grade, Brooke would be sitting next to me, filling the empty silence with constant laughter. I wish I could go back to those days; these past few weeks have been absolutely horrible! My vision is always in a fog. I walk through life without seeing anything, just following the same footsteps again and again. For what seems like the hundredth time, I drifted into Language Arts, the last period of the day. Here I will sit for another 45 minutes listening to the teacher talk on about something I don't care about. As I take my seat, I glance around me; most people are off in groups of three or four talking about how much homework they have, or what they're going to do after school. Sometimes I wish that could be me, the person who started the conversations, who had a ton of friends, who was never alone, but I think I would be cheating Brooke. She's my best friend, my only best friend and I was going to have to save myself for her (not like I would think of doing anything else). But, it's nice to think that there's an actual reason why I'm cutting myself off. I think the teacher is calling on me; that's so unusual. The teachers, and kind of everyone else ignores me now, or I'm ignoring them, one or the other. I absolutely hate how the eyes are always following me. When I was with Brooke everybody minded their own business. Now it’s like people are surrounding me, it’s let’s stalk Emma's every step, every move, and every mistake. There goes the bell, so it’s off to ice skating. We've been ice skating forever, Brooke and I, and we love it, it's the only thing that I like anymore, now that she's gone. It reminds me of her in a good way, and I'm always practicing so when she comes back we can skate together again. Even though there aren't many there, I'm sure she's found a local ice skating rink and skates there every day. She was really motivated, always ready to take a chance and learn something new. 

Gosh! It’s so cold in here! Well, the rink is always cold, but it seems especially cold today. This is the big day because I have to show my routine to the instructor. I hear the instructor call my name. “Emma Monroe, please proceed towards the rink.” I’m getting up, taking a deep breath and starting to walk towards the ice. I continue to take strides towards the middle of the rink. Here I pose for a few seconds, and now I begin my routine. I approach my first jump, shooting my foot into the air. Perfect! I feel like a weight is being lifted off my shoulders. Now, I can see the part Brooke had created for me coming. I feel my body get heavier every second. I feel the tears pooling up in my eyes and my legs getting weaker and weaker. At this moment, I begin my jump. I catch great air but I feel my leg slide behind the other, and before I know it, I'm on the ground. I feel the cold of the rough ice scraping against my left cheek; it's getting worse being without her. It's getting much worse. As I stand up I catch a glimpse of my teacher. I know this expression; he's worried. He knows I'm alone without Brooke, but he will have to get over it. I'm quickly standing up, and I start speeding to an exit from the rink. "Hey, Emma," someone calls out. I instantly turn around. Just like at school not many kids at the rink talk to me anymore. I'm kind of shocked. "Uhhh hey.... " "Hey, I just wanted to tell you that your double toe-loop was really good. I've been trying to do it forever, and it's REALLY hard!" "Oh.... um thanks. It...yeah...well... thanks." I didn't remember talking to people this easily. Maybe I should try it more often. "Oh, and sorry about Brooke. I think that this might make your skating better, though. I mean you won't have her as a distraction or anything. - Oh my gosh, I'm sorry! I didn't mean it like that; I was just saying that this might improve your skating, never mind." I suddenly realized my expression. My mouth is wide open, and I am deadly still. I can't believe that she just said something like that. I learned from Brooke and she is my inspiration. How dare she insult her? I started to run, but I didn't know what I was running from. Was it the fact that she said it or that she was right?  I stare out my bedroom window for her. I can't believe Brooke is coming in a few minutes and I'm so excited!!! I made a list of all the things we are going to do while she is here and we’re going to have a great time! This is the first time I’m seeing her in so long; I can't wait for her to come! I bet she is exactly the same, she likes to talk, she's funny and sensitive, and she is my best friend. Turning my head, I see Brooke's dad pulling into our driveway. I race down the stairs, shoving my parents out of the way and flinging the door open in Brooke's arrival. My eyes are searching for Brooke. There she is, getting out of the car! "Oh, my God! Emma, what's up? I haven't seen you for like SO LONG!" Brooke is saying. "I know. It's been way to long. I've missed you so much it’s unbelievable." She runs towards me and pulls me in for a short tight hug. I'm so glad she's back. Finally everything is back to normal. "I have to tell you all about Texas, and you have to tell me about what you've been up to! Come help me with my bags. I brought a few too many," Brooke's saying chuckling at the end. As we got to the trunk, I looked in, ready to see one or two suitcases, but I see four. They were all different types, most I've never even thought of using. That's okay. We each can carry two. "So, Texas is really hot, but really neat. The people there are awesome. I love them all!" "Wow, it sounds cool! So, you want to go ice skating later?" "Absolutely. Let me put down my stuff and freshen up, and then totally."

What is taking her so long? She must be really into brushing her teeth, because she's been up there for 37 minutes. Maybe she didn't bring a coat. I get one of my coats out of the coat closet and run up to the guest room. WOW! I just opened the door and Brooke must be trying on her thousandth outfit. There are so many clothes on the floor. She must really like eagles suddenly, because on the corner of all her clothes is a little Embroidered eagle. Now, I see her in front of the mirror with the most ridiculous outfit ever. She's wearing the shortest skirt I think I've ever seen, and these weird, I think leg warmers, and blue ballet shoes. It's weird, but if that's her style now... I guess it’s okay. "Oh, hey," Brooke is saying. "You like my outfit? I figure if we're going somewhere public, why not look your best?" "Yeah, it's really pretty." "Cool, okay. Let's go!"

Again, it's freezing here. Although when I look at Brooke, I'm reminded I must be a lot warmer than she is. I just got on the ice a second ago, and it feels great skating as fast as possible. I should probably stop a second and let Brooke catch up. She was a little behind me; she forgot to bring her skates. I'm looking at her, but she doesn't look very confident. She's going slowly, and she looks really smooth, but she's not doing it properly. I wonder if she's just trying to get me to stop so she can race ahead. A minute later, I'm still standing here, and she has barely moved. I'm turning around and skating back to her. "What's wrong Brooke? Don't you skate in Texas?" "I haven't been able to. There are no good skating rinks. And none of my friends do it. I mean there, I guess skating is just not big in Texas." That's weird. She was so into it.  "I have an idea, Emma! I'll go get us some hotdogs and you can do another lap or two, and then meet me at the tables." "All right, if you don't want to skate anymore that sounds good." The wind feels so good in my face, but it's so weird that Brooke doesn't skate anymore. I'll do another lap and then get off the rink. I think five laps is good for now. Maybe I'll come back later. I'm walking to the concession stand, but Brooke isn't here, she must already have the food and be at a table. I'm walking into the area with the tables, searching for Brooke. I see her! Wait, who is she with? As I walk towards her, I can see the people she's with. They're guys who I've never seen before. There are five of them, and they're all looking at Brooke. She's talking in a weird voice, and what is she doing with her eye lashes. She must have something in her eye! "Hey Brooke!" "Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh," she says giggling, "Hey Emma.   "Hey. Do you want to get a table?"   "Brooke," one of the boys says. "Sit with us."    This is weird. We don't know them, and yet we're still sitting with them. What if they are dangerous? Brooke likes them, so probably not. I'm hearing a chorus of "Brooke!" As I tune back in, all the boys are asking Brooke to sit next to them.    "Hey, Justin, can you scoot over. That's great. Thanks!"   "Uh, Brooke," I'm whispering into her ear. "Where should I sit?"    "Oh, hey Jacob. Can you move over to fit in Emma?" Brooke says batting her lashes.   "Sure, Brooke, whatever you want," Jacob says as he moves over.    I had never really stared at Brooke, but now as I sit at a chatter filled table (with everyone talking except me) I really look at Brooke. She's probably one of the prettiest girls I know. I never realized it, but her face is perfect, and she's really skinny; you might say she has an hourglass figure. I guess all these guys must really like her. It's a shame, I must be getting in the way. No one is even talking to me. Not even Brooke. I feel ignored and unimportant.    "Hey Brooke," I say. "It's getting late, and I should get home. I have some stuff to do, but you carry on and I'll see you later."   "Emma, wait," Brooke says getting up. "I'm sorry if you felt ignored, I was just trying to make new friends". She bats her lashes again.    "It's no big deal." I respond, "I have to get home anyway".    " No, I'll come with you", Brooke says, "We should do a lot together, since I'm only here for a few days."    "Okay, so what do you want to next?" I ask.    "Not much right now. I just want to go back to your place and rest for a while."   "Oh, sure. I'll call my dad," I say.   Brooke talks about the boys she met all the way home. We're both heading up to our rooms, and closing our doors. Now, I see the friendship bracelet I made for Brooke. I started making it right when she left, it was really pretty and had BEST FRIENDS FOREVER written on it. I pick it up and walk to her room, I'm slowly pushing open the door, but I can't see her. I hear something in her bathroom; I think it's a voice, Brooke's voice.     "Yeah, we just came today. It felt great to see Emma again, but I don't know, something felt different," Brooke says. "Anyways, I have to go. Thanks for talking to me. I really needed it. You are truly my best friend."   I can't believe she just called someone **else ** her best friend, I feel like a spear is going through my stomach. My head is going in circles and my eyes are filling up with tears. I thought that I was Brooke's best friend, but I guess I was wrong. I knew Brooke had changed a little, but now I know she’s changed a ton! Now Brooke is opening the door and coming out. I hide the bracelet behind my back as she sets her clothes in her suitcase and says, "Oh, hey Emma, I didn't see you there. Did you need something?"   "Oh, no. I was just wondering if you were hungry. My mom has left some food for us downstairs," I respond.   "Cool! I'm starving. I'm gonna downstairs, you can freshen up and meet me downstairs," Brooke says.   I exit from her room and enter mine. I go into the bathroom and drop the bracelet in the trash. I proceed to go down the stairs to join Brooke. The next few days are like a blur, the more time I spend with her, the more changes I see in her. She isn't the simple, unique and fun loving girl who used to be my best friend. There is nothing much I can do now because she is leaving tomorrow and will not be coming back for a while.

"Well, that's the last bag," says Brooke's dad. I turn around and look at Brooke, I think (for the second time) that she's going away, but now with a more productive way of getting over it. "I guess this is it," I say. "Yeah," she responds. She leans in and gives me a tight hug. "I'll see you soon," Brooke says. "Brooke, it's time to go," yells her mother. "I'll miss you. Bye Emma."

I guess now we're just friends.