YOU BELONG WITH ME , Ben Plunkett

sorry, the old jasmine can't come to the phone right now..

"Ben told me what happened..." Mandy sighed, sitting beside me on the ground. "Are you okay?" she asked, frowning.

"He told you everything?" I asked her, sniffling. She nodded, laying her head on my shoulder.

"Why didn't you tell me that you liked him?" she asked, softly. "I mean...I guess I kind of had a feeling, but if you'd told me, I would have tried to hint it to him.."

"I thought I made it obvious," I shrugged. "Besides, it never mattered. Ben's had a thing for LaToya since forever," I told her. "I just can't believe he'd stoop so low and make fun of me,"

"I can't believe it either," Mandy muttered. "Maybe he had a good reason?"

"Ben had a good reason to humiliate me?" I scoffed.

"Well—I mean," Mandy lifted her head off of my shoulder. "He was probably freaked out. I mean, you're his best friend...and he probably doesn't want to risk that. Especially since you're..a lot to handle," she chuckled.

"A lot to handle?" I asked. "What does that mean?"

"I just mean with your anxiety, and your clinginess. Maybe Ben's scared of the responsibility that comes with dating you,"

I couldn't believe my ears. "What the hell, Mandy? Responsibility? Neither you or Ben are responsible for me!" I yelled. "I can't believe this, right now. You know what? I'm done," I told her, throwing my hands up, as I stood up.

"Wait—that came out wrong," she said, shaking her head.

"It's fine. You're right. I'm a lot to handle. I'm a mess," I laughed humorlessly. "But at least I had my friends to help me feel a little less shitty. But you know what? I don't need either of you. I'm perfectly capable on my own."

*

I was not okay.

I had lost both of my closest friends in the span of 20 minutes. I felt so lost.

As I walked home from school, I thought about all the things I'd done wrong in my life.

I lived by the book. I'd never taken chances. I never let myself have fun. I shied away from anyone who wanted to be my friend.

My whole life had been a joke—but I was over it. I needed to become a better version of myself—even if it took me until Prom to do so.

I was going to kill the Jasmine Taylor everyone knew, and return as a brand new version of myself.

And the only way to do it?

Become an Everest.

*

Angelina Speaks:

I'm about to throw hands. I know I made this up, but still. 😭