There was about half the school year left when something happened that I know would forever change my life. For the better, I'm not so sure.
I was sitting by myself, as usual, during lunch when for some strange reason, October came up to me.
"Hey Skylar!" She said as she sat down in the empty seat next to me.
"October? Why aren't you with Amy?" At this point, I was really confused. I mean why would she, the one who left me for a lying jerk, just suddenly come up and start talking to me like we're still friends?
"She's absent today," Oh, that's why.... "and Maya and Angela told me they had something to do and I couldn't come with them." Angela was kind of the new Kylie, since she didn't come back this year. "So, you wanna hang out?"
"Really? You mean like....old, times?" I questioned in slight disbelief.
"Yeah. So you in or not?"
"Sure. Why not?" With October, lunch seemed to go by so much quicker. I usually spend it either writing or drawing or hanging with Faith....while writing. Either way, I was kinda lonely.
After that day, October and I started hanging out a lot more. But, when Amy found out , she was none to pleased.
I remember specifically one day, I was eating lunch with October when Faith came up to us.
"Hey Skylar," She said as she sat next to me. "what's up."
"Nothing."
"I was talking to Amy and she kind of, brought up your name." I gave her a confused expression. "She said "why is October always hanging out with Skylar?" I told her "so what, she's always hanging out with you anyway."
"What did she say?" October asked.
"She said "Who cares she's supposed to be my friend, not hers." The words hit me like a bomb. I was hurt, but I wasn't prepared for what I was about to hear...or read.
"Um Skylar?" She said as looked me in the eye. I nodded. "I was also talking to Amy on Kik yesterday and she said something."
"What did she say?"
October pulled out her phone and brought up the kik app.
Amy: Why are you always hanging out with Skylar?
October: Because she my friend.
Amy: I don't think you should hang out with her anymore.
October: Why not?
Amy: Well for one, she too big. And two-
I couldn't bring myself to read anymore. I pretended I didn't care. I pretended like it was nothing, like she was nothing. But it wasn't that easy. She was something, a huge something.
She was prettier than me, snartter than me, more popular than me. She was well......better, than me. I didn't understand why she seemed to be almost, jealous.
"You know what, forget about her. I just," I sighed. "I don't want to get into drama right now." Little did I know it was already too late for that.
Faith and October weren't the only ones Amy had talked to. Turns out she spread some rumors about me. She told everyone that I threatened her. She said that I told her if she didn't stay away from October I would beat her up. I was surprised that anyone thought that that was true. I mean look at me, I didn't look like I would ever hurt anyone. I never would hurt anyone.
And of course, me being the coward I was, I didn't stand up to her. If anyone had ever brought it up to me, I would just walk away or just take the insults. I never stood up for myself. There was no word to describe me, I was way beyond pathetic. But things got worse. Amy and Angela now weren't just talking about me behind my back, but they would also talks about me to October even if I was in the seat next to them.
I remember one day, I was trying to talk to October when Angela asks her "You gonna eat lunch with me and Amy today?"
"No, I have something to do." October replied.
"Man! Ever since you started hanging out with Skylar-" I didn't hear the rest of what she said, because I had already walked off and sat down at my seat. Which, lucky for me, was right behind Angela.
I had never attempted it, but I contemplated suicide for about a month before I finally told someone. I told someone who I thought might not really care. He was this kid in my class named Darby. I thought he wouldn't care, that he wouldn't tell anyone. But I was wrong, he screen captured the conversation then showed it to the principle. Then, the principle knew, then the guidance counselor knew, than my teacher knew.
Then I had like, four talks with four different people, and they all pretty much said the same things. "Suicide isn't the answer. It's just a permanent solution to a temporary problem." Truth be told, I did sometimes feel like I wanted to just die, but every time the thought of suicide crossed my mind I would usually tell myself things like "That's crazy. You'll get through it. It's not like Amy's going to be in your world for the rest of your life."
Then one day I wrote October a note saying I didn't want to be her friend anymore.
It read, "Dear October, we can't be friends anymore. Ever since we started hanging out again, it's caused nothing but drama. I don't want to be the reason you hated your sixth grade experience. I'm sorry. Maybe we're just not meant to be friends. Sincerely, Skylar."
That afternoon she came up to me and just immediately embraced me. I by lying if I said I didn't shed a few tears. Oh who am I kidding, I broke down crying on her shoulder. After my crying subsided, she pulled me away to look at her, still holding me by my shoulders.
"Nothing will ever stop us from being best friends."
