Barefoot Cinderella

7. Strange Occurrences

5 years ago...

You don't really loose someone only when that individual passes away, you can lose someone in a number of ways.

You can lose someone to distance.

You can lose someone when you drift apart.

You can lose someone when you no longer feel the same way about them.

You can lose someone to a misunderstanding.

You can lose someone by not saying something you should have said a long time ago.

On that fateful day I was in my room working on the dress I was planning on wearing to the school dance when I heard the front door slam downstairs.

As I was the only one in the house I immediately rushed downstairs to see who it was. Reaching the landing I saw Nicole walking out of the kitchen, looking left and right frantically as if she was searching for something or rather someone.

"Hey Nicole." I greeted my best friend softly, sensing that something was very wrong here.

Nicole looked troubled, okay beyond troubled. The rage simmering under her skin was clearly visible. She looked like a volcano, ready to erupt.

"You!" she yelled, her voice rising to a scream. She stalked to where I was standing and pointed a finger at me.

"I had always cut you slack whenever you gave that holier than thou crap of yours. I used to think that it was okay, that she was allowed to be this messed up after all she had been through."

I tried to say something, anything to calm her down. She seemed so out of control which was very unlike Nicole who is always calm and controlled. Before I could say something she raised her hand to stop me.

"I let you live in a bubble for so long because I thought that might be the only thing keeping you sane right now and I supported you endlessly through it all, but no more. Not this time!"

She paused for a moment, seemingly composing herself and spoke once again.

"This time you had gone too far. Even when I specifically asked you, you still lied to me! Why Ariel? Just why?"

By now Nicole had started sobbing hysterically. "Why did you do this to me Ariel, I thought that we were friends. Friends don't do that to each other what you did to me."

"Nicole, I have no idea..." I started to defend myself when she interrupted me. "You have no idea? Wow! Rhea was right about you pretending to be a naive little girl who didn't know anything all the while you wait, like a cunning little fox, for the right time to strike."

"You shouldn't believe in a thing that Rhea says." I started to say but she interjected one again.

"Why shouldn't I? She has actually been there for me when I needed help, unlike your selfish self who only thinks of herself. Besides, she has always been nothing but honest with me. All she ever did was try to save me from getting sucked into all your drama but like a fool I did actually what she had warned me about." She cried, unshed tears glittering in her eyes while I just stood there frozen in bewilderment.

"And you know what the worst thing is, that I asked you about it and you said that you were okay with it. You lied to me and I believed it. You let me humiliate myself in front of the whole school."

Now I was even more confused, "You are making no sense, what are you talking about?"

"Oh you know very well what I am talking about, don't try to act coy with me. I can see through you now." She ran a hand through her hair, exasperated. "You know what? I am so done with you!"