For The Last Time

Team Tyler

September 2014

"We have to make this year the best year yet!" my best friend Lexie cried, turning out of my driveway, the Monday morning school started. "And I really need a new car," she threw a fist towards her steering wheel but immediately withdrew her hand back, squealing in pain. "Ouch!"

"Only you would manage to do something that stupid Lex," I laughed, shaking my head in mock disapproval. Lexie's blue eyes widened, before her pink glossy lips stretched into a frown. She flipped her blonde curls over her shoulder in annoyance, looking directly straight at our surroundings, which wasn't exactly anything great to look at. I bit my lip and regretted being so mean. "I was joking. I didn't mea-"

Lexie clasped a hand over her mouth before breaking out, her hysterical laughter filling the car. She looked so amused by my reaction that I thought she would nearly run us over. I gripped onto my seatbelt, just in case, but carried on staring at her in confusion."You should have seen your face Al, you were-oh god-so funny-" she clenched her tummy trying to control herself.

I rolled my eyes, folding my arms over my chest, clearly not enjoying myself as much as she was, "That was so not funny."

"So I was thinking we should go to the mall or something after school today. I mean it's a total emergency crisis; I have literally no clothes," Ashley, my other best friend started after we had picked her up from her house. It was a normal, everyday routine. Me and Ashley both had cars but we just preferred going to school together and Lexie just declared herself as the driver as soon as we decided it. I didn't mind though. Lexie was never as clumsy as me; I'd probably end up killing someone on the way to school if I drove. She looked at her nails in disgust and raised her eyebrows, "I need a manicure."

I smiled and nodded my head, "Sure, we haven't been out in ages anyway."

"How fast have these past years gone? It's already senior year. Our last year ever together," Ashley sighed, emphasizing the word 'ever' as she straightened up in her seat.

"Do you have to remind me?" Lexie moaned, slowing the car down as it neared a 'STOP' sign.

"You don't know that," I persisted, leaning my head towards the window, staring at the never-ending fields of green grass and wild flowers. But admittedly I was upset about it. I was planning to go to Yale, but Lexie and Ashley had no intention of even going to college. Lexie was going to continue after her mother's beauty salon and Ashley didn't even know what she was doing.

I may never see these two people again, and we'd been friends since the first day of kindergarten. It seemed like yesterday that I had wondered round the classroom demanding for someone to help me find Mr. Martin. Mr. Martin was my little elephant toy that I could literally not go a day without and I found Lexie and Ashley having a tea party with him. When they saw me, they insisted I'd join them and we'd been inseparable ever since.

"Maybe," I said.." We'll still live near each other and we'll be as close as we are now and we'll even share an apartment together, just like we said when we were five."

"Yeah, when we were five," Lexie snorted. I looked at her, narrowing my eyes.

"Whatever," I mumbled. "I still think that though."

"Keep dreaming Ally," Ashley snorted now, running a hand through her dirty blond hair.

"Hey, a girl can have dreams," I threw my hands up in exasperation.

The car journey was unbelievably quick and we got to school in half the time it normally takes, but that just might be me. I was glad to see be in school again for some odd reason, but I was really going to miss the summer, partly because I didn't have to see my new, annoying rascal of a step-brother every day. Lexie pulled into an empty space in the parking lot. People were just coming in, so we didn't have trouble finding somewhere to park.