Mona of Dreamweaver (Book 1 of The Sisterhood Trilogy)

Chapter 17

The new school year started again. This time, there was a lot more excitement. We were juniors now. One more year after this and we would be going away to college. This was the year that we were supposed to start thinking about what we want to do and research the different universities and colleges out there. A month into the school year, 1-2 students from each of my classes started to be called out to the director’s office. Then, I was called. I wondered what was going on. Were we in trouble for something?

“The reason I called you in today,” the director started. “Was because you are one of our best students and we wanted to give you the option to start college preparation early. You would be attending those classes with the seniors and extra 2 hours after your club hours. Would you be interested in that?”

“Early college preparation?”

“Yes, you have time to think it over and talk it over with you family. Classes would be starting at the end of next month. Here is a letter to your parents and they can call me if they have any questions. I will be the one teaching those classes.”

I found out that Laura wasn’t called in for this after I told her about it. It would be so cool to go there together, but I guess not everything in life is done with your friends. Stacy and Kyle were proud of my achievements and agreed that it was a great opportunity for me to do this. So I started staying in school an extra 2 hours. It was lonely. I used to go home with Laura, but now, I was by myself. I was surprised to see Kristy, her ‘girls’, and Jacob with his ‘boys’ there. I never knew that they studied that well. I guess the saying, Don’t judge a book by it’s cover, applies here.

The classes were very informative and sometimes challenging. But I like challenge. I noticed a big difference in Kristy’s behavior. She stopped clinging to Jacob, and I think I actually heard her saying that she couldn’t wait to get to college, because the guys there were older and more mature than in high school. That girl was really hopeless.

There was a difference in Jacob’s behavior as well. I didn’t expect it to go in that direction at all. Again I thought over his request to be friends and I decided to give him a chance, but when I took a step in that direction, he just gave me a cold shoulder. Everyday during the college prep class I would say hi to him in a friendly way, but all I ever got was a nod. If that was how it was going to be, fine, I’ll stop trying and treat him in the cold way he’s treating me now. Weeks past and I felt heaviness. I came to realize that he was ignoring me because I ignored him earlier. Because I was rude to him and pretended to be mad when I wasn’t anymore. Regret started to sink in. Why didn’t I just agree to become friends when I had the chance? Now that I was very ready, it looked like it was too late.

All through Christmas and New Year’s break, I studied and ignored Laura’s plea to go to parties. I wanted to be sure that I was understanding the college prep homework and I wanted to be prepared for the exams that would be given in March. We were told that all Junior students that passed the college level exam would be able to graduate early, skipping senior year all together and would be able to enter college early. I was excited about that. I wanted to test my ability even if it meant that, at the chance of me passing, I wouldn’t be able to finish school with Laura. Besides, Laura had her future laid out already. She was a concert pianist and was well known for her 17 years. She didn’t need to go to college to start a career. She already had one.

When school started up again, I studied as hard as during the break, maybe even harder. Laura stopped coming all together and I didn’t even notice. I guess maybe I should have paid some attention to my friend and I kind of felt bad when Stacy asked me about her during dinner one night.

“Mona, it’s very good that you are studying, but you should spend time with your friends. You’ve been neglecting Laura.”

“Yeah, I know, but I’m sure Laura understands.”

”I visited Sara the other day, and she said she’s never seen Laura so depressed. She walks around not knowing what to do. She ignores her music and looks very depressed.”

“Is it really that bad?”

“I think so. You should take a break and spend some time with her.”

On Saturday, after my college prep classes, I texted Laura, asking if she wanted to hangout on Sunday. I could feel bitterness in her answer when she agreed. It made me feel worse. What a friend I was.

Sunday morning, I got dressed and went straight to Laura’s house. My heart raced. I don’t know if I was scared or what. It was like the feeling of guilt and being afraid of getting caught. The feeling was awkward, driving in silence to the mall. I felt that she was hurt and every time that I wanted to apologize, for some reason I couldn’t get it out. It felt like somehow I would say something wrong. Finally, when we sat at the food court picking at our food, I gathered up enough courage.

“I’m sorry.”

“What?”

“I’m sorry I wasn’t a good friend. That I completely ignored you for the past couple months. I just… I just wanted to be able to pass this test.”

“Is that really all it is? Passing?”

“What do you mean?”

“Mona, ever since you Jacob have met, you two have had a love hate relationship.”

“Wha..”

“Let me finish,” Laura interrupted. “You hate him, he wants to be your friend. You ignore him, he starts to ignore you. You want to be his friend, he still ignores you. Now, you’re both in the college prep class and I’m sure you two have the whole competition thing going on with, who gets the higher score on the assignments and tests. You don’t see it but I do. You like him and he likes you.”

I was silent. Maybe even shocked. Thinking back to class, it was just as she said. It was a competition of who was better. Every time I got a lower score than him, I studied harder wanting to be the first. When I was the first I saw his expression and determination to beat me the next time. But like him? Maybe as a friend.

“I can see you’re in denial Mona.” Laura said. “And as a friend, denial is not helping anything. It feels like I’m losing you”