A Car Crash Can Change Someone's Life

Monday, February 13

The months went by fast, and most of the time I would be at Chelsea's. It would be once in awhile that I would go to Megan's place, but mostly at Chelsea's. We just chilled outside, and since some of the weeks would be warm days, we would try to tan. We actually got a little more tanner. But not completely. It's only February, and I wish it was June 1, Brandon's birthday. Everyone thinks he's a day older than me, but he's actually a year and a day old than me, there's a difference. I was planning to go somewhere this weekend to buy him something, even though it's only February. I've still thought about what I would get him, there's so many things. I was thinking of maybe making him a friendship ankle bracelet with an angel and soldier, representing our friendship. Or maybe I could just buy him a sweatshirt... Or both! But it would be way too noticeable since every weekend I'm at his place.

I wish my parents were home. They said that they would just come home later, but they just recently called saying that they're going to be there for the ENTIRE summer. So of course, they asked Brandon's parents if I could stay over the whole summer. But they told me I could still go to Megan's or Chelsea's, as long as I let Brandon's parents know. And I'm going to be straight up honest, I know I love Brandon, I really do. But hanging out with him almost every single day for a whole year, kind of gets old. We still have fun, but I don't have the chance to hangout with other people. And I'm not going to tell him that because I don't want to take the risk of losing him, my own childhood friend. So I always keep it to myself, even though it's so painful.

School was still the same, except for one thing. I felt like such a horrible friend about this. My friend Justin from the beginning of year that bumped into me, hasn't been at school lately. Thinking about it made me feel like a horrible friend for not noticing. I was horrified at the thought that he hasn't been at school. What if he's missing, got kidnapped, a car crash, drowned, bitten by a shark? I couldn't just sit in class thinking if my best friend was hurt, or killed. So I told the teacher I didn't feel good and I wanted to go home. I know I was supposed to be staying at Brandon's, but I had to go to my house and put my backpack away and bring my phone with my wallet.

Since I wasn't 16 yet, I had to walk to find Justin. I walked to his house, which would be three miles in a car, so it would be a little bit longer walking there. As I was walking, I was thinking about what had happened to me in the bathroom, burning. I thought, what if Justin was feeling the same thing as me? Seeing strange things, weird things happening to me. Thinking he's having flashbacks, but it's a nightmare that you can't get out of. I pulled myself as I arrived at his house. His car was there, but for some reason, it felt empty to me, abandoned. As I stood there, I could feel the sun crisping my skin with 80° weather.

I suddenly heard glass breaking from inside the house, jumped a little, then sprinted to the door. Luckily, it was unlocked so I opened the door then slowly shut it. I heard a bang right after the door closed, and it sounded like it was coming from his room upstairs. I run upstairs and stop in the middle of the hallway... I saw Justin breaking his things, looking angry and wishing he wasn't alive. I run into his room before he smashed another thing, and automatically hugged him so tight, so he wouldn't move. He was shocked and a little embarassed when he saw me.

I started crying, hugging him. He looked disappointed and wrapped his arms around me, kissing my head.

"I'm sorry Sen, I didn't mean to scare you. I wish you didn't see me like this."

I just buried my head in his arms for a minute and finally said, "Where have you been all year Justin? Why were you smashing things? I have every right to be worried and know what happened."

He just looked at me when I looked up at him. I could tell he didn't want to say, but he knew that he had no choice.

"I was being an idiot, Sen. I got in a fight with that jerk Zeke. He ticked me off so I punched him straight up the nose, breaking it. I got suspended, then I... well...,"