𝙸𝙽 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙴𝙽𝙳 || Original Story

fourteen | friend part ii

I was going to spend the day sat in my garden reading and watering the plants, but Bryony insisted that we went out for a coffee and catchup instead.

I couldn't say no. She was, after all, my best friend and she did make up for interesting conversations.

I'd known Bryony Bell since we were both five years old. We instantly became friends on our first day of school and our friendship has never diminished- not even for a moment.

Naturally, we've had our fallings out, but she had such a glowing and magnetic personality, so it was pretty hard to stay away.

She and I were some of the most popular girls in school, but when we moved up to secondary, it was I who sat on the backbench. However, that didn't stop Bryony cancelling and avoiding plans with her new friends to spend the day with me.

"You'll always be my best friend," she had said with a radiant smile. "You're like my sister and I'll always make sure you're stuck with me."

She also made sure she was my very first customer when opening up my shop. And, of course, she bought the biggest bunch of flowers I had at the time.

I didn't know what I'd do without her.

We met up at Maisie's Marvellous Tea Room (a favourite spot of ours) and chatted away for several hours, sipping at coffee and munching on cakes.

We then decided to go for a walk and soak up the sunshine whilst we could.

"Oh, isn't this weather great?" Bryony exclaimed as we stepped outside.

"Indeed," I smiled in return. "It's supposed to be like this for a good few weeks."

"About time!"

As Bryony and I strolled into the square with full stomachs and swapped potential ideas for her wedding, I saw Edgar stood with Jack Hamilton and it seemed like they were getting along rather well.

"Ooh! Is that Edgar Bailey?" Bryony asked excitedly.

"Yes," I replied simply, glad to see that he was talking to somebody so animatedly.

"Kind of a pretty boy, isn't he?" She giggled, nudging my arm and winking.

I glanced to her. "You think?"

"Of course! We don't get many visitors to Maplebrook, but when we do, they're incredibly handsome and here to stay, apparently."

"Bryony, you're engaged," I retorted, nudging her back.

"I mean, I am... But who's to say that I can't have both, huh?"

She laughed and I rolled my eyes, grinning. Bryony was such a wind-up merchant.

"Both is greedy, Bry," I said. "Pick one."

"How dare you make me choose?" She gasped sarcastically. "Well, you're leaning so far towards the city boy that he'll have to catch you before you fall over. And that is where I'm leaving that."