Friendship Stories

Friends?

"Iris!" I waved my arms at my best friend who was across the hall. She spotted me immediately but for some reason, she didn't come over, just like she did the whole day. She disappeared into the crowd of students rushing to get home.

"Iris, wait!" I shouted as I made my way past the jumble of students.

I caught a glimpse of her auburn hair and ran after her.

"Iris!" I seized her wrist. "Why have you been avoiding me the whole day?"

When I spoke, I noticed something in her hair . . . Not in her hair but her actual hair. Streaks of orange, our favourite colour. The colour we promised we would dye part of our hair in together.

"What . . . ?" I looked at Iris. Her golden eyes shimmered with tears. "When did you do this?"

"I—"

"What happened to our promise?!" I never raised my voice towards my friends before, especially not Iris. But this time I let my emotions get the best of me.

Iris flinched, "Dalis asked me to dye my hair with her."

"And you agreed?!" I screamed. A crowd was gathering around us.

"I wanted to ask you but she took away my phone and I couldn't."

"So you just decided to go anyways?!? You know I hate her! You know that and you just decided to go anyways?!"

"I'm sorry Cassy, I really am." tears rolled down her cheeks. Liar.

"What?" I demanded. Iris stared at me with her teary eyes. "You think I'm going to pity you just because you're crying? You think I'm going to accept your apology just like that? You think a broken promise comes with no consequences?!!!"

People were staring and taking videos. That's it, I can't take it.

"Everybody LEAVE!" I screamed. The crowd started to lose some people, but many more stayed. I ignored them and continued with my conversation between my friend and I.

Iris opened her mouth to speak but that girl wasn't going to interrupt my speech.

"We made a pact when we were eight that we would dye our hair together. Do you know what that word means?"

"Yes . . ."

"You know how much I hate broken promises! You know that yet you go ahead and break our promise. Eight years later and you break our promise. You couldn't wait one more year?" Tears brimmed my eyes. "You know what I've been through, Iris. You don't deserve to have me as a friend." I pushed past her and left.

That night I replayed our argument over and over in my head. I ended up crying myself to sleep . . .

Nine years ago . . .

She was there for me when my parents divorced. She was there for me when my grandpa got sick. She was there for me when my sister passed away in a car crash. She was there for me . . . She promised. When she moved I was devastated. I was so heart broken. And then I met Iris. Slowly over the months we got to know each other, I opened up. I told her my story, I told her about Dalis.

At eight years old we promised we would dye our hair orange. Only streaks of course.

At nine years old, Dalis returned. She was good as ever and welcomed me with open arms. But I pushed her away. She left me alone. She left me. And I would never forgive her. Never.

- - - -

"Cassy," Iris said behind me. "Cassy. Cassy!" I closed my eyes with my fists balled. "CASSY!"

"WHAT DO YOU WANT?" I screamed so loud that a teacher from inside the building poked his head outside.

"Dalis wants to see you."

I grimaced when she said her name. "No."

Iris made a sort of whimpering sound. "Please."

"No."

"Cassy."

I spun around at her voice. "What are you doing here?!"

"I go this school and also, I want to say that I'm sorry."

"No."

"Cassy, just listen," Dalis said. "I'm sorry I didn't let Iris ask you. I thought you would decline because I was there. I never knew about your promise."

Iris jumped in, "It's also my fault that I agreed. For that, I'm also sorry."

"We know we don't deserve you as a friend. But at least accept our apology," Dalis concluded.

I looked down to hide my tears. Without a second thought, I said:

"I forgive you."