The Student Exchange

Old Friends

After the first argument that seemed so small, the besties had many more. The girls changed their view on each other, and naturally the girls drifted apart because of their ever blooming differences and personalities. They had a mini feud that went on during the remaining two terms, until Holly found out that Cassie was moving. A year later, and a few things had changed...

Holly got a scholarship for her efforts in history, earning herself an excellence endorsement. She also earned a few hundred dollars doing work for the community, and helped with the Girl Guides and Boy Scouts to earn her some brownie points.
Holly had nearly raised enough to go to the exchange trip. All on her own.
Her dad finally agreed to let her go, and paid the last fifty or so dollars for her. Holly's dad had even taken her shopping a couple of times, so now she was decked out in sports brands and awesome clothes. She made lots of new friends, and she found that some of those friends aren't really popularly annoying princesses at all! They were awesome girls, and they were all in the same netball team for the winter. She also had a few guys who were interested in getting to know her better.
She'd even gotten her skirt shortened.
About a month after the first semi-argument between Cassie and Holly, Holly's parents had decided to start again. Her father came to the door one day with a bouquet of flowers and chocolates and displayed his affection for her mother (who melted instantly). And so from then on they were going to try and resurrect their relationship, and it was working well. Holly hadn't had a better Christmas in years.
And the exchange trip was 6 months from now.

Cassie had a marvellous year. So great, in fact, that she got invited to one of the most prestigious private schools in the world - one for high achievers in many subjects like her! She also tried to get enough money for the program, but in different ways.
After earning many scholarships and winning academically based competitions, she had earned so much that she had earned more than enough to be able to go to Japan! (even though her parents were happy to pay, Cassie insisted that she pay herself because the school fees are so high).
She formed a book club at her new school and an art club that met every Tuesday lunchtime.
Things were great for Cassie, and Japan was only 6 months away. She couldn't wait to snap some photos for her photography board project!

Holly's lessons in German were moving along well, especially with her good friend Natalie. Nat was very academic and loved sports. Her parents were wealthy in love and money, and they had a Bach house about three hours north of Auckland. Holly was lucky enough to go on an overnight there, with Nat and her other friend Sally and Grace. The four of them were all going on the exchange to Germany, so it was easy for them to study because they would simply do the books with each other, and learn together. The motivation the girls shared was impeccable.

Cassie, however, was having a little bit of trouble finding a new group of friends in her Japanese class. For one, she was so different to everybody else going on the exchange. For another, they all were so much better than her at speaking Japanese.
If Cassie believed that she was the same ability as the other kids in her Japanese class, then maybe she would've progressed faster throughout the course. But she didn't believe she was. In fact, Cassie didn't believe in herself as much as she was at her old school. She'd always wanted to be the best, but she didn't think that would ever happen.
Maybe a lot of the reason she didn't feel like that was because she felt like a loner a lot.

Cassie did have one friend though. Her name was Annabelle.
Annabelle was very artistic and musical, but not great at sports or anything involving physical activity. She had a good few friends in the Japanese class, too.
She was going on the exchange, though, which was exciting.
Maybe there was hope for Cassie to do well in Japanese class and do even better on the exchange. Cassie's determination to be the best was a force to be reckoned with. That's how she became so enthused in her learning... because she had enough determination for her to climb to the top of the academic ladder of achievements. Cassie was quite high on that ladder.
And her determination for success wasn't going to be stopped by learning a new language.
Not even Japanese.

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"Holly! Come on! We've got a seat reserved for you at the front!"
Holly ran through the packs of students and parents, darting between them like dodging a stampede. Her friends were sitting in the front right corner.
Perfect. A view of the projector, the person speaking, and the hottie towards the middle in the front row. He's a bit gorgeous.
Holly dreamily twirled her strawberry blonde locks delicately and let them fall over her shoulder. Gazing up at the starry ceiling (decorated with mini fairy lights), the room was beautifully lit, and the hall they were in was simply stunning. Immersed in the atmosphere, however, she became completely oblivious to the fact that someone had just walked in the door that she may recognise from a long time ago.
So when Holly looked down from the ceiling and in the direction of that boy across the room for a better look, she got an electrifying shock.

There she was. Her pale yellow letter in hand. Her short blonde bob, sitting prettily in waves. Her smile. No braces. Her clothes - no brands.
Cassie. She was here.

And she was walking towards Holly.

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Cassie scanned the room.

Japan... Japan.. Japan, Japan, Japan!

She grabbed Annabelle's hand and lead her down the stairs towards the section marked with the Japanese flag. Twelve chairs sat neatly in a rectangle, towards the front. There must've been around five sections; three in the front and two in the back. Japan was the middle section.
And the section beside Japan had to be Germany.
And look who was sitting in the front row of it, most towards the middle.
Holly. And a few others too, that it looked like they were good friends of hers.

Cassie became slightly jealous and nervous. Seeing her in those clothes and with that amount of friends, and now she'd even got pink tips to her hair, Cassie realised how much her friend changed since that day.
And yes, she still considered her a friend, after all the fights and feuds that happened between them. Because she was human.
And she missed Holly and her friendship a lot.