A Second Chance at Life

Chapter 8

Hey guys! It’s Ashten. I’m sorry for taking so long to upload this, but as Morgan said it is the summer and I was busy. I’m so sorry for the wait, and will try to upload sooner! Thank you so much for reading this story, you guys are the best! Oh, and if you wouldn’t mind, would you please vote and comment so we can hear your input? This story is for you, so tell us any ideas you have or anything.

Thanks again, Ashten

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Ch.8

I wake up and can’t get one thing off my mind, Jason. If Jason was really Jay, man, this was bad. I treated Jason horrible. I mean, I did basically throw him to the curb to be part of the, “in” club. Why didn’t he tell me! He probably hates me. Omg, Omg!

I’m pacing around the room when Zoe barges in, “Dude, you look rough..” says Zoe. “Zoe, this is not the time to be messing with me.” I snap. “Well Senorita moody, what crawled up your butt and died?”  Zoe said half amused.  “Zoe, I know Jason.” I say. “Well, of course you do.” She says acting like I’ve gone mentally insane. Heck, maybe I have. “No, Zoe. I KNOW him. He used to live right next to me. We were best friends...”  Zoe isn’t looking so amused now as she says, “What? Why haven’t you told me!? What happened, Arin?!”  

So, I break down and tell her the whole story, how Jason and I were truly inseparable. That was, until the time I met Auden around freshman year. She was new to town and instantly became the person to know, everything about her screamed, “POPULARITY QUEEN!” Then, Auden starting talking to me, telling me how much potential I had, how I could be the one on top. At first, I thought she was crazy. Me, popular? No. But, then I realized I wanted that, I wanted people to look at me and try to be like me. Slowly, I started changing everything about me. First, it was my hair. I decided my hair was to dull and plain and soon dyed it to a much more extravagant shade of brown, along with getting the coolest hair cut possible. Then, came the wardrobe change.  Gone were the tomboyish outfits and in came the coolest, hottest, newest dresses, shorts, shirts, skirts, you name it. I was finally getting noticed. I was turning heads in the hallway, people would stop and stare and gasp, “Is that ARIN DE LA ROSA?!” I felt exhilarated; I was finally the talk of the school. Who would’ve thought it would be me on top?  Auden told me I’d done it, but there was one more thing I had to get rid of, Jason. I remember telling her Jason was my bestfriend and I couldn’t ditch him. She replied with, “Are you joking? That guy practically seeps dorkiness! Everyone knows he’ll do nothing but bring you down. You want to be truly queen bee? Then get rid of him.” So I did just that, I ditched him without a second thought. Sure I felt horrible, but I wanted nothing more than to be it, the most popular girl in school. I remember the look of sadness, shock, and utter disgust on Jason’s face. I couldn’t blame him; we were best friends since we could talk.  From that day on we never uttered more than two words to each other, then in the middle of the semester Jason’s family move here I guess.

“Wow,” Zoe says, “I mean, wow! I’m speechless! What happened? You don’t seem like that Arin anymore…” “Well, I guess I’m not. I changed a lot since moving here, I decided being popular was just too much hassle.” I say, truly meaning it. “Arin, you have to talk to him. LIKE NOW!” Zoe practically screams throwing my coat at me as she all but pushes me out the door.

Deciding she’s right, I grab my phone send Jason a text.

ME: Jason, need to talk, now.

Jason: Okay, meet me at the park.

ME: Be there soon.

I practically run to the park and see Jason instantly. He’s sitting on the nearest bench and waves as he sees me, I walked over to him.

“For you.” Jason says nodding to the coffee in his hand. “Err, thanks…” I say and we’re left alone in an awkward moment for what seems like hours, he’s the one to break it. “So, we need to talk.” “Apparently.”  I say sarcastically. “Listen, Arin. I’m sorry; I just didn’t want to ruin the friendship we were building… I mean considering the past...” Wait, shouldn’t I be apologizing? I was the one who ditched him, but then I realize something. I’m mad. I’m beyond mad. He knew. He knew and decided not to tell me. He knew all these things about me and chose to go on pretending we’d never known each other? He knew my parents personally. He knew me personally. “Jason, how could you do that?!”  He starts to say, “Wait, I can explain.” “No,” I interrupt, “I don’t think you can. How could you string me on? Acting like you knew nothing about me?! Jason, you know practically everything about me! YOU, YOU! How could you decide to keep that in the dark?”

“Arin, I’m sorry, but don’t you think it was hard for me?! We were BEST FRIENDS! You meant everything to me! You changed right in front of my eyes, and I ignored it. Then one day you just pushed me to the curb! You don’t think that was hard!? When my family moved I decided to completely forget about you, and it wasn’t easy. I decided to reinvent myself, become someone people would actually like to be friends with. I got in with the jocks, and the next thing I know I was Mr. Popular. Everyone wanted to be friends with me, all the girls wanted me. I was amazed at how much I changed. Then one day, you show up. Seeing you completely shook me. I tried so hard to ignore you, because I was so angry at you. Then one day I looked at you, and I was heartbroken because the sadness in your eyes. I realized how much I missed you, missed our friendship. Arin, you have to understand. I needed that friendship, I needed you. If I told you who I really was do you think you would have opened up? Let me in again? No, I don’t think you would have. I’m sorry. I really am, Arin.”

I stand there for a second in shock, he’s right. I would’ve have run away from the truth, and decided I’ve done enough to hurt him. Gosh, I’m such a horrible person. I don’t deserve his friendship.

“Jason, you’re right. I’m sorry. I’m so horrible.” I blubber out as the tears started to fall. “No, Arin, shhh. It’s alright. Please, don’t cry.” Jason says trying to comfort me. “No, no,” I say forcefully as the tears come steadily, “You need to hear this. I’m sorry for what I did freshman year, it was horrible. Auden got into my mind, and I set that horrible goal to be popular. I can’t believe I let something so stupid get in front of our friendship. You meant---mean the world to me. I can’t take back the past, but I’m truly sorry. I can’t believe it took all of this for me to finally see this, but being popular was nothing compared to the best friendship of my life. You were there for all those hard times; you were the one who comforted me after a hard day. I understand if you never want to see me again. I’m….I’m sorry Jason.” I’m really crying now as I turn to leave, but Jason stops me, “Arin, its okay. The past is the past. I cherished, no, I cherish our friendship. Nothing’s going to get in the way. You’re my best friend, I forgive you, Arin. It’s okay.”  Jason says with a smile, and for the first time in a while, I believe him. Everything is alright.