Dear Meggie

November 10th, 2012

November 10th, 2012

 

Dear Meggie,

Today is my seventeenth birthday. Although you’re one of the only ones who remembered it.

My dad flew in from Manchester to see me for it. When he and mom broke up, it was partially because he had to move there for the job of a lifetime. The other part about it was how terrible of a person my mother was. I begged him to take me with, but he didn’t. I was eleven at the time.

I wouldn’t have had to stay with mom for the next few days. I could stay at his hotel with him in the city, instead of the stupid suburb. I’d still have to commute back, but that was okay. As long as I got to spend time with him. Well, I wished. But that’s later.

When I came to school, you were just hanging out with Sarah, who had finally gotten out after completing a few service hours. You didn’t notice me. It pushed me down a little.

“Hey, Harriett!” a familiar voice had called from behind me. I turned around to see Will.

“Hey,” I said back.

“It’s your birthday, right?” he asked.

“Yeah,” I told him, “yeah it is.”

“I thought, maybe, I should get you something,” he said, “so, here I guess.” He handed me a small velvet box. I put it securely in my backpack.

“Thanks, Will,” I said, and smiled at him.

“It’s a little stupid, isn’t it-”

“Will!” you called from behind me. “Hey. What’re you doing with Harriett?”

“Oh, hey, Meggie,” he said. “I was just-”

“It’s for a project,” I blurted out. “For, erm, French.”

This wasn’t a complete and utter lie, Meggie. We really did have a project due in French, and neither of us had partners yet. I looked at him, and then at you.

“Yeah,” said Will, a bit uncertain. I smiled at you. You bought it.

“Oh. Well, Will, I was just wondering if maybe, after school we could hang out.” You waited intently for an answer, although you were disappointed.

“Harriett and I had plans for after school, so that we could get it done. You know? Maybe another time, Meggie,” he said. “See you, later, Harriett.” He walked away.

Your eyes almost burned through my core. “You never told me you were working with Will.”

“Neither of us had partners, and its not like we exactly had a choice. Ms. Cavarelli made us work together, Meggie,” I said. “He did say he would try to hang out with you another time.”

“Harriett,” you said, “he’s my crush.”

“Meggie,” I said back, “50 percent of our grade.”

You rolled your eyes. “Fine, I guess you have me. Anyways, happy birthday, Harriett,” you said, and handed me a small box. I opened it. Inside were tickets to a play. Two tickets. And that wasn’t all. They were tickets to my favorite play. Romeo and Juliet.

“Meggie,” I started, but you cut me off. “Yes, I know, I’m amazing, right?” you said. “Thank me later, we’ve gotta get to class.” You ran off, and I went after you.

During our lunch period, we went to the burger joint, it’s just after you reminded everyone that it was my birthday, everyone bought my food for me. You brought out a slice of cake in a container. It was my favorite. Red velvet.