Don't forget me

Kiss and Makeup

I remember the time Kia and I first fought. We were in primary and we both wanted to sit in the same place. I remember it feeling like the worst thing in the world, that she wouldn't let me sit where I wanted. I came home in a strop and thinking that I'd just lost my bestest friend, my Mum had told me the same thing that she was saying now.

"Darl there are some people in the world that will happily walk out of your life. Then there are the people that love us as much as we love them, they are the type that might take a bit of time... but I promise they'll be back eventually."

It's been nearly a week since I spoke to anyone from the group. Kia and Blake have both been radio silent, any texts that I've sent to either of them has been ignored or simply left unopened. I even resorted to texting Jake at one point, pretty much begging him to let me know if Blake was ok. Aside from a brief message to confirm that Blake and Kia are both alive, Jake appears to have chosen to stay out of the situation.

With now just a week left before I'm due to be flying out to Nepal, I've just about managed to motivate myself to pull out a suitcase, but the bottom of my bed is as far as it's gotten. Each time I feel driven to start packing the memory of leaving behind my Mum, brother and friends makes me nauseas. I hate the idea of leaving people behind for three months in such a shitty situation, yet I have no choice when everyone is refusing to answer any of my messages.

I'm sat at my desk, music roaring in my eardrums as I scribble at a drawing that I've spent the past couple of weeks perfecting. It's one of my favourites so far. My pencil strokes are methodical and sculpt a clear shape on the page, looking at the drawing I wish I could reach into it and pull it out. If only things were quite so easy. As the song draws to a finish and another starts my heart drops. The laidback strums of a familiar guitar taunt me, and I know the haunting lyrics of a boy are about to begin. Quickly, I snatch the earbuds out by the wire. My heart races against my ribcage as tears threaten to spill from my eyes.

Sniffling and hurriedly clearing away my art supplies, I turn to find a figure stood in my door frame. My eyes meet Kia's and in that second, I feel like the kid back in primary who had an argument with her best friend over a seat.

We both rush forward, enveloping one another in an embrace as tears pour from our eyes and sniffles echo around the room.

"I'm so sorry Ki..." I begin to apologise as we pull away from each other, but Kia stops me as she shakes her head.

"No Jess I'm sorry. I was so unsupportive when you told me about Nepal. As you best friend that was one of those moments when I should've been celebrating with you not acting like a spoilt brat." She explains.

"You weren't acting like a brat; you were just surprised. I wish I'd just told you sooner." I admit.

"Me too." Kia mumbles, "Friends?" She asks carefully as if I might say no. I giggle and nod my head quickly,

"Always."

The floor of my room doesn't appear to exist anymore. When I admitted to Kia that I hadn't started to pack for Nepal she almost flipped. Hurrying into my wardrobe she began to wang clothes at me from all directions until the whole thing was emptied. Now as we sit here, half buried by my belongings we've settled into easy conversation and I feel at ease for the first time in a week.

"So uhm... Jake may have told me what went down between you and Blake." Kia brings up carefully and I sigh loudly as I drop the things in my head and turn towards her.

"God Ki, I fucked up so bad." I admit.

"That was not your fault; I should never had put the video onto the site." Kia attempts to take the blame, but I merely shake my head.