It's Time

Letter 1: Your Best Friend

A/N:
This story isn't about me. All the characters are purely fictional. Please don't copy this story at all. And voting and commenting would make me feel so happy. It doesn't take long to click the star and it makes my day whenever someone does.
Enjoy the book!

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Dear Emily,

Where do I start? So many things have happened over the past four years and I have no idea what to say to you when I finally have this paper laying in front of me.

I'll start off by talking about how we met. I remember that day so clearly. It was in freshman year, in the middle of the school year. I had always seen you around but never spoke to you. I never thought I would. you know how I was then. How much I cared about my reputation. How much I cared about my popularity and my looks. To put it into simpler words, I was a complete bitch.

I don't know what made you approach me; I'll never know now. I was sitting on the bleachers skipping biology. You know how much I hate that class. The reason I was skipping biology was because Julie, my best friend then, had planned a party and invited everyone in the school. Except me. That was her subtle way of saying "fuck off, I don't wanna be seen with you". And let me tell you this, nothing ever hurt as much as that. Because even though I was a bitch then, I was loyal.

That was the difference between Julie and I. That was the difference between everyone I hung out with and me. I was fiercely loyal to whomever I befriended. I trusted them and they could trust me. So imagine how I felt when I found out about that. This wasn't just any party. No, this was her fifteenth birthday.

So there I was, crying whilst sitting on the bleachers, my feelings crushed completely when you came in. Em, you sat down next to me and knew exactly what had happened. But you didn't judge me. I looked up and saw you smiling at me kindly. That just made me sob even more.

You put your arm around me and hugged me; you gave me the best piece of advice ever. You said, "Forget about her. High School teaches you whom to trust and whom not to trust. Now you know you can't trust her. So forget about her. Show her that her actions don't hurt you that much. She'll regret ever letting you go."

And slowly, I actioned your words. I walked around school smiling, with my head held high. The lunch period after biology you invited me to sit with you. I found myself a new group of friends. Real friends. You introduced me to Max, Riley, Cassie, Dan, Blake and Kyle.

And you all supported me even though I knew Blake hated my guts at first. Again, slowly he eased up to me. So I guess that that's it. Time is the key to everything. It was the key to friendship, trust and success.

But, as I've learned, all good things don't last forever. That saying could not be more true. Bad things began to occur to our group. The boys got into more fights. Bullying became more common between our grade. I, for some reason was left alone. Nothing happened to me.

The jocks bullied the boys and they got serious. Blake was sent to the hospital. Julie and her crew called you names. They hurt you more than actions ever could. You usual stood your ground but came crying to me when it was all over. I had never felt more guilty in my entire life. It was clearly because if me they were doing this to you.

I told you I would leave you guys so that they would stop the torture but you in particular were opposed to this. I should have fought for you. Told a teacher. Anything.

I could have saved you.

Unfortunately this letter isn't about what happened between us. It's not about how we met, or the drama that occurred during our lives in our high school career. It's about what I want - need- to say to you.

Befriending you was the best thing that happened to me. You made me so happy when we were together. Whenever I was with you I would think "Gosh, I'm so lucky to have her." You see, even though I was best friends with Julie, it never felt quite right. It somehow always felt strained.

So I really shouldn't have been so surprised when she felt that that time was the correct time to ditch me.

Do you know where I'm sitting right now? I'm sitting at our favorite spot at the beach where we would always go after school and during the weekends.

It's just like we left it. There's a permanent mark on the ground where we usually put our mat on. The tree to the right of me still has that scratch from when we threw our knife at it.

I guess we're lucky nobody ever comes here. That makes it our area.

What I want to say to you is that I'm sorry. I'm sorry I indirectly caused you pain. I'm sorry that all that pain caused you to give up on life. I'm so so sorry. Because even though you said I had nothing to do with the way Julie and her gang treated you, I was the sole reason. she was trying to get back at me for being so cheery after she left me. I never told you this but she came to me a few weeks later and told me that there was a mistake with the invitations and that I should have been invited and that she was sorry. 

I just said, "Sorry my ass." And I left her standing there in the middle of the hallway, red in the face from embarrassment and anger. It was only a few weeks. I could have believed her, or tried to be part of the popular crowd once again. 

It was because of you that I didn't. I trusted you more than I ever trusted her. You made me be a part of a wonderful group of friends who still wanted me there after you ended it. They never blamed me and neither did you. 

You were also the prettiest girl I ever met. For some reason Julie never recruited you. You had beautiful blue eyes that were always shining in determination. Even when things became rough and everything about you changed, your eyes stayed the same. They shone in determination. Your hair used to be beautifully thick and long. The golden waves catching the eyes of everyone. You were someone who had it all. Looks, personality, grades, and true friends. But most of all, you had a kindness in you that was different from anyone else. It was what made me admire you constantly.

I miss you.

Love,
Jennifer xoxo