Bittersweet

one

When I was younger, my dad had told me about the importance of family and friendship, and while they're essentially the same, the differences in how they affect and change people can vary. If there's one thing I wish I had taken from our short-lived time together, it would be that advice. 

I'm good at a lot of things, but I guess keeping my friends isn't one of them. I used to have a best friend, I told him everything. He and I were so close, but that changed when I won a guitar competition and he didn't, I guess it was something to do with his future or his family. After that, he was so cold and bitter to me. I haven't spoken to him since but I see him around, that was 2 years ago when we were both 13.

I wish it hadn't happened that way, having to choose between my greatest passion and my greatest friend. I guess he had made that decision for me as soon as my name was written on that stupid envelope though. It had broken me knowing he didn't want to speak to me anymore, but I guess it was easy for him since he never seemed sad or anything, I know this since he could never hide his emotions well enough for me not to notice.

So I had to move on as he did, and I found my two best friends, they don't have the same interests as me but I  guess they're good. If I didn't have them I'd be hanging around some 13-year-olds, and I'd be laughed at. Also, that 13-year-old would be Sam's younger sister, Kristy, and that would just be awkward if I ran into him at their house. I am, in fact, still close with Kristy but I just don't see her as often.

Anyways, another thing dad also constantly talked about was music, the adoration for the subject that had brought so much love into his life and, by the looks of things, ended up being the same figure in my own life. Well, that was until the whole Sam situation. I still play the acoustic guitar, but I heard from Kristy that Sam changed to electric because of me. Great. Anyways I write some songs, but I don't think they'll ever be sung, at least not by me.

Speaking of songs, that's when I found myself occupied by as I lay on the softness of my mattress, completely lost in thought as the vocals of The 1975's Somebody Else dulled me into a state that somewhat resembled what I felt the second time I woke up in the morning. I checked my phone to see that Kristy had texted me, which is odd since it's 9 am, shouldn't she still be asleep? It's Saturday Kristy! 'Hey can you come over, it's kinda important,' since she's kinda like a sister to me I came over as fast as I could.

"What's up?" I asked I was a tad bit confused since I haven't been here since Sam and I had that argu- 

'We like never talk anymore! How have you been?" oh god small talk, I hate it.

"Yeah, I guess I've been good, how about you... guys?" I look around the room and there are Mary Anne, Claudia and some girl with blonde hair? She must be new, I've never seen her before. No one answers me, instead,  the three other girls look at each other, and Blondie's eyes go wide. I honestly don't want to know what she got told about me.

"Yeah, we've been good. Your name is Y/N, right?" She commented. I can't tell if she hates me or not. She has this glint in her eye that screams 'why are you here ', I turn to Claudia who looks at me sympathetically, what is happening? I look back,

"Yeah, what's your name? I don't recognize you." She's heard something about me, but what is it?

"Stacey, and yeah I moved from New York" she's avoided eye contact, well this is getting awkward.

"I'm assuming you didn't just ask me here for a good catch up," I state. Honestly, I'm getting annoyed, they ask me here and now they're whispering things about me, I'm about to leave this is getting ridiculous! I start to walk when-

"We have this club, where we'll  babysit kids and I think you need the distraction, you in?" She explained, Oh hell no! No, no, no, no! If I join I'll have to face HIM.

"Uhm, no, I'm not good with kids-" that's a lie  "and I'm busy with my mum and stuff" She's going to know I'm lying, right?

"Oh, I hope your mum is okay, if you guys need anything, remember you can call us, okay?"            I guess she didn't catch on with the lie, thank god. However, now Stacey is staring at me. What is this girl's problem? I sit down on a chair when-

"Hey  dummy, do we have any soda?" I freeze and turn around, and there Sam Thomas is standing, I try to stop staring at him but I can't. He's changed, and Kristy was right, he plays the electric now.

"I don't know, check the fridge I'm not your butler," Kristy said annoyed, I'm trying to seem annoyed, but the only person who's even looking at me is Claudia. 

"Hey, check this out" he started playing a demo of a song that sounded somewhat familiar, I wonder where it's from.

"H-hi," Stacey stuttered, wow today is the worst huh. I swear I saw sparks fly between them, I didn't know about this.

"Hey" he replied. Oh my god, please do not tell me they are together or I WILL throw up. It's nothing to do with Blondie but it just doesn't sit right with me.

"Sam, this is my friend Stacey-" She looks like a Stacey, to be honest, and rich "-and Stacey this is my brother, Sam" Kristy introduced them and Blond- sorry Stacey looked like she was head-over-heels for him.

"Where have you been keeping him?" I think she meant to whisper that.

"High school?" Kristy answered a bit confused.

"Did I say that out loud?" She looked embarrassed, I didn't want to speak up but to take Sam's mind off of what Stacey just said I had to.

"Yeah sweetheart, you did." Oh god, I regret saying that, Sam looked at me, shocked to see that I was sitting in his sister's room. Well, surprises happen all the time, like Stacey liking Sam. He started to leave when Stacey spoke up again.

"Well, if you go to Stonybrook High, you must know some of the Agency girls. What can you tell us about Lacy Lewis and Michelle Patterson?" she stuttered some words, I can tell she's nervous, I don't know what about, he's not all that great girl.

"Uhm, They started that babysitting business, right? In a group?- he laughed, why do I feel like this?    "They make a buttload of money, it's a pretty impressive idea, actually." 

Kristy punched him, "That is OUR idea, idiot! They copied us! We are the ones that babysit in a group!" she explained

"That's what your club is? I thought you just sat around and talked about babies, you know?" Nevermind he hasn't changed that much.

Kristy started to push him out the door,

"Watch the axe!" he exclaimed,

"What are we gonna do, your own brother doesn't even know what our club does" Mary Anne spoke up. I haven't heard her speak in like 6 months! 

"We need something big! How much does a billboard cost?" Kristy is getting hasty to win.

"Like, a lot of money, I'm guessing" I muttered, Claudia agreed with me.

I look over at Stacey and she looks like she's about to faint,

"Stacey, are you okay?" she didn't hear me, she got up and started to walk out of the room.

"Stace, where are you going?"

"I forgot to walk my dog" she lied, I need to teach this girl how to lie.

"Since when did you have a dog?" Claudia replied,

'I just got him, he's-" she paused "Round."

"Nice seeing you, bye!" she said as she walked out.

I hope she's okay, I mean I think she hates me but still. Sam leaves after a minute or two and Kristy asked me again to join the club. I, of course, say no since my mum needs me at home. As I walk out of Kristy's room I bump into someone,

"Shoot, sorry!" I say as I look down, hoping it's Liz or something.

"No, it's okay, I need to watch where I'm going."

I look up and it's him.