Saving the Reject | Michael Clifford | Editing

t h r e e ;

| s y d n e y |

"I'll see you at lunch, okay?" stuttered Scarlett, briefly taking Evie's place as the overprotective friend as she and Charli prepped to part ways. It had been just over two weeks since Scarlett's announcement, and Charli and Evie had been able to practically ignore the fact that they didn't have much longer with Scarlett - that was until Scarlett's flight had been canceled and rescheduled for a week earlier than planned. Evie, undergoing a few blood tests that morning, had been spared the news, so Charli felt as though she was sulking alone.

"Yeah," the ginger answered passively, not meeting Scarlett's gaze. She just wanted to get to Calculus and away from Scarlett so she could regain her composure and accept that this was what was best for her best friend.

"Hey," Scarlett deadpanned, grabbing onto Charli's upper arm (of course, Scarlett had no idea just how triggering that rough action was for Charli) and stopping her from walking. "I'm right here," she soothed, looking directly into Charli's shocked eyes. For a moment, however, all Charli saw was her father. "I'm not going anywhere."

The warning bell sounded above them, causing the girls to briefly look around the halls, realizing they were going to be late for class. Scarlett let go of her friend's arm, looking sympathetic. "For now," was all Charli said, before rushing off to her math class.

"You alright, Charli?" asked Noah, near the end of Calculus. Charli wasn't even going to pretend that she hadn't noticed him watching her the entire class period, with that stupid concerned expression on his face. At this point, she wasn't so much sad anymore, but angry: at Scarlett and her mum, for booking an earlier flight instead of a later one; at her math teacher, for assigning so much homework; at Evie's doctor, for deciding to have the blood tests today; at Noah, for giving her unwanted attention; and at herself, for getting so angry in the first place.

"I'm fine, Noah," Charli responded dismissively, her hair falling in her face as she looked down at her math book sat on her desk, attempting to immerse herself in complex integrals and block out the blonde intensely staring her down.

"You were late to class," he pointed out, causing Charli to look up, not even attempting to hide her annoyed stature. "You're never late to class."

"Things change," she muttered, trying to go back to her hardly-started homework.

"For as long as I've - "

"Noah, please," snapped Charli, raising her hands for emphasis. "Just leave it, okay?"

That was all Noah really needed to prove his assumption: Charli was not okay.

Lunch was almost silent for the blue-eyed best friends, and the forty-five minute time period seemed to last hours. At the sound of the first bell, however, Scarlett finally broke the silence. "I thought you said you were happy for me," she imposed quietly.

Charli looked over to her, sighing lightly. "I am happy for you, Scar, I just," she spoke, flustered. "I just feel like this is gonna be the end of our friendship or something."

"I can assure you that this will not be the end of our friendship, Charli." Scarlett stood from her place on the floor, offering a hand to Charli, who, despite her pride, took the helping hand. "We promised each other that when college came around, we would stay connected with Evie, and with each other. This doesn't change anything, Charli! It's just coming a little sooner than we thought."

Charli retaliated by pulling Scarlett into a tight hug (which Scarlett was not expecting at all), and she gladly reciprocated the action. "I know, I'm sorry," she muttered into the embrace. "It's just really hard to lose your best friend."