Sometime in Mid-October, 20051
My friends all sat in a circle. The lights were dark, and our hands rested on each other's knees.2
The mood was relaxed, welcoming. Jenny was in mid-sentence when I opened my eyes.3
"--hope you don't mind, Ellie," Jenny said, grinning sheepishly. Her freckles were like tiny dots of mud splattered across her face. But she was cute nonetheless, her smiling blue eyes wide in amusement.4
Ellie laughed. "That's okay. He's a player. I broke up with him."5
Jenny shifted a little on the hard wood floor of my basement. Once the laughter had subsided, the girl to my left spoke up softly.6
My best friend since almost kindergarten, Taylor rarely kept her opinions to herself.7
"I... I have something to tell you guys," she said, all ten sets of eyes turning to her. Taylor withdrew her hand from my knee and clenched her fists in her lap. "I might be moving."8
Murmurs of sympathy swept throughout the guests.9
I, however, giggled. My best friend moving out of state was a little ways out of my horizon.10
"Don't worry, Tay, you can't leave! That only happens in books and movies!"11
*****12
June 10, 200613
I couldn't hold the tears back. No matter how much I tried, they seemed to come anyway.14
"Taylor, oh my God!"15
This time, we were alone. Upstairs in my room, listening to Fergie's new song on the radio and painting our nails.16
For the last time.17
Every little thing we did together - hug, laugh, eat dinner - I wold think ominously 'This is the last time. Ever.'18
Taylor noticed my tears - like any good best friend would do - and abandoned the hot pink she was smearing on her nails. "It's alright, E," she said, using the nickname I'd gotten in first grade. That only made me cry harder.19
"No it's not, Tay! You're moving to Nebraska! Who lives in Nebraska! You sure don't!" I said, decibels below a shriek. 20
"Shh, E, you'll wake your parents," Taylor hushed me, pulling my limp form into a hug.21
We sat like that for a minute, until Tay released me and flipped open the portable DVD player. "Come on, let's put on our pajamas and watch a movie," she suggested lightly.22
Confidentially, all I wanted to do right then was curl up on the ground as Taylor held me and sob. But I didn't. I had to be strong - if not for my sake, for her's.23
I tried to pretend that my best friend wasn't movie halfway across the country in three days as Taylor popped in "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants".24
We chomped on popcorn in sweatpants and t-shirts we had decorated together and watched the movie. I was comforted by the sheer closeness of her, my knee pressed against hers and our heads leaning on each other over the bowl of popcorn.25
The pillows we had propped ourselves up on were clouds in a fantasy world high above reality, and then at that moment I knew that even if Taylor was a billion miles away, she'd still care about me as much as if she lived next door.
Author notes
True story - though of course I made up some of it because no one has THAT good of a memory. The names have been changed to protect identities....
Hello, there, moon babe. I'm Arguably Insane -- that's a pretty good descriptor, ain't it? Well, more in-depth or whatever, I'm a black belt in karate, and tomorrow I'm going to Vegas for a karate tournament. And I love cross country/track. How 'bout you? I enjoy meeting new people, too!
A contest entry
- whisper to me [♥] by always feel pretty.
325 points, ended March 25, 2008, 17 entries
• next story in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
1 - 11 of 11
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Mmmm. Sad. I love the differences of her (your?) reactions in the first and second parts. I still loved it though, 'cause usually I don't like sad stuff. But I liked this a lot. Great job
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Thanks. It would be my reactions. It happen in sixth grade (so long ago..... 
)
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Nice story
You have a good beginning to the story. I wondered what happened after that. Did the girl adjust and make new friends? Did she keep in touch with her old friend for awhile and did the friendship eventually fade away?
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Ugh, I hate it when best friends move away! That comes with the territory when you graduate and go off to college though. Great story, well written! -Liz
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Oh, sad. :[
It's very well written though. I enjoyed reading it. haha.
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Thank you. It was a while ago and that contest gave me a chance to actually write about it - which I hadn't done before.
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well it was really sweet.
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I love this story!!! It's soooo good and sad. Good Luck in that contest!!! Keep writing!!!
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Thanks!
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Hullo E.
Great! Loved it, though it was slightly too short for my liking. Maybe add more to the "player" part.
Good luck in the contest!
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Yeah I thought that part needed a little "beefing up" as well. I'll go back and change it eventually. For now... I got to go and feed the dogs... Haha.
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