Sara snapped the picture. We all leaned in to look
at the picture. For once, Meg wasn't in the middle.
"Julia, you look so awesome with your braces off!"
I nudged her.
"You're
one to talk, Lee! You're hair is hot." That was
another thing that had changed since Meg left us. We
complimented each other constantly instead of continually
pointing out our own flaws. Or, in Meg's case, pointing
out everyone else's.
The 4 of us
turned and faced the high school together, past the bustling
groups of bored-looking juniors, jocks shoving each other,
and make-out sesh's. It looked big and new, and full of
possibilities. New school, new beginnings. "Well,"
Candace linked arms with me and Julia. I grabbed Sara's
arm."Let's go tear this school apart." We
strode up the concrete steps and pushed through a group of
grungy potheads, a throng of cheerleaders, and two
nervous Freshmen whispering. High school was a strange place.
But I was so ready to own Freshman year.
Inside,
there were even more cliques situated in their various areas
throughout the commons area. I readjusted my shoulder
bookbag. Sara squeezed my arm. It was so
big.
"If Meg were here, she'd act like she knew
this place as well as the mall." Julia whispered. She
was right. Even when Meg was scared, she'd never admit.
She would straighten up, put on her fiercest face, and own
the room.
It
wasn't like she was all bad. Meg had some really good
qualities going for her. She was always confident,
no matter what. Like when she had to give that huge speech in
7th grade Language Arts and messed up in front of the whole
class. She made it work and laughed it off as if it was a
broken nail.
She also
had some amazing ability to make you feel wonderful. If she
simply complimented your eyeliner it would make your day. But
maybe that was just because we were all used to her bringing
us down.
Meg could
even be a really good friend when she wanted to. She was a
fantastic listener, and always knew the right things to say
to make you feel better. She'd rub your back as you cried
on her shoulder and she'd make everything OK. That's
why it was so hard to stay mad at her. She could be this
amazing best friend that made you laugh, but the next day
she'd the reason you were upset. She was a good secret
keeper, too. Until that weekend.
"We
don't need Meg to be confident." Candace reminded
us. "Remember what she'd always
say?"
I
did. "Walk into the room like you own it." We said
in unison. It was practically her catch
phrase.
*****
Let me know what you think?
Comment, fave etc.
Well, I know what you're thinking. "Really, Kat?
Really? Another story? Is that really necessary?" And my
response to that? ...No, it isn't. But who cares?
:P
