Anna Boyle



Anna Boyle

Ms. Zepp

English IV Honors

26 May 2015

Farewell Old Friend

A year ago my best friend and I made the exciting plan to go to Triad Anime Con, a convention that solely revolves around anime.  She and I had gone together for a couple of years before this, so in a way it was sort of a tradition.  However, instead of going alone like we usually would, she had the idea of inviting a few of her friends, most of which I was not on good terms with.  Of course, I had no objections.  If she wanted to have a few others tag along, I wouldn’t complain.  In no way did I ever think that no good would have come out of this two day event.

After a long, hard day of schoolwork, my mom picked me up from Reagan so that I could head home and primp without the distractions of the others.  Once I was finished gathering my two costumes and a wad of spending money, I ran out of the door to my mom’s blue Ford Five Hundred, feeling complete joy that it was finally time to head to my friend’s house and have a perfect weekend.

We arrived at her house in a matter of minutes, my belongings already in my hands.  After a quick goodbye to my mom, I ran full speed ahead to the front door, a large smile planted on my face.  My friend and her parents were like a second family to me, so taking that into consideration, as well as the fact that the front door was already open, I walked right inside.  To my surprise, I was not greeted by my best friend, but by her mother.  Letting that slip out of my head without a thought, I was told that my best friend was in her room with the other girls.  Knowing that the ‘other girls’ meant her friends, I wasn’t too thrilled, but, for everyone else’s sake, I kept a smile plastered on my face and rushed to her room, greeting each and every one of them with a quick “hey” and “how’s it going?”  Figuring that they still had primping to do themselves, I sat on my friend’s squishy bed and wasted time on my phone.  As they all grew closer to finishing their makeup and apparel, I placed my phone back into my satchel and threw it over my shoulder.  However, when my eyes caught the sight of the glistening fuchsia pink masquerade mask in my friends hand, I realized that I had mistakenly left mine at home.  Worried that I wouldn't be able to gain entrance into the masquerade ball event, I tapped my friend light on her shoulder.

An awkward laugh escaped my lips as I said “Hey, funny story.  I left my mask at home by mistake.  Can your dad make a detour to my house first so I can run in and grab it quickly?”

A loud sigh quickly passed through the air, the annoyed word ‘fine’ following.

Already I was confused by her snappy reply to my simple request.  I didn’t leave the mask at home on purpose, so why was I answered with such attitude?

We all left my friends house and piled into her dad’s SUV, me sitting in the middle two seats with one girl, and my best friend in the back with the others.  As we made our way to my house, no words seemed to leave my lips at all.  We arrived at my house not too long after and I jumped out of the car, heading towards the front door.  Realizing that my parents weren't home at all, and that the glass door was locked, I ran straight to the garage, or more specifically, to the dog door.  However, the flap wouldn't budge, hinting that it was locked as well.  With one last attempt I ran to the back deck and unlocked the door with success.  I ran towards my book bag and grabbed my mask, then once again rushed towards the door and locked it shut.  I flew to the car as fast as my feet would take my and catapulted myself into the car seat, barely having enough time to buckle up before the car left my driveway.

The trip seemed to take forever, even though it was only thirty minutes.  It was probably like this because of how long I waited for my name to be called into conversation.  However, it never was.  We eventually arrived at our destination, the downtown Marriott Hotel, and I jumped out with my bag, the others pooling out behind me.  We all traveled inside the spacious hotel, laughter and chatter surrounding my head.  We climbed the hotel stairs quickly, eager to pay for our entry tickets to a world of enjoyment.  After paying the kind man behind the table, we ventured off to different panels and met up with old, and new, friends.  As soon as the fun began it ended, or so it seemed.  It was twelve o’clock a.m. and was time for us to skedaddle.  My best’s friend dad had come to take us back home until tomorrow morning came.  The car ride was unusually quiet, giving off the obvious hint that we were exhausted.  Right when we got back to my friend’s house, I called the first shower, and shortly after, went to bed.  I may have been bushed, but I was more than ready for tomorrow to come.

My eyes popped open as I pelt a heavy weight fall onto my chest, though I soon realized that it was only my best friend’s friend, Lori, who happened to be my friend as well.  I playfully pushed her off into the floor and sat up, letting out a huge yawn.  The last day of con was finally here, and I was hoping to make the best of it.  After eating and getting dressed, we all piled into my best friend’s dad’s car once more and returned to the hotel.

Just as soon as we arrived, we were out of the car and up the stairs in a flash.  The day started off…nice, but quickly shot downhill.  I once again began to feel left out, like no one wanted to incorporate me in their conversation.  The only one who was trying to include me was Lori, but without much success.  Luckily for me though we passed Chris, an old friend, in the hallway.  Realizing that I wasn't going to have any fun with the people I came with, I snuck off quietly with Chris and his friends.  Well, that was quite possibly the best decision that I could have made because I ended up having such a entertaining and enjoyable time.

The sun went down towards the end of the day, giving me to cue to pack up and head to the front door to wait for my mom.  However, before I did anything, I wanted to find my friend and tell her bye, just to make sure that she knew that I was safe.  I didn’t want her to come up with the idea that I had been kidnapped or anything.  Lucky for me she was not all that far away, so I said goodbye to Chris and his friends, my new friends, and I rushed over to meet my friend.  My intentions were to say farewell, nothing more, nothing less.  But is that how it ended up?  No.

“Lori and Aditi got into an insane fight!!”

“What? What happened?!”

“I don’t know, they just started arguing for some reason and BAM, fists were flying everywhere.  Lori got a bloody nose, so they are in the bathroom cleaning up.”

I stood still, my face covered with bewilderment.  How in the world did these two get into a fight?  They are both so bubbly and good-hearted.  My eyes shot from one face to another, seeing what the others had to say, or not say, until the voice of one of our newest friends broke the agonizing silence.

“Oh, they didn't actually get into a fight; they just went to the restroom, no biggie.”

No biggie?  They had me worried sick for my friends and it’s ‘no biggie?’  My emotions jumped from worried to outraged in the matter of seconds as I turned to my so called ‘best friend.’

“Thanks for lying to me once again; I really appreciate the kind gesture.”

“Well it’s not my fault you’re being such a b****—“

Whoa!  Where did that even come from?  How did my response to her lying end in me being called such a name?  What did I do to make her so judgmental of me all of the sudden?

Well, me being the sensitive person I have always been, my eyes being to tear up instantly.  I was on the verge of bawling, but before anything, I regurgitated the awful name right back up at her without a single thought.  Then, without warning, I left, no more words spoken.

We have yet to speak to each other since that moment, we don’t even make eye contact.  But I won’t let her see how much she hurt me that day.  I keep a smile on my face knowing that I don’t need her in my life anymore, especially when all she did was bring me down.  Friendship comes and goes, and in the end the people who are still with you, they are your true friends.

I learned what a true friend was and that those who are not always there for you are not going to stick up for you in the times when you need them most.  I was completely unprepared to lose my best friend that day, but that moment helped shape me into the person I am today.

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