Best friends, but not forever

“Wait a minute, Laurel. Let me just get through this call from Abigail,” said Ginger. “But Ginger, I am your friend, not Abigail,” said Laurel in a persuading tone. “Come on, Laurel. You know I’ve started to hang around with those ‘cool girls’ and not you because you’re boring. You only study, study and study. What’s the point in hanging around with you? Huh!” said Ginger. “Oh really, that’s why you’ve been so weird these days. Those girls, Abigail, Jenny, Samantha and Rebecca have been filling you up, right? Ok, don’t talk to me until and unless you realise what a big mistake you’re making,” said Laurel. She left the room and tears started to pour from her eyes. She was gloomy all day and didn’t even eat her dinner. The problem was that Laurel and Ginger were best friends since they started school. They had never ever had a fight. But now, in tenth grade, things have started to go out of control. This new gang of girls (‘Awesomeness’ they called themselves) had come up. Ginger had started to hang around with them and she had changed from a hardworking girl to a laidback person. Her grades had also started to fall and she paid more attention to her nails and hairstyle than to her studies. One bright morning the grade ten students were having a science lesson. Laurel was trying hard to focus but her mind kept on drifting to the episode which had occurred yesterday. She sat with Chloe these days because Ginger had started to sit with the Awesomeness club. Chloe was really a hardworking and meticulous girl and she always helped Laurel. Though Laurel didn’t try to make friends with her, she was really benevolent and compassionate. “Oh really, you told Laurel whatever you thought about her. That’s tremendous!” said Abigail. “I know Abbie, anyway she was really a dull person,” said Ginger. “Well, Ginger don’t you feel wretched about leaving her,” asked Samantha. At this point, Laurel pricked up her ears to listen what’s coming next. “Me! Oh no, not at all! Don’t be crazy, Sam! She isn’t my type!” laughed Ginger. And Laurel felt like a hammer had hit her heart. Chloe was really gentle about it and Laurel had started to befriend with her. “If Ginger doesn’t need me then I don’t need her as well!” Laurel thought to herself. Next day, Ginger saw Laurel with Chloe at the lunch table. “See who’s here,” said Ginger. “Oh, this is our own Laurel with Chloe. Hey already found a new friend,” bullied Rebecca. “Mind your own business, please!” said Laurel. “Well, Laurel please move out because this is our table,” said Jenny sharply. “Fine!” shouted Laurel and she left the cafeteria and went to the lawns. “Never mind her,” said Chloe who had come after her. “Chloe, We’ll be best friends from now on and we’ll show that Ginger that we aren’t losers,” said Laurel realising how much Chloe had done for her. Laurel had started to hang with Chloe more and more and inside Ginger was becoming jealous of Laurel’s new friend. She despised the way Chloe and Laurel chatted and gossiped with each other. She didn’t like it when she heard from others that Chloe had been to Laurel’s house or Laurel had been to Chloe’s house. One day, something took place which got Ginger out of the Awesomeness gang. Gloria, a new girl had come to their class from another school. Her father was one of the biggest businessmen of town and she arrived in school in her big, flashy car, carrying a designer school bag. Awesomeness club decided that they needed to have her in their group and quickly befriended her. They were so busy trying to impress and befriend Gloria that they ignored Ginger and when one day Gloria didn’t like something Ginger said, they immediately asked Ginger to say sorry to their new rich friend. Ginger, who felt she wasn’t at fault refused and tried to make them see that Gloria was being unreasonable, but the Awesomeness didn’t listen or care. Now, after that incident, Ginger realised what a big blunder she had made and came rushing to Laurel and pleaded, “Laurel, please forgive me for my wrongdoings with you. Let’s be friends again.” Laurel stared in horror at her. “Hey Laurel, did you hear that the Awesomeness has removed Ginger,” Chloe stopped. “I guess you already know,” continued Chloe. “I… I am sorry Ginger but I can’t befriend you anymore. After all the things you’ve done to me, you don’t deserve to be my friend. Please leave me and Chloe alone!” Laurel said. And Ginger went away; her tear streaked face told everyone what had happened. And she deserved it too. We should value our friends and their friendship because they are the ones who support us when we are away from home.