An unexpected bond.
At eight years old, Briana Williams believed making friends was easy.
You just had to smile.
At least, that was what her mother had told her that morning while fixing the collar of her new pink dress.
“Be yourself, sweetheart,” she had said. “And don't be afraid to talk to people.”
Briana had nodded seriously.
She had been afraid.
Her stomach had felt like it was full of butterflies ever since she woke up.
It was her first week at a new school, and everyone already seemed to know each other.
Everywhere she looked, children were laughing together, chasing one another across the playground, or sitting in little groups during lunch.
Briana stood near the edge of the playground with her lunch bag clutched against her chest.
She didn't know where to go.
Then a girl with two neat braids walked up to her.
“You're new, right?”
Briana looked up.
The girl smiled.
“I'm Maddie.”
“Briana.”
“I know.”
Briana blinked.
“You do?”
Maddie giggled.
“Teacher said your name yesterday.”
“Oh.”
Maddie looked at the lunch bag in Briana's hands.
“What did you bring?”
Briana opened it.
“Sandwich.”
Maddie immediately smiled wider.
“I really like sandwiches.”
And just like that, Briana smiled too.
Maybe this wouldn't be so difficult after all.
By the end of the week, Briana was sitting with Maddie and three other girls during lunch.
They talked about cartoons, toys, teachers, and which boys in their class were annoying.
Briana mostly listened.
Sometimes she laughed when everyone else did, even when she wasn't completely sure what was funny.
But she was happy.
She had friends.
At least, she thought she did.
Maddie was especially nice to her when they were alone.
She would save Briana a seat.
She would whisper jokes during class.
Sometimes she'd even let Briana walk home with her part of the way.
Briana started looking forward to school.
She started telling her mother about Maddie.
“Maddie said we're going to sit together tomorrow.”
Her mother smiled.
“That's nice, honey.”
Briana nodded proudly.
She had finally found someone.
A few weeks later, Briana was in the girls' bathroom washing her hands when she heard the door open.
She recognized Maddie's voice immediately.
“Did you see Briana today?”
Briana smiled.
She turned off the tap.
Maybe they were looking for her.
She stepped toward the bathroom stalls, but before she could leave, another girl laughed.
“Obviously. She's always around.”
Briana stopped.
Maddie giggled.
“I know. It's annoying.”
Briana's smile disappeared.
She slowly stepped backward.
Maybe she had misunderstood.
Maybe they were talking about another Briana.
There couldn't possibly be another explanation.
She quietly slipped into the nearest stall and closed the door.
The girls continued talking.
“I don't even know why she thinks we're friends,” one of them said.
Briana's heart dropped.
Maddie laughed.
“She just follows us everywhere.”
“She's so weird.”
“And her clothes are always ugly.”
They laughed.
Briana stared down at her shoes.
Her eyes began to sting.
“But she thinks you like her,” another girl said.
“I don't,” Maddie replied immediately. “I just feel bad for her.”
More laughter.
Briana pressed her hand over her mouth.
She didn't want them to hear her cry.
She didn't understand.
Maddie had been nice to her.
Maddie had smiled at her.
Maddie had told her they were friends.
Why would she say all those things now?
The bathroom door opened again.
Someone else had entered.
Briana barely noticed.
She was too busy trying to keep her breathing quiet.
Eventually, Maddie and the other girls left.
Their voices disappeared down the hallway.
Silence filled the bathroom.
Briana stayed inside the stall.
She didn't want to come out.
She didn't want anyone to see her face.
A few seconds passed.
Then she heard footsteps.
“Hello?”
Briana froze.
The voice was unfamiliar.
“Are you okay?”
Briana didn't answer.
The footsteps came closer.
“I know you're in there.”
Briana wiped her cheeks quickly.
“Go away.”
There was silence.
Then the girl said softly,
“Okay.”
Briana expected her to leave.
She didn't.
Instead, she heard the girl sit down on the floor outside the stall.
Briana frowned.
“Why are you sitting there?”
“Because you told me to go away.”
Briana sniffed.
“That doesn't make sense.”
“I know.”
Despite herself, Briana almost smiled.
Almost.
“What's your name?” the girl asked.
“Briana.”
“I know.”
Briana frowned.
“Everybody knows my name?”
The girl laughed quietly.
“No. I heard Maddie say it.”
Briana's chest tightened again.
“Oh.”
The girl was quiet for a moment.
Then she asked,
“Were they talking about you?”
Briana didn't answer.
She didn't have to.
The silence gave her away.
“They were,” the girl whispered.
Briana's eyes filled again.
“I thought they were my friends.”
The girl didn't immediately respond.
Finally, she said,
“They're not.”
Briana looked down.
“They were nice to me.”
“Sometimes people can be nice and still be mean.”
Briana thought about that.
It didn't make sense.
“Why?”
“I don't know.”
The girl paused.
“But you don't have to stay with people who make you feel bad.”
Briana rubbed her eyes.
“Then who am I supposed to sit with?”
“Me.”
Briana looked toward the bottom of the stall.
“You?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
The girl shrugged.
“Because I don't think you're weird.”
Briana's lower lip trembled.
“You don't?”
“Nope.”
A tiny smile finally appeared on Briana's face.
The girl stood up.
“I'm Maya.”
Briana opened the stall door.
Maya was standing there with a small smile on her face.
Briana looked at her for a moment.
Then she asked,
“Will you really sit with me tomorrow?”
Maya nodded.
“Yeah.”
“Even if Maddie doesn't?”
“Especially if Maddie doesn't.”
Briana laughed softly.
For the first time since she'd heard the girls talking, she felt like she could breathe again.
Maya held out her hand.
Briana looked at it.
Then she took it.
Neither of them knew it yet, but that little walk out of the bathroom was the beginning of something that would last for years.
And Briana would never forget the first time someone chose her.
Not because she was useful.
Not because she was pretty.
Not because they felt sorry for her.
Simply because Maya wanted to.
