Not Anymore

As the bell rang everyone rushed to get their stuff shoved into their bags to head to lunch.  The clock read 12:08 but in reality it was 12:05. I knew this because that’s when the bell rang I didn’t need to know but I remembered.  “Hey Aria! Can we talk?” The voice seemed so clear through all the crowded noise of the halls. I turned around to see my friend, Charlotte . She’s been my friend since second grade. “Oh hey Char!” I say. I’m completely exhausted so I don’t even remember what she just said.  “Wow.. are you okay?” She asks.  “Not feeling the best.” I say as I sit at the ugly gray lunch table. “Oh.” She responds which slightly concerns me.  “Is me being tired a problem?” I laughed.  “Nope, see you in art.” Charli says as she runs to her table next to her slightly more popular friends.  Once it was time to leave school I walked home with my very best friend, Hannah.  “Wanna come over to my house next week, Ari?” Hannah asked me. “Definitely. What should we do?” I ask her.  “Play board games or watch movies?” She says. “Of course!” I say. Hannah was popular for reasons I didn’t know because I didn’t go to her school. I just waited for her after mine ended.  “You know what?” Hannah asks.  “Depends, what?” I smile. “I’m free tonight. Want to come over?” Hannah asked.  “Yeah let me just drop my stuff off at home real quick. I’ll be there in a minute.” Hannah lived a street over from me so I could walk there. “Hey honey! Going over Hannah’s?” My mom asked.  I rarely go over anymore, so when she saw me packing she knew.  She got really happy because she knew Hannah made me really happy.  “Yup, I’ll see you tomorrow. I finished all my schoolwork and volleyball practice tomorrow at 5:30 so I'll get a good night's sleep, promise.” I say quickly, putting my stuff into my bag. “Enjoy yourselves. You should stay with Hannah all day and let her take you to practice.” My mom suggested. It was a good idea since practice wasn’t late at night. It started at 5:30.  “Love you mom! I yelled as I head out the door.  As I’m walking to Hannah’s house I think about the first time I met her. I thought she was one of those typical mean girls but I was wrong. She’s the sweetest, most honest person I've ever met. I Facetime her every night. She tells me everything about her. I used to go over to her house a lot, but for some reason I don't anymore, and even let her hold my hamsters and I call her my hamster's Aunt.  I don’t even treat my friend of 6 years like that and I’ve only known her for a year!  It was already 4:37 or that’s at least what my Apple watch was telling me.  I walked up to the porch and was greeted by Hannah’s mother.  “Oh hello Aria!” She says. “Hello Mrs. Thatcher!” I say. She smiles and directs me up to where Hannah is.  I walked up and hid behind Hannah’s door. She didn’t notice me, so when she went to go see if I was there yet I jumped out.  “BOO!” I screamed. She may or may not have punched me in the face (she may).  “Jeez Ari!” She screams.  I was too busy laughing to reply to her and fell to the floor because I couldn’t breathe or I was crying because she just rearranged the bones in my jaw, maybe both.  As I regain my ability to breathe properly and to talk I say “I’m so sorry.” But that made me laugh harder. She rolls her eyes at me and then hugs me. Me and Hannah watched a movie, then made chocolate strawberries and watched half of the movie because we got tired.  We stayed up till 12:30 or so and just watched movies and played volleyball in her backyard with her little sister.  I set the alarm on my phone for 11:00 because it was just the perfect time. Right before lunchtime. I never eat breakfast. I haven’t since I was 9 years old.  Hannah and I slept in the same bed except my side had more blankets because I like being comfortable.