I was going to turn off my phone just before I received a text. I was going to look at it, but then another notification alerted me. It was a message from Ashton Black. My heart began to thump vividly in my chest. I could feel my hands shaking and my eyes widening. There was no way Ashton actually texted me.
I loved Ashton from the very moment I saw him my freshman year. Of course, he didn't notice me at all. To him, I was nothing but a little girl who was a grade below him. However, ever since I began to hang out with Quinn, Ashton began to do small things like smile at me or even wave. Now that I'm a sophomore, maybe he has finally stopped seeing me like some child
Hey
I bit down on my lip as I read his message over and over again. Maybe he didn't want to speak to me. Maybe he needed help with some homework or something. It was very important for me not to get my hopes all up high. After taking a deep breath, I responded.
The moment I pressed send, he responded.
Quinn told me it was
your special day.
Happy birthday, Madison.
A loud squeal left my mouth as I began to thrash all over my bed. It felt like I was on cloud nine the way my happiness began to swim all around me. I couldn't even drop the huge smile on my face no matter how hard I tried.
I made sure to thank Quinn before responding to Ashton. Quinn was the best. I wasn't sure what I would do without her. She knew how much having Ashton wish me a happy birthday would mean to me. It was all I ever wanted.
A knock sounded on my door, leaving me to sit upon my bed and stare at the door in anticipation. Slowly, the door pushed open and the familiar curly-haired Angeline walked in. My brows were furrowed as I looked at her, wondering how she got here.
"Your mom came and picked me up. She said she didn't want us to ruin our special tradition," Angeline explained. We awkwardly looked at each other. I let out a loud sigh.
"Ange--"
"Madi--"
We paused.
"You go fi--"
"You go fi--"
Laughter climbed out of our chests, pushing all of the tension out of the room. We were so much alike that we even talked the same.
Once our laughter died down, I walked over to Angeline and wrapped my arms around her. She didn't hesitate to wrap her arms around me in response. It felt so good to be with my best friend again. There was so much I wanted to say, and so much that I needed to tell her.
"I've missed you, Angeline. It sucks that we aren't friends anymore," I told her. She slowly pulled away with a small smile on her lips.
"We will always be friends. No matter what. Don't you remember our promise?" she asked me, perking up a brow. I smirked as I thought about our promise to each other.
"Best friends forever," I answered, holding up my pinky. She wrapped her pinky around my own just as her smile grew. Even though she didn't say it, I could tell she missed me too. It was obvious in the way her entire face brightened up.
She looked around my room, noticing how I still had all of her paintings hung up on my wall. It made me proud to show her that I have never given up on her. Even if we weren't in the best state of friendship, I would always support her just like I knew she would always support me. Whether she—or I—could see it or not.
"My mom told me you got first place at some huge art event," I said. She looked at me, her smile never faltering.
"I did. I wanted to invite you, but I wasn't sure you'd come after what happened last time," she mumbled. I thought back to that day where our entire friendship changed. My smile melted into a frown when I could recall the art show I missed. My pettiness got in the way of my commitment to Angeline. She wanted me there to support her, but I failed.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry about a lot of things. As dumb as it sounds, I thought you were jealous of me or something," I shrugged. "Quinn isn't as bad as you think, though. She's the one that got Ashton to text me happy birthday, and she has been, like, one of the best friends I've ever had."
Angeline didn't say anything. Usually, when Angeline chose to say nothing it was because there was too much she wanted to say.
"What?" I questioned annoyedly.
"Nothing. I didn't say anything," Angeline spoke. I watched her walk over to my bed and sit down like she used to do all the time. As much as I missed Angeline's presence, I wasn't sure if I wanted a friend who was so quick to judge Quinn without ever giving her the chance.
"Say it! Say that you think Quinn is still no good for me. Say that you think she is some snake in the grass when in reality, she is a much better friend than you have been lately," I declared.
Angeline got up from my bed and began to walk to my door. "Maybe it was a mistake coming here. Happy birthday, Madison."
"No, I just want to talk through this. I don't get why it's so hard for you to like her when she has done nothing to you. Maybe the three of us can be friends, and we can hang out, but we can't do that unless you agree to give her a chance," I explained.
"I know what she's like because I've seen it. I don't want to be friends with someone like Quinn, and one day, you'll understand. When that day comes, just know my door is always open for you" Angeline stated just before pulling open my door. I scoffed, watching Angeline walk out.
When mom angered dad he would say something to hurt her. It would be strong enough to stab her deep in the chest to the point she bled tears. As I looked at Angeline who pissed me off so much that I wanted to scream, I couldn't help but think about my parents.
"Keep that door closed to that disgusting, roach-infested house. Do you ever wonder why no one else would bother being friends with you other than me? Maybe it's because you are so judgemental and you want everyone to be as perfect as you think you are. Don't forget that you go home to an empty house because not even your mom can stand you!" I seethed just before slamming my door shut, but not before catching a glimpse of the tears on Angeline's face.
I didn't care if Angeline cried, she deserved it. I let myself fall into her trap, but I managed to escape. No longer would I be her prisoner who wasn't allowed to have any other friends and was forced down to her level.
I got up on my bed and began to tear apart her artwork. Even the ones that promised we would be friends forever. I made sure to throw away and rip apart everything that belonged to Angeline. I no longer wanted her near me. The only friend I needed was Quinn, a friend that would never be as cruel as Angeline. They could think all they wanted about Quinn, but I knew the truth.
Without a second thought, I called Quinn and told her to come over. I wanted Mom to actually take the time out and get to know Quinn in the way that I did. If Mom could like someone as jealous and judgemental as Angeline, I was almost certain that she would grow to love Quinn more as she was the complete opposite of that.
Quinn always went out of her way to buy me anything I wanted. She always made sure to do things that she knew would make me happy. For instance, getting Ashton to text me. It was something she didn't have to do, but since she was such a great supportive friend, she did it anyway. I wouldn't have been able to make the cheerleading team without her. I would forever be grateful to have someone like Quinn, and for that, I would always defend her from joy-sucking demons like Angeline. Quinn was nothing like Angeline, only this time, I was glad that she wasn't.
Pulling me away from my thoughts, Mom barged into my room, her brows furrowed and her hands balled up into fists. I rolled my eyes, preparing for the lecture she would give me. I was sure Angeline told her about what I said, and now my mother was trying to defend her. "What is wrong with you, Madison? Angeline has been your best friend since before you could count to ten. What did you say to her to make her so upset?" Mom demanded, authority wrapping itself around her every word, trying to aim at my heart but failing to reach it.
"The truth. She always tries to make me feel bad about myself, and I just can't take it anymore," I answered, allowing my voice to rise with every word.
Mom scoffed while shaking her head in disappointment. "You sound just like your father."
That was what reached my heart and nabbed at a chunk of it. I had to keep myself from gasping. I didn't want to be compared to my father because he was someone I never wanted to be. I dreamed of becoming my mother who always saw the good in everyone, she was always so kind, she was the woman I viewed as most supportive. My father, on the other hand, was the complete opposite of everything I aspired to be.
My mother liked to use that line a lot, you sound just like your father. I heard it so much that I could probably say it backward. At first, I believed she only said it because she knew how much it affected me, but then I would take one glance into her eyes and see the same hatred that flamed her vision when she looked at my father, was the glance looking right back at me.
If she knew that saying that would always throw me on the verge of tears, would the words still be as quick to leave her mouth?
"Quinn is coming over. You will like her a lot more than Angeline," I stated, pretending like some shield had protected me from her bullet of words, but she couldn't see the ones that penetrated and made sure to strike me in places where it most hurt.