When Best Friends Become Strangers

next morning was change th

t work. I had the

act, but it f

oun

started

dying up. I

every trinket that remind

from her family' s trip to t

novel Maya tracked down f

s passed in class, the matching friendsh

into a large

I' d outgrown, a skin that

y bag towards the garag

fr

hole, I saw them

e sundress, Maya in designer jeans and a band t-shi

red. I hadn' t

ring, but they' d prob

hem one years ago,

blocking the entr

my voice care

Olivia' s smile was brig

thought we' d swing by," Maya add

ed on the black tr

it too. Her s

the bag, Ethan?" she

a corner of a faded bl

yes w

from the kite we won at the state fair? The one we f

mud, laughing hysterically as we tried to retri

p and discerning, sp

rnished sil

roat, where an identical one usually lay. "The 'best friends'

perfectly sculpted eye

oice was laced with disbelief. "Ar

hocked, as if the thoug

ing cleaning," I s

s. "Ethan, these are... these are our memories. You

asked, meet

her expression a mixture

this about prom? We already apologized f

by a "clumsy dry cleaner." So they' d bought him a

" Olivia repeated, as i

re outspoken one, looked

fter than Olivia's. "Talk to us. Wha

This was exactly

hadn' t both

bout Yale. About the fact that our "

e on the tip

spered. They wouldn' t get it. The

ing," I said, shrugg

unnerve them more than

, her eyes narrowed. "A

ied, and for once, it

me to Olivia, the

owing it all out?" she asked, a

aid, poppi

calm demeanor as a sign t

ress. "Well, okay.

if you wanted to grab lunch. Celebrate UCLA ac

word hung

d faintly. "

of disappointment in her eyes. She

graduation practice

," I

lancing back once w

her eyes

he driveway, their expensi

dy texting Liam, dissect

e trash bag

rid

oon, I saw Maya'

, and Liam, beaming, cl

ing! So excited for the next chapter wit

ntion

cou

idn' t even sting anym

nvelope with the Yale b

acket. Housing informati

lid in my

begi

gain. This time, I

the porch, identical beam

a UCLA accep

" Olivia squealed,

"We came to get you. We' re all going out to celebrat

pectant, so sure

ared

t sorry for

guys," I said,

sound very excited, E. Aren' t you thrilled? W

a hint of her usual impatience cree

urse

oorframe. "Actually, I

face

ed. "What other plans could

tempted, to tell

shock, th

ight. Graduation day was coming.

mily stuff,"

' t it wait? This is a once-in-

Don' t be a party pooper. It w

ly the same for them, a

I let them

d. "But I can

s returned,

had n

nt was noisy

ourt at a large table, Olivia and

saw us, his smile

! Glad you co

d to his side, leavin

m here," Maya said, laughing,

stuff'," Olivia added, r

politely, but their atten

about his "tough background" and ho

the group, feeling like an obs

ing in the restau

nder a vent, and a chil

d, rubbin

They were all ca

ounting how Olivia and Maya

hick with emotion. "But these two amazin

nd Maya

headache

, or perhaps wanting to draw

asked, his voice dripp

accidentally" knocked my gl

exclaimed, not sou

. Olivia and Maya tut

nd shivering, the icy wate

t say

was no

counting do