The New Girl

This is a story that I wrote...quite some time ago, really. But yeah, just thought I'd post it. A real blog post will hopfully be coming soon, but I can't promise anthing because this is one crazy busy week for me!
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The New Girl
By Sarah E. Iddings


As I walked through the halls at Kingston Middle School (Other wise known as KMS) that day, I wondered if I'd ever find a friend.
I wondered about allot of stuff. Like, why did Mr. Goodman have to fire dad anyway? Yeah... "Goodman" he doesn't exactly live up to his name, does he? And another thing, why did my parents have to choose Kingston to move to? Couldn’t dad just get another job back in New York? Obviously I was thinking WAY too much and not paying enough attention to where I was going. "Ooof!" I ran right into another girl, "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to!" I apologized to the tall blonde girl in front of me. "Yeah, whatever." She said, as she quickly gathered her books and walked off. The first bell rang. "Better get to class." I said to myself. I walked fast down the hallway, looking down at my feet all the way. Everyone was watching me. I was friendless, and they all knew so.
After school let out that day, I was more than happy to go home. You know that girl I ran into earlier? Her name is Sandra, and it turns out she's the head of the KMS Cheer Squad, one of the popular people, and if you mess up around her, her whole group hears about it. So I wasn't only friendless, I was now mocked by the whole cheerleading squad. "Better watch out- she might run into you" or "Hi, little miss klutzy!" They would giggle as I passed them in the halls. By the end of the week, I'd made no friends, just enemies.
"One way or another, I'm going to make a friend this week!" I promised myself as I went to sleep that Sunday evening.
The next morning, I awoke in a very cheery mood, determined that this week would be much better than last. When I got to school, the KMS cheer group giggled and pointed as I walked past, but I ignored them and went on, reminding myself that this was a new week- a good new week- and that nothing could bring me down unless I let it. Later on in Mr. Benton's history class, we were all assigned partners for reports we were supposed to write. I sat listening for him to call out my name and tell me who my partner would be. "Frankie, you'll be pared with Jake..." He went on calling out names and partners as the two boys he'd just called on did a high-five. "Let's see...who else do we have... Oh yes, Kelsey Peterson, your partner is... Kari Cripton." I looked around the room, wondering who Kari was and desperately hoping I'd like her. After class, a girl with shoulder-length light-brown hair walked up to me and said, "Hi, are you Kelsey?" "Yeah... And you must be Kari." I replied. "How'd you know?" Kari asked me. "Maybe I'm a mind reader." I said mysteriously, and then giggled, "No, not really, I just saw the back of your sweat-shirt. I says Kari on it." she laughed, "Oh yeah... I kinda forgot about that." From then on I could tell we'd be friends, I already liked her, and I'm pretty sure she liked me too. I spent the rest of that day with Kari, I sat by her in class, walked with her through the halls, and after school we walked to my house together. "So...would you like to come in for a few minutes?" I asked Kari. "Sure, I mean, if it's ok with your parents and all. I'd love to." She answered. When I came into the house and mom saw I had made a new friend, she looked very pleased, and so was I. The next few months flew by; I never knew how fast time could go when you had a great friend to share it with! Before I knew it, it was Christmastime. "Hey, do you wanna go to the mall with me and do some Christmas shopping and stuff?" I asked Kari that afternoon when school let out. "I dunno, the mall's not exactly my kinda place. Incase you haven't noticed, I'm somewhat of a tomboy." Kari said, fiddling with her glasses. I gave her a disappointed look, but didn't try and argue. I knew she was never really into shopping, so why press the issue? So I went to the mall with this other girl I knew, Victoria McCall. As we were just getting ready to walk back to the car after our shopping trip that afternoon, I happened to turn and look into Claire's (this awesome jewelry/accessory store that I LOVE) and seen who I though looked just like Kari! I stood and stared for a minute, hoping the girl would turn around so that I could tell for sure who it was, but before I could see her Victoria looked at me curiously and said "What are you staring at, Kelsey?" "Oh, um, I thought I seen Kari over there in Claire's..." I said to her. "Oh brother", Victoria rolled her eyes, "You see Kari even when your not with her." We started on our way out of the mall, and I snuck another look over to where I thought I'd seen Kari. She wasn't there anymore... If she really ever was there. That night I lied awake in bed wondering about weather or not I'd really seen Kari in Claire's this afternoon. It couldn't have been her...She said she hates shopping. She wouldn't ditch me anyway... would she? The questions turned in my head for hours, and then at last, at 12:00 I finally went to sleep. At school the next morning I thought about asking Kari about it, but if it wasn't her I seen, I'd sound like a complete idiot. So I didn't say anything.
The next three weeks until Christmas slipped by and then on Christmas Eve, I had a terrible thought- I didn't get a Christmas gift for Kari! I wasn't quite sure what to do, my grandparents were coming over for dinner, so I couldn't make a last-minute stop at the mall, and everything would be closed tomorrow. I walked along the sidewalk beside the school, looking at my reflection in its dark windows when Kari suddenly came running up to me with a tiny box -wrapped in red and purple paper- in her hand. "Hey Kelsey- wait up!" she called as she ran to catch up to me, "I wanted to give you this before you head home... Merry Christmas!" Kari held the small package out to me and I took it. "Can I open it now, or shall I wait until tomorrow?" I asked, as I examined the nicely wrapped gift in my hand. "You can open it now, if you want." Kari said, with a slightly nervous-looking smile. It was then that I looked up and seen that she had a necklace... but not just any necklace, there was a small charm on it that read 'BFF'- meaning 'Best Friends Forever'. Suddenly I felt sadness rush throughout my whole body. I had never really thought about this, but she was my best friend. We'd done just about everything together, I thought we knew each other so well, but she never told me she already had a best friend! How could she do this to me?! HOW!?! I didn't know what to say then. I glanced down at the present and then back up at Kari, trying desperately to hold back the tears that were trying to form in my eyes. "Um...Actually... I think I'll wait until tomorrow- nothing like a little suspense!" I said, faking a smile. "Oh, well, ok. Whatever." Kari looked at me, "So, I was wondering, are you doing anything tomorrow afternoon? 'Cause me and my sister are throwing a Christmas party. If you wanna come your more than welcome to!" She smiled and handed me a red and green invitation that had a picture of Santa Clause on it. "Sure, I'll come." I said, still feeling as though I might burst out crying any minute. "Ok, great! Well, I better be getting home now, it's starting to get dark." Kari said, looking up at the sunset. With that, the two of us separated and walked to our homes. I had never felt so relieved to be leaving her.
I looked down once again at the gift in my hand, and thought, “Well, maybe I'll go ahead and open this...” So I stopped and carefully untied the red satin ribbon that held shut the tiny purple box. I couldn't believe what I saw! Inside that box was a little necklace- identical to the one that Kari was wearing! I suddenly realized that I was the one that had the other BFF charm. I was Kari's best friend! Me- Kelsie Peterson! I was practically overflowing with joy. I turned and took off running to catch up with Kari- this was the best Christmas gift ever! "Oh, Kari, thank you thank you thank you!!!" I gave her a big hug. "Wha...huh?" I could tell she was confused. I grinned and showed her my new BFF charm; "I opened your gift early after all." I said with a sheepish grin. Kari smiled real big, "This mean that I'm your best friend too?" "Absolutely!" I replied.

And since that day, Kari and I have been best friends... Best Friends Forever!