Best Friends
Originally published on March 05th, 2017
One of my best friends came to visit me last week, just because. She was on break and I wasn't, and since we hadn't seen each other since October (October.), she came up to visit. She stayed the night and we talked about things we hadn't been able to talk about since we went to school together. We walked to a nearby Starbucks and then went to a Petco and bought treats for my guinea pig, and then the next day she went to school with me and met some of my friends up here. It was good to see her, but it also reminded me of how much I've missed her since moving away.
Last week I mentioned how I'm not the best at making friends. In fact, my friendship with this particular person began in the Freshman line on our first day of high school when I hit her with one of my two backpacks (yes, you read that right. Two backpacks... I definitely looked the part of a Freshman). I remember offering to help her open her locker and then forgetting to and having her say "Wait that was you??" two years later. Obviously we didn't start off great, but she's remained one of my best friends ever since neither one of us ran across the street while on a field trip of sorts and started talking about what we want to be when we grow up (we both wanted to be authors, just in case you were wondering).
My first day at my new school also happened to be her first day at her new school. Even though we were a few hours apart, it was still nice to know that I wasn't completely alone in my newness. That first day was difficult, as was the second day. In fact, the first few weeks were really hard. Gradually, however, I began to find my place in my new surroundings, and by the beginning of October, I had begun to feel far more comfortable talking to people.
Having my best friend visit for even a short amount of time was absolutely wonderful, and it made me think of a couple things. Firstly, as I mentioned earlier, it made me remember how much I miss her. Watching her drive away really sucked, but the fact that she started texting me as soon as the car disappeared from my sight reminded me why we're friends. Secondly, having her at school made me realize how far I've come from that girl who was slouched down in her mom's car on the first day almost seven months ago. If one of my friends from my previous school had visited in September, or even October, I would have clung to them as if it was the only way I'd survive. Last week, I obviously still clung to my friend because, hey, I hadn't seen her in like almost five months and I'd missed her a lot. However, I still found myself talking to other people around me, and I realized that I never would have done that had my friend visited earlier in the year.
Moving is hard. I've done it twice now, and although it doesn't get easier, I've found that once I do it I'm happier than I was before. I've made friends at this new school, and I've met people I'm sure I'll stay friends with for a really long time. But I've also made a conscious effort to stay in touch with those friends I made two years ago. I really lucked out at my old school in terms of friends. They are some of the smartest, funniest, and loyal people I have ever met. I also really lucked out at the school I'm currently at. The people I've become friends with make me laugh, help me succeed, and have been supportive and kind since day one, even if that first day was hard. I guess what I'm saying here is thank you to everyone I've become friends with who continue to be some of the best people I know today. I don't know what I'd do or who I'd be without you. <3