Dying Embers
Abigail Brooks is confused and hurt. Her best friend, Joey Russell has been ignoring her and started to act differently.They were inseparable during childhood, but are the still that way? All she knows is that he is keeping a secret. But what is it about? Joey's secret may not be hidden for so long, because Gail is about to become involved in whatever it is. And whatever it is, she won't let it ruin her friendship and let the flaring bonfire of their relationship become dying embers.
We first met when we were two. He was a cheerful little boy; I was a sneaky little girl. It was friends at first glance.
In preschool, we were inseparable. We actually cried when either one of us had to go home. Our moms scheduled us to have playdates at least once a month, which quickly became once a week.
In kindergarten we were placed in the same class. The teacher was always separating us because we were talking too much.
In first grade he had a huge crush on Priscilla Queens, a snotty girl I hated with all my might. When he asked me if she liked him, I felt annoyed and slightly jealous. He kept talking about her and wouldn't stop. I looked him straight in the eye and said, "She thinks you're guts." He shut up and looked sad for a couple of days before I told him the truth about my lie.
In second grade I had a crush on Jordan Wetzel. Unlike my reaction to his confession about liking Priscilla, he helped me by asking Jordan if he liked me. Jordan said no. He made sure that I as okay.
In third grade on during our trip to the museum, the two of us got lost. We wandered around until a security guard finally found us and brought us back to our teacher.
In fourth grade he broke his leg. He couldn't play soccer for a month. I kept him busy with a book about how to make 101 different paper airplanes.
In fifth grade we both got sent to the principle after I'd gotten hit by a bully in sixth grade. He had attacked the bully and punched him. I kicked the sixth grader in a very soft place.
In sixth grade we had all our detentions on the same day, all for the same reasons—talking or passing notes during class. Not finishing our assignments. Playing pranks. Talking back to the teacher. Our moms weren't very pleased, but there was nothing much they could do about it.
In seventh grade we were placed in different homerooms. We would walk down to classes together. We would sit together for lunch. We played basketball with a couple of older kids. He went to my track meets, soccer games, and basketball games. I went to his baseball games, football games, and swimming meets. Our friendship was tight.
In eighth grade there was a rumor that we were dating, which we weren't. But suddenly I started to notice things about him that I hadn't seen before. When he talked to me, his eyes lingered on mine a few moments longer. He seemed a little embarrassed about being seen in the hallway with me sometimes. He was starting to get a little taller. He was starting to look a little more handsome.
Now it's ninth grade. We made it through elementary. We made it through middle school. We should make it through high school...right? We've been friends since forever. Best friends since forever. We've pushed through every obstacle so far...
So far...
He's been acting weird lately. Hangs his head down in the hallways; won't talk to me—won't talk to anyway; skipping school and classes...
I want to reach out, to touch him on the shoulder; tell him it'll be fine, to be there for him...we're best friends after all, Joel Russel and I.
In preschool, we were inseparable. We actually cried when either one of us had to go home. Our moms scheduled us to have playdates at least once a month, which quickly became once a week.
In kindergarten we were placed in the same class. The teacher was always separating us because we were talking too much.
In first grade he had a huge crush on Priscilla Queens, a snotty girl I hated with all my might. When he asked me if she liked him, I felt annoyed and slightly jealous. He kept talking about her and wouldn't stop. I looked him straight in the eye and said, "She thinks you're guts." He shut up and looked sad for a couple of days before I told him the truth about my lie.
In second grade I had a crush on Jordan Wetzel. Unlike my reaction to his confession about liking Priscilla, he helped me by asking Jordan if he liked me. Jordan said no. He made sure that I as okay.
In third grade on during our trip to the museum, the two of us got lost. We wandered around until a security guard finally found us and brought us back to our teacher.
In fourth grade he broke his leg. He couldn't play soccer for a month. I kept him busy with a book about how to make 101 different paper airplanes.
In fifth grade we both got sent to the principle after I'd gotten hit by a bully in sixth grade. He had attacked the bully and punched him. I kicked the sixth grader in a very soft place.
In sixth grade we had all our detentions on the same day, all for the same reasons—talking or passing notes during class. Not finishing our assignments. Playing pranks. Talking back to the teacher. Our moms weren't very pleased, but there was nothing much they could do about it.
In seventh grade we were placed in different homerooms. We would walk down to classes together. We would sit together for lunch. We played basketball with a couple of older kids. He went to my track meets, soccer games, and basketball games. I went to his baseball games, football games, and swimming meets. Our friendship was tight.
In eighth grade there was a rumor that we were dating, which we weren't. But suddenly I started to notice things about him that I hadn't seen before. When he talked to me, his eyes lingered on mine a few moments longer. He seemed a little embarrassed about being seen in the hallway with me sometimes. He was starting to get a little taller. He was starting to look a little more handsome.
Now it's ninth grade. We made it through elementary. We made it through middle school. We should make it through high school...right? We've been friends since forever. Best friends since forever. We've pushed through every obstacle so far...
So far...
He's been acting weird lately. Hangs his head down in the hallways; won't talk to me—won't talk to anyway; skipping school and classes...
I want to reach out, to touch him on the shoulder; tell him it'll be fine, to be there for him...we're best friends after all, Joel Russel and I.
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