“Hi, can I sit here?... You came to my birthday party, right?”

     “Yeah, you can sit here”, I said with crumbs falling out of my mouth, “I did go to your party.”
     Sitting there, we discussed the new teachers we had with an occasional crunch and muffled word. We would tumble across the grass and hang on the bars on the playground daily. We spent much of our time on wall ball though, with our hands red and covered in dirt going into class.
     Everyday we grew closer, but the one thing that puzzled me was that Veronica really liked to plan and organize. Right after winter break, she started planning for her birthday party in July, bringing her Rhode Island party magazine and clipboard out to recess and lunch. Who plans their own birthday party in fourth grade seven months before? Her birthday party was eventually cancelled due to the lack of friends and people on vacation. During this time she did not treat me well, but I didn’t care or notice since I thought she was my best friend.
     Fifth grade came rolling around and we created a group of friends. Starting then, did I notice how she was treating other classmates and even her own friends poorly. We weren’t allowed to do anything without her permission. After science camp, Maggie, Anika, Amanda, and I decided we needed to end this friendship. We came up with this book called Reasons Why We Are Leaving You with explanations from each of us. The next day, we gave the book to her with our eyes to ground. She hesitated before, reaching for the book with a puzzled look on her face. We waited silently, the shouting, laughing, and shrieks blocked with every sound of the page turning magnified. With every word she read, a tear trickled down her cheek. A flashback of all the times she did not treat us well, whispering mean comments about classmates and pouting her lips when we didn’t listen to her came rushing back into her mind. It felt like years were going by, fumbling with our fingers and staring at the ground to pass time. After finishing the book she ran off towards the classrooms without a single word.
     I visited her house once, and it showed how spoiled she was. Now, that I think about it I was pretty jealous of all the things she had. First, showing me her two lionhead rabbits and pictures of her dog that she had given away. Then, I went to her room and I was in aw. Plopping down into beanbag and showing me the bouquet of foam flowers from a friend. Afterward,I got to turn flips on her huge trampoline in the backyard. She even took horseback riding lessons!
     A few weeks later, after recovering, she started hiding and stealing my things. At Happy Childhood After School we have a prize drawing at the end of every year. That year I won gel pens. When I was out of the room playing with a ball that I won, someone hid my gel pens. I finally noticed when she had left. I searched the whole school. It was getting pretty late, so I decided to help the teacher clean up the room. While, recycling the paper from the bin I found my gel pens under a clean white piece of paper. The next day at school, I learned from my friend that she hid my gel pens. Just then, I knew that it wasn’t over yet.
     We entered sixth grade, and the tension was still there. I finally revealed it to my mom when my P.E. bag and pencil case was stolen. I was suspicious because she was changing right next to me that day and when I came back from P.E. my clothes were gone. The next day, she came to school showing me a pencil that looked just like the one in my lost pencil box. She had claimed that she had found it in her drawer while, cleaning up. I did not believe her at all since the pencil just came out a year ago and only sells at Japan. My mom scheduled an appointment for me with the counselor and Veronica for the next day.
     An office helper slipped into the room with a note. After the teacher read it she called me over and told me that I was requested by the office. I gathered up all my courage and walked to the office. I came into the room quietly and sat down in a chair. Looking at the counselor’s bobble-head collection, I suddenly heard someone coming. He looked at me and asked me what my name was. I answered and we talked about what was going on with me and her. A few seconds later Veronica entered the room. We discussed about the P.E. bag, pencil box, and our past history. I ended up not being able to speak since I kept on sniffling. I was freaking out because I have been trying to trying to avoid this topic from the day we gave her the book. She said that she did not take my things, so I let it go that time. I did not trust her with anything after what all happened. I have a feeling that she did take my things, but just lied to the counselor. I still lock my backpack to this day.