James

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My favorite picture of Harlee and me was the first thing I saw when I rose from my bed each morning. It was still stuck in the corner of my mirror where I'd positioned it on the same day we had taken the selfie together in her backyard. Harlee was making a wacky face in the picture while I was looking at her in confusion.

The snapshot was a perfect visual comparison of our obvious differences: Harlee's hyper and free spirit against my quiet, passive nature.

It was quite the adventure while it lasted.

I glared at the picture from across the room as I sat up in my bed Monday morning.

I hated that picture now. It only stood as a permanent reminder of something I would rather forget.

"I got to get around to taking that down," I muttered to myself, hiding back underneath my blankets. I closed my eyes, wondering how much time I had left to sleep before the monster came into my room.

My bedroom door busted open right then giving me my answer.

"Get up, James!" my obnoxious older sister yelled. "And I'm only going to ask once."

"Don't you ever knock?" I said angrily, still covering my entire body with blankets.

Maybe, if I stayed under them, I would disappear.

Or she would.

"No, I don't have the patience to knock," Lizzie said to me. "Get up now, or get dragged out of bed."

"You're not going to drag me out of bed, Elizabeth," I replied, calling her by her full name, knowing how much it bothered her.

"You say that every time, and then I surprise you. And this time, I've been given the liberty to drag you. Mom said, and I quote, 'Do whatever it takes to get him out of bed, even if you have to resort to a physical altercation.' End quote," she said.

I rolled my eyes, although she couldn't see me.

I think.

But my mom and Elizabeth did tend to team up on me concerning everything. My dad was hardly home, because of the number of business trips the company he worked for required him to go on.

So it was usually two against one.

And the majority always seemed to rule.

Sometimes, I could play the youngest of the family card and get my mom to side with me against Lizzie. But the possibility of Lizzie and I ever being on the same side about anything was one in a million.

And that one in a million still hadn't ever happened.

Lizzie seemed to become more annoying with age. Every year that she became older, she got on my nerves more and more. I couldn't wait until she was shipped off to college, so I wouldn't have to put up with her any longer.

Harlee and I had agreed on turning her room into a clubhouse just for the two of us when she moved out. We planned to charge her admission whenever she returned for a visit and wanted to enter her former room.

I laughed at the memory.

Too bad our friendship didn't last long enough to make it happen, I thought, my joy turning to bitterness.

Lizzie took my laugh as a challenge. I suppose she thought I was laughing at her because next thing I knew, I was being pulled from my bed onto the floor at the speed of light. With my sheets still wrapped around me, I landed on the floor with a thud.

I angrily tossed them off and glared up at her.

"Really Lizzie?? Why would you do that??" I asked, rubbing my arm in pain.

"Mission accomplished," she replied simply, not answering my question before turning on her heel to leave.

"One day, maybe I'll drag you out of bed, Elizabeth; how would you like that?!" I yelled grumpily.

"Sure. Go off. Oh, but you actually have to wake up early to do that," she shot back at me.

I groaned and pulled my sheets back over my head. I didn't sit and pout for long, because I knew if I didn't get up soon, she'd be back.

I got up from my place on the floor and started getting ready. Evan and his mom, Mrs. Smith, would be dropping by to pick me up, even though school was within walking distance. Ever since my friendship with Harlee ended, I rode with them. I didn't want to risk running into Harlee. I already had to see her in nearly all of my classes, including homeroom.

Not to mention she lived right next door to me.

After my return home from Fairington, my family and I moved from our apartment in our small hometown of Winnington to a nice, quiet neighborhood in Winnington. The house we moved into turned out to be the house next door to my new best friend's. This development was quite a surprise to Harlee and me but a happy surprise definitely.

The proximity of our abodes allowed us to do nearly everything together, like chat until we both fell asleep. Our bedroom windows were across from one another's, so we'd write messages on whiteboards as a fun way to communicate. We had countless conversations across those windows about various things.

I gave my window-seat a forlorn look remembering all the funny things I laughed about with my best friend there. Nostalgia threatened to overwhelm me, but I shook it off.

What is in the past has to stay there, I told myself mentally, hoping one day I'd find the strength to believe it.

I dragged a comb through my messy hair before heading down the stairs for breakfast. Usually, I ate at school with Harlee, which was why lately I'd been eating at home. Too bad eating at home meant dealing with Lizzie. She had her back turned to me when I came into the kitchen. She stood texting on her phone and giggling, probably about something stupid.

"Talking to your boyfriend, Elizabeth?" I teased.

It was my attempt at revenge for what she'd done to me that morning.

Lizzie became aware of my presence and whirled around, saying, "Grow up, James; even if Alex was more than just a friend, what would you know about relationships when you're like five years old?"

"I'd rather be five than a rusty old hag," I shot back lamely. "You're like what? Eighty?"

"Okay, okay, I call a cease-fire," Mom said, making her entrance into the kitchen with a warm smile lighting up her face.

"What are you two arguing about this time?" she asked, turning to fill her coffee mug. Neither of us responded; we just continued glaring at one another. My mom turned back around, and Lizzie and I both put on a fake smile.

Mom raised an eyebrow knowingly and said, "No more fighting and no more death glares either; let's have a good morning, okay?"

"Tell that to the sorceress," I mumbled under my breath.

Lizzie heard my remark and smirked in response.

"That's my name; don't wear it out," she said.

I rolled my eyes, growing tired of the bickering.

"So, do either of you have any plans for today?" Mom asked, stirring up her coffee.

Avoid Harlee.

Avoid Harlee.

And avoid Harlee, said my mind.

"Um, probably just go to school and come home to hang with Evan," was all my voice did.
My family still didn't know what had happened between Harlee and me. And if I could help it, they never would.

That would prove difficult given the amount of time Harlee and I used to spend together, but so far, I'd been able to pull it off without any questioning.

Lizzie began to talk about her busy day ahead, and I heard a car horn beep outside. I grabbed a piece of fruit from the table and hurriedly packed my school stuff into my bag.

"That's my ride," I said to no one in particular.

"Oh, have a wonderful day today, James," Mom said as she hugged me.

"Yeah, have a good day, James," Lizzie remarked. "Try to actually be a tolerable person for a change."

"Lizzie!" Mom reprimanded.

"It's okay, Mom; it's not Lizzie's fault she says such cruel things. She's got no good in her, so it just happens naturally," I fired back.

Mom's smile was replaced with a frustrated frown.

"I don't know what to do with you two," she sighed helplessly.

I stared down at the checkered floor tiles. I felt bad for making her upset. My feet hurried out the door before I could get to feeling too guilty about it. After all, Lizzie HAD started it.

"Took you long enough," Evan muttered. He'd been waiting right outside the door for me.

"Sorry, my sister is a sorceress, and I have to put up with her witchcraft every morning. Won't happen again," I replied, hoisting my backpack onto my shoulders as we walked towards the car.

Mrs. Smith was waiting in the SUV, tapping her fingers against the steering wheel impatiently. I hurried along beside Evan, and we both climbed into the back seat. The automatic door shut behind us as Evan turned to face me.

"What'd she do this time?" he asked curiously while strapping himself in. I followed suit and greeted his mom before giving him my answer.

"Good morning, Mrs. Smith; how are you today?" I asked.

"I'm okay," she said back. She didn't bother to ask how I was just started driving.

I took the hint and turned back to Evan. "She's just evil; you know how Lizzie is." I lowered my voice as I muttered my next words just in case Mrs. Smith was listening. "She's just like Karissa: selfish, rude, and horrible."

Evan gave an understanding nod.

Evan knew what the deal with older sisters was. He had one of his own, who I truly believed was even worse than mine. If Lizzie was a witch, Evan's sister, Karissa Smith, had to be a coven leader of some kind.

No one could top her when it came to being evil.

Unfortunately for Evan and me, the two of them became best friends shortly after he and I became friends.

And the only thing worse than Karissa alone was her and Lizzie together.

"Enough about them; they ruin enough of our lives as it is; no need to discuss it any further. What do you want to do after school today?" he asked. "I thought we could go to the arcade or something unless you have plans with Harlee."

"I don't have plans with Harlee," I said back probably too quickly.

Evan looked at me in confusion, and I searched my mind for an excuse.

"She has a doctor's appointment; remember when she twisted her ankle the other month? She has to go back," I told him. I mentally applauded my ability to come up with a lie so quickly. It wasn't a good thing in theory, but at the time, it was what I had to do.

Evan couldn't find out I'd cut things off with Harlee.

Because if he did, he'd start asking questions.

If he asked questions, I'd have to give explanations.

Giving explanations meant revisiting what had gone wrong.

And that was the last thing I wanted to do.

The car pulled to a stop in front of our middle school, Oceanview Junior High. The sidewalk was filled with students heading into school for the final week before summer vacation.

I felt a sense of relief knowing school was ending in a few days because it meant I'd no longer have to see Harlee five days a week.

But with that relief, also came uncertainty.

Harlee and I had always spent the summer together, ever since we'd become best friends. I couldn't help but wonder if I'd even be able to enjoy vacation now.

Evan and I got out of the car, without receiving so much as a goodbye from his mother. She sped off right after the automatic door closed, smoke trailing from the engine of her car. The two of us headed into school, talking about summer plans. We slid into our desks, still chatting eagerly. I was less excited than Evan was, but he didn't seem to notice.

"It's going to be so fun," he raved. "We're going to play the Amazing Race and give out prizes to the winners." Evan was filling me in on the plans his parents had made for his upcoming thirteenth birthday.

Evan, Harlee, and I were all born in the summertime. Evan's birthday was in the first week of June, while Harlee and mine were both in the last.

Since the summer we met, Harlee and I had kept a tradition where we would celebrate the entire week of our birthdays together. We'd go on different adventures each day, just the two of us all day long. It was fun because this way, neither of us simply had a birthday but more of a birthweek.

A birthweek we got to spend with the person we cared the most about.

But clearly, this summer would be different.

"Yeah," I agreed, feigning enthusiasm. "That'll be so fun."

Right then, Harlee and her friend Farrah Harrington walked into homeroom. Farrah had been hanging around Harlee a lot lately and seemed to be the friend she'd replaced me with. They were giggling about something together as they took their seats beside one another.

I avoided eye contact and stifled a sigh. Because even though I probably deserved to be replaced, it still hurt.

The rest of the homeroom class arrived shortly after but still no teacher. Mr. Jonesbury was always late, so this was no surprise to any of us. I focused on the rubber bands on my wrist as Evan played a game on his phone, seeming all talked out about his birthday.

Secretly, I felt a little grateful he was finished discussing it.

I didn't want to think about summer anymore for now.

Right then, my books that were laying atop my desk suddenly hit the floor with a thud. I looked up to see who was responsible for pushing them off, even though I kind of already knew.

Jasper Collins and Mike Douglas were standing before me smirking.

I sighed, not wanting to take part in their antics today.

"What do you want, Jasper?" I mumbled tiredly.

I'd already had a frustrating morning; did they really have to go and make it worse?

"What do I want?" he asked. "Nothing. I just like doing whatever I can to make your life miserable."

Mike laughed as a few other kids did.

I felt anger start to well up inside me.

"Well, you're great at it, okay? Can you pick my books up now?" I asked bitterly, losing my patience by the second.

"Nah I don't really feel like it, " he taunted, giving a nonchalant shrug.

Part of me wanted to fight him for that particular incident, and all the years I'd had to put up with him. Even with Harlee by my side, Jasper still refused to back down. After she stood up to him at Camp Fairington, the bullying ceased for some time.

But when Jasper came back, he came back with a vengeance and with even more animosity towards me than he'd had before. By then, Harlee and I had naively deleted the only thing we had against him to stop the bullying. Not that it would have worked now anyway, considering we were all older.

"Pick them up, Jasper. Pick them up now or else," my ex-best friend commanded from across the room.

I looked over to see Harlee sitting at her desk with her arms folded.

I felt a bit surprised she was willing to stick up for me. But not that surprised, because that was just the kind of person Harlee was.

"Make me pick them up; why don't you? Always running to his defense, but you're all talk and no action. Why don't you back that threatening glare up with something, huh?" Jasper replied with a wicked grin.

Harlee seemed to lose her nerve, which was a rare occurrence for her. Maybe it was the truth in Jasper's statements that got to her; Harlee had never actually made good on any of her threats to him.

No one had.

Jasper Collins wasn't the guy to threaten if you valued your life and well-being.

But still, Harlee feared no one and nothing, so it always left me wondering why she hadn't been the one to put him in his place. Sure, they tossed words at one another, but nothing more.

Not that I'd expected her, a girl, to fight my battles for me.

Although, more often than not, she always seemed to end up doing so.

"Because I wouldn't want to end up hurting you, that's why," Harlee shot back, regaining her sass.

I chanced a glance at her, but she and Jasper were both caught up in one of their infamous glare-offs. She seemed to be winning. Harlee's piercing green eyes were searing into his like a roaring fire.

"You hurt me? Well, that's about the most hilarious thing I've ever heard," Jasper scoffed, nudging Mike in the shoulder.

Evan's eyes darted between the two of them, but he didn't utter a word.

After Jasper's surrender at Fairington, Evan became less afraid of him and stopped siding with him against me out of fear. Evan eventually became good friends with both me and Harlee. But for the most part, he still just assumed the position of the silent onlooker during run-ins with Jasper and Mike.

I couldn't really blame him for not wanting to stand up to them. Out of the three of us, it seemed only Harlee didn't fear either of them at all.

Harlee stood to her feet and made her way over to my desk. For a moment, she just stood there glaring at Mike and Jasper like they were the most hideous creatures to walk the earth.

Then she did something I hadn't at all expected her to.

No, she didn't punch him, (although, that probably would have been more effective.) She simply bent down and picked my books up then placed them back on my desk. As she did, her eyes momentarily met mine, but then she looked away. Her attention returned to Jasper, who was standing there with the same ever-present smirk across his face.

"Well, that was noble of you, Harlee," he said, raising his blonde eyebrows.

"You wouldn't know anything about nobility at all. You're an idiot, Jasper," she stated angrily before turning on her heel and heading back to her seat.

"Glad to know you think so highly of me," he replied sarcastically while walking backwards to his desk. Mike followed after him but not without giving me a scowl first.

I heard Evan breathe a sigh of relief beside me and ask if I was okay.

I nodded my head at him while continuing to stare at Harlee.

She was no longer paying any of us any attention; she had gone back to her conversation with Farrah. A smile beamed on her face as she listened and nodded her head, but I noticed a glint of sadness in her eyes as well.

Overwhelming disappointment towards myself crept over me as I realized the significance of what Harlee had just done. Even after I'd ended our friendship so coldly and abruptly, she still stood up for me.

Because that's just how much she cared about our friendship.

That was just how much she cared about me.

And there was nothing I could do to make her stop caring.

Calling off our friendship wasn't enough to get her to stop being my friend.

I felt both saddened and grateful by this.

Grateful, because that meant she would always be there for me.

And saddened, because I knew how much all this must be hurting her.

But it would only be worse for her if I hadn't ended things.

It was what I had to do.

But how do you leave someone that meant so much to you in the past?

How do you forget about someone that is so unforgettable?