“OH MY GOSH” Alex says, in her exasperated sigh, which I can already tell isn’t just an oh my gosh, but a huge, elaborate, slightly exaggerated story, followed by a series of questions she’ll ask but never bother waiting for the reply, instead just answer them on her own, or ramble off onto to the next question before even finishing the first. As I look up from the book I’m reading, and shovel yet another disgusting bite of the cafeteria spaghetti into my mouth, I realize her eyes are not unusually red and puffy, which I’d bet my life on, is because she’s just gotten into ANOTHER fight with her boyfriend, surprise surprise. Alex is my best friend, always has been, ever since the 6th grade when we both had the same math class, with the horrid Mrs. Roberts, and no one to talk to, and since that day we’ve been inseparable, but not too inseparable, you know? We’re not the type to get mad if one of us has a boyfriend or if one decides to hang out with other people, we’re more like sisters really. And I kind of think we always will be, sometimes you just know who’s going to be around you forever. Anyways, Alex is this super confident, “I don’t care what anyone thinks” type of girl, who is also as it happens, maybe one of the most beautiful people I’ve ever seen, she has shoulder length blonde hair that I don’t think I have ever seen look bad, with blue eyes that make the guys at school drool over when she looks at them, and she also has this smile, that makes you feel as if you’ve known each other for maybe a million years or more whenever she flashes it, even if you’ve only just met, “So? Haley? Should I believe him or not? I mean I don’t really see a reason for him to lie about this do you? But I mean guys lie about anything right? Ugh I guess I’ll forgive him, he probably is telling the truth anyway.” And there it is, the famous, ask and answer it yourself conversation performed by the one and only Alexandria Livett, I think to myself as I hold back a tiny giggle. So back to Alex, she’s this super amazing person, and has literally every guy fawning over her, and who does she choose? Yes, jerk of all jerks, Todd Devine, even his name can’t stop bragging about himself! I mean Devine? Really? That has to be some kind of joke, this guy is arrogant beyond words, and he treats Alex as if she’s some disposable toy, available when he’s bored, yet literally unreachable as soon as he has something better to do! And on top of everything else, I don’t think he has an emotional bone in his body, he can never tell Alex how he’s feeling it’s a constant guessing game, and I know I said I didn’t get jealous about boyfriends like some best friends, but this was different, this was pure hatred, Alex could definitely find someone who would treat her like a princess, all she had to do was turn around and pick from the long line of her many suitors. Alex was finishing yet another series of ask but don’t wait for an answer, when she asked me a question I actually could answer, “I totally forgot to ask! What are you wearing to the dance this Saturday!?” Immediately I perked up and began describing my outfit, how I was doing my hair and which heels I was wearing, what color my nails were going to be, we started rambling about every aspect about our outfits and she promised she’d come over after school, we kept talking until the bell rang for 5th period, and we had to scurry to class.
When I got home that day, my mom, as always had snacks out on the counter with a little note that read, “Be home later, I love you Haley” she always left notes when she was at work, it was her thing. As I went to my room to put on the dress I was going to show Alex whenever she came over, which was supposed to be in a few minutes, where was she anyway? She usually beat me here, oh well, I’d try it on and show her once she got here. I hear the front door open and called Alex’s name to come see my dress, but got no reply, again, “Alex?” still nothing. I peek my head out of my room and see my mom instead, eyes bloodshot, hair messed up, and make up messed up, but the most unusual thing was the fact that she was home early, and she’s never home early. “Mom? What’s wrong?” Still no reply, okay this was getting annoying now, couldn't she just hurry up and- “She was in a car crash…...her mom called… they didn't see her…..happened so fast...so sorry…Haley?” I barely heard anything, just words that didn't make sense and then blackness. When I woke up I saw my mom’s face over mine, but her eyes were still red, which was odd, because I know what she said must’ve been a bad dream or something, she shook her head as if she read my mind and answered my unspoken question, I didn't even cry, I do remember that, I was so shocked those next four days I didn't even cry, each day was just one blur after the other, then, came the funeral. And the worst part, at the funeral, who did I have to sit next to? Yes, Todd Devine, as I looked over I saw him quickly wipe away a tear that just barely fell, why could he cry and I couldn't? Who was the emotionless monster now, I wondered as I looked up at the box that held my best friends lifeless body in it…