XIII: Pleas

I couldn’t believe that my entire family had decided to make me go back to Tulsa! I had just really gotten to know everyone here in Arkansas and I sure didn’t want to leave now. I mean, we had stuff to do. Adriann and I had talked about going to high school together and everything. What would I do without her? I would be completely lost! This whole thought took me a couple hours to get over, and when I did, I suddenly remembered what I had said to Elizabeth and Marie. Even if we didn’t get along so great sometimes, there was no way that I could ever leave town without saying I was completely and totally sorry and that I would miss them so bad I would cry night after night over it. They had been my friends the whole time I had lived in Arkansas and they had helped me through the times when I was still depressed over leaving my family even though I couldn’t tell them what was wrong. So what if they were obsessed with my brothers? They were still my friends. I sat and thought how I could ever apologize for what I had said, and then suddenly say, “Oh, by the way, I’m moving 2 hours away and I may not ever see you again.” I picked up the phone. They would probably be at Elizabeth’s house ‘cause Marie’s parents were always busy and I knew they wouldn’t be there. They always had company or something. I dialed Elizabeth’s familiar number and took a deep breath. “Hello?” I heard Mrs. Williams’s voice. I hope she didn’t recognize me. She might not let me talk to them. “Is Elizabeth there?” I asked, trying not to sound too nervous.

“Of course, just a minute Jessica.” Oh, man, they hadn’t told her. I couldn’t believe it. I mean, I know that if someone had said all that stuff to me, my mom would be the first to find out and trust me, she would be making some phone calls.

“Hello?” Elizabeth answered quietly.

“Um, hi,” I said. Please don’t hate me. Please don’t hate me!

“Hi Jessica. How are you doin’?”

“Well, actually I have to tell you guys something. And it’s not a good thing. Not at all. I mean, I cried for two hours over this whole ordeal. The first thing I want to say is that I am so sorry for what I said. I mean, I feel awful. It was just that all that obsessed behavior was what I was trying to get away from, and then my best friends go and do it! That was just really hard for me. It’s nothing personal, I promise. I just…” I felt tears starting to fill my eyes.

“It’s okay Jess. Don’t worry. I promise, I wasn’t mad at all. But I think Marie was. I mean, you know how she gets. She’s really sensitive. I think you should really talk to her. I’ll get her, she’s on the computer. Just a second.” I heard the phone being slammed down and Elizabeth yelling at Marie to come to the phone.

“Hello?” This was it.

“Hi Marie. Before you get mad at me, ‘cause I know you are, just let me say something. I am so sorry. It’s like I told Elizabeth, I just wanted to get away from all those obsessed fans, and then my own friends are like that. And don’t worry, I won’t desert you just because you like my brothers. You’re allowed to like whoever you want, and I shouldn’t try to control that. Am I forgiven?”
”Of course Jess. I was never even mad at you. I don’t know where you got that idea! I mean, after all that’s happened to you, how could I get mad just because you blow up and say one mean thing? I have no right to do that.” How could she be so forgiving? I don’t think I could. At all. 

“OK. You know you’re one of my best buds, and you always will be. I hope you never forget that. I really do. But I am feeling awful right now, and I really need to talk to you guys, so can I come over?”

“Sure, you know you can. Why are you even asking?”
”Ok, thanks. Um, can you do me a favor? Will you call Lucile and Adriann for me? I think they should hear what I have to say too.”

“ ‘Course. Come on over.”

“Bye.” I grabbed my jacket off the back of the chair and ran downstairs. I didn’t even look Aunt Kate’s direction. I had to go talk to them now.

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I walked into Elizabeth’s room and sat down on her plush queen-sized bed. “Oh, man. I don’t even know how to tell you guys this. I feel awful.” I started to break down again and cry.

“It’s ok, Jess. I promise, whatever it is, it’ll be ok.” Adriann put her arm around my shoulders.

“Well, I went downstairs to go talk to my aunt after everyone left. She was sitting in the kitchen and I could tell it wasn’t good, whatever she was going to tell me. I could tell it was going to be pretty bad. She just said, ‘Jessica, your family has decided to take you back to Tulsa. They think you’ve been gone too long and they miss you like crazy.’ That was pretty much the extent of it. But the worst thing is, they’re making me go the day after tomorrow. I don’t know what I’m going to do! I mean, I’ve been living here for so long, and I don’t know what I’m going to do without you guys!”

My friends just looked at each other in disbelief. They didn’t know what to do anymore than I did.

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