Acquiring New Friends.

Jasmine sat under the big maple tree with her drawing pad and pencil in hand. The jumper she wore hid her mass of beautiful ginger hair from view. Her headphones were in place as she chewed on her pencil thinking of what to add to her drawing to make it appear more appealing.

Unbeknown to her, Arya and her group were watching from a distance. The plan was set to begin on that day. As Arya walked towards the tree, Lorenzo's jaw hardened as his fists clenched in his pocket. It was just Jayden, Arya and Himself today. The rest had gone out to party.

Jayden was observing Lorenzo's expression. " See bro, how happy and carefree she looks lost in her own world. Are you sure about what you are about to do? Can you live with yourself after everything is done? By the end of the day, it's your call. You can stop everything just by saying no.

Its true that the boys will make fun of you but it would not be permanent. What we are about to do to this innocent girl, however, will leave permanent damages on her. Are you sure you want to do this to someone you possibly love?"

Lorenzo closed his eyes as each word hit his heart hard. What Jayden said was in deed true. Unlike the rest of his friends, Jayden knew him the best. He had no need to hide anything when they were alone. Jayden was a kin to a brother for Lorenzo. " I cant bring myself to stop the plan. A part of me feels guilty but I guess I can live with that."

Jayden shook his head and left after parting his friend's shoulder. ' I hope you will not regret this decision for the rest of your life, he thought as he walked away from the field. Jasmine completed her drawing and sent it to an anonymous number. She then removed another drawing pad and started doodling on it.

This was what Arya saw when she got there. " Wow! You are so bad at doodling." She spoke out loud unable to hide the disappointment she felt. Arya had thought that the girl was at least good at something but the doodles she drew looked worse that those drawn by kids.

Jasmine's laughter filled the air making a certain someone's heart skip a beat. " yes, am not so good at it but I like playing with a drawing pad and a pencil." She spoke in a calm voice. Well, I am actually very good at anything artistic but no one has to know that part of me yet, she thought silently.

Arya immediately covered her displeasure as she masked her emotions. With a blinding smile, she held out her hand to the girl and introduced herself. " Hi, I am Arya. I am sorry for my rude comments. You see, I love arts and seeing your doodles kind of ticked me off." She tried to justify her mean words .

Jasmine smiled sweetly as she shrugged off the comment. She then shook the girl's outstretched hand and introduced herself. " Hi. I am jasmine. A freshman student of Hotel and Tourism management. " Arya scrutinized Jasmine's looks and scoffed internally.

With such a poor sense of fashion and ugly looks, you probably should be doing something along the line of garbage collection and gardening. You will fit right through them. " That's cool. " was what she said burying her thoughts in her head.

There was an awkward silence for a few minutes until jasmine cleared her throat. " Can I help you with something? " Having minimal to almost no interactions with people of her age for almost all her life, she didn't have any idea about handling people.

Where she came from before moving to her new single room apartment, there were younger kids . She would play and interact with them without any problem as they were the purest form of existence. This had made her a trusting and naïve person not having the experience to know the cruelty of the actual world.

Her world had comprised of little kids and poor neighbors who helped each other through thick and thin. They would share their meals, their Joy's and their sorrows. Where she came from, people embraced honesty and lived in harmony as one big family. Having encountered people from completely different world from her own, she had no idea how to act with them.

Arya smirked. Finally the question I have been waiting for. The fish took the bait after all. " I was just feeling kind of bored and heartbroken. You see, my girlfriends went to an event out of town and wont be back for a week. I just had an argument with my boyfriend and needed someone to comfort me. As I was walking around, I saw you sitting alone and thought , why not join you rather than staying alone?"

Jasmine's face distorted showing discomfort. " I am sorry to hear about that. The thing is, I am not good at comforting people since I have never had friends my age." She finished feeling almost ashamed for her misgivings.

Arya's internal smirk increased. " Can I be your first friend then? I think getting to know you and vice versa will take my mind of things." Delight was evident in the innocent girl's face as she nodded enthusiastically.

I am finally making a friend. Thought jasmine beaming with joy. This was reflected in her eyes and on her face.

She was one of those people whose faces was like an open book. They could not hide their emotions no matter how hard they tried. Thus began the friendship of two girls who were polar opposite. Jasmine was from a poor background while Arya was born with a silver spoon in her mouth.

Despite their differences, Jasmine genuinely treasured her new friend and shared her Joy's and sorrows with her the way she did at the orphanage. Arya on the other hand sifted the information she shared with Jasmine. Within a week the girls were inseparable.

Jasmine would bake fresh homemade cookies every day and bring it to school for Arya. On the other hand, Arya would buy new articles of clothing for jasmine or so jasmine thought. In reality, she would give her old clothes to Jasmine. Clothes that she had worn ones or twice. Jasmine took them feeling sincerely grateful not knowing that she was being mocked behind her back.

Days went by quickly until a month ended. By this time, Arya invited Jasmine to celebrate their one month friendship anniversary. The first chess piece was in place and it was finally time to introduce the other pieces. The initially blank board was now being targeted to be filled with pawns until the king and Queen finally conquered the game.

Jasmine cooked and baked as the two girls laid around in her apartment. This past month, she felt contented and happy. She finally managed to have a friend who was her age mate. Arya ate the food and thanked jasmine after she was done. As they laid side by side, she asked, " Do you know my other friends? They would like to meet you."

Jasmine sat up immediately unsure of how to feel about that question. Of course she knew Arya's other friends including the hottie she had a crush on. What she didn't know however was how accommodating they were.

" will your friends accept me ? I mean, they are all from a wealthy back ground while am just a nameless orphan ."

Of course they wont. It's a game we are playing was what Arya wanted to say. Even so, she sat up too and smiled at jasmine." Of course, they will accept you. You are my friend after all. Come on. Don't be shy. I promise to protect you. Can I call them to come over? "she asked pouting.

Jasmine nodded unsure . I have to be brave for my friend, she thought.