Echoes of the Past: Seeking Comfort in Friendship

As I drive into the parking lot, I am a bit nervous because today is my first day because I didn't attend any classes yesterday. I was really shocked to see Cedric. I just ran away like a coward. I park my car in the same place where I had parked yesterday and grab my bag from the back seat and take a deep breathe and step out.

I climb the stairs and enter the class. The class is quite empty and I check the time. It's just fifty minutes past 7. I feel quite restless and I just regret not attending my classes the previous day.

I decide to call mom. I come out of the class and stand in the corridor. It is quite deserted and I'm glad because I don't want anyone to overhear while I call mom. I dial her number and wait patiently. She doesn't pickup the call, so I decide to call Amber instead.

I still remember my first meeting with Amber. She was quite shy because she had just moved from day shift to morning and she had no one to talk to. I made the first move and decided to befriend her. I shared my idea with Claire and she agreed.

So, that day the two of us sat with Amber. With time we became best of friends and I still don't know how our two years in high school passed so quickly. I smile at myself recalling those moments which I cherish the most as I dial Amber's number.

She picks up the call in the third ring.

"Who is it?" she asks quite sleepily from the other side.

I have a second thought that I shouldn't have called her but I need someone to talk to because I might have a nervous breakdown anytime soon.

"Wake up sleepy head" I answer back half laughing.

"Charlotte!" she replies literally screaming and I feel as if her scream will make me deaf someday.

"Yes," I reply back.

"Long time no see" she continues screaming.

"Will you stop screaming because if you don't stop then my ears will start bleeding," I tell her half laughing.

"Okay fine" she replies and I know that she is smiling and rolling her eyes. "Where are you and why did you call me so early? Is everything okay?" she continues.

"Oh! I'm all good" I tell her. "I just wanted to talk to someone because I think I am about to have a nervous breakdown soon," I continue.

"Why, what happened?" she asks with a worried voice.

"I met Cedric," I tell her.

"Where?" she asks quite startled.

"Here at FPU" I reply.

"Did he try talking to you?" she continues with a worried voice.

"No" I reply. "We just had an eye contact" I continue.

"Oh!", she says and takes a deep breathe. "What happened next?" she asks again.

"I just broke the contact and went inside the class" I say. "I just sat down but when he entered the class and passed by, I felt suffocated and I just stood up, grabbed my bag and left" I continue.

"You what?" she asks again.

"I just left" I repeat.

"We need to talk because I don't want you to worry about anything and we will discuss about it soon, okay", she says.

"Okay, you just call Claire and tell her" I reply.

"Fine, I'll do that" she says. "We will meet you tomorrow at my place and for today just ignore him" she continues.

"Okay, I can do that" I tell her.

"You have a day off tomorrow right?" she asks.

"Yes. I'll be at your place at around 10 and don't forget to inform Claire" I tell her.

"Okay then see you tomorrow and just relax" she says. "And just ignore him" she says quite sternly this time.

"Okay byeee"

"Byee and take care" she says and hangs up.