In the Heat of the Moment

She invited me. Me. Out of the eight hundred something students at Lakewood High, Emerson Beckett, the school's most popular girl, asked me to be her plus one at a concert. I was beyond shocked. We've only ever talked a handful of times since we got into high school. Although we were inseparable since elementary school, something happened after middle school, and we just grew apart. So, you can imagine my confusion and surprise when she posted her concert tickets on her Instagram.

"gonna see Golden Web 4 my bday!!! Got 2 tickets, but don't hold ur breaths. I'm taking @Violets&Roses. I'll be waiting for u Violet. Keep an eye out 4 me! 😉"

~DURING LUNCH~

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure Jonah has a crush on you. You should talk to him!"

Me and my tiny friend group were all gathered at our table eating lunch, chatting about boys and pointless crap. I was kind of zoning out when I heard my name. "Violet! Is that you?" I turned around and looked up. …Who is this girl? How does she know my name?? She's really pretty though... Her light skin looks so soft, and it matches her wavy chestnut hair. It really brings out the little gold flecks in her hazel eyes... The stranger pulled me into a hug, succeeding in also pulling me out of my thoughts.

"Uhhh... Who are you again??" I said awkwardly as she pulled away. The girl wilted, pouting. It was kinda cute. But it also made me feel a bad because it really seemed like I should know who she is.

"You forgot about me? But we were so close as kids... It's okay. We've changed a lot over the years. I barely recognized you! It's me, Emerson Beckett! But around here, I get called E.B."

My jaw dropped for two reasons. One, I couldn't believe how much Emerson had grown over the years. Especially in the chest... She really grew there.... And two, E.B. was the school's most popular girl. I'd never actually seen her or knew her real name, and now I'm finding out it was my childhood best friend the whole time!

"E-Emmy...?" I looked at her closely. Now that I think about it, she does have those little freckles speckled across her cheeks that I would always tease her about... And she still stands like she's in charge, like she always did.

She grinned and wrapped her arms around my neck. "Vivi!" She grinned and pressed her cheek against mine. She squeezed my hands and giggled. "Did you see my Insta post?" I nodded, still a little unsure about the whole thing. After all this time apart, why was she acting like we've been besties this whole time? "Uh, yeah... About that..."

Emerson tilted her head the way a puppy would. "You're coming, right?" I felt my heart skip a beat and I fought the urge to pat her head. "Um, well, I'm not sure... I'll have to check." She smiled and wrapped her arms around my neck, once again depriving me of my oxygen. 

"I hope to see you there. Remember, it's this weekend!" she blew me a kiss and trotted off towards her friend group. I sighed and turned back to my table. "I didn't know you were so close with E.B. How aren't you more popular?" Lara, my science partner said as she sipped her milk. "I also didn't know she was so... friendly."

I sat down, still processing what had happened. "Me either. I haven't even talked to her since 7th grade..." Lara nibbled on a carrot in thought. "So why would she act like that all of the sudden?"

I scoffed. "That's what I'd like to know." I nibbled on my long black hair, a habit that had caused many split ends. Lara took my hair from my mouth gently and began to tie it up into a ponytail. "Vi, what did we say about eating your hair?" she asked in her mom voice. I sighed. "Not to..."

"And why?" She looked at me expectantly. "Because it ruins my hair and my stomach..." Lara nodded. "That's right. Now be a good girl and stop chewing your hair." I rolled my eyes. "Yes, mom." I sighed.

Lara and I met at the beginning of the year. On the first day, I was nervously chewing on my hair while I stared at myself in the school bathroom mirror. She had walked in and eyed me. Finally, she came up behind me and pulled my hair away from me gently and began to tie it up with a hairband she had on her wrist.

I was so out of it that I just let her do it. "You know, you shouldn't chew your hair. Not only is it bad for your hair, it's bad for your stomach if you ingest it." she had said in the most gentle of tones. I remember being a bit surprised because she did not look at all like the type to speak like that.

She was tall and lean with milky skin and dyed purple hair. Her eyes were olive and she dressed in all black. She managed to calm me down and we returned to our classroom where she stayed firmly beside me the rest of class.

We've gotten rather close since then and we've even been to each other's houses. Lara doesn't have many friends because her attitude is deceptively bitchy, but she's actually really sweet.

It was Thursday, so after school Lara walked home with me. Every Thursday, Lara would stay over at my house for dinner, and on Tuesdays, I'd go over to her place. I sighed as I set my bag down on my bed. Lara quietly sat cross-legged on my egg chair and watched me plop face first into my pillow. I was always tired after school, but somehow, today I was feeling especially drained. We sat in silence for a while before Lara broke the silence.

"So, are you going to go?" I sat up and looked at her. "Go where?" She tilted her head. "To the concert. With E.B.—I mean, with Emerson?" I sighed. That had been floating around in the back of my head all day. I had been sort of avoiding thinking about it because I wasn't really sure what to think about it. I picked at my nails. "I dunno... Haven't really thought about it." Lara sighed. "Avoiding situations as usual?" I stared down at my lap because… she was right. Whenever I was faced with difficult situations, I always avoided it. Lara came over and put her hand on the top of my head. "Hey, listen. If I were you, I'd go." I looked up at her. "What? Why? I haven't even talked to her since--" She covered my mouth with her hand. "I know, I know. You haven't talked since 7th grade, but this is your chance to reconnect with her. This invitation is obviously her way of saying she wants to reconnect."

I sighed through her hand. But why all of the sudden? And with something like this? I pulled Lara's hand off my mouth. "Are you sure?" Lara looked into my eyes seriously. "Violet, when have I ever been wrong?" Finally, I nodded. "Fine. I'll go. But only because you made me." Lara nodded. "I knew you'd end up going anyway, I was just speeding up the process." I smacked her playfully. "Hey, am I really that predictable?" She raised her eyebrow at me. "Do you really want to know the answer to that question?" I pouted.

After a while, we got started on homework together. Somehow, I work better when Lara's around. I stared at my science worksheet and nibbled on the end of my pencil. "Hey Lara. In nature, do you think animals have a romantic relationship bond like humans do? Or is it purely mate and move on?"

Lara was quiet for a moment before I heard her put her pencil down. "I think it varies for different animals. But I'm not totally sure. Why? We're not even doing biology, we're doing chemistry." I shrugged and turned to her. "I dunno. Just a random thought." I twirled my pencil between my fingers as I watched Lara take a sip from her water bottle. "Hey... Have you ever liked someone romantically?" Lara's eyes widened and she choked on her water, coughing and gasping. She looked at me. "What?" she managed to choke out.

"Well, I guess 'romantically' is too broad... Oh. I know. Have you ever had a crush?" I leaned forward in my chair eagerly. I was curious as to what her answer would be. Lara had never talked about her love life with me. I wasn't even completely sure she had a love life. Lara coughed again and looked around nervously. How uncharacteristic... Lara never showed emotions... "A crush?" She looked down at her lap and fiddled with the holes in her jeans. A grin began to form on my face. Lara was a terrible liar, and she knew it. She was cornered. "You have, haven't you." I said mockingly, rolling my chair over to where she sat. Lara hid farther under her bangs, and I saw the redness in her face.

I laughed and wrapped my arms around her neck. "Who is it? Who is it? As your best friend, you are obligated to tell me." I hugged her tightly. "Violet... I can't tell you if I die of asphyxiation..." she mumbled. "Huh?" "I can't breathe..." "Oh." I let go of her neck and sat in front of her like a kid for story time. "Tell me. Who's the cutie?" Lara sighed and pushed her hair back. The same silky purple hair I've insisted on braiding so many times. "It's no one..." she murmured, staring at her lap. I tilted her chin up, and she looked at me with eyes so pure and earnest that I felt I would be swallowed up by them. Her expression quickly faltered, and she tore her eyes away from mine. I noticed a hint of red on her cheeks that I didn't think too much of. "Violet..." Lara whispered softly. I was drawn into this new demeanor of hers. She was soft and vulnerable like this, like a baby bird. She was usually so closed off and emotionless, I couldn't help but marvel at her now.

Lara's eyes found mine again and they lingered there. I felt like I was swimming in them, they were putting me in a trance. "Lara, your eyes are so pretty..." I murmured absent mindedly and her eyes widened, those pools expanding. "Violet, I--" She looked at me so desperately as if her next words were the most important words in the world. But then it was gone, and she looked away, returning to her normal self and she pulled away. "I should go." She slid off my bed and gathered her things.

I turned to her. "What? But we haven't had dinner yet." Lara didn't look at me as she picked up her bag. "I need to do something at home. Sorry." I stood up. "I'll come with you." "No. It's fine." I frowned. "Lara, did I do something? I didn't mean to offend you or anything." Lara finally looked at me. "No, Violet. You didn't do anything. Just, promise me that you'll go to the concert with Emerson." I nodded hesitantly as I watched her silently slide out of my room.