Name Here

met her on an average day, a Sunday morning back when I was eight. I was the new kid, and she had some experience. it was only a few weeks into my karate days. Mouth guard in, hair loose over my shoulders with one stray ginger ringlet dangling in my line of sight, we took a bow before immediately leaping back into matching defensive stances. Both hands positioned before my face in clenched fists, right leg planted firmly behind me, we began to face-off, circling round and round before she threw the first jab at my stomach. Despite being hindered by firm black padding, I somehow managed to block it with ease, a skill I’ve long since become incapable of doing nearly as quickly. Swinging my leg around to that awkward little area behind her knee that no one knows the name of, I kicked the leg out from under her, watching cockily as she plummeted backwards. The loud thump that came with her back hitting the ground was glorious. Dropping down, I pinned her beneath me, both freckled palms drilling slender, pale shoulders into the ground. We stared spitefully into one another’s eyes before finally...a laugh. A shrill, girly giggle erupted from her lips, shooting my eyebrows upwards quizzically.

“Why are you laughing?” I couldn’t help but be almost offended.

“You look like a lion!” She continued to giggle mercilessly

and eventually, I joined in. Two lonely people met by chance that day as one another’s saviors.

Sydney.

Two years had gone by since we met. We shared almost everything, even similar appearances, thought she was slimmer, had less freckles, and blonder hair (mine was tainted red). On our hands and knees, we arched our backs, mocking furious cats, and lunged forward, smacking together at a randomized mid point in the air before landing with matching grunts. Then we were back at it, hissing and pulling hair.

“Oakstar!” How could you betray me like this!?.” She gasped in mock emotional pain. I released a dark chuckle, doing the best impersonation of a guy I could.

“I’ve never liked you, Hollystar. It was only a matter of time.” With that, I proceeded to dig my imaginary claws into her neck.

“Bella! You can’t just do that, I was planning on getting sick and dying! You can’t just kill her off!” I rolled my eyes as she broke character.

“She’s the clan leader, remember? She has nine lives, just say that was her second to last one” I shrugged, sitting back on my knees and brushing wild strands of hair from my

eyes. Her mouth formed an ‘O’ shape before snapping back into character and pretending to be temporarily dead. We were awfully addicted to the Warrior Cats book series. So in to it, in fact we spend a good year of our lives rolling and crawling about on all fours on the floor of my rental house trying to imitate the cats in said books. Those were the best days of our lives.

Sydney.

“Oh you little nugget.” I gasped, throwing my upper body at my best friend who was laughing maniacally. A white Wii remote clutched in my 12 year old hands matching her 13 year old ones, we had been playing Mario Kart to pass the time until midnight when the ball would drop, signaling the new year. Being the only ones home, man did we feel cool plastered from head to toe in the phrase ‘Happy New Year’, sipping regally from wine glasses filled to the brim with sparkling grape soda, feasting on an endless supply of junk food. We spent every New Year’s Eve like this. Together. I knew now what was going on. How she was bullied because of who she was. Because of her life, but that just renewed my drive

to remain by her side. To be the best friend I could be.

Sydney.

“I’m sorry.” The words spilled from my trembling lips as I hugged him close. He didn’t hug back. Maybe it was because of the pillows and drink cooler taking up both of his hands, maybe he was mad. “I’m fine.” Liar.

Pulling away, I watched with misty eyes as his mother pulled her upper body from the car and smiled back at us. Noreen was a pleasant woman, dirty blonde hair that had grayed with age and stress. Her ice blue eyes held this sort of warmth that one didn’t normally see in many people’s eyes. They were so sincere and welcoming. “You girls-” She caught it, but it was \~ too late. The push became an underanticipated shove and he whipped around, walking in the direction of the park show. Casting a sympathetic glance at the hurt woman, I helped her grab the rest of the items from the back seat of the car and we trailed not far behind him. Setting her gaze on me, the woman seemed to take in my appearance. Curly blonde-brown-ginger hair, pale freckled skin, medium blue eyes. “You’re a good

friend.” She finally said, in a hushed tone. What do you say to that? My hesitation was long before I responded with a shaky tone, though I tried to cover it up with a casual shrug. “He needs one.” The smile that lit her features was wondrous. “I love you.” “I love you guys too.” We finally caught up to him at the seating area. His mother sat far away from us, meanwhile we snapped a blanket place in the middle of the crowd. Things were all laid out on the blanket like a picnic, but neither of us ate, instead we chatted about dragons and video games until the show started. Oz is what we were watching and all of us got in for free because his other mother, Karla, directed it. Half way through, the sky was completely dark now and the only light source was the stage, he leaned over to me smugly, looking at me. had he always been that tall? Wide blue eyes stared into my own as pink lips stretched into an amused smirk. “You look like The Lion.” He commented, pointing towards the frizzy haired woman prancing about in a sunny orange onesie. I allowed a single strained laugh to erupt from my mouth before shaking my head, I looked back over to the stage. “Don’t I always…” He was the same. The same person. The same heart. The same face. Shorter hair, but it was the same. I still knew the good hearted laugh that followed mine, only more delayed. It was lower now. Had his voice gotten lower? I really didn’t know anymore, but I did still know him.

Marcel. My Sydney. But Marcel.

Artwork by Karli Jahnigen

Artwork by Dylan D

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