I have lots of friends.

Paul, Owen, and Sophie have been my closest friends. But after doing so much--plays, homecoming, etc--I made lots of other friends.

Adriana, another homecoming worker, was always a close friend. I became friends with her mainly in eighth grade, and we grew closer as we worked on homecoming.

Adriana, though she wasn't my closest friend, was always there for me. I didn't realize this.

But she's a great friend.

~

Monday.

Waking up.

School.

Work.

Horrible words regardless of what happened at homecoming.

I couldn't bring myself to get out of bed immediately. Groaning, I looked at my phone. There was a text from Sophie. It'll be fine! I scoffed at that.

I could barely eat food, and I was shaking from anxiety. I could lose one of my best friends. Or I could gain a boyfriend.

And I wasn't sure which scared me more.

I met Sophie at the front of the school, just like always. Anxiously, we waited to see if Paul and Owen would meet us. They didn't. Sophie and I were almost late.

Paul avoided my eyes in the first period. I tried to go to him, but he refused to be near me.

This continued in the halls and other periods.

In Spanish, which I had right before lunch with Owen, I confronted my friend. "Alright," I said, "what's going on?"

Owen frowned. "I'm sorry."

"C'mon, Owen," I persisted.

He sighed. "Paul's sorry. He said he's scared."

"I am too, Owen. Please tell him to talk to me."

Owen shook his head. "He's sorry. I'm sorry." He walked away.

At lunch, the table was lonely. Two open seats meant for Owen and Paul.

Adriana looked at Sophie and me. She walked over, leaning over the table. "Hey," she greeted, "you guys want to get out of here?"

I looked at Sophie. She shrugged. I looked at Owen and Paul. They were sitting with a group of guys, laughing and smiling. I turned back to Adriana. "Sure," I responded.

Adriana brought us out to her car--her parent's minivan--and drove us to Chipotle. The ride was mostly silent, but that was fine. We got food and got back in the car.

Driving back, Adriana finally spoke. "What's going on?" She asked.

"What do you mean?" I asked, confused.

Adriana sighed. "Paul and Owen. I'm assuming Paul, he usually screws things up."

I frowned. "Yeah."

"So? What's the story?"

"Homecoming. Paul kissed me--"

"About time," she muttered.

"--and now he's ignoring me."

"Oh. That idiot."

I nodded. The smell of Chipotle drifted through the car.

"You gotta talk to him," Adriana continued.

I looked at her. "Huh?"

Sophie nodded. "She's right."

Adriana smiled. "I know. But, you have to talk to him. Tell him he's being a cowardly idiot, and that he should man-up and kiss you again!"

My eyes widened. "What?"

Sophie nodded. "You two are perfect, Natalie."

I shook my head. We pulled into the school parking lot. "You're crazy," I retorted.

Adriana rolled her eyes. "Of course I'm crazy. But just talk to him after school. I need two smart friends to cheat off of."

"Yeah," added Sophie. "I miss hanging out with Owen and Paul."

"I do, too," I argued. "But that doesn't mean I should talk to Paul."

Adriana rolled her eyes. "Bro. C'mon. You guys should be holding hands and kissing each other or something! Paul took the first step on homecoming. Now you take the next step."

I remained silent.

"Fine," Adriana groaned. "You don't have to kiss or hold hands or anything. But at least stop fighting. Be friends again."

I shrugged. "I guess."

"Great," cheered Sophie. "Talk to him today, after school."

"Sure," I agreed. I turned to Adriana. "I really hope this works."

"It will," she assured me.

I rolled my eyes and smiled. "Thank you, Adriana. You're a great friend. I needed this."

Adriana shrugged. "I know," she replied confidently.

I shook my head and pulled her into a hug. Sophie joined me.

We pulled away, and Adriana insisted that we eat our Chipotle. Sophie and I agreed without a fight.

That lunch, as much as it pained me to not sit with Paul and Owen, was fun. I had forgotten how good of a friend Adriana was. She was there for me when she needed to be the most. I was thankful for that.

I just wished Paul would be there when I needed him to be.