Friends.

Friends come and go, they're like the season. They never really last, no matter their promises. Some of them become total strangers, that when they see you on the road, they pass like they had never met you in their entire life; while some still try to wave or at least say hi. But, there are very few - hardly any, who aren't like the season and actually stay. They're the ones who pull through with you, try to understand you, try to help, and a lot more.

Jon was that friend who actually stayed, for me. I hardly felt the urge of needing new friends. He was mostly there for me, and never let me feel different or left out. But, he felt I needed more friends and kept urging me to go out. My answers were usually "No". But, I one day reconsidered and decided to follow him. He was happy because, he thought he finally convinced me, not knowing I was tired of hating myself and wanted to give the world a chance. It was a gathering of his friends, who also came with their friends. Jon didn't want to leave me and kept hanging around me, even when I had reassured him that I was okay and could survive on my own. It took me several words, reassurance, and cajoling to finally get him off my back. I stayed in a corner of the room that was being used, hoping no one was going to come talk to me. But, people really don't know how to read a situation. "Hi," a dark, slim, and pretty girl said to me, not long after Jon left. Not wanting to be rude, I replied her and we got chatty. She was a really nice girl and didn't drop gross or mean comments about me to me. But, it wasn't too long before she revealed she wanted Jon's number. I smiled at her, but couldn't stop beating myself over the fact that I believed I could make new friends and be social. All people ever wanted from me, is to use me. Unfortunately for me, she wasn't the only one who came for his number, some other girls came for it. I didn't mind being his DUFF (Designated Ugly Fat Friend) so, I gave every single one of them.

"Simpletons," a grumpy voice came from my right, making me turn hastily. It was another slim and dark beauty. I instantly presumed she also wanted Jon's number, so I started saying it for her, hoping she was going to start typing. But, she kept on looking at me strange, like I was silly or something. The look made me stop my recitation as she said, "Who gives a damn about some person I don't know number?" And for the first time in years, I met someone who simply wasn't like 'the rest'.

I tried to show her Jon but, she still didn't care. Funny enough, we both began to talk. She was the kind of girl who looked tough, talked toughly, but was very sweet and soft on the inside. For many seconds, I thought she was simply pulling strings and was still going to use me. But, she didn't for once, use me or even tried to use me. She simply interacted with me and flowed with me. We had a lot in common and yet a lot of differences. We chatted animatedly for hours, that I didn't know when it became time for Jon and me to leave. I was glad I met her, but also didn't know how to tell her in words. We simply said our goodbyes, without exchanging number.

I didn't stress about her number because I knew, happiness for me was a onetime thing.