*Quote Two: Never stand there when a friend is getting bullied.*

The next day, I didn’t hear anything from Keri. It was like she went MIA on me. I hope she isn’t mad at me about the situation. I didn’t actually do anything wrong. All I did was stay quiet. I didn’t want to get in the middle of it but I can’t get the fact that I agreed to Keri being a third-wheel to me and Claire. Was she a third wheel? In the past, I would mostly spend my time with Claire at my birthday parties. I would try to spend time with Keri but that would be hard because Claire would always have her arm around me, steering me one place to the next and Keri would just follow. Would that make her a third wheel? I decide to try messaging her on CloseBook to see if she would respond.

Taylor:Are you mad at me?

It took her a long time to message me back. Hours passes by and I keep checking my CloseBook to see if she messaged me back. My dad told me not to dwell on it but I needed someone to walk in the school with. It would be awkward by myself. I would go with Claire but she rides the bus. I check one more time at midnight, refreshing my page. But she didn’t text back. It says that she read it but she didn’t reply. I guess she’s still ignoring me.

I wake up the next morning and I quickly dash to my computer to check my messages.

Yes! She replied! I take in a deep breath and prepare for the worst.

Keri: Idk, You answer that question.

Ugh, she always gets like this when she’s mad.

I type back.

Taylor: Idk… Are you?

Two minutes later.

Keri: Yes.

I knew it. Of course she’s mad, why wouldn’t she be? Claire was so rude to her that night. But that would mean she’s mad at Claire. Why would she be mad at me?

Taylor: Can you elaborate on why?

Keri: Because you sat there while Claire was shooting bullets at me. A real best friend would have stuck up for me; told her to stop, told her you can’t say that to my best friend. You said nothing. That’s shows how much of a best friend you are.

My mouth drops open in shock. What could I have possibly said to make Claire stop or make the situation better? And I did tell her to stop, I even tried changing the topic!

Taylor: But… after you left, I told he she was harsh on you.

Keri: Harsh?

I stare at the screen at her message. I was speechless. Probably because I think I understood where she was coming from. Then I started to get a little aggravated.

Taylor: What are you getting at?

A second later…

Keri: I’m getting at that you always treated me like a third wheel and you are with no doubt Claire’s follower. When I want to hang out with you, you always have something to do with Claire. Like, you never want to hang out with me anymore. You’re not who you used to be.

So she sees what I see… But I am most definitely not Claire’s follower! I always hang out with Keri! Well at least I try to. Isn’t there an old saying, ‘it’s the thought that counts’? It’s just that, Claire would ask me to hand out before Keri does and that’s not my fault! I would like to think I’m the same old Taylor. I was fed up.

Taylor: Well, if that how you feel… fine.

Keri: Fine.

Then the blue dot next to her name vanished.

I sigh, leaning back in my black chair. No… this can’t be my fault. But if it’s not my fault, then is it Claire’s fault?

*          *          *          *          *

I ride my bike over to Claire’s house. I think we need to have a discussion. I walk up her driveway and walk in-between two cars, which I think were Lexus.

I ring her doorbell and I hear loud footsteps coming down the stairs.

“Who is it?” Claire asks through the door.

“It’s me.” I tell her.

She then opens the door, lets me in and shouts,

“You’re home!”

“Hello honey! How’ve you been? Claire’s mom asks me.

Claire’s mom had ombré colored hair unlike Claire. Claire’s has blonde hair and she’s always had it but every time I’d ask her if she dyes it, she’d yell at me.

“I’m good.” I smile as politely as I could.

I guess Claire must have noticed something was wrong because…

“What’s wrong?”

“I think me and Keri broke up.” I say sighing as I walk up her marble stairs.

As I’m walking up her stairs, I didn’t hear anymore footsteps behind me so I turn around to see Claire standing on the fifth step, looking at me as if I had just eaten a frog.

“I’m talking about our friendship.” I say clarifying.

“Oh!” She says happily and continues to walk up the stairs. I give her an irritated look. Then her face changes from happy to caring. ”Why do you think y’all broke up?”

I groan and sit on the edge of her bed. This is it. This is me finally standing up to Claire. I couldn’t back down now because she had to know what she has done. “Because of you,” I say hastily. “Everything you said to her hurt her feelings and I didn’t stick up for her.”

“When you put it that way… it actually sounds like your fault.” Claire says laughing.

I jerk my head back and scoff at her. How could she think this was my fault? I didn’t do anything wrong!

“No, it’s your fault!” I snap at her.

“She’s needs to be mature, stop being sensitive, and grow a backbone. Don’t act like it’s my fault when it’s yours!”

“It is your fault!” I yell again.

Claire’s little brother, Max peeks in her room.

“Claire, can we play?” he asks innocently. I smile at him and he looks at Claire with a hopeful look.

“Get out!” She shrieks.

Then he quickly shuts the door. I felt bad for him. He just wanted to play but then I remembered the situation I was in.

“It’s your mistake that you stood there!” she yells.

“… She and I were best friends. Then you came along and took her place, I guess. I thought we would be a group. I guess one always grows closer to the other. Then, she said I was your follower…” I tell her.

“But you said I was your number one best friend!” Claire shouts, putting her hands on her hips.

“I said that when Keri and I were in a fight last year.”

“So, what I’m getting from this is that I’m second to HER.”

“I didn’t say that.”

“Why are you guys teaming up against me? You were supposed to be my best friend!” She screams, walking back and forth in a line in her room.

“I didn’t do anything wrong! I was just being Claire!” She continues.

But no, I wasn’t taking her pity. Not this time.

“And being Claire hurt Keri’s feelings! Please… leave me alone.” I say, walking out her room.

“Taylor!” She cries.

But I didn’t listen.

*       *         *         *      *

When I finally got home, I run up to my room, ignoring my dads’ concerned look and I lock the door and cry. I lost my two best friends all in one day! How is that even possible?

I don’t even have the strength to pick out my clothes for tomorrow.

Now who am I going to sit with a lunch? Or walk in the hallways with? We always walk together in the hallways to each of our classes. Maybe this is just a small fight. We’ll all be friends again by tomorrow. That’s what always happens. This fight can’t be any different from all our other fights. I wish I had other friends beside Claire and Keri. Others that I could fall back on.