Photo credit: Foter.com
This is the second part in a series, so if you have not already done so, you might want to read Part I before continuing.
“So how come we haven’t seen Jen or Marissa around lately? I haven’t even heard you talk about them.”
“I don’t know, mom,” said Alex. “I haven’t heard from them all summer, and when I asked Jen about hanging out, she totally blew me off.”
“I’m sorry honey. I thought they seemed like really good friends.”
“So did I, but then they just stopped hanging out with me without a word of explanation.” Jen moped into her overpriced latte.
“Maybe they’re just busy.”
“I’ve seen the photos they post. They look like they’re still having plenty of fun with Sean and Analise and Tony – more people I never see any more, and who didn’t seem thrilled to see me the last time we were all together.”
This time it was her mom who pouted. “I’m sorry, hon. Maybe they’re just going through a really tough time right now.”
“Yeah. Their mental health wasn’t always the best. Is that why I never seem to be able to hang onto friends? I do seem to attract the more flighty, less mentally-stable ones.”
“Yeah, you and your brother have that in common.”
“That’s true. But somehow he always manages to hold onto his friends. Ugh. I wish I were a dude. They’re so much easier to be friends with than girls.”
“Not necessarily. Remember Andy?”
“Oh, that’s right. I totally forgot about him.”
“We still haven’t heard from him since he and your brother went to different colleges and Andy apparently fell off the face of the earth.”
“So it’s not just that there’s something freakishly wrong with me?”
“Well, no more freakish than the rest of us.”
Alex smirked. Then she perked up. “But I do have plans to have coffee with Lucy later this week.”
“That’s good. Any reason in particular?”
“To talk about music. I haven’t had someone to talk about that with since I stopped talking to Freddy.” Alex deflated again at the mention of another of her failed friendships.
“Yeah, but you were the one who made the decision to break off that relationship, right?”
“That’s true. But at least when I decide to stop hanging out with someone, I send them a page-long email detailing exactly why I’m upset. That way they can’t claim to be confused about what went wrong.”
“Well, not everyone is as mature as you are.”
Alex snorted. “I never thought I’d hear you say that.”
“What? You are very mature.”
“Did you ever think someday you’d be saying this to me back when you were yelling at me to stop picking on my siblings?”
“There were times when it seemed doubtful.”
“Thanks, mom.”
“What? You asked.”
“You didn’t have to answer quite so readily. Or with such brutal honesty.”
“Oh, come on, you know I love you no matter what.”
“I know. And that’s worth more than any stupid fake friend who ghosts on me.”
The end.
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