It was a beautiful and peaceful August day, and it wasn't unbearably humid for the first time in for-freaking-ever. I was lazily reclining in our hammock with a brand new book, swaying gently with the light breezes that danced to and fro within the confines of my backyard. I was completely at ease. There was another brief moment of this calm, then the clicking of heels on the wooden floor sounded throughout my house echoing into the safe haven I call my backyard. Knowing instantly who those high heels belonged to I quickly flopped onto my back, placed the book across my face, and placed one arm on the area near my head in the netting, while the other lightly dangled off the side of the hammock.

"Emily, I know you're faking, come over here now." The monster summoned. I could only imagine the way in which her long red nails dared my body to move. I wouldn't give in, I thought to myself. She most have lost the heels at some point since I couldn't hear as stormed over to my tranquil and still body. Sydney stopped mere inches from my body then flipped the hammock over and I landed haphazardly on the grass with an inaudible "oof".

"Listen up kid," She was towering over my still frame, which was still clinging to the plush green grass. Sydney snapped, "Get your things together, you're gonna be going to a new school. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. Thats all there is to it. You've got one month to pack up your shit for the 'W Academy', all the papers you'll need are on the counter. Any further questions can be answered within them. I have a date in two hours so don't bother me." I pushed up from the ground, animosity gleaming in my emerald orbs. Storming past that demon of a mother, I grabbed the papers from the counter inside and sprinted to my room. Right as I slammed my door, the tears began rolling down my cheeks. Its sad to say that one of my few talents is silent crying. I couldn't let her think that she'd won. I couldn't let her think she'd broke me. I vaulted onto my bed, and cried until there was nothing but that empty pit left. Shudders and silent sobs rocked me to sleep.

To say that I was an emotional basket-case would be an understatement. It takes a lot to fluster me in such a way, but to go as far as springing the, "Oh by the way, I'm sending you to a new school starting in a month," is just cruel. Its ridiculously unfair. Fine, just smash my hopes and dreams why don't you. Its been two weeks since my mother announced my sudden change in schools. There was only one thing that didn't make sense. If i had to change schools it meant that we're moving right? Wrong. As it so happens, due to my slightly above average grades and unique background I was accepted to some prestigious academy that'd I'd never even heard of. Infinite questions flooded my mind, the "W Academy" where was it? What's it like? Who goes there? Will I know anyone? Will they judge me when they get to know me? According to my mom its the creme de la creme, of boarding schools. If trying to figure out how I'd adapt to a new environment wasn't bad enough, then the world as I knew it was about to shatter.

Since that time I've tried to prepare myself mentally and emotionally for what would probably be the hardest thing I've ever done so far in my fifteen years of life, to tell my best friend that I'm leaving. How does one go about doing that? I've known Elizabeth since I was three when I accidentally took her favorite doll in daycare. We've been through so much together that its hard to imagine my life without her. She's kept me from throwing my small amount of remaining sanity down the drain multiple times. Without her I'd probably be dead from one of my senseless ideas, and I'd always been the one to keep her from throwing her future away because of the boys who are constantly flocking to her side. I don't know if I could ever live without her.

I reached her house which was a few blocks from mine and marched up her front steps. All motivation that I previously mustered up had faded the instant I reached the summit of her porch. My hands are shaking as I reach out for her doorbell. Its almost surreal, almost. The door suddenly flies open to meet perfectly kept long brown hair, and the piercing blue eyes of Liz. Since she has known me so long that just one look at my pathetically gaping mouth and teary green eyes was all she needed to drag me into a crushing bear hug. It was comforting in a sense, but the inevitable was still lingering in the air.

"Come on Em, lets get you inside and some ice cream," She coaxed. I numbly nodded and shuffled inside after her. I slid into one of the many stools that lined her counter's island. Sitting here feels nostalgic, its just like that time when-

"Chocolate or vanilla?" She inspected my face for any sign of an answer. Huffing in response she reached into the freezer and slid the carton of vanilla ice-cream across the counter to me.

"You gonna talk or what? Do I have to use my 'super special tickle attack' to get you to speak up?" Liz mussed. I pursed my lips and tried desperately to think up a snide comeback but my thoughts were interrupted by nimble fingers titillating my sides. Laughter erupted from my mouth. It was cruel her method, tickle until someone can't keep secrets inside any longer.

"Pffft! STOP! Please. Can't breathe!" I rasped.

"Only if you tell me what's wrong!"

"Okay, okay just please stop."

"No"

"Please? I'll tell you." I begged.

"Aww you're no fun today."

I stared blankly at the array of magnets behind the luscious brown hair. Unconsciously I was gnawing away at my lip. Which prompted the perfectly manicured nails to pull my cheeks.

"Earth to Em"

"Right sorry, umm so you know how I've been getting those early enrollment letters from Colleges lately?" She nodded slowly, glittering blue eyes dulled to a calculating navy. It was no secret that I got the brains and undiscovered beauty, but she was smart and drop dead gorgeous.

"Well, I guess there was this one place that really spoke to my mom and she signed me up without telling me. So that means that I'll be in a college level course of studies next year thats miles and miles away from here," Tears began to trickle out of my eyes. I ignored them and continued on.

"I don't wanna leave you! This is gonna be awful. Its bad enough I endured the ridicule of the people in our school, I can't go through that again. My life turned totally upside down a couple of years ago, and nothing's been the same since. Your one of the only people who actually stayed by my side when the shit hit the fan." The tears had escalated from moderately pouring down my face to full blown crying.

"I can't go through that again, I- I- I can't it's too painful," Sobs racked my body. I was pressed against her in a gentler hug than my previous one. I cried against my friend, while she gently rocked me back and forth,whispering incoherent words into my hair. It could have been minutes or hours that passed while we sat like that. Once I was reduced to occasional sniffles, I pushed away from her chest. Letting out a shaky laugh, I tilted my head and looked her in the eyes. The look in her eyes was distant.

"Uh, thank you for being you and always having my back,"

"Em?"

"Hm" I sniffled.

"We'll find a way to still hang out, so on your breaks you'll come back to us. Also I want constant updates as to life at the academy. I.e. people, gossip, relationships, classes, roommates, food, wait, so maybe we'll just leave it at everything. So missy what is this academy like?"

"It's coed. Wait, it's coed?" I questioned.

"Well if you don't know then how the hell am I supposed to know!" She deadpanned.

"It's coed," I chanted over and over. This'll suck, even more people to judge me. I'll be that awkward new kid that's ignored by everyone. A total out cast. I've never really gotten along with boys its a personality flaw. I used to but then, I don't want to bring up that memory.

She snapped her fingers in front of my face to gain my attention.

"Em, Do you know what that means?" Liz exclaimed.

"No, But I don't-"

"You can start All over! It'll be a fresh new start! Thats it, make over time! Get in the car! Lets go, lets go, lets go!" She screeched.

"Two things: first, the ice-cream melted and second, NEITHER OF US CAN DRIVE!"