A/N: READ IT.
It was a fresh year, and a fresh start for many a student, including Annie. She had changed her vibrant wardrobe into a more old, and polished Victorian-esque wardrobe.
She was more refined, and definitely quieter. During band camp, she sat looking around at the newbies and the old bandies. It gave me hope that she was going to start again. I looked over at her and smiled, hoping a cheering up would do her good, but she just smiled back, her face cloudy. I couldn't tell what she was thinking. It was like there was a brick wall between us.
When it got to back to school time, we hadn't really talked. She was always writing, or doing something other than talking. I couldn't see how such a small thing could turn her away from something that she had been great at. One day, I got sick of trying to read her mind.
"Annie, What's been up with you lately?"
" Ever since the day where my matchmaking was messed up, I just lost all hope. All of my self-confidence went down the drain."
"Is that it? You're stupid for making something small like that mess you up."
"You don't get it! This meant the world to me. I'll never be the same."
"Tell me the truth!"
"And also, you never talk to me. And also, there are no boys for me. If I pair them up with other people, how can I go out with them? Huh? If I'm to busy matching people up, how will I have time for me? Do you understand now?"
I understood that Annie had a lot of pent up energy.
"Annie, it will all be okay. Just breathe. The only reason I didn't talk to you is that you didn't talk to me. I only wanted you to continue the matchmaking because it helped everyone else out. I never thought about you. I'm sorry."
"You never thought about me? What kind of best friend are you?"
By this time, Annie was crying openly. Luckily she didn't wear make up so nothing ran. She was beautiful when she cried, but this time she wasn't. She looked at me with the force of a thousand dragons. I could almost see steam rising from her ears. Her face was red.
"I guess I'm just not the best at being a best friend."
"And you think that apologizing is going to help? It won't. I promise you. It won't at all. Really. I think the only thing that would help is if you would start over and try to be the best, best friend."
"Uh. Okay?"
"That entitles you leaving me alone for a whole week. And then you can start over."
"Okay."
"Oh yeah. I forgot. There will be no more matchmaking for me. Ever. I'm not up for embarrassment. I'm not interested. I'm sick of it. No more. Understand?"
"Fully."
"Good."
With that she walked away. I knew this wasn't the end of our friendship, but it felt like it. It felt like the end to me. Every beginning has its end. When one door opens, another door opens. Annie will find a new thing. In a week or so, we'll be friends again. Not like we were before. Different. Maybe even more mature. Who knows? We'll just have to wait and see.
I had to end it. I was getting so horribly sick of it. Its one less story to feel bad about not updating. You won't see what the new beginning of their friendship will be like, seeing as this story was more about the matchmaking. Somebody can take the friendship part on if they'd like. I'm sure they'd do it more justice than I would.