Chapter 4: Forgiveness

"The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong." Mahatma Gandhi

Mistakes are always forgivable if one has the courage to admit them. At least that's what the classroom poster over Ms. Baker's desk said. Gwen thought that if she could open up to Heather about her mistake, she could be forgiven. It was the day after her birthday party, and her mom must have been parked outside of her house for twenty minutes now.

"Gwen, you need to go in there and tell her you're sorry. Sitting in here isn't going to change anything."

Gwen continued to stare out the windshield at the occupied house, hoping that somehow if she stared a little longer, Heather would just run out and embrace her in her arms.

But that wasn't going to happen.

Mrs. Matthews turned the running engine off with a switch of the key, and looked back at her daughter intently.

"Gwen, if you don't go in the next five minutes, then I'm sorry sweetie; I have to drive off. You know how Reverend Sykes gets when we're late for church, and-"

Her speech halted when a single wet tear rolled down the left cheek of her daughter's face. She was hurting. Instead of pressuring her, maybe she should've been supporting her. The pair sat in silence for the next two minutes, so when Mrs. Matthews spoke again, it felt as if she was plunging a chainsaw through a block of wood.

"Gw-Gwen would you feel better if I went inside with you?"

Gwen slowly, as if she was in a hypnotizing trance, nodded her head.

Mrs. Matthews sighed, immediately stepping outside of the car, her pink heels clicking over to Gwen's passenger side door, and opening it up so that her daughter could get out.

"Well, let's go then." She held out a considerate hand, and suddenly she had a new attitude about the whole situation.

Gwen traced over to the nicely wrapped present seated next to her in the backseat of the car. She stares at the red colored paper remembering what a fuss she had made last night when her mom had brought home a lime green color instead.

"Gwen it's just wrapping paper, I don't understand what the big deal is here."

"Mom, Heather's favorite color is red. She hates green, especially this kind, it reminds her of barf."

Mrs. Matthews had her arms crossed, and met eyes with her daughter.

"So what do you expect me to do about that sweetie?"

"Buy red," was her simple answer.

Mrs. Matthews almost lashed out at her daughter for being so demanding, but remembered the pain she had caused her the day before.

Without another word, Mrs. Matthews grabbed her pink purse off of the kitchen table and headed to the closest corner store.

Gwen mustered a faint smile and after grabbing the present with her right hand, she took her mother's hand into her left and shut the door behind her.

"Don't be... too nervous Gwen. I'm sure she'll understand."

"I hope so," Gwen whispered.

Ding Dong.

The sound of the customized doorbell could be heard from the front door of the residence. In a fleet of panic, Gwen squeezed her mother's hand, her breath quickening in beats. What was taking them so long, just to open the door? What if they weren't home? What if Heather never wanted to talk to her again? Thoughts flooding Gwen's head began to make her nauseous.

"Mom," she began to say, "maybe this wasn't such a good-"

Click.

The sound of the door opening startled Gwen and suddenly she was hoping that she wouldn't have to confront Heather so quickly. The face that met the duo had light gray eyes, raven-colored hair, and fostered a smile. The only difference between her and Heather was that Gwen had to look up, in order to see her face.

"Linda, Gwen?" the voice started.

The screen door creaked open, and Gwen gradually began to loosen her grip on her mother's hand.

Mrs. Matthews offered a smile.

"Yes, how are you Grace?"

"Fine, fine. Please, come in."

Gwen exhaled. She had gotten through phase one. Now all that was left was phase two, and she would be home-free.

The two, quickly removed their shoes at the doorway, as they knew how terrible of a neat freak Mrs. Chang could be.

"So, what are you two doing here?" Mrs. Chang stripped the jackets off of their backs.

"Um..." Mrs. Matthews trailed off, staring at Gwen.

"Miss Chang, is Heather home?" Gwen interrupted.

Gwen tucked her breath into her stomach, and bit ferociously at her tongue.

"Oh- yes honey, she's upstairs in her room. Would you like to-"

She had already shuffled up the Chang's grand marble staircase, and down the carpeted hallway, halting at her door. She was in there. Gwen could faintly hear the roar of their favorite television show from the crack under the door frame.

Gwen slowly raised her fist. This was it. She would knock on the door... Heather would open. The two of them would hug, and she'd be on her way to church. Simple as one two three. Gwen unconsciously gripped the wrapping paper of the present before pounding her hand against the wood.

She swiftly moved the present behind her, in fears that she would ruin the element of surprise. This wasn't the time to be a screw-up, at least that's what she had repeated in her head.

The door slowly creaked open, and Gwen's heart jolted.

"He-Heather."

The raven haired girl was dressed in her moon pajamas, a selection of panda slippers on her feet. She stared but didn't respond.

Gwen continued. Here it goes. Just as she rehearsed.

"Heather, I-I'm sorry I couldn't make it to your party yesterday. I just had to deal with some family things, and- everything went wrong and-" She stumbled on her words.

"I hope I didn't hurt your feelings. I got you a present!" The young girl violently pushed the nicely wrapped box in front of the other with shaking hands.

"It's not much, but it's the only thing that we could afford... at that moment! Look, it's your favorite color too! I hope you like it."

Gwen's mouth suddenly clamped shut as she looked deeply into her best friend's eyes. She hasn't moved an inch since she opened the door, and the two entered a mini stare down. Hours seemed to pass by... then days... then months... then-

"Please... just say something, please," Gwen whimpered. A tear rolled done her left cheek all while not breaking eye contact and for a second Gwen could physically feel the need of forgiveness. She yearned it. It presented itself as desirable to her. And she needed it right now more than ever.

"Get out,"

"Wh-Wha-"

"Get out!"

Heather's voice echoed throughout the whole house, as two pairs of footsteps rushed their way up the marble staircase. The clanking of silverware could be heard slightly before, and a silent whisper, "Oh dear."

"Heather, what's wrong?" Her mother's voice echoed from down the hall.

She ignored her.

"What did I just say? Get out of here!"

Gwen froze, her bottom lip trembling in fear. This wasn't her best friend, this was, well, she didn't even know.

"Heather-"

"Heather what? You promised you would come! This is all we have been talking about since school started. The party was a disaster Gwen! I didn't know anyone there, and I was scared, and alone and all I needed was you... that's all I ever needed, and you weren't there!"

Tears violently poured down Heather's cheeks and dropped onto the red wrapping paper held before her.

"But Heather Feather-" Mrs. Chang started.

"No phone call, no visit, nothing!"

"Heather, this isn't Gwen's fault," Mrs. Matthews began.

"I'm tired of being second place! I- I-"

The girl looked around at her mother's gaping face and saw the sorrow in Mrs. Matthews frown, but didn't dare to look Gwen in the eyes. Not now. She wasn't going to fall for it.

"I'm a winner! I'm going to be someone! And, I, I, I, don't need you to drag me down!"

Silence overtook the house.

"..."

"Heather, I'm sorry!" Gwen screamed in an agonizing pain that only could be described as fingernails scratching against a chalkboard.

"Don't you get it? I hate you!"

Gwen threw the present aggressively in Heather's face, immediately running down the stairs and out the door without a single word.

Slam!

"Heather- how could you-"

She had already locked her bedroom door shut by then.

Mrs. Chang sighed fixing her clothing in the process, and calmly turned around.

"Linda, I am so sorry that Heather acted up like this. She's just very upset right now. Please, help Gwen to understand that. I promise, they'll be back to normal by Tuesday at most."

Mrs. Matthews looked down at her feet, frowning before answering the other mother.

"I sure hope so."

She started a trek down the stairs, collecting both her and her daughter's jackets.

"Thank you for the tea Grace."

Mrs. Matthews zipped up her puffy pink jacket, stuffing a pair of clammy hands inside of the pockets. From the Chang's doorsteps she could see into her car, Gwen face down into the back passenger seats, her body convulsing in weeps.

Another sigh.

Opening the car door, a feeling of awkwardness immediately choked Linda in the driver's seat. She self consciously gripped the staring wheel harder today, placing her daughter's jacket in the back where she remained silent. Linda started the drive to their church, and at a stoplight, turned to face her daughter; puffy red nose, rosy cheeks, tired eyes in a beautiful floral dress.

"She was just mad Gwen. She didn't mean any of those things..."

No response.

"It's not your fault. She'll forgive you."

But the truth kept eating up at her. It was her's, the mother figure, and this is something that she may never have been able to redeem. Maybe she was the one that really needed to be forgiven.

Day: Sunday

Time: 8:05 p.m.

Where: The Chang's residence

Heather had just exited the bath, shuffling her way back to her bedroom. She had been avoiding her mother all day after the incident involving her and Gwen. A wash over of regret once again skimmed the surface of her persona, but she was quickly reminded of the pain and betrayal she had felt that day. Heather felt like a fool anxiously awaiting for Gwen's arrival. She was quite a display, sitting in a driveway full of cars as her parents' friends chatted and snacked on fancy cheeses. It was like waiting on the phone that never rang. She felt stupid and alone.

Heather flung her pillow across the room, just thinking about it. Watching the bundle of feathers fly across, it landed on a peculiar red box.

That's right. The present.

Heather obnoxiously snorted before going over to it. She hadn't touched it since Gwen flung it in her face, and she had kicked it back against the side of the room wall.

Her eyes traced over the nice red velvet wrapping. Well, might as well...

Ripping the paper apart, Heather uncovered a detailed picture frame. She raised an eyebrow and took in the design. The frame was pure white with colorful beads surrounding the sides, on the bottom written in goofy bubble letters was 'Best Friends Forever' and in the middle, was a picture taken of Heather and Gwen on their first day of the first grade. Gwen had her arms draped around Heather's torso, and Heather made a pair of bunny ears behind Gwen's head. The two both sported a smile.

Heather stared at the picture momentarily before stuffing it in her bottom drawer, and flopping down on her maroon colored sheets. But how long is forever?

A/N: Hey guys, sorry I haven't updated in a while. I just had to get out of this funk. Please REVIEW, FAVORITE, AND/OR FOLLOW. It means a lot to know that you guys are liking the story. Until next time!

ANSWER REVIEW TIME!

To:

Ali6132: Thank you. You're so kind :) I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

FFraspberry: Thank you for your kind works. I'll try my best!

Guest (Chapter 3): Yes, there will be 4 more to add, because I did say in my summary '8 best friends.' I'll introduce the other 4 as the story goes along.

Guest (Chapter 1): That's some great insight. Thank you for your comment. And yeah, the quartet does seem complete as it is for now, but what I have planned will definitely throw the four into a loop which would work as a medium into introducing the other 4 as well as some other side characters. Stay tuned. ;)

NerdyNightStocker (Chapter 2): Yes, the session with the guidance counselor was before Gwen made friends with Heather, Duncan, and Trent. And there is definitely a disconnect with Mrs. Matthews and Mrs. Chang and their daughters. Good job picking up on that. Now that we focused on the aftermath of Heather and Gwen in this chapter, I'm going to start leading into other storylines with Duncan, Trent, and maybe one of the four that has yet to be mentioned.

NerdyNightStocker (Chapter 3): Thank you for the compliment on the pacing. One of my biggest concerns with this story was going too fast or going too slow. I'm glad that I'm doing a good job. Trent and Duncan are two very different people and I hope to explore that contrast in further chapters. Thanks for reviewing.