Love or Friendship?

Simonette

Hi, I'm Tiffany and I'm 23. I'm living with my happy and warm family, until I could find a job. This is my love story...

6 years ago, when I was 17, I was a total nerd in school. Of course, as everybody knows, nerds and geeks wear nerd spectacles and dress like an EXTREME nerd, right? Well, I was like that. But I had the best friend in my life. Her name is Lily. She's sort of from the "Popular" group. Oh, you better believe it, my school has Geeks and Populars group. The "Queens and Kings" of school set a rule for Popular's not to hang out with Nerds. Lily didn't care about that, and that's what I love about her.

One day, she came for a sleepover at my house and decided to have a makeover on me. The minute she said that, I looked down at my outfit. It was dirty, messy and old-fashioned. So I agreed. An hour passed, I stepped out of my bathroom and looked in the mirror. From a pauper, into a Princess! I had dark brown, long and curly hair, perfect with my muddy brown eyes. My lips were hot pink. I wore a dress, with different kind of flowers on it. I must admit, I looked beautiful :) ~ From that day on, everyone welcomed me into the Popular Group. I was so excited! I forgot everything miserable in my past and just went on being a Drama Queen in school.

Then, all of a sudden, a guy named Gary, stepped into my life. He had dark brown hair(like me), sparkly dark blue eyes and smooth lips. He wasn't fat nor thin, neither tall nor short, just perfect for me. We got to know each other more. He said he was from the "Nerds" group too. All his hobbies and interests are exactly like mine. We have so much in common! Even though we are quite popular now in school, we still loved our favorite subject, Science. We always walked to the Science laboratory together, thinking what experiment we will do together. Our friendship moments were beautiful and unforgettable.

But there was one thing I wasn't aware of. I forgot all about Lily. A month passed and I got closer to Gary. I was supposed to meet Lily after school at 4, to do a project. But I just went to hang out with Gary and his friends. When we were sitting on a bench in a beautiful park, laughing, my phone rang. When I saw Lily's name on my phone, my heart sank. I totally forgot about her! I ran to somewhere quiet and answered her call. I apologized to her for not meeting her. She laughed and said, " Its okay, Tiff! Besides, the project is due on next Tuesday! We will do it this Friday then!" I was so glad. She sounded so warm and forgiving. I went back to Gary and his friends and explained the whole case. They were glad that she forgave me too.

But it gotten worse. On Friday, Lily text-ed me in the morning. " Yo Tiff! Meet me after school outside your classroom at 5 for the project work! Don't forget! Loves you! <3 ~ " . I smiled just by looking at her caring message. I walked to school and saw Gary waiting for me outside the school. My face had a bright smile when I walked towards him. We spent the whole time in school together, having lessons, going to the library and having lunch! At 5, Lily skipped happily to my classroom. Gary invited me to his house for dinner and I obviously agreed. Not remembering about Lily, Gary and I walked to his house. As we walked, the atmosphere was really awkward. We didn't talk at all and I was really shy. Then, he held my hand and swung it. I find it so cute and silly so I just laughed and held his hand tightly.

Returning to Lily, she waited for me for 2 hours. Until the school was going to close at 7, she had no choice but to wait for me at the bus stop outside the school. I didn't appear. She sighed and went home. At Gary's house, everything was lovely. His parents were kind and funny, his little sister was just so lovely like a flower and his Jack Russell Dog was really cute! After having dinner with his family with laughter and joy, Gary took me to his room. He closed the door for our privacy. He held my hands and looked into my eyes with such warm and gentle feeling. I blushed and looked down. He lifted up my head and kissed me. I imagined fireworks bursting out into the sky outside his window. It was so magical! I wish I could stay with him forever. My phone rang when we were still kissing. I reached my hang into my bag and turned it off while my lips are still on his.

I could feel that he wanted to push me on his bed, but I stopped kissing and told him I was not ready. He understood and hugged me. He proposed to me to be his girlfriend and of course, I accepted. He was elated and kissed my cheek. I laughed and blushed. Gary walked me home. The full moon and stars was shining brightly at us when we were looking at each other shyly.

The next morning, I woke up and went downstairs to have a Sunny-side up dish for my breakfast! The telephone rang and my mum picked it up. " Sweetheart, its for you!" My mum shouted. I went to the living room and took the telephone from my mum. "It's Lily, she sound sick." she whispered. I quickly put the telephone on my ear and asked what happened. She told me that she waited for me until 8.30pm yesterday at the bus stop and it was raining heavily. She caught a cold and had high fever. I was so shocked. All I could do is to apologize! " Haha! Its okay! I know you're happy with Gary! Oh..yeah.., my birthday is on the coming Monday and I have a party at my house. I hope you will be coming!" Lily said with an uncomfortable tone. " I will totally come! Don't worry Lily! " I replied, full of confidence.

Indeed, I appeared on her birthday party on Monday. I invited Gary and his friends too. We went into her marvelous, big house and there was Lily, all recovered, welcoming guests in the living room. We walked towards her and introduced each other. Lily was so happy that Gary and his friends could make it too. "Help yourself with the food there!" she said, smiling and pointing at the buffet. We smiled back and went to have our delicious dinner. The birthday party was fun and crowded, but I committed a mistake again. I didn't realize I was with Gary the whole time! I didn't even approach to Lily at all, on her birthday(except for the introduction of Gary's friends) !

Lily told me to stay at her house for the night after the party as she was lonely. I nodded and said goodbye to Gary, disappointed. Gary and his friends were the last to leave. Lily finally couldn't take it anymore. " TIFFANY! HOW COULD YOU! YOU SPENT THE WHOLE TIME WITH GARY ON MY BIRTHDAY!" she shouted. I got pissed and shouted back, " YOU WERE THE ONE WHO INVITED ME! SO I JUST BROUGHT GARY ALONG! WHY CAN'T I?".

"STILL, YOU COULD JUST SPEND ONE NIGHT WITH ME, RIGHT? I'M YOUR BEST FRIEND!"

"IF YOU'RE REALLY MY BEST FRIEND, YOU SHOULD BE HAPPY FOR ME WHEN I JUST GOT A NEW BOYFRIEND!"

"I'M HAPPY FOR YOU! BUT THIS IS TOO MUCH! YOU FORGOT ABOUT THE PROJECT TWO TIMES, I FORGAVE YOU AND NOW LOOK! IF YOU SPEND THE TIME WITH ME, WE COULD FINISH THE PROJECT IN MY ROOM!"

"IF WE DO THE PROJECT, WOULD THAT BE CONSIDERED A BIRTHDAY PARTY?"

"AT LEAST I FINALLY COULD BE WITH YOU! YOU CAN'T ALWAYS GO WITH GARY AND FORGET ABOUT ME! LOOK TIFFANY, I TRANSFORMED YOU FROM A NERD, INTO A QUEEN! IF I DIDN'T DO THAT, YOU WON'T BE WITH GARY!!!"

I gasped. Lily does have a point. If it weren't for her, I wouldn't even meet Gary at all... I apologized sincerely, but Lily wouldn't calm down. She told me to leave and she will think about our friendship. I walked home alone, in the dark, thinking of what I had done...to lose our 11 years of friendship. We were 6 when we first met. When I reached home, I ran up straight to my bedroom and locked myself in. " What have I done?!" I cried. I couldn't decide myself.

Lily was the first person to understand me. She was the best friend that I could ever have. She's always there for me when I'm criticized by her Popular friends when I was a nerd. She spent her whole time with me even if she's in the Popular's group. But me, I just went with Gary, not her.. But I love Gary, I really do. He's my first true love. It's love at first sight for the two of us. No other guys understand my troubles like he does. We just started our relationship for 2-3 days only.. I just can't lose it. I can't lose the opportunity. I can't lose my friendship too. It's really hard to choose...

God, please help me. Until now, 6 years, Lily still can't forgive me. Which one should I choose?
..Love or Friendship?..

-To be Continued-