The Idea of an Essay, Volume 4

20 The Idea of an Essay: Volume 4 along the beautiful, ruined bracelet. I realized focusing on sweet, old friendships could take my eyes away from the bright horizon of vivid, new relationships. I looked at the half open window and up at the blue sky and white, puffy clouds. A calming sensation seemed to float down through the sun’s rays and fell on my face. Taking one last longing look at the ripped bracelet in my hand and tossed it out the window. I wiped the tears from my cheeks and laid my throbbing head against the window. The bus rattled along, shaking my entire tired body. A girl bounced down on the empty seat next to me. “Have you ever been to Oceanside?” she asked, giving me a huge brace covered smile. “No, I just moved to Santa Clarita yesterday” I stammered, pushing my hair back from my face and quickly wiping away the trace of tears from my cheeks. She looked at me with her wide, brown eyes. “What? No wonder I’ve never seen you before, I’m Jasmine”, she tossed her thick brown hair over her shoulder and stuck out her hand. I shook her hand, hoping she didn’t notice the red ring around my wrist where the bracelet had been. “My name is Allison” I said shyly. Her blue and white striped swimsuit humorously clashed with her green and yellow plaid-patterned shorts. “I’ve never met an Allison before, I already like you!” she said, my heart leaped in my chest and I smiled at her. Why is she being so nice to me? My gaze drifted toward Jana as the group of girls in the seats around her giggled at her story. I felt my smile fade. Jasmine put her hand on my shoulder, “Just ignore them. They don’t like anyone who’s not exactly like them.” She rolled her eyes, “That’s why they don’t want to be friends with me. My friends call me Jazzy. Please! Call me Jazzy”. Jazzy pushed her bag under the seat in front of her as if to assure me that she was there to stay. My eyes went back to the window, up towards the lemon sun and didn’t try to hide the smile that stole its way on to my lips. I couldn’t help but hope this promise of friendship would last for more than this moment.