14: Friends

"Hey, Pauline!" Someone shouted.

We both look back to see Samantha.

"Oh, you two know each other?" Samantha asked.

"Just this morning," I answered.

"Hey Sam," Himei said.

Pauline pulls me away from her and whispers in my ear.

"She was the person spreading rumors about you,"

"I know," I answered.

"You do!?"

"She came clean, she doesn't seem bad," I said.

Samantha looks at Himei,

She smiles at Samantha.

"She does look like she's changed,"

"Oh yeah, do you two actually know each other?" I asked.

"Yeah, we were... Classmates,"

"Was that it?"

"Yeah, yup that's it,"

"Okay...,"

"Himei," I called.

"H-Hai?"

"How'd you two meet?" I asked.

"Me and Sam?" Himei asked back.

"Yes, obviously,"

"We were in a relationship once," she answered after looking away.

Both of them are blushing as I look at them.

"Oh, I see, I see,"

"W-what-- that was one time!" Samantha said, feeling flustered, and still blushing so much.

"R-right, Himei?"

"U-uh, Right!" She answered.

"Okay, you two, it's okay, I understand,"

"Who was the guy in your relationship?" I asked.

Himei Laughs as Samantha starts to blush even more.

"C-Can we stop talking about this already!" Samantha said as she starts walking faster.

I caught up with her and apologized.

"Alright, I'll stop, I'm sorry," I said.

"I'm sorry too," Himei said.

"It's fine," Samantha answers and starts hitting me in the head.

"O-ow, hey, I said sorry," I said and laughed.

Both of them laugh as well.

"Well, I'm glad you two aren't hating on each other," I said.

"I thought you agreed to speak about something else," Samantha said.

"Well, I just wanted to know how you two broke up,"

...

They had no response.

"Hm, I guess I'll know next time,"

"You should already know that, Pauline," Samantha said.

"I thought about a reason but I wanna hear it from one of you,"

"It's her bad habit of spreading rumors," Samantha said.

I looked at Himei

She looked guilty.

"I thought so," I said.

Nobody was saying anything again.

I put my arms around their shoulders and pulled them close to me.

"Well, I'm glad to see you two hanging out again," I said and smiled at both of them.

They smiled and started laughing.

"I'm glad too," Himei said while smiling.

Samantha smiles back.

"You know, you two look cute together," I teased.

"Stop that!" Samantha said as she looks away.

I laughed again.

...

We got to school.

"Oh yeah, you said we were classmates right, Himei?" I asked.

"How come I haven't seen you?" I added.

"Oh, that, we were classmates in middle school," she said.

"Were we?" I asked.

"Yep, you were really happy back then," she said.

"But, I'm happy now, what do you mean?"

"O-oh, I meant, you looked like you didn't have any problems back then,"

"You really remember all that?" I asked.

"Yes, somehow," she answered.

"I never really remember that much in middle school,"

"I see," she said.

"Where's your classroom, Himei?" I asked.

"Oh, it's on a different building," she said.

"Huh? I thought there was only one grade 9 building,"

"Oh, It's not really a grade 9 building it's a new one, it has all the grade levels in it," she said.

"Neat,"

"Maybe we should be the ones to go to your classroom,"

"It's a bit far from your room," she said.

"It'll be fine! Right, Samantha?" I asked.

"Sure! It will be a great way to explore this school a lot more,"

"Yep, and I thought I got the whole school memorized," I said and laughed.

"What do you mean?" They both asked,

"Well, back when I had no friends, I used recess and lunch breaks to walk around the whole school,"

"It was great, and I got to know the whole school a lot quicker," I said.

"No wonder I've been catching glimpses of you in front of my class," Himei said.

"Well, that's me," I said and laughed.

"We better get going," Samantha said.

*Bell rings*

"Yikes, it's already 8?" I said.

"See you guys later," Himei said as she runs.

"See ya!" We replied as we ran to our classes.