~Gabrielle~
"Ellie, over here!" I called, motioning for the slim, dark-haired beauty over to our regular table.
"Geez, it's like a zoo in there!" Eleanor Silverman laughed. "Where's Jeremy?"
"At a meeting," I answered, picking up my drink. Ellie nodded.
Ellie Silverman was my best friend at the high school we attended as freshmen. We had been ever since kindergarten. I really looked up to her as a person. She was everything I wished I was: a straight-A student, friendly and outgoing. We were a perfect match. Ellie had brown hair to her shoulder, blue eyes, straight teeth and pierced ears. Many people, including my boyfriend, Jeremy Kramer, thought we were sisters at first glance.
Jeremy is the sweetest guy. He is a freshman, like me, but incredibly popular and good-looking. I don't know how I ended up with him, but he'd chosen me as his girlfriend a year and a half ago. He was honest, smart and sweet; everything I'd ever wanted.
By the way, my name is Gabrielle Anderson. I don't know how I got with such great people like Ellie and Jeremy, since I considered myself shy around most people. Ellie says I'm very outgoing once you get to know me.
"Gabby? Are you missing Jeremy already or something?" Ellie teased, breaking into my thoughts. "You just saw him five minutes ago!"
"Sorry, I was thinking about something," I said. "Am I still coming over after school?"
"You bet!" Ellie said. "I can't wait!"
After lunch, Ellie and I started walking to our lockers. "Hey, guys, wait up!" Shayna Adams called.
"Great, the gossip mill is here," Ellie groaned quietly. Shayna had quite a reputation as a gossiper, but, strangely, she was always right.
"Hey, what's up?" I asked as I opened my locker. Inside was a picture Ellie had taken of Jeremy and me at a dance. I sighed.
"Well, I just saw something I thought you may want to know about, Gabby," Shayna said. I looked at her. Now she had my attention. "Gabby, I just saw Jeremy kissing Randi Walters."
I gasped. "No…" It couldn't be! Ellie grabbed my arm to steady me.
"I'm sorry, Gabby, but they were talking about an e-mail and then he kissed her and…"
"That's enough, Shayna," Ellie said, a warning tone to her voice. Shayna huffed and walked away. "Gabby…?"
"It can't be," I murmured, sliding to the floor to sit down. "It can't be."
"I'm sure she's wrong, Gabby. Jeremy loves you!"
I had a terrible feeling, like someone had pierced my heart with a knife. I felt sick. What would I do if I lost him? I loved Jeremy!
I tried to hold in frightened tears as Jeremy walked towards us. "Gabby?" Jeremy asked. I looked up as the bell rang. "Take this. I have to go."
Ellie took the piece of paper for me as Jeremy ran off. Now I knew something was wrong. Normally, Jeremy would have been kneeling beside me, holding me. But he hadn't.
Ellie gave me the paper as we walked down to study hall. I opened it quietly. "Gabrielle, I think it's time to break up. Don't get me wrong, I still like you, but now only as a friend. I have strong feelings for someone else now. I'm sorry. I still want to be your friend. Jeremy."
I stopped in the hallway, tears streaming down my face as I read and re-read the note. I couldn't believe it. I couldn't live without Jeremy!
"Gabby, what…?" I tossed Ellie the note and ran off to study hall.
~Ellie~
I had never seen my best friend, Gabrielle Anderson, so upset. As I sat in study hall beside Shayna, I watched her. Her face was turned to the window, and every once in a while, her arm would move to her eyes. I knew she was crying. She must be so devastated. She and Jeremy had always been the perfect couple in my mind.
"What's with Gabrielle?" Shayna whispered.
"Jeremy just dumped her," I whispered back.
"It's about time."
"What?!"
"She was going to find out sooner or later," Shayna whispered.
"What are you talking about?"
"Miss Silverman, Miss Adams, quiet please," the proctor called. Shayna waited a few minutes before answering.
"Jeremy hasn't been as kind to Gabby as you think. He used her to get to Randi…"
"For a year and a half?!"
Shayna nodded. "He's lied to her this whole time, too. He never loved her…he never even liked her. He's never said anything truthful to her. Thank God he never kissed her!"
I turned away from Shayna angrily. I couldn't trust her. All I knew was my best friend was hurting. Maybe it was time to have a little chat with Jeremy…
____________________________________
"Gabby, are you okay?" I asked her quietly on our way out of study hall.
I watched her eyes fill with tears again as she shook her head. I hated seeing her like that! She walked away toward her next class, geometry, without a word.
Up ahead of me, I spotted Jeremy standing with Randi. I groaned as Gabby passed right as Jeremy took Randi's hand. She ran off down the hall.
Jeremy and his friends were laughing as I went up to him. "Excuse me, Jeremy. Can I talk to you?"
"Oh, hey, Ellie. Sure," he said. He waved goodbye to his buddies and Randi and turned to me.
"Having fun?" I asked sarcastically.
Jeremy narrowed his eyes. "Randi's better than Gabrielle."
"Oh, come on…"
"You come on! You had to have figured out I never liked her! I was using her."
"Jeremy…" I paused before my temper took over. "I hope you realize how much pain you've put Gabby in. She really loved you."
Jeremy laughed and walked away. I stared after him. How could he be so heartless?
____________________________________
"Gabby, if you want to go home, I understand…" I started as Gabrielle came into my room and sat on my bed.
"No, it's okay. I just want to be here with you."
I smiled and closed the door.
"He never liked me, did he?" I turned at the sound of Gabrielle's choked voice.
"No," I answered truthfully.
"I should've known. Oh, Ellie, why was I so stupid?" Gabrielle cried.
I went over and hugged her. "Shh, Gabby, just cry." I reached over and grabbed my remote. Now was the time to introduce her to the world of Hanson.
Hanson was my favorite band of all time. It was the only secret I'd ever kept from Gabrielle. Hanson was made up of 3 brothers from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Isaac, 18, was the guitarist. Taylor, 15, was the keyboardist, and Zac, 13, was the drummer. Zac was my favorite.
I knew just what song to play for her. I flipped on my stereo and turned on Hanson's 3 Car Garage.
Gabrielle looked up at me as "Two Tears" filled my room. I handed her tissues quietly as she seemed to quiet down.
Gabrielle was a music lover. She'd listen to anything. I knew she was love Hanson. She dabbed her eyes as she listened to Ike's voice.
"Who was that?" she asked me quietly after the song.
"A band named Hanson," I said. She looked up at me.
"Do you like them?"
"Yes," I answered, so glad my secret was out. "Wanna see a picture?"
Gabrielle nodded. "Can I hear the song again?"
"Sure." I started the song again and reached for my favorite picture of the guys. I handed it to her wordlessly. She stared at it and listened to the song. Even though she was upset, I knew she liked them already.
