5. BFF #1: The diva

“I hated so many things you did but, I loved many other things without wanting to.”

-Thalia

November 11th, 2007

We run along the lake shore and our braids fly everywhere.

“Wait Charlotte.” I screamed. “I'm short of breath.”

“You’re very slow Tali.” She smiled. “That’s why you have to do more exercise.” I gasp and my lungs fail, then I sit on the porch. “You’re all red.” She says while I try to recover.

“I have a new friend; her name is Margaret.” She just looks at me without saying anything.

“Are you going to leave me for her?” She asks and I laugh.

“She’s not like you, but we have a lot of things in common, she loves to read.” We make weird faces and smile.

“So, you’re not going to change me for her.”

“You’re my best friend and she can be too. I don’t have to choose.”

“You’re right.” She smiles. “I have to know her, help her with her clothes, teach her how to paint her face… And I’m going to steal her books.”  

We both smile. I like being with Charlotte, she has not equal.

December 17th, 2012

“They’re very pretty! Stop complaining, old lady.” Says Charlotte and I look at her badly.

“I look like a rainbow.” I screech and I know she's upset. This is not the first time, since she learned to use nail polish, I am her mannequin even though she knows that I hate it.

“Well, you are a beautiful rainbow.” She smiles, this is funny to her. “Smile, you are to spend Christmas with beautiful nails.”

I grumble for a moment but eventually I stop complaining since she doesn't listen to me.

"I brought you a gift". She smiles and I know I'm not going to like it, but I also have a gift for her.

She hands me a box; I pass her mine and we decide to open mine first.

“I can’t believe it. How can you do that to me?” I almost yelled at her. I hate red dresses, she knows that.

“It will look fabulous on you, it is fashionable, and don't even think about not putting it on.”

“Right now, I want to kill you Winter.” She shrugs and smiles but opens her gift and she pouts.

“You’re worse than me.” She screams and I know I've hit the nail on the head. “I can't read two of your stupid books and write a review on each one before January 5th. This is very cruel.”

I smile knowing that I have screwed up as much as she has in the red dress.

May 09th, 2016

Charlotte Winter:

As a friend you are the best, as an enemy not so much. I remember the day you took Larisa by the hair. We were only 7 years old and she had spilled juice on my head.

You were always unconditional with me and you didn't mind getting in trouble for defending me. You were with me in chemotherapies; you were always strong for me. You are the strongest girl I know.

 I have seldom seen you cry. I still remember the day I told you about my illness, you were very excited, looking for solutions because you said that I would be a survivor like Mandy. How wrong you were, now we know.

 You were always my sister, even though we argued over my pessimism and my complaints about the "silly" things you did.

Without lying, I will miss you painting my nails in colors, that after watching a makeup tutorial, you run to my house to try it on my face and that you drag me to the mall because you love dresses. Those things that I hated so much are the ones that today, even without leaving, I miss, and I did not imagine it that way; I should have enjoyed it when we did it, not now that I will be gone.

 I did your rehearsals and even though I complained like crazy. I loved making them because the crazy ideas you had for me to write were always helpful. You love cheesy and pink movies, I hated them, but I enjoyed having sleepovers with Maggie.

Do you remember the promise you made to me when we were 10 years old? I want you to fulfill it on the day of my funeral. 18 purple balloons with my name thrown into the lake. It will be an incredible sight to watch.

I don't want you to stop going to my place, remember Toby will need someone to approve the clothes, nails and makeup of the girls that he brings home.

Don't forget that trip to Ibiza either, go there as if I were with you.