Welcome To Tenth-grade

ELLE

Rule number one: Best friends don't keep secrets from each other. Rule number two: Best friends come first before anyone else. 

Rule number three: Best friends must always have each other’s backs. 

Rule number four: Best friends must attend important events together. 

Rule number five: Best friends will not ditch each other for popularity.  Rule number six: Your best friend's brother is your brother, not your lover. Rule number seven: Best friends must celebrate birthdays together — always. 

Rule number eight: You must support your best friend's dreams and ambitions. Rule number nine: No lies - no matter what. 

Rule number ten: Best friends must fix fights before the day ends. Rule number eleven: Best friends never let anyone come between them. And rule number twelve: Best friends forever — no matter what happens.

In a few hours, I’ll officially become a tenth-grade student. But before that, there are a few things you should know about me.

Sixteen years ago, I was born into a small but beautiful family.  There's my younger brother, Christian, and my father who works several jobs so that we can survive. 

Years after my birth, my Mom died. 

Cancer did what it does best.

However, loneliness after my mother’s death was the least of my problems. I missed her because she was my mother, and I always would. But I was never truly alone.

Two big differences. 

Then there's Cassie, my best friend. 

Surprisingly, we were born on the same day. The most shocking part of it? My Mom and hers have been friends, long before they got married to our fathers. They would still be friends if death and cancer hadn’t taken one.

Back to us. Cassie Reed and I have been best friends since the day we were born - and side by side, we've grown—from babies to toddlers, and now we are teenagers. 

Unlike normal teenagers who can have more than one friend, Cassie and I have been our only friends since we came of age.

All through these years, our friendship blossomed - survived through twelve rules. 

There were times we faulted in a few - we forgave each other. At least, they weren't as serious as the ones we considered important - rules three, five, six, nine, and ten.

Of course, I would never break any of those rules. They mattered a lot more than some others, and I was never going to take the risk. 

***

I turned to the mirror, looked at my hair, grabbed a band from the table and arranged it as I wanted it. It was my first day as a tenth-grade student, and I needed to make an impression — so I wouldn’t feel left out.

“Elle!” My father screamed. 

“Dad!” I screamed back. 

“It's your first day at school, for God’s sake.” He cried. “Do you want to miss the bus?” He was closer to my room. “I won't pay for extra services this session, do you understand?” 

“Yes, Dad. I'll be on time.” 

Left alone, I went back to staring at myself. Maybe there was something I missed, or was there nothing? I caught up with my bed and snatched my backpack, soon catching up with the living room. “Good morning, Dad.” I kissed my only surviving parent. “Christian?” 

“Getting ready.” 

“Oh.” I kissed his cheeks again. “I'll see you when I'm back. Enjoy your day.” 

“You too, baby.” He munched. 

The next moment, he called me back. “Hold on, Elle. There's something I want to ask you.” 

What now? I halted and turned around. 

“Is Cassie still the Cheer Squad Leader?” 

“Yes, Dad. Until eleventh-grade.” 

“Hm, nice—” He sighed and continued with his phone. “Run along or you'll miss the bus.”

Ignoring him, I stepped out. 

A sigh escaped my mouth. I smiled at the sight of Christian. He stared down at me from his room's window, waving. 

“See you later, Chris.” 

“Cassie!” All of a sudden, my younger brother shouted from where he was - and I turned in that same direction to see my best friend and her older brother, Noah - in Noah's car. 

“Hi, Christian!” Cassie shouted. 

Now she looked at me and let out. “Hurry!” 

In seconds, I caught up with the car, settled into the backseat, and asked. “Why are you here? You should be in school, Cassie.”

“Oh, Noah—” She cried. “You were right about going to the school from home.” 

I let out a chuckle and relaxed. 

“Come on.” A sigh escaped my mouth as I leaned in. “I'm sorry. I just - didn't expect you to be at my house - not until the weekend.” 

“I told her so—” Noah chuckled. 

Ignoring Cassie, I looked at him. “Thank you for coming to get me. I'll save today's bus fare.” I smiled before relaxing my back again. 

Noah was my best friend's only brother. 

Just like me, I had only Christian. In that same manner, Cassie had only Noah.

The sixth rule applied to Noah and Christian. Although Cassie was never going to have anything to do with my brother - she was six years older than he is, after all. Somehow, it was just me to whom the sixth rule applied. 

But I didn't care. 

Not when I was certain nothing would happen between Noah and me. 

He acted like my older brother—treating me the same way he treated Cassie.

The car started, finally. 

While Cassie and I talked about everything that happened during the holiday, Noah played our favorite Alex Warren's jam. But this wasn't the time for a jam - it was a time to listen to everything Cassie had to say. 

We saw each other last weekend. 

But it looked like we hadn't seen each other in a very long time. 

“That reminds me—” 

It was Noah who chipped. “Will you remain the Cheer Squad Leader in tenth-grade, Cassie?” He looked at us through the mirror facing him and continued to drive. 

“Of course.” My proud best friend laughed. “What were you thinking? I'll be there until eleventh-grade. Probably until twelfth.”

“I can't imagine that.” 

“Why not?” I laughed. “Cassie is doing very well as the Cheer Squad Leader, Noah.” 

“She's probably pretending.” 

“I'm not pretending!” Cassie snapped. “I'm a good person. You just fail to see it and honestly, it's not my fault.” She turned to me. 

“Do you think I'm pretending?” 

Cassie and pretence? Definitely not. 

I laughed hard. 

Noah and his sister, Cassie, have always been this way. But they loved each other so much. Anyone could tell from the way he checked in on us when we used to be younger. 

Most times, I wondered whether such a relationship would exist between Christian and me - the very kind Noah and Cassie had. 

“Are you going to answer me, Elle?” 

“Uh, no, Cassie—” I ignored my thoughts and looked at her. “You know Noah is annoying. Don't let his words get to you, mm?” 

I leaned closer as I ignored her brother who continued to speak about how pretentious his sister could be. While Cassie and I talked about an entirely different thing, Noah drove - and soon, we arrived at the main gate. 

“Finally—” Cassie let out. 

We picked up our backpacks and hopped out - more than ready to officially become tenth-grade students, while Noah, a twelfth-grade student - literally his last year as a student of Brookridge High School. 

“You girls stay safe—” Noah, just as he did last session, continued. “Stay together and let me know when something happens.” 

“Nothing will happen.” As usual, we snapped. 

Together, we walked through the parking lot, heading to our new classroom. And then we saw her, the class bully. “All hail Diana.” Softly, Cassie mocked. “She looks like a clown.”