Loyalty

__** Loyalty **__ "Mom, are you sure I should go for this?” I called from my room, as I scrutinized myself from every angle in the mirror. My sapphire cocktail dress clung to my form, emphasizing the few curves I had. For once, I looked decently close to my age. 'Maybe, people won't mistake me for a thirteen year-old' I mused, a tiny shred of confidence materializing. Dabbing on a final touch of eyeshadow, I scooted out the door and into the car, ready for my high school reunion.

Sitting in awkward silence, I observed as familiar faces around me ran up to each other, hugging and talking, the flash of the camera abundant throughout the school hall. I was getting more and more distraught by the minute, feeling all alone. No one noticed me as I sat there with my mother, silently wishing that I could just disappear. Still, I kept my head up, keeping a hopeful eye out for Clare, my high school friend. Turning to my right, a glimmer of hope welled up as I picked out her face amongst the crowd, but what I saw next made my heart sink.

Clare was hugging a girl decked out in flashy attire, the hem of her dress higher than what should have been appropriate. But what hurt most of all, was the fact that the girl she was hugging was Alicia. Alicia, the one who constantly mocked me about my too-youthful appearance. Alicia, who gathered her gang of popular girls to laugh at me every time they saw me in the corridor. Alicia, who had made my life in high school an utter living nightmare right from day one. I bit my lip, stifling a sob. Old memories still hurt.

"I'm going to get us some punch. I'll be right back.” Breaking the silence, my mother strode away in the direction of the beverage table, leaving me alone at the table with my thoughts. I looked up, and met Alicia's eye. I could see her features twist into a look of disgust, making me shrink further into my seat. She was heading this way.

"I see you still haven't managed to grow up yet,” Alicia sneered, as Clare strode up beside her, accompanied by the very group of girls who stuck by Alicia in high school. I felt betrayed. How could Clare have abandoned me in favor of these bullies? I stared at my feet, not daring to face her, unwilling to reveal that her humiliating words were leaving me at the brink of tears. Then, through the mocking giggles of the group, there came a firm voice.

"Stop ridiculing her.”

It was Clare. In the midst of wallowing in my lack of self esteem, she had come to stand beside me, hand on the back of my chair without my notice. A stunned silence enveloped Alicia and her lackeys, before Alicia spoke up once more. "Oh come on, I thought you'd be over this pathetic excuse for a lady. She's just a child!” I looked back and forth between the two, unsure at which side Clare would take. Clare wasted no time in scooping me up and out of my seat, into a massive hug. I relished in her acceptance and friendship, tears of happiness rolling down my cheeks. I witnessed as Clare glared at the group.  "If this is the way you treat my best friend, you can kiss my friendship goodbye, because she'll be more worth than any of you ever will.” She stated coldly, as I looked on at their expressions of shock. Turning, Clare smiled at me, linking arms as we made our way through the crowd to the refreshments. The loyalty of one friend was enough to trump every bad experience I had ever had.