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Anne was not a plain girl.  She was an ugly girl.  Even at a young age everybody shunned her.  Everyone except Aveton.  But then expectations change and Aveton had become more self-conscious, more aware, and even at six she was aware that her friendship with Anne would get her nowhere.  Inwardly Aveton loved Anne, had been her friend, the one she could tell her secrets to but Anne was a tom-boy, not her type.  So, she had to go.  Dumped.  She remained a friend but a friend from a distance.  At a distance Anne stood by her.

But always at a distance.

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*

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Chloe shared the love of bling, of all things bright and beautiful.  Her parents were not as affluent as Avetons so Aveton shared her spoils, her bling, the matching jewellery, the make-up.  Aveton never really shared.  Sharing gave her power.  She shared but made sure Chloe did not really own.  Chloe was a pretty girl.  A girly-girl, like herself.  Having things in common doesn’t mean you are the same.  Aveton knew.  Chloe was second in command and Aveton knew she had to keep her close, but she was not close enough to keep her secrets.

The boys looked at Chloe, but they never looked twice.  They looked at Aveton and never removed their gaze.

Chloe was fourteen and developed spots.

She was no longer a friend to Aveton Gifford.

She was no longer needed.

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*

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Karl was her best friend.  It was unusual at sixteen to have a boy for a best friend, but he was loyal.  If loyalty meant constantly following her around pampering to her every wish.  She was the desirable one and he was a follower.  The perfect combination.  Aveton suspected something was different about him but it did not really concern her, it fulfilled her needs at the moment and the curiosity that they provoked only added to the drama.  So, the spotlight was still on her.

He gave her a locket with his picture inside.  A token of love.  It was an honest token.  He thought it would be an eternal memory.  She now barely remembered his name.

Aveton was very comfortable with him.  Every day he proclaimed his love for her.  Every day she was re-assured.  They laughed.  Laughter is intimate.  Karl was her best friend.  Their ultimate intimacies were their dreams.  Karl was a dreamer, he dreamt of her.  Aveton had peaceful sleeps, she did not dream of anyone else.

In the day time Aveton had other dreams and they did not include Karl.  He was not part of the plan.  If she did have a plan.  The locket stayed in the drawer along with her grandmother’s ring.  Not to be used, not to be worn, not to be remembered.  Things that are not necessary.

Karl was not necessary.

He was a fashion accessory.

Aveton met him thirty years later, ran into him doing her favourite thing, always her favourite thing – she was shopping.  Karl was now settled into a loving partnership.  Aveton was alone.  He had been more successful.

Stuart was a lucky man to have Karl she realised.

It was an embarrassing reunion.

Karl did not remember her name.

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*

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Aveton was the only one in her group to leave school at sixteen.  She was focused.  Aveton had always been the driving force with her companions.  Aveton had money.  They did not.  Money could afford her things – clothes, jewellery, perfume, attention.  Aveton had always been pretty, now she was attractive.  And there was a difference, a difference she soon learnt how to identify.  It was a difference in a word – a difference in a world.

Jeff was older.  He was her tutor, he became her friend.  He taught her but he listened to her.  Listening is flattery.  She had always like to be flattered.  Aveton was respectful of him, he was older.  At first he was respectful of her too.  At first.  At first it was Mr Brown, but it soon became Jeff.  Aveton knew how to flirt.  It was a lesson she had learnt at an early age and now, learning to drive, it was what made her successful.

She had three attempts to pass her driving test and finally she had done it.  It took a while, it took longer than it should have done.

Jeff was not a friend.

Friends in high places can only fall.

She passed her test.

The test was positive.

He positively disowned her.

He drove into the sunset.

He left her alone.

That is not what friends do.

Jeff was not a friend.

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*

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Aveton was alone.  Her friends had deserted her as she had deserted them in her lifetime.  She had no friends.  She questioned whether she ever had.  Yes, she had once but now it was too late.  Aveton had inflicted too much pain. 

Aveton did not feel pain after it had happened, it was an experience, the end of the story.  Aveton just felt numb.  It had been dealt with. 

Her Mother looked in despair.  Her mother had lost a daughter -  she had lost a grandchild.

She would never look at Aveton in the same way again. 

It was a gift that had not been given.  It was a gift that was lost.

Aveton recollected sharing secrets as a child.  There were no friends left.

Would she listen?

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Friends