WhicheloeL1213

Stella was excited to come home that one fall day when the leaves were changing colors from green, to a dark amber, back to a yellow orange and she skipped along the sidewalk with her bright blue ribbon swaying along in her red hair. Stella was 10 years old and happy as any 10 year old could be. She had a china white canvas for a face, scattered with freckles, red lips, and warm emerald eyes. She had on her favorite dress. the one she wore for her 3rd grade assembly. Stella was shy. Stella did not have many friends, but she did not mind. Friends were not her top priority. She knew one day she would have friends, close ones, but for now, she had the empty spot in her heart. Stella was happy to be home when she swung open the porch door to reveal her apholsterd green couch, her mother's face hanging on the wall, and a long carpet that ran from the front door all the way to her kitchen. She could smell the beginnings of a great meal her father was making in the big pot upon the stove. "Smells great, Daddy, what are you making?" Stella asked. "Pot roast. Your Mama's favorite" He replied. Stella's mother had died just last year. Sadie had been a delicate woman. Eyes dark blue, a golden blanket starting from her head to her back. Sadie had died suddenly when she was struck with hypothermia when Stella and her family went ice skating. Sadie's doctor recommended she didn't go, but it had been Stella's birhtday, and she didn't want to let Stella down. Every night after her mother died, Stella's father would tuck her into bed, kiss her on the forehead and say 'You're the only reason I stay in this world'. Stella loved her father's cooking. It was always so rich and delicious and always home made. Her father had not once taken her out to eat since the hypothermia struck Sadie. That night Stella scarfed down her meal, downed her apple juice and ran upstairs. From Stella's room, you could see everything. The bright city lights of Manhattan, the old coupled that walked past her house every night, and Stella's favorite part, the stars. The stars were a symbol of hope to her. She imagined her mother dancing in the stars watching over her as she slept through the night. On that particular night, Stella made a wish for one friend. "Just one friend, please." It was now 6 years since Stella's mom passed. Stella had changed. Her hair was longer, redder, and her eyes a deeper green. The only thing that had stayed the same, was her blue ribbon swaying along with her hair. "Stella, how long have you had that thing? It's all tethered and worn out." Her best friend Ramona said, as she picked at the ribobn in Stella's hair. "I wear it, Ramona, because I feel my best when I wear it." She replied. And it was true. Stella had worn that ribbon since the day her mother gave it to her. Stella did not wear it becuase she missed her mother, or because she was mourning over her mother, but because her confindence level rose while wearing it. "Call me crazy, but it's my lucky charm." Stella was insecure about herself. She thought she was too fat, too pale, too unhappy iwht her life. She was glad to have Ramona, but even Romona became too annoying. "Greg, two o'clock." Romona whispered as she pointed to Greg Jimsky, the most popular boy in Westbrook High School. Stella turned as prettily as she could, "He's staring at you Ramona, not me." She said. "Oh well, you know, you'll get used to it." Romona had a habit of knowing she was drop dead gorgeous, andalways flaunting it in Stella's face. Stella wanted to get out of the smelly hallway, where the girls would clomp around in their high heels and their Gucci purses swinging on the crook of their arms. "Hey, I'll um, see ya later." Stella said as she turned towards the parking lot. Having long conversations with Romona made Stella feel uncomfortable. The way Romona talked was annoying enough. Adding in the word "like" everywhere she could. Stella was happy to be walking home along the same sidewalk, passing the same trees, changing the same colors. Her books were settled comfortably in her folded arms and the distant beeps of cars and trucks would reach her ears and die down. Stella knew her dad would be home, and that made her happier. Her dad made her feel secure about herself. The way he would congratulate her for getting a C on a test instead of yelling "Hey, at least it's not a D!" He would say. Stella walked into the house and collapsed on the couch. She didn't know if she had feelings for Greg. The way her heart jumped when she thought he was staring at her made her almost throw up. She could feel the years of loneliness sink back into her head and she shook them off as she smelled the delicious dinner her father was whipping up in the kitchen. "Hey, kiddo. How was school? Anything exciting happen?" He asked Stella. She shot him a sarcastic yet saddened look. "Alright fine, I won't ask anymore." He said throwing a dish towel at her head and walking back to his boiling pot of pasta. Stella went upstairs to her room where she threw her book bag down on the comforter and went to her window. Looking up at the stars she wondered why she even spoke to them when she was young. "Stupid me." Stella whispered under her breath. It was now December. The night of the dance was upon Stella and her friends. She picked out a beautiful dress. Knee-length, light blue, and beading all down the front. It complimented her small body and her red hair. As Stella walked down to Ramona's house she swung her bag next to her. Her hair was up in a tight bun and of course, her blue ribbon hugged her strands. Ramona opened the door and screamed. "You look gorgeous! Lord, look at you!" Stella knew Ramona was just being polite. Stella grabbed at her ribbon and replied with a quiet "Thank you" and walked over to Ramona's couch where she crossed her legs. Ramona applied a light lipstick to her lips and walked over to Stella. "You ready?" She said holding her hand out for Stella to grab hold of. Stella took it, and they walked out the door while Stella rubbed her ribbon in her hair. Now Spring, Stella and Ramona were sending out their college applications. Stella's birthday passed with a party thrown by Ramona. Stella honestly was happy that Ramona and her weren't going to be together all the time. Ramona was one of those people who got on Stella's last nerves. When Stella was happy, Ramona was sad, when Ramona was loud, Stella was quiet. they were complete opposites of each other. "I can't wait to go to NYU." Stella said. She had sent out her application last week and was waiting for a reply. "Oh, me too! I know for SURE I'm going to get in." Ramona replied. Stella stared at Ramona for a moment. Dead in the eyes. "You're going to NYU? Ramona you know that that's my school, right? I want to go there." "Well you're not the only one who can get in, you know. There's plenty of dorms there." She said. "Oh Ramona, we have to live without each other for once! I'm so sick of being hip to hip with you." Stella blurted out. She hadn't meant to say it so harshly. "Well, lucky for you, I haven't sent my application out yet, so, I don't think I am anymore. You're probably too stupid to get in anyway. Your ribbon's not going to help you with this one Stella. You'll be just like your mother. Stupid, sad, and sick." Ramona said, choking back a couple of tears she wouldn't let fall down her cheeks. Ramona turned on her heel and walked away off to History class without Stella. Stella was shocked. She breathed in hard, and slammed her locker. She watched as Ramona stomped down the hallway. "Well, good! no one would want you there anyway! And wait, you see, my ribbon will get me in!" Ramona yelled after Ramona. People stared at her and Stella turned a bright shade of rosy pink. The next week, Ramona walked up to Stella waving an application in her face. "I'm sending it out, today." Stella grabbed it in disbelief. It was there, alright. Ramona had written up her essay and typed out her accomplishments. Stella was more than annoyed with Ramona. "I thought you said you had changed your mind, Ramona." Stella said, punching every syllable as it went by. "If you can send one out, so should I. You're not going to tell me how to run my life, Stella." Ramona replied, mocking Stella's voice. Ramona walked down to her locker, opened it, and put her backpack, cardigan, and application into it. She closed it and turned left to her lunch. Stella had to think about her actions. She knew her anger was what was controlling her right now but she couldn't help it. She made sure no one was looking and snuck over to Ramona's locker. Stella knew the combination of course. It was Ramona's birthday. "6,17,89" Stella said under breath as Ramona's locker popped open. As Stella looked around, she saw Ramona's bag, hair brush, makeup, and a picture of the two of them at the dance. Their dresses almost matching. Stella swallowed a lump in her throat as she thought about what she was about to do. Stella took a piece of paper and quickly jotted down a note.

//Dear Ramona,// //I am putting your application in the mail since today is the only day we are allowing students to send them. I hope you don't mind, but I hadn't seen your name on the list of 'sent out', so I came looking for your locker. Your friend Stella told me you put it in your here. Thank you for understanding, Ramona.// //-Principal Jenkins//

Stella signed the letter in big cursive letters, grabbed the application, slammed the locker, and ran away. She ran all the way outside of the school and ripped up the application. Each tear like a piercing cry. She could imagine Ramona's face if she were watching this. Stella pictured what her mother would think. She pushed these thoughts aside as she thought about her future and what she wanted. Stella nervously pulled on her ribbon for security and threw the application in the trashcan. Walking back into the school was just as bad as walking out. Ramona was by her locker hurriedly searching for her application, noticing the letter, and taking a deep breath in and out of relief. Stella felt sick to her stomach. She was an awful friend. An awful best friend. Why had she done that? It was selfish and hateful. She couldn't believe herself. She knew her father wouldn't have any words of wisdom for this. She didn't ever want to tell him, but she knew she wouldn't be able to fight back the tears. "I went to thank Principal Jenkins for taking my application for me, but you know what happened? She said she never did." Ramona screamed at Stella the next day. "What did you do with it? I want it now, Stella, I know you have it, give it to me now." Stella burst into tears. "I'm sorry Ramona. I don't have it." She tried to explain in between broken cried of guilt and sadness. "I, I was selfish and mean. Please forgive me, Ramona." "What- did you do with it?" Ramona asked angrily. "Tell me now, Stella." Everyone was watching them now. Waiting for the next girl to make their move. Stella could feel her cheeks burn a bright pink and they blazed with fire. Stella was able to deliver her act of shame to Ramona with success and Ramona stared her blankly in the face. "I bet your ribbon gave you the 'confidence' to that, didn't it, Stella?" She said it quietly. almost a whisper. "Ramona, I'm so sor-" Stella began. "Save it." And Ramona walked to her locker in tears. Stella let the thoughts sink in that NYU was the only school Ramona applied to. The applications were due yesterday and Ramona was so excited. Stella had single-handedly ruined Ramona's future while thinking of her own. As Stella turned her back to her locker about to close it, she heard the familiar footsteps of Ramona coming up behind her. She couldn't turn around to see Ramona's saddened face staring back at her with anger and absolute betrayal. Instead, she rubbed her ribbon to relieve her stress and guilt. Stella could hear the odd sound of metal against metal as it swept through her hair, just missing her neck. She could feel the wind brush past her cheek and the gasp of everybody around her. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the oh so familiar color of a blue ribbon sliver to the ground. Ramona walked in front of Stella and put the scissors in her hands, picked up the ribbon and tore it in her hands, tears streaming down her face. Stella looked in the mirror and cried. She screamed and threw up. She grabbed at the short ends of hair that now occupied her head. Her beautiful mane of red-gold hair had disappeared, and was replaced with a choppy cut up to her ears. She put the scissors in the sink and cried some more. She rubbed her eyes and cocked her head in sadness. Not only had she lost her hair, but she lost her companion. Her ribbon. The thing that had gotten her through everything that made her anxious or cringe or cry. As the grass was changing from a bright green to a light dead brown, Stella was walking home. She was walking along the same sidewalk she always did. She saw the same trees, same rocks, same road, cars, people. She walked along the same spot she had been walking for years. Her hair had grown a little. It was now down to the nape of her neck and her eyes had turned a pale, sickly green. It was always on her mind. The incident that happened six months ago in the dark hallways of her school. Stella was a senior now, with hopes and dreams like everybody else. Only hers, were tinted with guilt. She still thought about her ribbon. How she had grown timid again and quiet. She lost friends, weight, confidence, trust. She was alone and would feel that way for a long time. As Stella climbed up her front steps to swing her door open, she noticed her dad had not checked their mailbox. She lazily walked over to the row of mailboxes and opened hers up. She flipped through the rectangular white shapes of bills, check, and coupons. Magazines were resting on the crook of her arm as Stella's acceptance letter to NYU fell to the ground.