Building Bridges
“It’s not your fault that this is happening. So stop blaming yourself.” I tell my best friend, Charlie. I try to step around her to go into the building. She side steps to block my path. Her arms are crossed over her chest, and her stare is burning a hole in my soul. Charlie usually isn’t stubborn, but today it seems she is taking a page from my book.
“Well, you guys are making me feel bad.” Charlie says.
“You weren’t even there. How could it be your fault?” I question.
“You guys are fighting over me. I told you those pictures don’t bother me.” Charlie says. I cross my arms over my chest. I have class soon, but it seems I’m gonna be late because Charlie wants to hash this all out.
“I have class soon. I need to go in.” I try to get around Charlie again. She doesn’t let me.
“Class isn’t as important as keeping our friend group together.” Charlie says.
Yesterday at lunch, Charlie decided to sit with her ex-boyfriend. They are trying to be friends and may get back together. Charlie hasn’t decided if she wants to give Winston a second chance. He graduates in a month, and Charlie still has two years of college left. But Charlie still has feelings for him.
Well, I was sitting with our friends Madison, Camila, and Kennedy. Madison kept going on about how cute Winston and Charlie were together. I told her to knock it off since they were just friends. In my personal opinion, Charlie shouldn’t try to date Winston again. They can still be friends, but dating will just lead to heartbreak. But it isn’t my choice. It’s Charlie’s choice.
Madison then decided that she wanted to take pictures of the two of them. She pulls out her phone and starts to take pictures. My immediate response was to put my hand over the camera. We argued. Madison believes that Charlie will be fine with the pictures. I believe it is an invasion of privacy and will do more harm to have a visual representation of what Charlie could have. Madison claims that she isn’t gonna post the pictures. So what? Are the pictures just gonna sit on her phone? That’s not creepy at all.
Nothing bothers Madison. Everything just rolls right off of her. She also doesn’t think about what other people feel. Just what she wants to do. There are consequences to actions, and Madison doesn’t think that far ahead or chooses to ignore them.
I have class in 40 minutes, so I leave. I’d rather sit in an empty classroom than sit across and deal with Madison. As I had time to cool off, a thought accord to me. Did I overreact? Was I in the wrong?
I text and ask Camila who was there if I was overreacting? She responded a few hours later. To sum up the long text message, Camila said that I was overreacting a bit. Charlie tells Camila and Madison everything and they know about the Winston situation better than I do. Charlie wouldn’t mind the pictures. After being called a bad friend and not knowing Charlie as well, I said I would drop it.
Problem is, I’m not good at dropping topics that bother me. I couldn’t get rid of this feeling that something bad was gonna happen. I had to do something to protect Charlie. I don’t want to see her get hurt. Kennedy suggested I tell Charlie my side of things and that Charlie deserved to know about the photos.
Charlie said the photos didn’t bother her but was thankful I was looking out for her.
Even with Charlie saying she was fine about the pictures, I could shake off how salty I felt towards Madison and Camila. That’s how we got here with Charlie trying to fix this.
“I said I would drop it. So let’s drop it and let me go to class.” I say. Charlie doesn’t move. I cross my arms over my chest. Charlie follows suit.
“But you are still giving Madison and Camila the cold shoulder. So obviously you aren’t fine or dropping it. This issue is still bothering you.”
“Look,” I hold Charlie’s gaze. “I’m trying. All I need to do is build a bridge and get over it. I’m just not good at building bridges. But I’m working on it.” I say sternly. In a softer voice I ask, “can you let me go to class now?” I side step around Charlie. This time she doesn’t stop me.