It started out like any other day, get up, get ready, eat breakfast, and ride my bike to school. Then walk down the long loud hallways to my locker and meet her there. I scanned the crowd there was Mike Green a football player, Mr. Martue the English teacher, Roy Tobin my lab partner. Lots of familiar faces but I didn’t see her, I looked again for the brown eyes, brown hair and wide smile. The most common traits of my best friend Diana. I looked at the wall clock across the hall, 8:07. Late? No, she couldn’t be late her mom and dad always get her here by 8:00 so her dad can drop off her mom at the café she owns to open it. It’s always been the same everyday. I looked around but I didn’t see her. I waited a few more minutes until the bell rung and I walked to homeroom. I got in the class and sat down, Diana’s desk was empty but Diana would never miss a day of school when we had a test. Ms. Carridge came by and handed out the tests she looked at Diana’s desk and looked at me

 

“Where is Miss Hansel today?”

 

“I don’t know,” I said as she handed me a test. She walked by, I looked again at Diana’s desk, shook my head and began. Later at lunch it was the same case, I sat at the regular table and waited, she didn’t come. She wasn’t there at all and she always texts me if she misses. The rest of the day dragged on until the final bell rang. I grabbed my bag and rode home as fast as I could and ran into the kitchen 

 

“Oh Alex, your home” my mom said smiling, Alex was short for Alexandra. She was feeding Jacob, my baby brother “How was school?”

 

“Good, but Diana wasn’t there” Her smile disappeared and she sat the food down “She called today she asked if I could send you over after school to talk to her” 

“What’s wrong”? 

 

“I think she wanted to tell you” I nodded, ran out to the backyard, tore open our wooden fence, and opened her yard’s small metal fence. She was sitting on her porch steps.

 

“Hey” I said “sitting down next to her” 

 

She looked at me her eyes red with tears “Hey Alex”

 

“We missed you at school today” 

 

“Yeah sorry I meant to text but I forgot” 

 

“Is something wrong?”

 

“Um” she said sniffling “my parents um told me that uh they were getting a divorce” 

I froze so, did time. Divorce the complicated term for leaving someone broken and alone. But her parents? No, it couldn’t be, they were happy and in love. He was a dentist, she owned the restaurant on main street. They lived in a cute two story house, they were Christians. 

 

“I,” I stammered “I I’m so sorry didn’t um” 

 

She nodded “I didn’t know either” A tear split down her face, “they said this was for the best and the love wasn’t there anymore” She did a half laugh but there was no humor in it, “It was for the best.” 

It was quiet for a few minutes till I heard my mom’s voice calling me home for dinner. 

 

Diana looked up “You should go you don’t want to be late”

 

“Are you gonna be ok?” I asked

“Yeah” she whispered nodding 

 

I got up and hurried out of the yard back over to mine. I took a deep breath and walked to house. At dinner I told my parents about the divorce and how sad Diana was.

 

“Catharine had talked to me about it last week” mom said she was best friends with Diana’s mom “She said it would be hard on Diana but it just wasn’t working”

 

“Do you think she’s gonna be ok” I asked 

 

“Well as long as she has such great friends, like you of course” 

 

“But” my dad said “it will be a hard time for her. She may get somewhat moody or hurt so careful what you say” 

 

“Oh of course” mom exclaimed “be careful. My best friend in high school her parents got divorce and she was devastated. Same case, two parents in love, she was an only child, they were all Christians, but once they got divorced we drifted apart. I lost contact with her, we were still friends but not as close. I never knew what happened to her oh what was her name Prim Blanch? Pat blancher? Oh Patty Blanchet! That was her name, she was such a sweet girl.” The wail of Jacob rose 

 

“Sounds like someone’s awake” mom said standing up and walking up the stairs. I picked up my glass and took a sip of the cold water. It was the same case but it wouldn’t have the same result… no not at all, right?

I got ready to go do my homework while my dad opened a box of Oreos. I grabbed one and scooped out the middle and tossed the chocolate part

 

“Why waste such a good part of the Oreo?” my dad asked biting down on milk’s favorite cookie 

 

“I like the middle better, I guess.” I walked up the stairs and started to work on my homework. I couldn’t stop thinking about Diana, just like that sweet girl.

 

The next day when I got to school, Diana wasn’t there yet. I waited a while until I saw the door open. She walked in her head hung. Without thinking I turned and walked as fast I could around the corner. She didn’t see me yet, I leaned against the wall breathing deep. I peered around the corner she opened her locker and looked around. I ducked back and started off  to my homeroom. I sat in my seat, maybe if I gave her some room she would, you know maybe work some stuff out, and then things can go back to normal. It the only logical thing to do totally. Diana came in a little later and she sat down next to me. 

 

“Hey where were you?” she said opening her bag 

 

“Oh, I wanted to check my homework again. Last night’s assignment was tough” 

 

She nodded as the bell rung 

 

“Okay class” Ms. Carridge said putting down the piece of chalk “Open up to page 360” she said turning  back to her desk.

 I flipped to the page but my mind wasn’t on reading. Would Diana and I grow apart?

 

At lunch we sat together at the normal table but we didn’t talk as much. I stared at the table in silence until the bell rung. After lunch was the only period we didn’t have together, she had French and I had PE.

 

“Hey I have to go a bit earlier today” I said walking with her to the trash “we are running laps today, so I need to stretch.” she nodded and I walked out of the cafeteria fast.

I looked back and I bumped into a girl on the way out “Sorry” I said 

 

“Its fine” the girl said.

 She had black hair and blue eyes her name was Katie. I had English with her and she always seemed lonely. No one wanted to be her friend since she had been a FWF more than once. FWF, a fair weather friend, is the name for someone that abandons you when times get tough. I thought over the definition and bite my lip as I scurried to the gym. No it couldn’t be I was still Diana’s friend… right ?

 

 When I got home that afternoon my mom greeted me 

 

“Hi Alex, oh honey how was Diana today?” 

 

“Oh, she was depressed, but I didn’t get much time to talk to her about it.” 

 

“Well I’m sure you tried. I mean it’s the second to last week of school it’s probably crazy”

 

I smiled I had almost forgot summer break was in 10 days. Time for fun swimming and sleepovers with Dian… I stopped mid-thought If Diana was still here this summer. What if she moved with one of her parents or worse we drifted apart?!

I did my quiet time later that night after dinner. It was on  King David and how he was hunted by Saul. It is one of my favorite stories, someone who went through so much but followed Gods path to become King. My favorite character was Jonathon, son of Saul, David’s closest friend who stuck with David, saved him and was always there for him. My thoughts shifted to Diana. I stopped reading and closed my devotional suddenly. I climbed in bed and tried to sleep but it wasn’t until an hour later sleep finally pulled my eyes closed.

 

The next day school was the same as before. I ran to class before Diana saw me  and left lunch early. When would it all go back to normal? At free period I saw a bunch of girls sitting together and working of at another table, was Diana. I crossed to the other side of the room before she saw me. I had to give her some space for a while so she could sort some things out. I looked at her again and noticed tears streaming down her face. I ducked my head, I was just giving her some space. I looked up and a  few tables away sat a girl. The girl I bumped into the other day, Katie. I looked at Diana, she looked at the door and scanned the room. I sat down at Katie’s table facing my back to Diana so she didn’t know it was me. I felt a pang of guilt but didn’t turn around. Katie looked up 

 

“Hi?” she said but it sounded more like a question .

 

“Hi” I said staring at the table, she looked over my shoulder

 

 “Stay calm, she doesn’t know it’s you” 

 

“What” I asked looking at Katie 

 

“Its kind of obvious” she replied

 

 “Really?” I asked

 

“Yeah” she said nodding “whom are you hiding from?” 

 

“Is it that obvious?” 

 

“Friend troubles?” she asked, nodding.

 

“How did you know?” 

 

“Well ,the swan dive into my table kind of gave it away for me. How can I help you?” she asked 

“Oh um, no thanks” I started to get up “um” 

 

“Sit” she said I sat down quickly.

 

 “Fine” I said 

 

“Ok, now step one” she said “admit you have a problem because even if you don’t. I already know you do, so spill”

 

 “Well,” I said “I have this friend who’s going though a tough time and I haven’t really been there for her. I don’t know what to do now” I said quickly. I

It was quiet for a second she took a deep breath, closed her book, and moved it to the side 

 

“Aka you were a FWF.” She said

 

“Well that’s kind of a stretch” I started 

 

“What was step one?” she asked.

 

“Fine, yes, can you help me?” I asked

 

“Well yes, but first, you’re Alexandra right?” she asked

 

“Yeah, but everyone calls me Alex. You’re Katie right?” 

 

“Yes, everyone calls my Katie” she said

 

“All right now.” I said drumming my fingers “Can you help me?” 

 

“Yes. Now” she said reaching into her bag and pulling out a bag of cookies “do you like Oreos?” 

 

“Yeah but…” I started

 

“Now” she said pulling out one of her Oreos “watch and learn. What’s your favorite part of an Oreo?” 

 

“The middle but I don’t…” I began

 

“Cool mine too now let’s say…” she started

 

“Sorry but what does this have to do with FWF’s?” I questioned

 

“Well, let me explain and you’ll know” she huffed.

 

“Ok” I nodded

 

“Now this delicious cookie is friendship” she said holding it up 

 

“Sure” I said

 

“Trust me, I’m not crazy. Lets say the chocolate cookie part is you and your friend. This side is Alex and this side is who?” she asked

 

“Diana” I replied

 

“Ok so Diana and Alex and the middle is loyalty. now so take off the loyalty.” she said opening the cookie and taking out the middle “and the friends” she put them together but they didn’t stick “don’t stay together, but put the loyalty back” she andstuck them back together “they stay” 

 

“So I need to put the loyalty back” I asked

 

“Hold on now, your friend is having a hard time, so your friendship may stay together but” she broke off half of a cookie part “she’s now broken and sad” she made a sad face “but if you stick to her she stuck the to halves to the cookie again you can help keep her together.” 

 

“But…” I started “How do I put the loyalty back?” 

 

“I would tell you but I don’t want to lead you astray or something. Do you know the story of David and Jonathon?” she asked

 

“Yeah it’s one of my favorites” I said

 

“Jonathon did what?” she asked

 

“Helped David even if it meant death or worse” I answered

 

“Ding ding ding correct, try to be like Jonathon, you should ask God what to do.” she said

 

“I knew, it you’re a Christian” I said

 

“Really?” she said confused

 

“Yeah you tried to be a better friend when you were a FWF. I saw it in your actions” I replied

 

“Yeah but it didn’t work. It was to late” she said

 

“But you tried” I reminded her.

 

“Sure I guess. Hey, do you mind if I pray for you?” she asked

 

“No” I said we bowed are heads as she prayed.

 

“Amen” she said once she finished. 

 

“Thanks” I smiled at her thank 

 

“What is God telling you to do?” she asked

 

“Well, admit I have the problem and now I need to say sorry. Thanks your really helpful” I said.

 

She nodded “really helpful” she pulled out another Oreo “and I come with cookies” she handed me the chocolate treat.

 

“Thanks” I took a bite 

 

“Now only one problem” she said “you just ate your friendship” 

 

After I thanked her again, I got up and walked over to Diana slowly. I sat down across from her 

 

“Hi” I said and she looked up. 

 

“Hi” she looked down again.

 

“Um Diana, I know I haven’t really been the best friend lately and I’m probably the worst FWF ever” I said

 

She stared at me

 

“I kind of bailed on you but I was wondering if you could forgive me?” I asked

 

She was quiet.

 

“I know I don’t deserve it” I said “but I want to be there for you even if I wasn’t before”

 

For a moment she was silent again. I hung my head slowly but she finally spoke, 

 

“Alex you are not the worst FWF. The fact you apologized makes you even more of the best friend ever. Of course I forgive you”  She said and I looked up 

 

“Really?” I asked  and she nodded

 

“I’m glad your back” I smiled and hugged her. I looked at Katie over Diana’s shoulder. She held up an Oreo and stuck the two sides together I nodded. 

 

School ended soon. After that on the first day of summer I had a sleepover with Diana. We sat in my room talking until we got hungry. We walked over to the kitchen, Diana picked up a blue box and read the label. 

 

“Cool, Oreos, my favorite” she exclaimed

 

“Mine too” I said she looked around 

 

“Why do we have so much food? This is way more then normal” she noticed

 

“Well, we have more people coming than normal,” I said 

 

“What?” Diana asked the doorbell rang

 

“Follow Me,” I said 

 

I opened the door and grinned Katie stood on the porch with her sleeping bag and backpack  

 

“Hi” I said inviting her in “Diana this is Katie she went to our school um I hope it’s ok I invited her” 

 

“Of course it is, the more the merrier. Hi I’m Diana Hansel” Diana said

 

“I’m Katie Blanchet” she replied

 

“Blanchet?” I asked looking at her “Wait, is your mom um Patty Blanchet”

 

“Yeah, do you know her?” she questioned

 

“I think my mom did back in high school” I said

 

After she put her stuff down Katie opened her bag, pulled out a blue box and handed it to me. I looked at it and looked at her.

 

 “Welcome to the sleepover” I said 

 

“Glad to come” Katie said

 

I put the box on the counter and opened it up. I handed a cookie to each girl 

 

 

“Oreos are the best,” Diana said 

 

I looked at the label 

 

“Especially when they are double stuffed” I looked at Katie and she nodded. 

 

We quickly became great friends with Katie and soon we were like the 3 musketeers. That summer was really hard for Diana but we were there for her when parents did get divorced. She spent a lot of the summer at my house like one giant sleep over. In the end her mom moved, but only 20 minutes away and she stayed weekends there, so I still got to see her, Katie came when ever she could. The important thing is we were no longer FWF we were FLF, forever loyal friends. We were no longer had broken Oreo friendships we had double stuffed friendships, and everyone likes a good Oreo cookie.