I raised an eyebrow, but I didn’t dwell on it. After all, Brachi and I had been friends since forever

Eighth grade. The words made a tingle run up my spine. This was it! The last year of elementary school. The year my friends and I would be the oldest in the school, with everything that came along with that. I couldn’t wait.

I was so glad that I was going into eighth grade with a great group of friends, especially my BFF, Brachi. Since both of us were the youngest in our families, we had a special relationship; we understood each other, and we had lots of time for each other, unlike many of the other girls who had loads of family responsibilities. They had to help their mothers, babysit their siblings, and all that. Brachi and I were inseparable. We’d been best friends since forever, spent hours a day talking on the phone and sharing our deepest secrets with one another.

In fact, I had no qualms about starting eighth grade at all. Why would I? Between my BFF, my academic talents (I always got 100s with very little effort), my positive track-record with my teachers (they all always loved me), and my parents (the most awesome parents ever), I was a happy, carefree girl. Looking back, I wonder at my calm, relaxed attitude. If only I’d known…

The trouble started on the very first day of school, though I didn’t know it yet. One of the girls from the parallel class, Kaila, switched into our class. Within a few days, I noticed that my BFF was always talking about Kaila. “Kaila is so cute. She’s so cool,” she said. I raised an eyebrow, but I didn’t dwell on it. After all, Brachi and I had been friends since forever.