"So are you hatin' on me now?"
"No, I'm not hatin' on you?"
"Well, I didn't know if the tie was hostile or not."
"Not entirely."
"Well, speak your mind. What's up?"
"There's just been a lot on my mind lately, but I gave you the tie because it has been sitting in the same spot since Homecoming. I just needed to give it back."
"Anything else? I know there's more."
"I'm okay, really. Were the Netherlands taken in gov?"
"Don't think.. and if you seriously had something on your mind, you'd tell me, right?"
"I would want to."
"But you wouldn't."
"I want to talk to you. I feel like I have a million things to say to you at any given moment. Funny things, serious things, sad things, and intellectual things. But you have so much on your plate right now. Pat, track, school, life. I want you to focus on the important things."
"You're a person. Most importantly, a friend. That's the freaking problem. Education just one day became more important than people. You can talk to me. I kind of got upset that you seemed so rushed today and I didn't get to talk with you. You still mean a lot to me, but it's okay to talk and tell me what's on your mind."
"First of all, I hate physics. Secondly, I don't know what I want. I don't have a thing that is mine, that I'm good at. College is freaking me out and I'm scared out of my mind to make a decision. Third, I feel like I don't know myself anymore. This person I am is afraid of the world and people's opinions and I want to stop caring about those things. I want to figure out what I believe. I want to be like Grace in that she will never settle for something that is less than she deserves. I wish I had it in me to break the rules. To write a note to my dad telling him I'll be back soon, but I need to get out. To stand up for myself against everyone who can't take me out of their daily conversation."
"Well, it's okay because that's what people like you and me have to experience, especially at our age. I gave up on physics. But you'll make the right decision. You're good at plenty of things. I'm sorry things with your parents aren't great, but you never did anything to deserve that. It's not all your fault, Abby. You can't blame yourself. You are amazing, you are strong, and I'm proud to say you're a friend. One that cares, and makes me happy in more ways than one, and is unselfish. Trust me, I wouldn't make it up. I look up to you, just stray strong. I know you've got it in you, it's who you are."
"But all these things you're saying are only coming from you. Erin and Grace and Kevin.. they're saying the complete opposite. On days like today, it feels like you're the only one on my side, and while it's appreciated more than you'll ever know, it's unnerving to have ONE person standing behind you."
"But maybe they don't matter. People who are going to be like that are actually worse than what they say you are. You can't listen to everyone, and I'm sorry they were your best friends, but if they can't accept you, then they are the problem. Not you."
"Yeah, maybe, but after four years of a friendship like that, it's incredibly difficult to just put it in the past. I bought a prom dress the other night, and I cried. It was so strange doing it without Grace. Duquesne is giving me 10K but I don't know if that place is right for me. There are a million uncertanties and I don't like that."
"Go where you want to, not where you have to. That's what my dad says. Just because they're giving you money doesn't mean it will fit you. Don't worry about the money, go were you'll have the best college experience."
"I know. I'm sorry if I've kept you up late."
"You're worth it, and you would have done the same."