**MADDIE, GINA: MY SKIN IS ORANGE JUICE

Listening to Owl City and feeling refreshed.

Birthday is tommorow-- So excited! Life is good right now. My buddies drenched me in love today. I've never felt more thankful for my friends than today. I was looking around on the bus--at all the faces--and out of the blue, I just wanted to glomp all of them. I got asked "Uh, Allie, why do have that weird dreamy expression on your face?" I get that a lot, but today more than usual. Schedule was good. Science (Physics ugh) and Social (Awesome teacher!) were pretty much free periods today. And I feel like ranting about my friends. But I need to get this out there:

And I am still in mourning over one of the best friends I have ever had, and never fully appreciated...

Philippine.

She came from France and tried to learn English, and she was friendly and kind to everyone. Most people seemed to look upon talking to her in French as a burden. I truly enjoyed it.

One day, without warning, she comes to school. It's her last day. She's leaving to a purely English school because she wasn't learning French fast enough.

I almost missed the bus hugging her, consoling her... There was a mass of people saying goodbye. We bought her a fruity drink. We cried all over her.

And I will never forget, as long as I live, as I looked back as I was walking away, her beautiful french tanned face, with her soft sweep of blonde hair sticking to her forehead with tears and sweat, her hand clamped around the can of fruit juice, her cheeks tear streaked and her eyes light and watery, staring off into space with a heartbroken expression, she was going to a school far away, she had just made friends, nobody would understand her at her new school--literally.

I talked to her later. She had kept the fruit juice. She said she wouldn't drink it. She was going to keep it as a memory.

She was so brave.

I could never move countries and after JUST getting comfortable, going somewhere where no one would understand you.

~For the rest of the week, I was thankful.

Feeling sad? Depressed? Misunderstood? Think of Philippine. Think of her and be strong for her. Philippine was a huge inspiration for me.

I love you Mabelle Philippine...

~