With love, from Shantel

There are always two sides to a story and I feel that it's only fair that you hear from me too. Rewinding through my poor excuse of a memory, back to day one. Year ten, biology class, just back from summer holidays in Taiwan. I walked through the door of that biology class like a nervous yet anticipating little kid on the first day of school and just plopped myself down on the nearest spare seat that caught my eye. It was something so unintentional, a decision made in the spur of the moment because the entire class had their unforgiving eyes scanning me up and down (just because I missed a week on holidays, chill guys). And frankly, it was one of the best decisions I've ever made. 

I found myself sitting next to Joanne, that girl who was always in a few of my classes but never talked to. I didn't know a thing about her, and one of the things I despise most are awkward silences so I politely said hi to this girl that I didn't know. It was a comfortable silence, one that made you wonder if she felt it too or if it was just all in my head. So being the totally spontaneous and somewhat curious person that I am, I decided to say hi and that I liked her earrings. Which I did. (I was mildly disappointed when I discovered that they weren't real earrings because she didn't have her ears pierced.) 

So there we go, our first conversation. It all went by so fast, from my first, unintentional decision to sit next to her on my first day, to singing Kelly Clarkson 'Breaking Your Own Heart' every lesson, exchanging silly smiles and stories. I wasn't doing so well in grade 10, it was rough, because most of my friends turned against me as a consequence of my wrongdoings from previous relationships. I had nobody who wanted to listen to me, but she did. She listened to every single word I said, and told me everything was going to be okay, that mistakes can be rectified and that I was strong enough to get back up on my feet. For the first time, what's past is past. I will always be grateful for that spare table, spare seat, on the first day of biology, next to Joanne.

Little did I know... that she has a kissing fetish. I mean, she kisses everything and anything, like for instance, my knee. She just can't keep herself off me. Not that I can help being so kissable. Maybe it's Maybelline, or really it's just me. Sorry that was lame I had to call it. But in all sincerity, thank you so much for accepting my sweaty hands, listening to my pointless rants, crying together in bed because I tell really sad stories, bringing me closer to God, loving my imperfections away, and giving me really good high fives. 

With love, from Shantel