I was lying down on my bed, reading my recently purchased romance novel, and I was fully immersed in it, when my cellphone's ringtone filled the air in my room, breaking me free from my fantasy world.

I glanced at the screen and saw Ashley's name on it. I picked up the phone and muttered, "Hey, what's up?..."

Ashley said excitedly, "Come to my house RIGHT NOW!!!..."

+"Why?!... What's wrong?..." I freaked out a bit.

-"Just come... you'll know... See ya..." she hung up the call on me.

I stared at my cell phone for a while, dumbfounded, thinking what might have happened.

I sighed and got out of bed. Walking to my closet, I picked up a white t-shirt and cotton short pink pants. As I changed my clothes, I looked at myself in the mirror, observing my loose messy hair and no make-up face, wondering whether I should tidy myself up or not.

"Nah... It's just me and Ashley... I'm too lazy to do anything... I'll leave just like this... What could've possibly happened?... " Mumbling to myself as I headed out of my room.

Walking downstairs and finding my mom in the living room, "Mom, I'll go to Ashley's house for a while..."

"OK, dear," my mom answered as she was busy watching drama on TV.

I put on my flip-flops since Ashley's family lives next door, and I didn't have to wear anything fancy and stepped out the front door.

~

I walked a few steps until I was in front of Ashley's yard. As I was about to go inside, I noticed a black XX car parked in front of their garage and a tall girl with short black hair, wearing a white linen oversized shirt with a navy long sleeve Tee underneath and tucking them in her baggy light blue jeans with sunglasses, got out of the car.

The first thought that came to my mind was, "Damn... She's so hot..."

When she got closer and pushed her sunglasses on top of her head, I realized that she was Diana, Ashley's best friend, who I'd always wanted to see in person.

I was completely frozen at my place as Diana took a glance at me from head to tiptoe, a slightly judgemental gaze, and walked past me in silence. After that, she rang Ashley's door, waiting on the porch.

I was dazzled by her strong presence. My heart was beating so fast, and my palms sweated as I became unconsciously nervous, wondering why she looked at me like that.

As I remembered what I looked like out of the blue, I gasped...

"SHIT!!!... I'm a mess!!!!!!... Why would I look like a homeless person in our first encounter~~~~... Shiiiittttt!!!~~~" I screamed internally.

I came to my senses again when suddenly I heard Ashley calling me, "Heyyyy~~~... Lily~~... Why are you standing there?!~... Come on in, girl!!..."

I replied anxiously, "Comiiiiing~" and ran to the front door. In the meantime, Diana had already sat on the couch after stepping inside.

~

Ashley pushed me onto the couch next to Diana and made me sit there. Then she sat in the armchair in front of us and said, "Okay... First, let me introduce you two together." She pointed at me and said, "She's Lily, my neighbor..." Then she pointed at Diana, "She's my best friend that I told you about before, Diana"...

I reached out my hand anxiously to shake and said with a silly smile on my face, "Hiii~... Nice to meet you."

Diana shook my hand firmly, a bit strong, and responded with a straight face and a calm voice, " Hey, Lily... my pleasure."

She pulled her hand away quickly, then turned her head towards Ashley and groaned, "Now spit it out what happened!... I'm busy..."

I pulled back my hand after my hand froze in the air for a moment.

Ashley looked at us, smiling from ear to ear, and yelled out of excitement, "I got engaged!!!!..."

I was totally shocked since that was the least expected news. My mouth was wide open, and I asked, "Whaaaaaat?!... Really?... You're not pranking us, right?!!!!..."

She showed her engagement ring on her finger and said in a low key scream, "This time is realllll~... I'm finally going to get marry~~~..."

I got up and hugged her bashfully, "Congratulations!!!~~~..."

Both of us were jumping up and down excitedly when I heard Diana's calm voice from behind me, "Congratulations, Ashley."

Ashley approached Diana and jumped on her lap, wrapping her hands around Diana's neck, and said, "Aw~~... Are you sad you're losing your bestie?!~..."

Diana held Ashley's waist and responded unfazed, "Nah... Actually, I'm happy that I'm finally free from your whining and nagging all the time that you wanna marry and have a family..." and then smirked.

"Bitch!..." Ashley groaned.

~

As I watched Ashley and Diana, together chit-chatting and laughing, in their own world, I kinda envied them.

I wanted a relationship like that, a friendship that was comfortable and effortless. I wanted to have someone to talk to, who I could just be myself around without worrying about what I said or how I said it.

I've always thought Ashley is so lucky to have such a supportive friend like Diana, while I've never had one.

Ashley and I are just acquaintances since we've been neighbours for so many years, and our parents were mostly in contact with each other. However, we're not that close since Ashley is that type of girl who is nice to everyone unnecessarily and has so many people around her.

And all I know is that her only close friend is Diana, because Ashley has always praised her as one of the most incredible people she has met whenever we have been together. So naturally I'm uncontrollably envious of them.

My curiosity about Diana started almost a year ago, so I spied her on Instagram first, and whenever she was here in front of Ashley's house, I watched her from my bedroom window facing our street for a few minutes until she got in.

And that's how I became a Diana fan without even seeing her closely once!...

I've imagined so many times how we're going to face each other for the first time, however, I'd have never expected it to be like this!

It was a disaster. In fact, the disaster was me!...

I was so embarrassed that I wanted to hide somewhere.

And now I can absolutely tell you that she doesn't like me, nor cares about me.

She only looks at Ashley. Diana's attention is completely fixed on her. "Why?"... I wondered.

~

Ashley ordered pizza and cola for dinner, so we gathered around the table. I sat silently beside Diana while she opened the pizza box, and Ashley placed plates for us.

Then Ashley called loudly, "Alexxx!!!... Stop playing that shitty game! Get your butt here!..."

Alex came running to the table and gave Diana a bro hug, "Hey~ Dee... You should've come upstairs to play FIFA together!... Leave this dumb Ash alone..." and rolled his eyes at Ashley.

Diana chuckled in response, "I wish I could!..."

Ashley slapped the back of Alex's head, "Sit down!... " and grumbled at Diana, "Whose friend are you?!... Me or him?!..."

Diana smirked silently as she passed me a Cola can, "Here"...

I thanked her anxiously and held the can in my hands, watching them joke around.

Ashley started to serve the pizza slices, and we all began to eat. Then I asked, "Will you have an engagement party?".

"Yep!... It'll be around at the end of next month...

The two of you can help me prepare everything I need until my wedding day!" she replied enthusiastically.

Diana said with a gloomy face, "I'm sorry, but I'm working on a major project right now, so I can't promise..."

Ashley pouted, "Don't be a bummer!... You have no right to say no!..."

Alex added, "Dictator!..."

I unconsciously laughed, and for a second, I saw Diana's glare at me, which gave me a chill. I dropped my head down and bit into my pizza silently. "Why would she look at me like that?... I didn't even say anything!..." I wondered.

Ashley whined and grasped Diana's hand, "Pleaseee?..."

Diana sighed and replied, "FINE!... But I can't be with you full time.", then munched on her pizza. Ashley looked at me and said, "How about you, little Lily?... Will you help?..."

I nodded and said yes instantly. I wanted to spend more time with them, so of course, I'll help her...

Because‌ this is obviously my last chance to get to know Diana before Ashley gets away with her husband, then I'd never get a chance to meet Diana... I should be friends with her no matter what!!!...

I returned home a few minutes after Diana left Ashley's house. I walked straight to my room, my heart still brimming with enthusiastic feelings since I still couldn't believe I had actually met her.

I slumped down on my bed and shoved my face into the pillow while giggling bashfully. Then I sprang up suddenly and picked up my diary notebook to write about what happened today.

~

[A week later].

Ashley and I were waiting in front of her house for Diana to pick up us around 4 PM. Our plan was to find her a suitable dress and shoes for her upcoming engagement and since Sam was busy with work, it was just the three of us.

I was wearing a short bisque jean skirt with a pink floral blouse, and my light pink Vans shoes. This time I put on light make-up, a little pink lip gloss on my lips, Blusher on my cheeks to give my pale face a bit of colour, and mascara on my eyelashes. Also Straightening my wavy hair to look better in the end. 

Ashley was wearing a white T-shirt with ripped short jeans and a pair of Adidas shoes. She opted for a natural look and only applied a bit of mascara and lip gloss. 

We heard Diana's car arriving and we both hopped in. Diana was wearing a simple gray sweatshirt and dark blue jeans with gray and white sneakers. 

As I got into the back seat, I met Diana's eyes from the rearview mirror, "Hey~" I said anxiously. She answered, "Hi..." then looked at Ashley and asked, "Where's the shop you wanna go?"

After Ashley entered the location on the GPS, Diana drove the car. We drove in silence for a few minutes until Ashley turned on the music and hummed along with it. 

I was tense, didn't know what to do. My eyes kept chasing Diana unconsciously, peeking at her from time to time, but trying not to get caught and looking out the window instead.

As we got there, Ashley dragged us to every shop she could find and kept trying out the dresses more and more. I eventually got a headache and was extremely tired after following her around for almost 5 hours!...

Thankfully, she chose a dress with shoes that she liked the most finally. While Ashley was paying for her dress, I was standing next to Diana outside, waiting for her to get done. 

I glanced at Diana, and she also seemed annoyed and tired like me. I said, "Helping a bride is really tough!" Stretching my hand a bit. 

She turned to me and said, "Tell me about it!" while sighing deeply. As I smiled, my stomach growled suddenly. I was so embarrassed that I could feel my face turning red. I told myself, "Not again!!!... Just how many times should I get embarrassed in front of her!!!..."

Diana stared at me silently, trying to hold back her laughter. " We should grab a bite after Ashley comes." And patted on my shoulder. 

I nodded and smiled weakly, trying to ignore my embarrassment.

When Ashley came, we headed to XX Donald's and ordered burgers. We found a table in the corner and started eating. She discussed her wedding plans and other topics, while we ate. 

Since Ashley has the habit of eating messy like a child, Diana has been taking care of her in the meantime. Cleaning her face, helping her to get a sip of her Cola, and so on... 

As I was observing them, my heart became heavy.

I wanted to ask Diana, "Why do you keep taking care of her?... Why do you devote all your attention to her?... Why are you just smiling for her?... While you're treating me as if I don't exist... I know that I'm just a stranger to you and that it won't make sense to talk or treat me the way you do with her, but I still want you to notice me for a bit... I also wanna be known by you..."