The Summer of Surprises

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It was the summer of my 9th grade year when my school asked me to show a new student around. I was so scared and nervous as I waited for her to arrive. Thoughts raced through my mind, "What if the new girl hates me?" and "What if I don't know what to say and things are awkward?" When the girl finally came, I still felt nervous, but I had a different feeling - butterflies in my stomach. Little did I know how much this girl was going to change my life.

On the first day of school, I thought the new girl would just be with her own friends and we would never talk. However, while I was eating lunch, someone said, "Can I sit here?" I turned around to find the girl I had met over the summer. "Sure," I said, still feeling nervous. As time went on, the nervousness didn't go away, but I did start to get to know her better.

We quickly became the best of friends. We did everything together - going to the mall, watching movies, and just hanging out. I had never felt so comfortable with someone before. The new girl, whose name was Emily, was kind, funny, and smart. I couldn't believe how lucky I was to have her in my life.

One day, Emily told me she was moving away at the end of the school year. I was devastated. I didn't know what I was going to do without my best friend. The last few months of school were the hardest. I cherished every moment I had with Emily, knowing our time was limited.

When the last day of school finally arrived, Emily and I cried together. We promised to stay in touch and visit each other as much as possible. As I watched her drive away, I felt a part of me leaving too. The summer of surprises had turned into the summer of heartbreak.

But the story doesn't end there. Over the next few years, Emily and I remained the best of friends. We talked on the phone, texted, and visited each other whenever we could. Our bond only grew stronger, even though we were miles apart. The summer that I thought would be the end of our friendship turned out to be the start of a lifelong connection.

Reading Comprehension Questions