BFFn: Best Friends for Now

ELLY and SEL are BFF. Inseparable since grade school. Two peas in a pod. But now, in high school, things are changing fast. More accurately, SEL is changing. SEL suddenly finds herself being drawn to her best friend in new and unusual ways. She finds herself leaning closer to ELLY just to smell her hair. Her fingers seek to touch ELLY’s soft and warm skin. In the girl’s locker room, SEL ogles ELLY and is mortified. SEL finds herself wanting ELLY in ways that definitely cross the BFF line. ELLY has become SEL’s drug, her secret addiction. It’s the wanting that SEL knows she must kick to the curbside, but it’s not easy when your body is in control more than your brain. Her solution? Stay away from ELLY. Create space and maybe time will help sort out SEL’s desires. The status Quo is not going to work here. She just might get caught doing something really stupid and risk losing her Best Friend forever.
SEL, a serious and voluptuous teen, is a desired commodity in school, yet consistently keeps people at a distance with cutting remarks that advertise “keep a safe distance: girl will bite.” ELLY notices that SEL is pulling away and is upset; she might just be next in line with all the other SEL social casualties. ELLY, mystified by her BFF’s behavior, consults with Jason, a friend and neighbor. Jason, gay himself, has highly developed “gaydar” and points out the possibility that SEL is in love with ELLY.
ELLY agrees to meet SEL after school. ELLY, however, blows off SEL and instead meets up with Jason to head to the library. SEL is upset that ELLY did not show after school, but heads to the store for snacks consisting of dietary staples: sugar and caffeine. At the store, the door swings violently open and SEL is almost knocked down by her own BFF who is accompanied by Jason. ELLY invites SEL to come with them to the library. Conflicted by emotions, equal parts anger and hurt, SEL declines and lies about having a dentist appointment. She wants no part in playing the awkward third wheel, no thank you.
Later in the evening, ELLY calls SEL. SEL spills about her dentist appointment lie and being upset about being ditched after school. ELLY is equally upset that SEL didn’t say anything about being ditched, and instead just let it go. ELLY, overreacts, and shouts at SEL that it is just like her to NOT say anything, to NOT communicate, to shut her down just like she does most everyone else in school. It’s an ugly phone call leaving SEL devastated.
ELLY realizes how horribly she treated her BFF and is frantic to repair the damage. She seeks out SEL, but SEL has retreated further within herself. In SEL’s absence, ELLY realizes their relationship has become more than “just friends.” After two days, snow begins to fall and ELLY knows SEL will be walking in the park. At the park, ELLY finds SEL. SEL discloses that she doesn’t just love ELLY, but is “in love” with her. ELLY reveals that she’s known this for some time and their friendship, as they’ve known it, is over. ELLY leans in and kisses SEL deeply. ELLY offers not an ending, but a new beginning.