(This is just a short little one shot that I came up with. Music has always been a big part of my life and being apart of musicals is one of the greatest things I've ever done. The bond formed between the cast, band and crew is truly one of a kind and one of the most incredible things I've seen / been apart of so I wanted to convey that through Friends For Life. Let me know what you think :) )

I'm Kelsi Nielson and this is a story, my story about the best people I know. They've been my best friends for as long as I can remember and I can't imagine my life without them but they're graduating soon and this is the story of their last few months at East High before I start my senior year.

It's closing night of the final musicale for the seniors of East High. I looked around at the seniors in the band, soon they'd all have graduated and me and the wildcats will be the new seniors of East High. I look over at the two seniors who had become my closest friends: Savannah and Mackenzie. I love all the seniors in my band: Isla, Macklin, Wilson, Ethan, Wren and Toby but Savannah and Mackenzie are my favourites.

Savannah was the most talented pianist in the band, I had always seen her as a mentor and leader, learning almost everything I know from her. I had been invited to join the musical band for the show along with Savannah and two of the teacher players to learn the ropes of the show in preparation for the next year.

Mackenzie was the band's oboe player and she was beyond talented, as were all the seniors of the band. But Mackenzie was one of the sweetest girls at East High. She was a pleasure to be around and a pleasure to play alongside. Everyone knew Mackenzie and everyone wanted to be around her.

The cast, band and backstage crew were sat in the green room next to the school theatre, hearing the final words from Ms Darbus before they would perform their final show for the year. "This is it everyone, the moment we've all been preparing for: Closing Night. This has been a tough show to produce so I thank and admire each and every one of you for the resilience you've displayed. West Side Story is a difficult musical to convey and perform well in the time that you have so congratulations to you all. It's almost showtime so will the cast please form the guard of honour for the band and crew for the final time this year.

As the cast formed the guard and the crew ran through, the band formed into their circle, arms wrapped around each other. Wren speaking first. "Alright guys, it's our last show tonight." All the seniors started inputting their words until I decided to speak up.

"Guys could I say something?" It was normally the seniors who spoke in the circle before the shows but they were more than happy to let me speak, the whole band giving their full attention. "I just want to say thank you to the seniors on behalf of the few of us juniors and sophomores. For all of us, it's our first musical in the band and we would not have been able to survive if it wasn't for you. You are all amazing and we love you all."

All the girls – including Kelsi – had tears in their eyes as they all put their hands in for the final time, cheering "1,2,3 SENIORS!" before the sophomores and juniors ran through the guard of honour, the seniors staying behind to complete a show night tradition with the cast for their final time. I hugged the two sophomore girls in the band: Nathalie and Ashlyn before we walked into the theatre.


The show was the best we had played – despite all of us fighting back tears for most of the show – and the conductor was really proud of us. When all the cast met back in the green room, everything hit me all at once. It was the last musical for the seniors, in a few short weeks, they'd be gone and I'd have to survive without them, survive without Savannah and Mackenzie. After the speech from Ms Darbus and gifts were given to all of the teachers from the students, I went to my bag to retrieve the two roses I'd brought for Savannah and Mackenzie.

I saw Savannah first, immediately pulling her into a hug. "Congrats Sav, I'm so glad I got to share this with you. I hope you had an amazing musical and I'm going to miss you so much next year. I love you."

Savannah smiled. "I love you too Kels and I'm glad I got to share it with you too, I'm gonna miss you heaps next year." After handing my favourite section buddy the rose and taking some photos together, I went off in search of Mackenzie.

As soon as I saw Mackenzie, the tears returned to my eyes and I hugged her tightly, begging. "you guys can't leave yet."

"We're not leaving yet Kels, there's still awards nights, performances, prom, we're not going anywhere yet."

"Thank you so much for everything Kenz, I love you, you know that right?"

She smiled, hugging me tighter. "I love you too Kels, you've been amazing." Once again, I handed her the rose and took some photos together. Mackenzie also handed me a card from the seniors.

The band all huddled together one last time, Savannah speaking. "Well that was it guys, our last musical. You guys have really become family now, this band is a family and I love you guys so much."

I smiled. "We love you too Sav."

Savannah smiled in response. "Regardless of what happens when we leave or graduate, none of that changes. We're still a family and no matter what, we're friends for life."