This is a story about two teenagers who were direct opposites but were inseparable.

No one could really understand how Mack and Zack could be such good friends. They were direct opposites in every way—from the top of their heads to the tips of their toes. That is to say, they have not the least similarities. They were labeled the inseparable by anyone who knew both of them or their common friends.

They first met when they were in Grade One. It was not one of those dramatic meetings but ordinary and boring. Both were eyeing the second seat in the middle row in the classroom.

Both rushed for the chair but another giant classmate put himself into it. So they looked at each other, shrugged their shoulders indifferently and placed themselves on either side of the giant. However, the class teacher immediately rearranged their seating positions. As fate would have it, Mack and Zack found themselves seated beside each other.

Physically, Mack was thin and long. He looked lack of nutrition (营养)but actually he quite could eat. On the other hand, Zack was fat and strong and ate like a bird.

Mack was a bookworm and a star student whereas Zack was an easy-going student who struggled to go through his schoolwork. Mack enjoyed teaching Zack and Zack found himself responding well to Mack's teaching.

Mack was a dreamer and was quiet and cool, unlike Zack who was talkative and outgoing. Mack listened while Zack chattered. Mack could be seen laughing quietly with Zack playing around and the life and soul of any gathering.

Despite their differences, there was an invisible harmony (和谐)between them. Anyone who saw all this couldn't help but wonder how it happened that between these two teenagers there was a silent unspoken understanding. That's all because of Mack's selfless deed that touched Zack.

Nick was new, so he didn’t have many friends. One day the headmaster announced that it was the basketball season, so they needed to practice after school till 6. Nick smiled. He loved playing basketball.

Later that day it was time to go to the first practice of the season. There were other guys and they all sat together talking, but Nick just sat there and waited. “Alright boys! Line up and tell me your names,” the coach demanded. “Ricky, Derick, Josh, Dan, Nick.” they answered, one after another. Practice went on and the coach began to try out the boys. Ricky and his friends did really good. But the coach ran out of time before he could try out Nick.

The next day, Ricky and his friends came up to Nick and told him he wasn’t good enough though they had never seen him play. Nick said nothing. Soon enough it was time for Nick to try out. “We will start with free throws(自由投篮，即罚球),” the coach said. Nick stood on the free throw line and then shot. He didn’t miss one shot. The boys were amazed. Ricky was mad because they were all giving the attention to Nick. The coach informed Nick that he made the team. All the boys were congratulating him.

Nick was happy that he was on the team and it was a good way to make friends. Ricky just stood there and looked at him in anger. Ricky always got the attention but now Nick did because he’s an amazing player. The next day when Nick went to lunch, he sat by himself and the next thing he knew was that the table he was sitting at was filled with all the basketball players except Ricky.

Soon enough it was time for their first game. The game was a close one ... There were 5 seconds left and Ricky had the ball. Everyone was blocked except Nick. “I'm open. I’m open,” Nick said over and over.

Ricky saw that he was open but he didn’ t care.

Nick decided to talk to Ricky after they failed the game.

“Why she let out my secret? why she did that to me?” I vividly remembered that day when I was confused at the knowing looks which everyone gave me. That terrible experience was imprinted (铭刻) on my mind. I couldn’t forgive the person with whom I had shared my secret. She lost all my trust and friendship.

Five years back, Sally was a new addition in our class. I don’t know what but there was something sticky (吸引人的) about her that attracted me towards her. She was the most friendly person I knew. We started as classmates but after a few months we were like best friends. We did homework together and dreamed of going to the same university one day. We hung out and went to the movies on weekends. That was a sweet time.

Nevertheless, I couldn’t expect such an enormous betrayal (背叛) from her. I didn’t know what made me tell Sally about my personal life. I felt much regret to myself. She exaggerated (夸大) the matter, added her own spices to it and made it the hottest topic in school. It was like someone had stabbed (刺，捅) a knife in my back. After she revealed my secret, everyone at school started laughing at me and gazing at me wherever I passed. I was like a pond in which someone had thrown a stone and it had been spilled up. It was the most embarrassing time I had gone through. Soon afterwards, I left school and shifted to another one, because I thought no one had the right to laugh at me. Sally called me many times but I didn’t answer. My heart was broken because the person whom I trusted most cheated me.

I made efforts to remove the scar from my heart. I started a new life, leaving all the bad memories behind, because they made me a person who often thought about the past experiences. Five years later, with the life going on, I made new friends and seldom thought about the past.

But one day I met Anna in the market, my former classmate, who told me shocking news. Anna said that after I left school the gossip (流言蜚语) soon disappeared. Everyone in our class missed me. Because I left without saying goodbye, Sally was sad for a long time. And to my amazement, she told me that Sally was not the one who brought my secret to light. It was Mary who had a big mouth and always wanted to put her nose in other people’s matters. She happened to overhear my conversation with Sally. I was all at sea, feeling that the floor had slipped away beneath my feet. Anxious and regretful, I asked Anna for any contact with Sally.