“Gripped” Relationships: Alyssa Kelly & Chantal Kagelli

We continue our character relationship series with best friends Alyssa Kelly & Chantal Kagelli. Alyssa and Chantal became best friends in 7th grade and stayed close until a giant misunderstanding tore them apart for a year and a half. After the truth was revealed, the two were able to pick up where they left off and move forward as the true friends they always were due to Chantal’s ability to admit when she’s wrong and Alyssa’s humble nature.

When they were apart, they both felt a bit socially lost. Alyssa spent her time with Lisa and Cathy, but she found herself butting heads a bit with Lisa, who can be morally ambiguous at times. Alyssa also devoted a significant amount of time to Jon Anderson, ultimately craving a deep meaningful connection to heal her pain from losing Chantal’s friendship (over something she didn’t even do), but Jon was incapable of letting Alyssa into his heart the way she deserved. Chantal, on the other hand, spent all her time with her boyfriend Andy, feeling a strong need for a female friend but not trusting the girls in Andy’s group.

In their year and a half apart, it became clear that no one would be able to replace the true friendship Alyssa and Chantal had found in each other. After a tragedy strikes, Alyssa and Chantal are brought together and the truth (or at least part of the truth) behind the misunderstanding is brought to the light. Getting Alyssa’s friendship back brought Chantal enormous comfort in the midst of one of the most trying times in her life.