“I got in!” Nick charged into Jess’s bedroom, grabbing her in a bear hug and spinning her around. “NICK! Oh my god put me down and get out!” Jess screeched as she struggled against her best friends’ grip. Nick set her back down and looked at her, confusion on his face as he watched Jess scrambling for something. “Umm, okay? What’s wrong with you?” He asked. “Umm…I’m NAKED maybe!” Jess yelled, wrapping a blanket around herself and glaring at the confused boy. “Uh, Jess…you’re wearing underwear and a bra…that’s not exactly naked y’know.” He sat down in the window seat, staring her. “It’s practically naked! Nick come on…out! You can come back in when I’m dressed okay?” She grabbed him with one hand and pulled him towards the door, trying to hold up the blanket with the other hand. Nick walked out the door and turned to say something to her and was met with a wall of wood, as she slammed the door shut in his face.
A few minutes later Jess opened the door back up, ushering him back in dramatically, with a smile on her face. “NOW you can enter Mr. Carter.” Nick just shook his head as he walked past her, “Thank you, Ms. Carter.” He walked back to the window seat and sat down again. Jess shut the bedroom door and turned to him, her body now covered in short shorts and a crop tank top. “Y’know, I think you were wearing more when you were only wearing the underwear.” Nick muttered, looking his best friend up and down. Jess stuck her tongue out at him. “Shut up, and what were YOU hollering about when you barged in here anyway?”
Nick jumped up and grabbed Jess again, spinning her around in a bear hug. “I got in! To Southern!” “Oh my god Nick! Congratulations!” Jess grabbed him and squeezed her arms around his neck, hugging him back. Finally, the two settled themselves into the window seat. Nick leaned back against the wall and Jess curled herself up next to him. He draped his arm across her shoulder as they sat for several minutes, watching the sun set behind Nick’s house. “I can’t believe you’re leaving in 6 months,” Jess said softly, leaning her head against his chest. “I mean, things are changing so fast Nick…we graduate next month and then you leave in September for school. And you’ll be clear across the country…we’ll never see each other.” Nick tightened his arm around his best friend. “We’ll see each other Jess. I mean, there’s breaks and summers…its not like I’m leaving forever or anything. And Texas isn’t THAT far away…” Jess looked up at him, “It’s TOO far away!” she moaned, “it’s miles and miles and MILES from California!” The two friends grew silent again and just sat together looking out into the darkness.
“Nick…you won’t forget about me when you leave for school will you?” Jess sat up and looked into his eyes, searching the blueness for an answer. “Jess…knock it off already. It’s just college for god’s sake, it’s 4 years in Texas…not 50 in Siberia or something.” He looked down into her green eyes and cupped her chin in his large hand. “Jess” he said quietly, “ I love you, you’re my best friend…you mean more to me than anyone in the world. I’m still calling and writing, emailing and coming home for visits. Hell, you’ll probably hear more from me 3,000 miles away than you have living next door for the past 10 years. Now calm down okay?” He tenderly kissed her forehead and pulled her against his body again, wrapping his arms around her, resting his chin on the top of her head.
Jess closed her eyes and as the two drifted off to sleep, wrapped in a tight embrace, she sighed softly…
I love you too Nickolas…she thought…