"Hey!" I shout to Jae.

"Hey, homie!" she shouts back.

"Sup?!"

"How ya doin'?"

"Yo, yo, yo!"

"What it do?!"

"To class." says Mrs. Hernandez as she walks by. As soon as she's gone, I run to Jae and give her a huge hug. When we separate, we link our arms and skip down the hall like little kids, which we are. At heart.

"How was your summer?" I ask, giggling. She just got back from vacation even though school started a month ago. I'm wearing my cheer uniform, as is she. See, it's impossible to have a good cheer squad without us.

"How was your summer."

"Boring."

"I thought as much I wasn't there."

"How was your summer?"

"Boring."

"I thought as much... I wasn't there."

"Hey, homes." says Dylan.

"'Sup, bruh." I say.

"Ladies."

"Flynn."

"So the squad is back together." says Jae.

"Funny thing you should say that..." I say.

"No puns!" says Jae.

"You made me promise, but you can't make Dylan and Flynn. You know they're going to kill us with what they have packed up in their box/bag that is specifically labeled, 'Specifically to annoy/irritate Jaelina Rose and Angel Valerie.'

It's a real thing.

TIME SKIP

"Jae?" I ask worried.

"What, Angel?"

"Are you- are you okay?"

"Fine." she sniffs.

"Okay..."

"I'm moving!" she finally bursts out, and then starts a whole new round of sobs.

"What?!" I ask.

"That's why we went to Texas."

My shoulders slump. "What." I say, barely a whisper.

"We're never going to talk again."

"That's how strong you think our friendship is?" I ask, hurt.

"..."

"Jae. Look at me. We are best friends. They can take our names, they can take our school, they can take our homes. But the one thing they cannot take from us is our love. Okay?"

TIME SKIP

Jae,

I miss you. A lot. A whole lot. So much I can't describe it. You might get mad at me because I'm crying over you, and you've probably moved on, but I'm sorry. Please don't throw books at me. I know you would. In 6th grade, sometimes you were my only friend. Remember that? I still have that necklace you made me too. Oh look. there are the tears. See. I'm crying over you. Please don't kill me. I want you to be happy. I know you want the same for me, but unfortunately, without you here, that's just simply not possible. You are my best friend. I hate you, you know that?! it's 10 o'clock at night, I haven't spoken to you in months, and you're making me cry. I honestly don't even know what made me think about you. Your old phone number is still etched into my head. Gosh. I miss you so much. I wish you were here with me. I still love you Jae. You're my best friend. I could never stop.

I love you.

Angel Owens