September 2006
"Whoa Gray! I can't believe you boys are going on tour. I mean it feels like yesterday we were in my garage jamming," Janie said to Jason, Shane, and Nate
"I still can't believe you wouldn't sign with us," Shane said.
"You wouldn't be Connect 3 if I had."
"We would have worked it out."
"Come on you guys are going to be late, get on the bus and get out of here before I change my mind and get on with you."
"Maybe we should take our time then," Nate said.
"Guys!"
"All right, bye Janie."
"Bye Jason."
She hugged him then hugged Nate. Shane was the last one to come up to her.
"Is there anything I can do to convince you to come with us?" he asked.
"Shane what was the first thing I told you when you got that call from the record label?"
"This is it, your dream is coming true and you shouldn't let anyone or anything hold you back."
"Exactly. God forbid I'm the girl that kept you from shining; I wouldn't be able to live with myself. You know I love you and if you love me you'll turn around and get on that bus."
"But you're part of me Janie…"
"Meaning I'll always be there with you."
He sighed and leaned his forehead against hers.
"You promise we'll be in constant contact?" he asked.
"I wouldn't have it any other way."
Shane hugged Janie and prepared to say the one word he had never said to his best friend.
"Bye."
"Bye Shane." He kissed her forehead and kept his mouth there for a second, his warm breath lightly hitting her skin.
"You need to go Shane."
He nodded and got into the bus. Janie watched as it pulled away and turned the corner. She was walking into her house when her cell phone started ringing.
"Hello?"
"Miss me yet?" Shane asked from the other line.
"Shane the bus is barely around the corner."
"Well I missed your voice."
She smiled.
"I guess hearing yours isn't too bad."
"You know you love it."
"I'm going to do some homework so I'll to you later, ok?"
"Don't go."
"Shane…"
"Ok, I'll call you later."
"All right, love you."
"Love you too bye."
She hung up and walked up to her room. She sat on her bed and looked at the picture she had on her night table. It was her and Shane last October during the Harvest Festival. He had been her best friend for as long as she could remember but she knew over the years their relationship had changed. He wasn't just her best friend anymore, he was the love of her life, and now he was gone.