3 years ago...
"Hey Bradley!" He heard the familiar preppy voice of his best friend since elementary school, Melissa Chase, call out from behind him a few kilometers away.
The footsteps slowed to a leisurely pace as she neared and sat beside him on the park bench he was sitting on. He shifted to give space for her, raising up his legs to hug them and rest his head on his knees. He turned his face the other direction so that Melissa wouldn't see his expression.
"Hi Mel." He muttered quietly, fighting the urge to keep his tone in check. He couldn't let her know about it. Not yet.
"Brad?" Melissa scooted closer to him, playfully bumping him on the shoulder. "What's up? You don't look so great."
Bradley could hear the concern in her voice and it almost made him feel guilty. He burrowed his face deeper into his knees.
"I'm fine Melissa."
"You sure?" She inched a bit closer, shoulders touching this time.
"Yeah." He released a shaky breath and finally raised his head up. Shutting his eyes tightly and opening them back again to keep in the tears. "It's nothing. Just some wind in my eyes."
"But... there's no wind." Melissa arched a brow at him. A suspicious frown marring her face.
"I meant... the... um. Allergies." He pressed his lips together and averted his gaze to a flying squirrel in the background.
"But you're only allergic to Pistachio's." Melissa said. "Brad. I'm you're best friend. And it is my legal right and obligation to say... you are a really bad liar."
He shifted his gaze back to her, pupils dilating slightly.
"Always have been." She gave him a small smile before her expression turned serious. "But it is also my duty as your best friend to make sure your okay. So please," She put a hand on his raised up knee. "Tell me what's wrong."
Bradley hesitated for a while, holding a mental argument in his head on whether he should actually tell her. Melissa wouldn't drop her gaze though and that's what caused him to spill.
"It's my parents." he sighed.
Melissa grunted in unintelligible annoyance. "What did they do this time?"
"Nothing specifically much." He said, gulping and hoping her reaction wouldn't be as bad as what he imagined in his head. "My parents want to move away from the tri- state area."
"What?!" Melissa glared at him as if he had told her she was the worst at making bets. He flinched at her tone. He knew she would be mad at him, now she probably hates him for what he said.
"You're moving away?!"
Bradley could only stare at her, Melissa wasn't taking this well at all. He knew he should have shut up and put a foot in his mouth. "I- I'm sorry." He said, barely above a whisper. "I knew I shouldn't have said anything."
Melissa's features softened into a serene, sympathetic one.
"Where are you moving to?"
"Swamp city. Other side of Danville." He sighed tiredly. "I tried to talk to my parents..."
"But..."
"But you know them. They wouldn't listen to me, as usual." He looked down again, dropping his feet from the bench. "Sorry I couldn't try harder to stay..."
"Shut up you ding wad." Melissa smirked at him in a joking matter. "Stop apologizing for something you couldn't control." She jumped from the bench and faced him, her usual confident demeanor taking over her. "Besides, when are you leaving? Like the day after tomorrow or something?"
"Uh... next week Monday?" He said, unsure of himself.
"That's great!"
Bradley frowned at her before she hurriedly shook her head, realizing the error in her exclamation. "I didn't mean you leaving is great." She corrected. "I mean, you only have five more days before you go. We have plenty of time to do the most awesome things together before then!"
Bradley thought for a while. Maybe she was right. Maybe he could spend the remainder of his days in the tri- state area having the best time ever instead of sulking and brooding all day on a bench.
"Waddaya say Brad." Melissa offered him her hand. "Ready to have one of the best days of your stay?"
Bradley took her hand and he got up, nodding vehemently and smiling. "Sure am."
"Good." Melissa smirked at him, taking a few steps back. "Race ya to the zoo!" She started to run, yelling something about the loser being the one to buy both of them an ice cream Sundae. Bradley shook his head and took to her heels, silently cursing himself for his short legs.
But at the same time he was glad he was such good friends with Melissa. The only person that gave him the time of day.Their bond was so strong, he was sure of it.
Not even a thousand miles could strain their friendship.
o*o*o*o
It was Monday.
The day for his departure finally came and of course Melissa was there to see him leave, along with her mom and dad, Maria and Richard Chase.
A hired hauler finished loading the remainder of the luggage in to the moving van and his dad was busy making an important call for what Bradley had no business with. His mother was sitting in the car he and his parents were driving in, applying make up for reasons he didn't know. It's not like they were making a pitstop at some fancy shmancy event on their way to Swamp City.
He gave Melissa his presumed home address if she were to ever be looking for him there and she gave him the picture both of them took in the photo booth last week Friday at the amusement park.
In the photo, they were both making silly faces, Melissa was wearing his glasses and gave him bunny ears and stuck her tongue out, while Bradley was glassless, smiling and rolling his eyes at her. The picture was kept in a small silver plastic frame with the encryption 'best friends' at the top.
Bradley felt tears pushing at his eyes. "Melissa... I didn't get you anything."
"No sweat Bradley." Melissa shrugged, a sad smile on her face. A short ten second silence hung around in the air before Bradley heard his dad round up the call.
"I'll miss you Mel." Bradley said, smiling sadly at her.
"I'll miss you more Brad." Melissa said, hugging him tightly and catching him by surprise. "I won't forget to call!"
He could say he was a bit surprised feeling something wet drop on his shoulder. That's when he noticed Melissa was actually crying.
"Melissa... are you... crying?"
"Pfft. No." She got off him quickly and ran a hand over her eyes. "Just allergies is all."
"Suuure." He playfully rolled his eyes, jerking when he heard his dad clear his throat behind him. It was time to go.
"Coming dad." He said. "Bye Melissa-"
"Nope." She cut him short. "Not bye, but see you soon. Okay?"
"Okay." He nodded. "We'll always be best friends right?"
"Always." She nodded as well. "Don't forget me." She put in sadly.
"Likewise Mel." He smiled, hesitating first before going to meet his mom and dad in the car.
The car soon started to drive away. Away from the tri- state area. Away from his home. Away from his memories. Away from everything he'd ever known and loved. Away from the only best friend he'd ever had.
Away from Melissa.
