A/N: I was going to wait to add this chapter until I had the next one ready too, but I figured that I might as well put it up now. Thanks for all the reviews! (: I can't believe how many people actually sent me one. Yes, the chapters will be getting longer, and I'll probably update again within the next couple of days...

Disclaimer: Yeah, I still don't own any recognizable characters...

"Riley, I can't believe I'm not going to see you anymore!"

Ellen and I were sitting on my bedroom floor. I had to be at the airport in an hour, and we were saying our good byes. I picked at the pink carpet that I despised. I didn't want to cry. I hated crying, especially in front of people, but it's hard to think that you're never going to see your best friend of eleven years again.

"You'll have to come visit me," I told her. "I'll be all alone. Most of the people in town are rich snobs and their prep school kids."

I wouldn't fit in. I had gone to public school since I was seven, since my parents had sent me to live with my aunt and uncle. My parents were incredibly wealthy, but my aunt refused to accept any money from my parents. I was sent to a public school, which wasn't as bad as some people make it sound, and I had to get a job to pay for my car. On the other hand, the kids in town had been spoiled, had been handed everything they'd ever wanted.

But there I go again, sounding bitter...

"Of course I'll come visit you." She grinned. "And you can show me all the hot guys you know."

I laughed. "Yeah, right."

I could tell that Ellen was trying to cheer me up and give me a pep talk before I left. She realized that she might be losing her best friend, but that I was losing my best friend and everything I had know for over a decade.

"Riley!" Jenny, my aunt, called from downstairs. "Honey, are you about ready to go?"

"Yeah..." I replied unenthusiastically.

Ellen handed me my shoulder bag and we headed downstairs. She wasn't coming to the airport with me. We had both decided that it would be better for us to say our good byes beforehand.

"Mike and I will be waiting in the car for you." Jenny left to give me and Ellen a chance to say our final good bye.

Ellen and I were both silent for a second. Neither of us could believe that I was really leaving.

Finally, Ellen sighed and pulled something out of her purse. "I know that we said that we wouldn't do this, but... I couldn't help it..."

I pulled a package out of my own bag. "Neither could I."

We both laughed and exchanged packages.

"Don't open it till I'm gone."

"I won't," she promised. "Same goes for you, though."

Mike honked the car horn outside. I looked at my watch. We weren't going to make it to the airport in time if we didn't leave soon.

"Okay. Well, I guess I'd better get going..."

"Yeah..."

Impulsively, I hugged her. Ellen was genuinely surprised. I wasn't really a hugging type of person.

"I'll call you when I get there," I told her as I walked out the door.

She nodded. I got into the car and Mike pulled out of the driveway. I didn't look back at Ellen. I just couldn't.