Hello all! I'm back with another installment of this fan-fic soap opera, haha. Alright, maybe it's not that dramatic…who cares. Thank you all for your supportive reviews, I do have review replies posted at the bottom of this chappie. Beware…I sense a cliffhanger!

Read on…if you dare!

Esca-lover


March 24, 1995

Dear Hitomi,

I know you haven't written in a while, and I'm sure you have your reasons…but there's something I have to confess. I've been thinking about you a lot lately, and I was wondering if you'd like to meet me over the summer. Don't worry about expenses, I'll make the trip…It's just that I feel like I know you, the real you. And…I'd like the chance to actually spend some time with you, if you're interested, I mean. If not I understand, it's just that—

REAL TIME

"Hey Van, watcha doin?" the twelve year old asked as she bounded into her big brothers room. Van immediately shoved the letter he had been writing into his desk and faced his sister.

"Nothing, Merle…don't you have anything better to do than bug me?" he sighed, obviously annoyed. Merle stuck out her tongue.

"Be that way," she smirked, and threw something onto his bed. "You've got mail from your girlfriend again. You're lucky I didn't read it!" With that, the girl skipped out of the room humming to herself.

"She's not my girlfriend!" Van shouted after her, his heart pounding in his chest. Calm down, he told himself as he tore open the envelope addressed to him in delicate handwriting. It's only a letter… His hands were shaking as he read Hitomi's words to him.

March 17, 1995

Dear Van,

I'm so sorry it's taken so long to respond to your last letter. There's been a good reason, I promise. You see, my family moved to Chicago this past week. Yes, the big move finally happened. It's been so hard. It all started a few months ago, back in August, when my parents went to Chicago in order to look for a place to live. My father was also interviewing with several company executives, in hopes of transferring into a well-paying job. Luckily, a job was available. The only catch was, we had to move the family immediately. I was really upset…that meant I would have to leave my friends behind and adjust to a new school. All I could do was cry…it was horrible. I knew I was being childish, but I couldn't help it. I called Yukari and told her the news. She came over right away and tried to calm me down.

"So that's why she hasn't written lately…wow, moving to Chicago, huh? Talk about a big change from Indiana," Van thought to himself.

"'Tomi, don't worry ok? Chicago will be a lot of fun, you'll see! And…and I could visit during the summer…and at your new school, I'm sure you'll meet plenty of hot guys. They'll all want you, you know it!"

"Way to go Kari…plenty of hot guys? Just what I need more competition."

Kari was tearing up herself when I interrupted her.

"But Yukari, I don't want hot guys, I want Allen…"

"No. This is not happening."

"…we just got together and things are wonderful. How can I leave now! He'll probably find someone new right away and…

"So they're together now," Van slumped. "He won't leave if he knows you like I do."

…and I don't want to adjust to a new school, and I definitely don't want to see you only during the summer! I want to be able to run over if you need me and vice versa…I can't do that if I'm in Chicago…" I hugged her. How do you say goodbye to your best friend? It felt awful, like a part of me was dying.

"Well," Kari hiccupped into my shoulder, "there's always the phone. If only there was a way for you to stay here until you graduated…" We just sat there thinking. Unfortunately, I didn't have any relatives in the area; who lives in Indiana anyways? What do we have besides corn and cows?

"Well, there's the Pacers…"

I was about to scream in frustration when Kari released me from the hug and sat up straight. Her eyes were wide and bright with excitement. "'Tomi…what if you stayed with me?" The question hung in the air. It took me a full minute to completely grasp the idea. Logically, my parents probably wouldn't be too unhappy. They knew how much I had wanted to graduate with my friends. Plus it would save us the trouble of registering at a new school, not to mention the emotional stress I would have to endure. Yukari was an only child living in a large house all day while her parents were at work. They were pretty well off financially…would they be willing to support me for two years? Less then that if summers are spent in Chicago…

"Kari…oh my gosh, it just might work!" I spilled my explanations as to why our plot might succeed and practically fell off the bed with excitement. There was only one problem: three days till the big move. That meant we only had three days to convince both of our families that this was the right decision…THREE DAYS! We went to work immediately. Kari made a phone call to her parents while I tried to find mine. My parents were skeptical about the idea, but didn't completely throw it out. They agreed to talk with Yukari's parents if they were willing to consider the move. I called Kari for a progress report and she said her parents would have to discuss it in private; they'd have an answer in the morning. That night I couldn't sleep a wink! I didn't know whether to be sad or happy. If our plot failed, I wouldn't be able to properly mourn with Kari…you need at least three days of constant time together to do that. But if it succeeded…I'd never been so hopeful in my life, Van! Oh, I wish you could have been there to help me through it!

Van's heart leapt inside of him.

Allen wouldn't have understood, we were only beginning our relationship. But you, who's always been there for me, you would have known exactly what to do. I thought about you a lot that night…if only I would have had your phone number!

He cursed at himself for his cowardice. He had meant to add his number in his last letter, and now he was paying for it.

Then again, maybe you wouldn't have wanted to receive a frantic call from a girl you've never spoken to before, haha. At 3am no less…wait, there may have been a time difference…ahh well, you get my point.

"Of course I would have wanted you to call," Van whispered aloud, a small smile on his lips. He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. "I wonder what her voice sounds like…I bet she has a great laugh…" The teenager opened his eyes and fumbled in his pockets, retrieving his wallet from his jeans. He opened it, and stared fondly at the first picture. It was Hitomi and her family, the snapshot she had mailed him so many years ago. It was faded and well worn, but Van could still make out a skinny, green-eyed girl grinning from ear to ear. "I'm hopeless," he sighed, putting his wallet on the desk.

The next morning couldn't come soon enough. What's worse, my parents still needed to talk with Kari's, especially if they'd decided to accept the proposal. Around noon, her parents called with the answer: They needed to talk with my parents. WHAT! That wasn't much of an answer, but it's all they'd give. Kari thought it was a good sign, but I was still unsure. Our parents got together for lunch, and three hours later they called Kari and I to tell us to meet them on the Uchida's back patio. I was so nervous! This was the fate of my life, my future at stake! We walked to Kari's house in silence, clutching each other's hand. All I could do was pray. We reached the patio and looked at the ground waiting to hear the verdict. "Well?" Kari squeaked. She was shaking too. I shut my eyes and held my breath…this was it. Kari's mom broke the silence.

"We'd love to have you stay with us, Hitomi."

I burst into tears as Kari jumped on me, knocking us both to the ground. I could hardly breathe between the crying and the body lying on top of me. Our parents laughed as we hugged each other on the ground. By some miracle I was saved! I'd graduate with my friends, continue to go out with Allen, and live with my best friend! Life couldn't have been better at that point in time.

Van's heart sank; he knew he was doomed.

So, since then I've been living at Kari's. I've had to adjust to her unknown habits and the rules of the Uchida house, but it's been a fairly easy transition. Allen was so glad I was staying that he treated me to dinner at the classiest restaurant in town that weekend. Things with him are amazing, I've never been so happy in a relationship! We spend an awful lot of time together…I can't imagine dating anyone else. He's just so charming and polite, not to mention gorgeous, haha. We have to find you a girl, Van. You're really missing out! Anyway, when you write me next time, be sure to address it to the new address. Hope to hear from you soon!

Friends forever,

Hitomi


The last few lines kept playing in his head.

Things with him are amazing, I've never been so happy in a relationship!

"Why are you surprised, Van?" He thought to himself. "You're just the pen pal."

He's just so charming and polite, not to mention gorgeous…

"I can't compete with that…"

We spend an awful lot of time together…I can't imagine dating anyone else…

"But…"

We have to find you a girl, Van. You're really missing out!

"But you're the one I want…Hitomi."

Friends forever…

"No, I can't do this anymore." Van stood up and grabbed the half written letter from his desk drawer. "What a joke…to think I almost sent this…this trash," he muttered under his breath, taking the paper and crumpling it in his hands. He looked at it another minute and threw it in the trashcan. He was crazy. He had to be. Who else would fall for his pen pal? Van collapsed onto his bed and stared at the ceiling. "I'm an idiot," he breathed and placed a hand over his eyes, hoping to stop the tear that threatened to fall.


Ok, so you'll probably want to hit me and hug me at the same time…Sorry! This was a shorter update, but very potent. The next installment will come shortly; I have it planned in my head. Hopefully I will have this story finished right around the beginning June. I'm really trying! Read and Review please!

Esca-lover