Chapter 1

The day after Aquamarine left, Hailey moved.

I stood outside her house with her, watching silently as the movers loaded boxes, bags, and furniture into the huge truck. I saw the memories that we had shared flash before my eyes, one by one, as if they were a movie. Quizzing each other on Raymond, stretching out on the sand, escaping from Leonard, they all played in my mind. Now came those precious days with Aquamarine: watching Hailey climb up the water tower with Aqua, watching Aqua and Raymond talk on the boardwalk...jumping into the water for the first time since my parents' deaths, holding Hailey's hand, swimming to the buoy. A tear escaped from my eyes, and rolled down my cheek. I heard soft sobbing and knew that Hailey had started to cry too.

Our crying became full fledged sobbing when the movers closed the truck. One mover turned and looked directly at us.

"Well, that's it." he said. "That's everything." Yes, that's everything. I thought bitterly. That's everything. That's the whole of my best friend's life. That's the whole of Hailey, packed in an eighteen wheeler. That's half of my soul, ripped away. Yup, I'd say that's everything.

"Girls," Hailey's mom said softly, interrupting my mental tirade. "It's time to say goodbye."

Neither of us bothered to stifle our sobs as Hailey and I turned to each other simultaneously and grabbed each other in a tight embrace. We hugged as tight as we could, crying into each other's shoulders. We held on as long as we could, savoring this last embrace, not wanting to let go, not wanting it to be true.

"Ohhh, Claire..." Hailey whispered.

"Ohh...Hailey!" I whispered back.

"I'm gonna miss you..."

"I'm gonna miss you more."

"No, me!" This caused us to giggle, but it was a sad sort of giggle. I wondered if we'd ever giggle like that again.

Finally we pulled away from each other. We looked each other sadly, and then Hailey brightened slightly.

"I almost forgot! I have something for you!" Hailey held out her palm. In it were two shining blue scales, Aqua's scales. I took one, and Hailey took the other. I closed my palm, and felt the scale securely in my fist.

"I found them on the beach after Aqua swam away." Hailey explained. "I think she left them for us." I nodded, afraid that if I said anything, I would cry even harder.

"These scales are forever and for eternity, a symbol and a reminder of our friendship." Hailey said softly, the tears flowing freely down her face.

"Girls..." Hailey's mother said in a warning tone, making the hurry it up sign with her hand.

"I'll visit you as often as I can. Every weekend, if I can convince Gram." I promised.

"And I'll write, and email and IM you every day." Hailey promised, too.

"I love you...forever." I told her. And I meant it. I love Hailey like no one else in this world.

"Hailey, come on!" we heard. Hailey gave me one last quick hug before turning away.

"I love you so much." she said, so quiet I could barely hear her. I watched in silence as she walked to her mother's car, and got in. When she slammed the door of the car, I almost felt like she was slamming the door on our friendship. I followed the car with my eyes, until it was a little dot in the distance, and there was nothing. That was it. There was officially no more evidence that Hailey had ever lived here.

"Please remember me." I said softly before turning my back on the sun and going inside.

A/N: Yes! I love Aquamarine...I just saw the movie yesterday. So I'm making an Aquamarine category. Please review, and tell me what you think!

Well, it's months later and I still have not posted this. Why? Because stupid FFN never set up my Aquamarine category that I submitted! So I'm just going to post this under Misc. Books and hope that people read it! Please review!