AN: The style of this chapter is different than the first three. You'll see why as you read on. The line breaks were only used to separate the dates because it looked horrible without them. The italics are their letters to one another :) Also just a little friendly reminder: the dates are your friends!

Moments in Time

"I may not always be there with you, but I will always be there for you."-unknown

January, 6th 1983

Dear John,

Happy New Year, John! It would be happier if you lived closer so I could see you again. And don't laugh at that either! How are you? How's school? I bet it is boring like it is here. I'm stuck in my room for the rest of the night because I got in trouble at school. But this big mean girl was picking on me and I poured my milk on her head, and then she cried to the teacher! Life is so unfair. I gotta go now and brush my teeth before bed. I can't wait until our monthly phone call. Bye John!

Love,

Joss

January 21st 1983

Dear Joss,

Happy New Year, Joss! I did laugh but I miss you too. I'm okay. I'm still not used to the smelly cows or how early Aunt Melanie gets up. But yesterday Aunt Mel let me help fix her fence and I even got to shovel hay into the horse stalls. So that was kind of cool even though I miss the city. There isn't a McDonald's for a hundred years here! Wait. It says in your letter that you got in trouble at school. You? In trouble? Over a bully! That's not fair. Don't ever stop sticking up for yourself, Joss. My dad always told me to fight for what's right. Crap, mom and Aunt Mel are shouting for me. I gotta go. It's my turn to call you. I can't wait to hear your voice next week. Talk to you later!

John

April 6th 1986

Dear Joss,

Hey! I bet you thought I forgot about my favorite friend in New York. I didn't. I was sick and had to go to the doctor because I couldn't stop throwing up. I even threw up on my cousin. But I'm better now. Did you get that new bike you wanted for your birthday? Remember your pink one that had that little basket on front of it? I still remember lifting it off you and feeling like a super hero. Or better yet, I felt like my dad. Oh, before I forget…do you remember Mrs. Winslow, Joss? She's the family friend of my parents. She's like really rich now and promised to buy me a new car for my sixteen birthday! Isn't that awesome?! Mom thinks I'm too young but she's only thinking about the time I accidentally drove our family's car into the garage back in Colorado before we moved to New York. Moms worry WAY too much. I can't wait until you call. Talk to you soon, Joss!

John

April 17th 1986

Dear John,

I didn't think you forgot me. I was scared. Mama called your mama to see if you were alright. And you weren't. She told me you were sick but were getting better, and to wait patiently for your letter. I don't like patience. You're getting a car! I want one! That sounds way cooler than a new bike. I didn't get one anyways. But I did get new clothes and I love them all so much. I know you'll find it girly but I love shopping! Well, I'll be calling you probably only a few days after you get this letter but that's okay. I might have big news to tell you then. Like humongous news but I won't spoil it in this letter. Nope. No way. Okay, maybe I will only because you're my best friend and I can't hold it in much longer. I might be getting a boyfriend. Like a real one! I'm going to tell him how I feel tomorrow. Wish me luck! I can't wait to call you. Talk to you soon, John!

Love,

Joss

May 1st 1987

Joss rolled out of bed feeling like crap. Being a girl sucked. She had been a late bloomer when it came to periods but a part of her wished she skipped this part of puberty altogether. After peeing and putting on a new pad, she washed her hands and brushed her teeth. Yawning heavily Joss eyed her tiny breasts and wished those would balloon out. She'd trade big boobs for no more periods. All the other girls already had bigger boobs and boys loved to salivate over them. Maybe then she'd finally get a boyfriend. But she learned a tough lesson on the last boy she had a crush on: wait and see if he had similar feelings. Embarrassment still rang high in her over that. Tim never let her live it down that she had a crush on him.

Ignoring her boobs, because really there wasn't anything to look at anyway, she grabbed lotion and applied some to her acne. Now this she didn't have nearly as bad as some girls at school. Her friend, Liza, was being called Pizza Face, which was just awful. Finally finished with freshening up Joss exited her bathroom and dressed before heading downstairs. She was so damned glad that today was Saturday which meant no school. Not that she hated school but because it wasn't much of a challenge. She was getting all As with very limited work to be put in.

"Good morning, baby," her mama greeted as she pressed a kiss to the top of her head. She then placed a plate full of pancakes in front of her. Joss grinned and happily applied some syrup to them. "Are you going to Liza's house today, honey?"

"I dunno. I guess," said Joss in typical teenager form. "Do you think I can stay over?"

"Sure, I can't see why not?" her mama agreed easily with a smile. "I'd call her first to make sure though. You never know if they have plans for later."

Joss stuffed a big bite of pancake into her mouth and then her eyes widened and looked at her mother. "Whadaterisvit?" Joss asked with a mouthful of food.

"Jocelyn Rae, you are fifteen years old, do not speak with your mouth full," her mother tsked sternly.

Joss made a production of chewing and then swallowing. "What date is it today?" she asked again, this time without food in her mouth.

"Today is May 1st, Joss."

A grin graced her lips. "Well, plans are changed. I'm going to stay home and wait to call John. Today's his birthday and we promised to talk today instead of last week." She wasn't going to tell her mom just how hard it had been to not call him. Her fingers had itched to grab the phone numerous times.

"You can go to Liza's still and then come home without having a slumber party," her mother pointed out as she sat down across from Joss. Papa had already left for work.

Joss shook her head. "Nope. What if he calls earlier and I'm not here. I have to be here for his phone call. It's too important to miss."

Mama smiled. "Yes, of course," she agreed and they ate their meal together in relative silence.

The day went on pretty much uneventful. She waited and waited and waited until John would call. Joss watched TV and was tempted, more than once, at taking a nap but then she'd be asleep and could miss his phone call.

Then finally, after dinner, it rang. "No one bug me. It's my call from John!" she shouted to her parents who smiled as she turned and fled for the safety of her room where her little black phone rested on the nightstand beside her bed. Her parents hadn't been exactly happy about getting her a phone line in her room but after promising to never call any of her friends without permission, she got to have one. Joss put stickers all over it to make it hers too. She picked it off its cradle and made sure the line didn't interfere with her as she lied down on the bed, which made her aching stomach feel slightly better. Nothing was going to get in the way of talking to John, not even girl cramps.

"Hi, happy birthday John!" she said the moment he answered.

"Thank you," he murmured lowly. Joss couldn't stop the grin as she stared up at the ceiling. Joss loved when he got all embarrassed. He didn't like being the center of attention at all. "How's my best friend?"

"No! We aren't talking about me first. You're the birthday boy and have to tell me everything!" she insisted before fluffing her pillow. "What did you ask for?"

"Money."

Joss rolled her eyes. "Money is so boring."

"But so wanted," John replied.

"Okay, what did your mom get you?"

He laughed. "She got me some new shirts and took me out to eat. It was nice. Mrs. Winslow gave me some money to spend on whatever I wanted."

"Did any of your friends get you anything?" she asked. When she sent him her letter she had included the latest cassette tape from R.E.M who she knew John liked as an early birthday present.

John was quiet for a little while. She didn't know if he was going to answer her. Maybe no one else got him anything. Or worse yet, John didn't have any friends. Her heart nearly broke in half at that thought. Maybe she could ask her parents to move to Washington so he wouldn't be lonely.

"Joss, can I tell you something that cannot be repeated to our parents?" he asked instead of answering her.

She looked at her closed door as though verifying she was alone. "Always. You can tell me anything, John. Friends forever, remember."

"Last night the girl I've been seeing took me out for an early birthday celebration. She said that she was my present and I had sex with a girl for the first time."

"WHAT!" Joss exclaimed as she sat up. Her body hated the quick movement as her abdomen screamed in protest. "You had sex!" she exclaimed. Then realizing how loud she got she lowered her voice as she repeated, "You had sex last night? Was it good?"

"Yes it was, for both of us or so she claims," John admitted with a laugh.

Joss didn't know what that meant. All she knew about sex was just the basics like how it worked and that if you didn't protect yourself you'd get STDs or an unwanted pregnancy. Her mama and papa didn't want to get into particulars and she didn't want to talk any more about it with her parents. The birds and bees talk was so uncomfortable. But John was her best friend. Talking about sex was different with him.

"Is it fun?" she asked hesitantly, feeling a bit curious.

"Yes, in a sweaty kind of way. But don't do it just because some guy wants you to, got it. It doesn't work that way. Don't let some dickhead talk you into doing something you don't feel right doing," John stated fiercely.

Joss frowned. "I don't see where you get to tell me…"

"Trust me, Joss. Please," he interrupted. "You're my best friend and guys will say anything to get into girls' pants, and sex comes with very real consequences. We used a condom. Don't ever have sex unless it's safe."

"Did you?"

"Yes, we used condoms," he repeated.

She shook her head. "No, I meant did you say anything to get into her pants?"

"No. She wanted in mine," he muttered, sounding a bit embarrassed. "But we've been dating for a little while now, and I never thought we'd…" he trailed off. Wow. Not only did John get a girlfriend but he had sex too. "Joss, please promise me you won't have sex just because you want a guy to like you."

She exhaled. "Finnnnnnne! I promise I won't have sex with a guy just because he wants me to," she vowed. Didn't matter much since she didn't even have a boy she liked. But John did have more knowledge than her seeing as he'd done it before even if it was only once, and she didn't want him to worry about her. "So where did you have sex?" she asked, still curious as hell.

"In the backseat of her car."

Joss chewed her lip. "How old is she?"

"Joss…"

"EWWW she's older than you isn't she!" she exclaimed, imagining some old librarian with a beehive hairdo.

He sighed. "Not by much. She's in her first year of college. Her name is Zoe," he admitted. Joss's eyes bugged out. "So what's new with you, Joss?" he asked, strategically changing the subject.

"On my period, and it feels like my insides are going to explode," she announced honestly, feeling comfortable talking to him just about anything including periods.

He laughed. "Glad I'm not a girl."

"Yea, you should be," she agreed because, at times, like now, she wished she wasn't either.

Then they got to talking about different things, thankfully, and were on the phone for over an hour. "I do hope you had a nice birthday, John," Joss said when it was clear they'd have to end the call.

"Thanks, talk to you soon," he said softly.

"I hate this time of the call," she whispered.

He sighed. "You always do this to me every time we talk on the phone Joss. It's not goodbye but see you later," he reminded gently.

"I know. It just feels like I'll never see you again."

"We will. One day I'm going to make it back to New York and we can see each other whenever we want. I swear it."

"I believe you." she replied, honestly.

"I miss you. See you soon, Joss," he said fondly.

Joss closed her eyes. "I miss you more. See you later, John," she mumbled and she heard the dial tone in her ear because she never had the strength to hang up first. Tears welled up in her eyes. "Stupid period," she rasped as she rolled onto her side and forced herself to not even think that there was another reason she was crying.

AN: This chapter was again something specific in my life as well as the dates. It was fun to kind of use my childhood moments to map this beginning part of the story but with fictional elements.

Anyways the teenage years was done in this way because I didn't want to spend too much time on it, and it was incredibly difficult to write as a young teen in pen pal form LOL.

Thank you for reading! Next chapter is quite a doozy ;D