The Test [#1]

Chapter 5: Daniel

I have to be the worst best friend ever. What kind of person just leaves their best friend behind?

Me.

I'm that kind of person.

To tell her over the phone that I won't be able to ever talk to her again?

That's cruel.

And just hang up after listening to her cry into the phone?

I shouldn't even be able to live with myself.

But I do. And you would think that I'd stay behind with Lissa. But I won't.

My mom doesn't understand the fact that I can't leave Lissa behind. She'll never forgive me.

Then sometime in the future, she'll be married to some guy and have three kids already. And I'll never know if we could've worked or not.

I was sitting on my bed with my bags laying beside me, looking at a picture our moms took of me and Lissa. She was on my back and I was carrying her around in the beach.

That was a really good day. Lissa's mom took us to the beach. It was the day I told Lissa I liked her. She hadn't said anything about it. But nothing had changed for us. We were still best friends.

Now, even though I told her nothing will change, I know it will. She'll meet new people and so will I. But I couldn't tell her that. Even if she already knows.

Mom walks in my room. She looks around for a moment then back at me. "Hay, mijo," she said. "You cannot worry about the ones you will be leaving behind."

I don't say anything, knowing very well it won't change anything.

"Levántate," she tells me. "Vamos, arriba."

When I stand up, she places her hands on my shoulders and looks me in the eye. "You are a good man," she says in her think Spanish accent. "Clarissa knows that. Which is why it very hard for her right now. But this will not be the last time you two see each other."

Shaking my head, I look away. "Can't I just get a job?"

My mother only smiles sadly. "You go see her one more time. You go and say goodbye. Stay for a while. I can call you when it is the time for you to leave."

I nod, hugging her. "Thank you, ma."
~•~
When I got to Clarissa's house, she was sitting in the dining room with her brother and mom.

Her usually bright blue eyes were stained with tears.

"Hey, Daniel," her mom says.

I force myself to look away from Lissa. "Hi, Mrs. Stevens."

Before her mom can say anything, Lissa stands up.

"You didn't finish eating."

"I'll do it later," she says flatly.

We go outside and sit on her front lawn, just like we used to when we first became friends and didn't know what to do.

I sat in front of her, our knees touching sending a shiver down my spine. "Don't cry," I whisper when her lower lip starts to quiver.

She wipes away a stray tear and looks down at the leaves. "I won't."

I smile. "I guess now you don't have to use me as an excuse to hang out with other people."

She at least smiled. Even if it was a sad smile. "Josh will now use this as an excuse to try and hang out with me."

"Is he not going?"

She shakes her head. "At least one third of those who got a letter are not going. I just happen to be so rich I don't need a scholarship."

I look at her. "Your mom said that?"

"No." Her voice breaks.

Clarissa's mom is not rich. But she's not poor either. And since her dad died, they have gotten all of his money. So now they are doing a lot better. At first, it meant more stuff. Lissa finally got a laptop, a new phone, new shoes. But then, it slowly started going away.

I take her hand and she looks up at me. Her eyes were watering again. "I don't want to go either," I say as calmly as I can.

She nods. "I know that."

"Can we go do something?" I say after a while. "This is getting a little depressing."

She laughs quietly, wiping another tear, and stands up. "I could use some ice cream."

I smile. "I just so happen to have money with me."

While we're walking, I put my arm around her shoulder. It feels so good when it's there. Like something that's been missing. And I just found it. That's how I feel around Clarissa.

But now, it'll be missing again forever.

HEY!!!!

ARE THEY NOT ADORABLE??? I THINK THEY'RE SO CUTE.

PLEASE TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK. OR YOU JUST WANT TO GUVE ME SUGGESTIONS OR POINT OUT MISTAKES THAT'S FINE.

THANKS FOR READING!!!!!