Best Friends for (N)ever

Chapter 8

Alex's POV:

There was nothing I wanted to do more in that moment--when I was standing on the Monroes' porch--than run to the opposite side of the world. I mean, its not like I was the only one who noticed Daniel's man-bitchiness. It's as if he completely changed into a different person in the last 3 years. 

Sometimes I wish I was back at Chicago, doing absolutely nothing for life.

Mom ringed the bell. The door opened in an instant to an ecstatic-looking mother. I smiled at the sight of her. "Oh my!" She pulled my mother into a hug. It was so long that I felt awkward standing there.

When they both pulled away, Rosa turned to me, her face full of a longing expression. I didn't know what it felt like to be away from your best friend for so long, but I had an idea just from looking at both their faces. I almost felt guilty for not wanting to move back. Almost. I know, I'm selfish. "Hi, Rosa," I said gingerly as she pulled me into a bear hug.

"My, you've grown so much, Alex. When I saw it was you in the office, I almost cried! Why didn't you tell me you were back? I would have organized a whole--"

Mom laughed."Alright, Rosa. It's not that big of a deal."

She looked at us sadly. "It is for me. You both mean so much to me."

I smiled. 

She stared at our positions and fake-slapped herself in the forehead. "Look at my manners. Come in, come in, both of you. Can't believe I let you stay out there in the cold."

We both took our step inside the house and I was washed over with an overwhelming sense of nostalgia. I could literally see myself running around the house as a kid. But there was always, in all of those flashbacks, someone there with me. My best friend. Daniel. I closed my eyes. If there was some kind of procedure to permanently delete memories, I would do them. They were just too painful to go through again. The only reason I've been able to survive here is because of my Mom. Because I know she needs me, until the absolute end. Losing your husband does that to some people; Mom more, because she never believed that something like that would've happened. No one was expecting it. Not even me.

"Ah, this place hasn't changed a bit," Mom commented, and Rosa grinned. "I like it just the way it is. Feels like my life hasn't changed as drastically as it is."

Mom gave a sympathetic look to her. Rosa's husband cheated on her for a few months and she only found out a few weeks before we moved unexpectedly. She was actually okay with it, because she knew that something was going on. Rosa was one of the strongest people I know. She could be deteriorating inside but she was always bright and happy on the outside. She didn't let the people she loved to be hurt because of her. 

**20 minutes later**

"Oh, where is that boy?" 

Well, there goes my hope for Daniel being anywhere but here.

I gulped. Mom answered, "Oh, relax, Rosa. He's just a boy. He still has homework." They both giggled. Oh, I swear adults are more innocent than five year olds. They just don't understand teennage life. He was probably upstairs hooking up with some slut from school.

We were all sitting around the dining table, where Rosa was laying out the dishes. As the aroma of the baked chicken reached my nose, I suddenly felt very reluctant to leave. "I'll go get him," I said, hopefully drearily because I really didn't want to move. Unfortunately, the last thing this dinner needed was a set of screaming between mother and son. 

"Of course you do," My mom whispered to Rosa oh-so-subtly. I turned and glared at them.

They burst out laughing. I shook my head in disappointment and took the steps to at a time. From there, it was kind of like I was walking in my own house. I didn't even have to check where his room was coming. I tried to ignore the moaning sounds from inside the room, as I turned the handle and pushed open the door. The sight hurt, but I kept my face neutral. "Rosa's looking for you," I say and walk down the stairs like what I had seen didn't affect me at all.

**Daniel's POV**

"Come on, Kat. I have maybe twenty minutes max," I said, out the window, where my girlfriend was climbing a tree.

"It takes effort, you know. I can't just magically fly up here," she replied as she stepped out of the window and into my arms. Her breasts pressed against me, and I grinned.

Okay, so she wasn't my girlfriend. Just someone who didn't despise me even after all our one night stands. In fact, she kind of loved me. Whatever.

She pressed her lips to mine, and I crawled over her on the bed, deepening it. Usually, we would have our clothes off by now, but something didn't feel right.

There was a twisting of a handle and I knew right then I was screwed. Mom. Oh, god. Enjoy it till the last second, Dan, I chided myself when there was a voice. It wasn't Mom's. "Rosa's looking for you," she says in her strong, but sweet voice. Alex.

My head whirled up. She was gone before I got the chance to look at her. 

"Who the hell is she?!" asked Kat angrily.

"Neighbor," I grunted, getting of her. "You need to leave," I muttered pointing at the window. 

"What? I just got here."

"And that was a great kiss. Get out," I said, more firmly this time. 

She sighed and disappeared out the window. I ruffled my hair a bit, to straighten it up and walked out the door. 

**10 minutes later**

Somehow I couldn't stop staring at Alex. She just managed to get prettier in a few hours. How is that humanly possible? She bit her lip anxiously as the chicken was passed to her. She eagerly took two legs and then passed it to me, not even looking up. I almost laughed. Alex loved chicken more than anything in the world. Guess that's still true.

"So, Traci, where is your husband? Haven't seen him in a while." 

Mom choked on her salad. Oh, god. Heart beating fast, I smoother her back as she swallowed down and took a large gulp of water. 

"Sorry," I answered. I gulped again, the longing feeling in my chest. It still hadn't disappeared after a two years. "He--he had some work. In, uh, Germany. Won't be back for a couple of weeks."

Mom stared at me in wonder.

Well, I'm not telling him that my Dad, and Mom's husband has left. And he's never coming back. It's hard to come back from the dead, anyway.