BEST FRIENDS FOR LIFE

Chapter 3

~TIME LAPSE~ ((1 year later))

The months few by and before they knew it, their one year anniversary was fast approaching. “One year! Can you believe it?” squealed Casadee. They were lying side by side on the river bank of Foreyard’s Lake, the red mustang parked in the distance. Will couldn’t believe it. One whole year! “Well, I wouldn’t believe it if it weren’t true.” They looked at each other. Years before they’d looked into each other’s eyes but not like this. Not like the past year. A whole new perspective on each other was imprinted on them both.

The secretive part of Casadee that Will was so desperate to reveal revealed itself! Casadee saw Will in a different light too! He shared his poems with her. He’d read them to her over the phone at night. It was her personal lullaby. Every night.

“Did you get your college result yet?” Will asked. “Uh-huh. Did you?” He nodded and produced it from his pocket. Casadee retrieved hers from the little pink tote bag. “Let’s open it together,” she suggested. “On the count of three. One, two….three!” They ripped the packages together and was met with delight. “I got into Yale!” “I got into Indiana!” Casadee squealed and they shared a peck on the lips. “The only thing is…I’ll be three thousand miles away from you.” Casadee frowned but Will was determined not to ruin the moment   “Okay, okay. No bad news. Listen to this,” he said as he retrieved his little black poetry book from his side and flipped through the pages. “Remember this one? The morning haze glows through her luscious hair, I kissed the moonlight away but beware. The mystery of something unseen, Is that of the girl in my dreams….” Casadee propped up on her elbow to look at him. “I remember that one. I think…I like that one the most.” Will propped up on his elbow too. “Oh really? You do?” “Mmm-hmm. It makes me sound…mysterious.” She wiggled her eyebrows in a sort of leech mockery. “Mysterious, huh?” With that, Will draped his arm over her waist and swooped in for another kiss. A kiss that took their breaths away and always left them dizzy for more. “What am I going to do with you, William,” mumbled Casadee on the corner of his lips. They quirked into a smile.

Time always seemed to slip by when they spent time like this together. They laid back on the grass and looked up at the clouds, holding hands and pointing out the various shapes. It was getting late and a fantastic sun set greeted them on the horizon of the lake. “I better get you home,” said Will as he began folding the plaid red spread that they never used. Casadee pouted. “I guess so. Mom would be worried if I came home late….again.” They shared a private smile at the thought.

Of course, Casadee still wore the charm bracelet with that silver half heart that read ‘Friend’. It reminded her of what was and is the result of that heart. Well, half at least. As she stood there, admiring the charm, the early drops of a storm began to rain down. “C’mon, Cas! Let’s get in the car!” Will had ran towards the car and opened the door but Casadee started dancing in the rain. “Stay a while, Will!” she yelled over the sound of rain hitting the hoof top of the car. Will couldn’t resist. He got out and pulled her into a hug. Then he started spinning her around like in the movies and they sung giddily, “Singing in the rain! Oh, I’m singing in the rain!”

Finally, it started to pour buckets and they felt like it was time to go. As they drove through the dark of night, Will grinned and said, “I bet we’re going to get a massive cold in the morning.” Casadee laughed. “It was worth it, wasn’t it?” Will had looked at her. His face was the picture of love and promise. “Casadee, I love….” “Will!” She was pointing into the darkness of the storm but it was only until he saw the head lights did he understand.

The truck came out nowhere, hitting the red mustang. Will had tried to get out of the way. He tried braking but the truck still came, hitting with full force causing the car to spin countless somersaults before hitting the ground. Everything went black. Then Will’s sight became a hazing white light. And he saw Casadee. She was smiling at him in the light, beckoning him to come to her. Will was coming to her, his hand outstretched to meet her but then….he turned around. “Don’t look back, Will,” she’d said. “Look at me, Will. I’m over here. Come to me.” But Will still looked back and there he saw it. A green neon sign over a white door that said EXIT. The door was ajar and Will felt compelled to go to it. “Will, look. I’m over here.” He turned around once more and saw Casadee’s face. A tear rolled down her cheek and dropped to the floor, turning into a diamond. But Will kept going towards the exit, his eyes never leaving Casadee’s until his vision became hazed again as he exited the white room, leaving Casadee behind.