Angel and Aleese

Aleese sighed as she tried again to shut her suitcase. She was almost finished packing, but the last suitcase refused to close. She sighed again and dumped it's contents onto the bed.

Summer would be there soon to say goodbye.

She didn't even want to leave, but David, her step dad, had gotten a job offer in some small town she couldn't even remember the name of.

"Ally, Summer's here." her mom called from somewhere down stairs. She didn't answer but continued her packing.

"Aleese! I said Summer's here for you!" her mother called again, losing patience.

"Okay Ma! I heard you!" she answered in an annoyed tone. "Send her up!"

A moment later, her bedroom door swung open and her best, and only, friend bounded in the room, plopping down on her bed. She didn't bother moving the clothes at all, she just flopped down on top of them.

"Hey Ally, what's up?" Summer asked once she'd made herself comfortable.

"Just trying to pack the clothes you're laying on.'' Aleese replied. ''And you know I hate being called Ally." she added as an afterthought.

"Yes, I do. Which is precisely why I do it."  she relpied, rolling off the bed. She stood up and started folding the clothes she'd been laying on.

It was quiet for a very long time, until Summer decided to speak up. "I don't want you to go."

"I don't wanna go either, but I don't really have a choice, do I? They can't just leave without me."

"What if you stay at my house? My parents love you, they wouldn't mind."

"You know my mom would never go for that. Ever since she married David, she's been all about us sticking together as a family. It's a good thing Jace and me get along well, otherwise I think she'd probably have a heart attack."

There was another long silence as the girls finished folding and packing the clothes away. Neither Summer or Aleese really knew what to talk about. What do you say to your best friend when they're about to be ripped from your life and there's no way for you to stop it?

"It won't be forever, you know. You can visit on the weekends and there's always talking on the phone and stuff." Aleese spoke quietly, looking into her friend's pale blue eyes.

Summer tried to smile, but it was sad and weak. "I better get home now." she said.

Aleese walked her to the door and halfway back to her own home, as was their custom. When they stopped on the corner, Aleese asked, "You'll be there tomorrow, right? When we leave?"

Summer nodded her head slightly, and told her, "I wouldn't miss it for the world," before turning around and walking straight home without looking back.