RAISING SUMMER

ANGST

I stood in Lucy's kitchen with the little kids all at the table waiting for breakfast. Luke and I made pancakes, eggs and bacon for breakfast. We stood in the kitchen laughing as Summer smiled awkwardly in the highchair. I heard the front door swing open and slam shut.

"That must be Lilah." I smiled excitedly and went to introduce myself. I was on a roll with the kids and there was only one left.

"Hi you must be Lilah, I'm...." I began.

"Don't care." She cried and ran back to her room slamming the door behind her. I looked back at Luke confused. As he stared back at me wearing a huge grin from ear to ear.

"That has angst written all over it, not going near that!" He smirked.

"Seriously!" I said throwing an apple at his head.

"Ow!" He shouted after the apple crashed into his forehead. Callum looked at me and then Luke.

"Women." Callum shrugged and turned back around towards the table as I rolled my eyes. I walked to Lilah's bedroom and knocked on the door.

"Lilah, it's me Jane." I announced.

"Go away." She sobbed.

"Please, talk to me." I pleaded. "What's wrong?" I asked.

"Leave me alone!" She demanded, I slid my back along the door until I reached the floor.

"Suit yourself, I'm just gonna sit here until you let me in."I explained.

"You know when I was your age..." I began before the door opened and I fell backwards onto the ground. Hitting my head really hard. I rubbed it softly and bit my lip to stop an expletive from falling out.

"Gosh you're already annoying and you've only been sitting out there for a minute or two." She insulted me as I rose to my feet and closed the door behind me. She sat on her bed and held a pink pillow close to her chest that was marked with salty tear stains.

"What's going on?"

"You wouldn't understand it's a friend thing." She wiped her tears.

"Believe me I've had my fair share of friendship ups and downs. Maybe I can help, but I guess you'll never know unless you tell me." I explained.

"It's Riley." She sobbed.

"Riley and I got into a fight." She sniffled.

"Whose Riley?"

"My best friend."

"What about?"

"I don't want to talk about it." Her body racked with sobs.

"You know my best friend Rachel and I got into a few fights when we were younger."

"What happened?" She asked.

"You name it clothes, toys, boys, silly stuff really. I can't remember in to much detail. Rachel and I couldn't live without each other. We were best friends. Eventually we stopped arguing you want to know why?" I asked.

"Why?" She squeezed her pillow.

"Because we learned there's only one person who's going to stick by you no matter what through thick and thin. Every time I fell Rachel picked me up. Every time Rachel needed someone I was there. When you promise someone you'll be there for each other, you mean that. Best friends aren't easy to come by, I've been lucky enough to have Rachel when I did. Sometimes I didn't appreciate her enough and I regret that. I met your mom. She's an amazing friend too. I miss Rachel everyday and I wish I could make her laugh just one more time. Or just see her bright smile." I smile, blinking back the tears. "Hold on to Riley." I looked her in the eyes and she was crying new tears threatening to pool over. "You should hold onto her tight and never ever let her go. Because best friends are irreplaceable they always will be." My voice cracked as I remembered my best friend and how hard it is to fill this empty space she left, I knew I couldn't replace her just as Lilah couldn't replace Riley. After all, a pinky promise is the highest of promises.