The Smile Always Fades

24. Giving Friendship A Chance

"I can't believe you're leaving for New York next week, Cassy," Anna said solemnly, while sitting on her bed. She couldn't even imagine how her life would change once Cassy was gone.

"We've been over this a hundred times, Anna. I'll text and call and write you all the time. We'll stay in touch, I promise I won't become a stranger."

"I know, but it's still sad that we won't be able to have sleepovers and sit under our stakeout tree."

"True." Cassy looked down at Anna's shag carpeted floor and ran her fingers through her shining brown hair. "I'm really going to miss you, Anna. I know I've been acting like none of this has been bothering me, but it has. I'm just so upset that my dad took the job; he didn't even consult us to see how we felt about it! He's just so selfish."

"Cassy, that's not true. Your dad loves you. Even though it means that you and I will have to be apart, your dad really wanted this job and I'm sure he's excited about it. You should be happy for him, it's what he wants."

"What about what I want?" Cassy said loudly. "Neither Melany or I want to leave. We're being stripped away from everything and everyone that we love and he doesn't even care! My mom won't even stick up to him, she's just going along with everything that he says."

"I know you're upset and frustrated--"

"Anna, I'm not just frustrated, I'm livid. I don't even know how I'm going to live in New York. It's like my life is turning upside down."

"I understand how you feel," Anna said empathetically.

"No, I'm sorry, Anna, but you don't. Don't even try to tell me that you know my pain and that you know what I'm going through. You still get to stay here and hang out with all of your friends. You don't have to move to some foreign place where you'll never feel welcomed and comfortable. You have no idea how I feel."

"Cassy, I'm just trying to be there for you. Besides, my only friend is moving away--across the country--it's not like I'm going to have a ball living life without you!" Anna's voice started to rise without her even realizing.

"Whatever. At least you still get to stay home. You still have Shane to keep you occupied."

"What the heck is that supposed to mean, Cassy?!"

"Nothing, just forget it."

"No," Anna said harshly. "What did you mean?"

"It just seems like Shane has been hanging out at your place a lot lately, and I'm wondering if he's actually there for Jason or if he's really there for you."

"Me? Cassy, that's retarded. You know that Jason and Shane are best friends. All they ever do is play video games. Besides, you hardly ever even pay attention to Shane because you're always trying to get close to my brother!"

Cassy looked at Anna stunned by her comment. Anna froze, realizing she might have overstepped her grounds. Soon the stunned look melted from Cassy's face and all Anna could see was pure anger and utter hatred.

"I cannot believe you just said that!" Cassy spat. "You know that I hardly ever even speak to Jason. You're just jealous that I'm not afraid to talk to the guy that I like."

Anna's mood changed from mad to guilty. She didn't mean to hurt Cassy's feelings. "Cassy, I--"

"Stop. Just forget it. I gotta go anyway. We still have a lot to pack at home and I need to go help. I'll just see you when I see you." With that, Cassy walked out of Anna's room, out of her house, and out of her life--Anna hadn't even gotten to say goodbye the day that the Stevens left for New York.

The girls had been having such a great time together in New York City. Anna was seeing different things in The Big Apple that she never dreamed of seeing. Her favorite part had been seeing the magnificent Statue of Liberty, she just seemed so pristine on her island--standing tall in all of her beauty and glory.

It had been a plus that Steven and Timothy had traveled around the city with them. Anna enjoyed having Steven around; he was fun to talk to and she was comfortable joking with him and talking about herself, which was something that didn't come easily to her, usually she was the one who did the listening, not the speaking. But she was a bit happy when both of the guys took their leave; Anna wanted some alone time to talk with Cassy.

The girls were going down Central Park now and Anna had a hard time focusing on what she wanted to say because of the pretty sight of the peaceful park. A young couple were sitting close together on a bench near a blooming tree. The picture looked so cute with the man and woman cuddling and the pink blossom petals falling softly around them.

Cassy sighed happily, looking at the couple. "I hope one day I'll be able to sit under a tree with my boyfriend or husband."

"You will," Anna said confidently. "They look so peaceful," she commented.

"Yeah, they really do."

Anna found it a better time than any to bring up what she'd been wanting to say. "Cassy? I just wanted to say that I'm so glad that I came this week. I'm leaving for home in two days, and I know this is a little late, but I didn't want to leave for home without smoothing over what happened between us."

"What happened?" was Cassy's response.

Anna's brow furrowed. "Before you left for this place. Our fight. I just--"

"Oh, that. I almost forgot about that," Cassy said.

"Well, I haven't. I just wanted to say that I'm really sorry. What I had said about you and Jason was wrong of me. I know you were having a rough time having to leave home to a new city and I was just trying to be there for you..."

"I know, Anna. I know you were just trying to help. After I left I thought it over, I knew that how I had acted was wrong. I'm sorry I didn't try to text you or call to apologize, but I was afraid that you were upset with me because I hadn't heard from you that day either."

"I didn't text you because I was afraid you didn't want to talk to me," Anna replied. "I guess it's both of our faults. Just bad communication."

"Yeah, I guess. I didn't mean to blow up like that. I wish I could take back that day, it changed things between us."

"Well, I think you're right that it changed how we felt about contacting each other, but I want you to know that I've had an awesome time with you this week. I don't feel like our relationship has changed at all when we're together."

Cassy's face brightened into a smile. "Good. I feel the same way. It's been so good getting to spend time with you. I don't want you to leave."

"Now you know how I felt." Anna winked.

Cassy laughed. "I guess I do," she said.

"Let's make a commitment that we won't let that moment change how our friendship was--how it is. We'll still keep in touch and visit each other whenever we possibly can."

"I'd like that. I can't really contact you with emails or texting, but I could get Melany to hold the phone for me once in a while. I'm actually working in physical therapy to move my fingers. Hopefully soon I'll be able to wrap my fingers around and grip a pencil. Then I could write letters to you! Maybe...if they don't get too tired," Cassy chuckled.

"Wow, you're learning to move your fingers again?" Anna asked excitedly. "That's so awesome, Cassy! I'm so happy for you."

"It's been hard," Cassy admitted. "But Timothy has been really patient with me. He helps me a lot; he'll push me without making me feel frustrated or feel like I can't do it, I love that about him."

"Well, I'm glad that you're able to work hard to become mobile again."

"Not fully, just small steps." Cassy smiled.

Small steps. I like the sound of that, Anna thought. Taking enough small steps in life can get you anywhere. Whether it's hard work, friendships, Anna looked back over to the couple still sitting on the bench, and maybe even love.