My Boyfriend's Best Friend

Chapter One

Rylie

"I can't believe you're leaving," I said quietly, looking down at Connor's hand entwined in mine. We were sitting in my backyard on the roof of the shed. It was my favourite spot and hidden from the house by a large tree which was used to climb up to the galvanised iron roof.

"I know," answered Connor gently. We sat in silence and looked out into the bush behind my house. The tranquil noises of bird calls and the wind softly rustling through the tall eucalyptus trees gently caressed us and I shut my eyes, wanting to savour this moment for as long as I could.

"Connor! We have to go!" I heard his mother shout from a distance. Connor and I had been neighbours and best friends forever and now he was moving to England with his parents to look after his grandmother. I couldn't help but resent his grandmother. It wasn't her fault she was sick, I know, but if she hadn't gotten sick, I wouldn't have had to say goodbye to my first boyfriend. Over the past six months, our relationship had changed from innocent friendship to something more exciting. I looked over at Connor and took in his blonde hair and kind blue eyes. I was going to miss him so much.

"I'll miss you," I whispered. His eyes locked onto mine and he leant in to kiss me. I met him halfway and we exchanged a last desperate moment together. I clung to him as he pulled away but he kept our faces within inches of each other.

"I'll miss you too," he replied softly. He was about to say something else but his mother called for him once more. Sighing, he pulled away and helped me get up. We made our way off the tin shed and started walking hand-in-hand to the front yard. We were silent the entire trip until we came to the edge of my house. I pulled him to a stop.

"Wh-what does this mean for us?" I stuttered, finally asking the question that had been playing on both of our minds for the past two weeks – since we learnt of his move.

Connor shook his head, not quite meeting my eyes. "I don't know." His voice cracked and I could see that it was taking all he had to remain calm and placid. "I mean, I don't know how long I'll be gone. It could a month or it could be years! I just don't know!" His voice had risen towards the end and no longer held any signs of holding back his heartbreak.

His eyes started to water and I couldn't help myself. I pulled him to me and kissed him one last time. "We are what we are," I whispered into his ear. "Whatever happens, I just want you to know that you'll always be my best friend."

"You'll always be mine too," said Connor, a small smile on his lips. "I guess we'll just have to see where we end up."

"Yeah," I said, leaning my head on his shoulder. He wrapped his hand around my waist and leaned his head on mine.

"Connor, your mum says you have to come now or she'll make you hold Lucy the entire trip," interrupted a voice. I looked up to see Aidan, Connor's best guy friend. Aidan was a few inches taller than Connor and was Connor's opposite when it came to appearance. Where Connor was all light, Aidan was dark with his brown hair, brown eyes and tanned skin. No one would have ever picked the two to be friends but somehow they were and I knew Aidan would miss Connor almost as much as I would.

Beside me, Connor laughed reluctantly and took my hand in his. "C'mon, Rylie. I don't want to be saddled with a two year old for a twenty hour flight." I giggled and let him pull me away. I saw Aidan frowning but it turned around when I smiled at him. He followed us as we walked over to Connor's house across the road.

Connor's mum, Macy, was hugging my mum goodbye and pulled back as soon as we came over. She pulled me out of Connor's hold and gave me a hug goodbye.

"Take care, Macy," I said, hugging her back.

"You too, Rylie." We pulled away at the same time and I saw Connor and Aidan saying goodbye. It was a tender moment to see two guys hugging like that and I turned away, giving them their privacy. I went over to the car and poked my head into the backseat where Connor's little sister was seated in her child seat.