Best Friends Forever

Chapter 1

"Do you think you're going to like it in Australia? What am I thinking, of course you will!"

"I'm kinda excited, I guess. I just don't want to leave my friends... especially you!"

I was to be leaving in less than 24 hours because now that 6th grade was over, I would be leaving with my Aunt Lisa for 4 years. She had a wildlife project over in Australia she was helping with.

3 years ago, my parents were driving in their 2004 Ford Taurus, I was in the back seat with my head resting on the middle seat asleep, still buckled, on our way home from the grocery store. It had been recommended that people stay off the roads because they were very slick and icy and the snow storm had been going off and on all day. I guess we should've listened. I woke up when I heard a loud scream came out of my mothers mouth. Before I could register what was going on, it all went black again.

The car had slid on black ice and it sent the small car spinning in the way of on-coming traffic, causing a semi to smash into the side of the car and rolling into the ditch is what the police had told me when I woke up in the hospital a couple days later; I was unconscience for 32 hours. But the worst news I heard when I woke up, was that I was an orphan. No where to go, no where to live.

Eventually they made it to where my mom's sister Lisa got to be my guardian. She's pretty laid back, but she gets stressed at times and she's usually busy. When she's busy though, she's being busy doing things she loves. She's involved with a lot of animal and habitat projects, she does a lot of traveling. She was offered one in Australia while I was in the 7th grade, but wanted to wait for the end of the school year.

"I don't want you to leave!"

Joseph has been my best friend since we were in the same kindergarten class.

"It'll be alright! I'll only be gone for a few years and I'll be back before you know it!"

We were sitting on our porch swing when my Aunt came out with another duffle bag.

"Rachel, sweetie, do you have your things packed yet?"

"No. I was going to wait for Joe to go home since I won't be able to see him for forever!" I said with a slight frustration in my tone.

"It's not going to be forever! It'll just be around 4 years." She gets so annoyed when I over exaggerate or use sarcasm, so often.

"Mhmmm, sure! But it's going to feel like forever!"

"Well it's already 7," she turned to joe, "I talked your mom and she said that as long as you're home before 9, you can stay. But we need to get to bed a little earlier tonight so I was thinking we could go get ice cream or something and then take you home after?"

"No thank you Aunt Lisa."

Our families have been close for as long as I can remember. We were all like one big happy family. When my parents died, it not only affected me, but his family, too.

"If you're sure. I got a couple more bags to pack and put in the car, then we're going to go so Rachel can come back and pack before bed." I watched her disappear through the door.

I turned to Joe, who had his head bowed and his hand folded in his lap.

"Are you okay, Joe?" Are you okay? Of course he's not okay!

"No! I am definitely NOT okay! You're suppose to be my best friend! You're not suppose to leave me here all alone!" I could hear the sadness in his voice and his voice cracking.

"Joe... Please look at me?" It had came out more as a question because I wasn't sure if he would. "Joe-"

"How could you be so calm about all of this? How could you still be acting happy when you're not going to have your best friend for 4 years?"

"What? Joe you'll-"

He finally lifted his head up and looked me in the eyes. He had unshed tears in his eyes. "A lot can change in 4 years. Who's going to get through 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th grade with me? Boring lectures? Laughing at how stupid people can be? Make fun of people's relationship? Make fun of people while they go through puberty? Do things that teens do? Who's going to be my best friend?" He finally stopped talking.

"You'll make new friends. Hang out with Jared and them, you're already friends with them. Next year you can tryout for sports! You should do some of those! I'll still be your best friend when I get back!"

"How do you know though?"

"Because you are my best friend and I promise!"

"Pinky promise?" He held out up his pinky. I couldn't help but just stare at it. I honestly had no idea what was going to happen in the 4 years that I was going to be gone.

I connected my pinky with his. "I pinky promise." I guess I just had faith and hope that things will be the same in the next 4 years. We've been friends for 7 years, so in 4 more we still should be. Right? That's what I was hoping.

Lisa came back out with a suit case and a carry bag., setting them on the porch. "After sorting through all my stuff, I've finally narrowed everything down to 2 duffle bags, a suitcase, and 2 carry bags!" She turned to us and rested her hands on her waist. "Okay, so you ready to go?"

Joe looked back down at his lap while is just stared at her in the face with a blank expression.

She knew we weren't ready to leave each other, but she knew we had to. Joe and I knew it was time to leave, no matter how much we wanted to handcuff ourselves to this porch swing and never leave each other's side. "Okay let's go take you home."

The trip to his house felt longer than it was and quiet. When we got there, my aunt finally broke the silence. "Goodbye honey! We'll see you sooner than you think!"

"Bye Joe." I didn't want to say it.

"Bye." He got out of the car and started walking up his side walk that led to his front door.

"Joe wait!" I got out of the car and ran to him. He turned around and threw my arms around his neck and gave him a hug. "I don't want to say goodbye! So it's not going to be goodbye. It'll be see you later! I will come back and we will always be friends! Remember my promise!"

I felt him wrap his arms around me and retuned the hug. "I'll see you later Rae! I'll never forget your promise!"

We stayed that way for a minute before we finally let go. I forced a smile on my face. "Don't go growing up too much on me now while I'm gone! I'll leave you as boy, and when I get back you'll be almost a man."

His lips twitched up into a small grin. "Don't go growing into bratty girly girl now! I'll have to make those kangaroos kick you in the butt!" We both let out a small laugh.

"I'll see you later best friend!"

"I'll see you later! We're BFFs til the end," I said.

He continued up his side walk, up his stairs, and into his house. I got back in the car and sat silently.

"You know, it's only 4 years and you guys are practically brother and sister. You're crazy if you guys believe you won't be friends when you get back. I love you Rachel! You need to cheer up!"

Please hurry up. I want 4 years time over with already, I thought to myself.