Stars

Chapter 2

"WHAT?" Lila half whispered-half shouted, "you're.....you're...... moving? To Ivoria?" She asked with tears welling in her eyes.
"I'm sorry, li, you know my work's important. I need to move closer to the agency, there's just so many people that I can work alongside. This is the opportunity of a lifetime for me, Li." Jess told her, looking at her colourful sneakers. "You can even come with me if you want."
"And leave the beach? Don't you understand, Jess? We've been here for years, just the two of us, its been awesome. Do you really wanna leave that?" Lila asked her.
"Then come with me" Jess repeated, sternly looking at Lila.
"What abut my university degree and everything?"
"THEN JUST GET A TRANSFER AND MOVE WITH ME!" Jess shouted, tears streaming down her now angry face. Lila stood there, with her eyes wide open in shock, stepping back a bit.
"I.... I didn't mean to shout at you. I just really don't think I can leave you. Come her li....." Jess said quietly, moving towards Lila to give her a hug.
"N.....N..... No." Lila said, walking backwards. "Who even are you anymore?"
"I'm your best friend." Jess said, sobbing.
"You're not my best friend. I'm going to the beach. DON'T follow me." And she turned on her heel and went down the creaky old stairs, slamming the door as she went out.

The beach was peaceful, quiet, except for a few seagulls wailing in the distance. Lila sat down on a piece of driftwood, folding her head into her knees. She let the tears flow freely out of her chocolatey brown eyes. She saw the tears falling down into her hair and soaking her trousers. Lila felt as her back heaved up and down, following her gasping breaths and sobs. When she finally looked up, she watched as the waves toppled onto the sand, littles ripples on the shoreline, dampening the sand like the tears her cheeks. She thought about leaving this place, ''tis beautiful place she called her home. Her safe place. She knew what she should choose, out of the ocean or Jess, but she just couldn't bear to be here. Lila said one last goodbye to the sea, slowly walking over to the water line and bending and lowering her head down. She softly touched her lips on the rippling water and turned around to start walking up the banks.

She slowly walked in the door, hanging her head. She looked at the ground as she stepped one step at a time, carefully making her way to the top. She felt soft arms wrap around her, making her heart burst with golden flames, singing in the heat. Lila felt the auburn-dipped hair crease in her shirt, she smelled the raw coconut shampoo, the rose perfume and the newly-washed hoodie. She looked up at the familiar blue eyes with red circles around them and felt one last hot tear trickle down her face.
"You came back....." Jess softly spoke, looking with big eyes at Lila.
"I....I could never leave." Lila told her, and they embraced again, crying into each other's shoulders with no tears coming out. Their shoulders slumped down, their backs heaving, each sobbing as loudly as one could sob.
"You'll always be my best friend, Jess. No matter what happens, I'll always be your friend. You can trust me." Lila said in between gasping breaths, still in the embrace.
"Can we go to the beach?" Jess asked, head still on Lila's shoulder. Lila smiled, resting her head on Jess's.

They hung their hair off the Jetty, pondering and thinking, gazing at the beautifully blue crafted sky, chatting quietly and listening to the music of the waves crashing the rocks.
"So you do want to come?"
"I couldn't leave you, Jess. As much as I love the ocean."
"You know, we can still come down here or down to the ocean for holidays."
"Yeah."
"I have to move for my work, Li." Jess said, looking across at Lila.
"I understand, it's ok." Lila replied, smiling across at her friend.
"I couldn't find a better friend if I tried", Jess said delicately, "I love you so much". Lila's smile grew even larger at that statement.
"I thought you liked Jamie Brown. " Lila giggled, swaying her dark hair up and sitting right, now cross-legged on the spotted gum boards. Jess's cheeks flushed.
"I meant as a friend, and anyway I so do not like Jamie," she said quickly. And then smiled sheepishly, adding, "Well, maybe just a little. But you can't tell ANYONE." Her face reddened even more. Jess agreed with a giggle. They laughed and talked for a while longer, until they saw the last specks of sun start disappearing over the bald hills.