Friends?

Chapter One- The Question

LitAsKit is online

I glance at my laptop screen, and instantly my horrid mood turns its head. I open up my chat and read her message.

LitAsKit: Hey, I've been thinking. You said you live out in Beach Grove, Indiana right?

I try to think where she is going with this. I know we've mentioned where we live before we realized that's it's not a small trek. After a couple of seconds just sitting there I realize I should probably respond.

IzMix: Yeah...?

LitAsKit: See, my family wants to visit a town close there, around an hour from you. We have a couple of cousins up there. And one of them just announced an engagement...

LitAsKit: And they said if I wanted to I could come with to meet the fiancé, but that I don't have to stay with them the whole time...

I reread those last messages over and over until I finally believe them. I'm gonna meet Kit. In person. My breathing becomes ragged and quick. What if I respond too eager and she wasn't even really thinking of visiting me like I thought? I notice it's been a couple minutes without my response.

LitAsKit is typing...

I quickly try to calm my racing heart down. As I am reaching towards my keyboard to attempt a response, I get another message.

LitAsKit: I take that silence to mean no?

IzMix: No!
IzMix: I mean it's not a no... ugh. I mean yes to the you coming here, no to the it being a no...

LitAsKit: Really?! Oh my gosh. You have no idea how much I'm freaking out now. I was kinda worried you'd say no.

Just as I am putting my hand on the keyboard to type, my mom opens my door. Her kind face smiling and affectionate. I smile back at her and close my laptop subtly. I don't want to keep it open and have Izzy think I'm ignoring her but I don't need my mom asking what I'm hiding.

"You are never going to believe this! I got that work vacation that I've been trying to get for weeks! Hawaii!" My mom says this all in a rush and in a high-pitched tone.

"Wow. That's amazing! When do you go?" I sit up as she sits next to me. I set the laptop aside to give her my full attention.

"That's the... more surprising news. They only gave me tonight. Their schedule was really crammed and it was last minute and-" I cut her off before she feels too guilty to go like she did four years ago, the last time they offered it.

"Mom. That's amazing. Why are you here? You have to pack!" I stand up and grab my mother by the shoulders and lead her to her room. I see she already has her suitcase open, but completely empty on her bed.

"Are you sure? Cause I could cancel and-"

"Mom! Pack your bag. I'm about to pack it for you!" I tell her in an exasperated voice. I gently push her into her room and close the door. I hear her sigh and mumble quietly. Something about an itinerary and mountains.

I walk back to my bedroom. Sitting down on my bed I  open my laptop back up.

LitAsKit: Where'd you go? (5 minutes ago)

IzMix: Sorry. My mom had to talk to me. When is your family coming up?

LitAsKit: This is probably horrible timing, but we are leaving in the morning. Tomorrow. I was only told just before I first messaged you.

IzMix: Actually that is perfect... my mom is going to Hawaii for work.

Suddenly, this feels too perfect. Life is never just this easy for me. Surely this can't be right. Kit... here? With me? In my house? In my room even?

IzMix: Tomorrow. Which means we can hang without her being all pushy and pestering us with questions like always.

We spend the next while messaging back and forth about plans. My heart is racing at the idea of finally meeting her. Then I have a sudden thought that scares me. How the hell am I supposed to get ready for when she come over if I only have a day to prepare? Closing my laptop, I grab out my phone and jump out of bed. While quickly grabbing my dirty clothes off my floor I read her message.

LitAsKit: Okay. So I know it probably sounds dumb, but I'm nervous to finally meet you.

This makes me smile. I'm glad I'm not the only one. Although we are probably nervous for very different reasons.

IzMix: Its not, I am too. But it's like two years late. ;)

My mom knocks on my door and enters without waiting for a response, as always. She looks so tired, but so excited. She flips the switch of one of my lights, turning it off. Only my bedside lamp is left on.

"Honey, I'm gonna need you to go to bed now. I'm gonna have you drop me off at the airport in the morning." She smiles uncertainly. I can tell she is waiting for some sort of secret message in my face that says she can't go. I smile back and close my laptop. Seeming to not find what she's looking for, she leaves my room, closing the door behind her. But not before taking a second look at me, I shoo her away with my hand before saying goodnight.

IzMix: Hey, my mom needs me to sleep so I can drop her off at the airport. Message you in the morning?

LitAsKit: Okay. ;(

I close my laptop and lay down. It starts to hit me that this is actually happening. This isn't some dream where I am going to be wake up disappointed to find it to be fiction. I'm genuinely going to finally meet my best friend. My soulmate even. I lay there for another couple of hours before my thoughts control themselves and let me sleep.  I toss and turn all night, unable to truly relax, even in slumber.