You + Me = Us (now published so sample only)

Chapter 1

Chapter 1 - The beginning of the end?

Link

My name is Lucas Lincoln but all my mates call me Link, all except for my best friend who now thinks I'm nothing but scum. Geez, why did I do that? How could I have been so damn stupid? I blame it on love. Maybe if I didn't love her so deeply I could've kissed her and walked away with a grin on my face.

Instead of being truthful, I kissed another girl and now she's mad as hell. I couldn't blame her, shit, if it had of been the other way around I would've been ropable, but it wasn't. I'm pretty sure that she will never forgive me for this one.

Shanay

Lucas Lincoln, my next-door neighbour and my best friend in the whole world for the last five years or so. I believed he could do no wrong. At least until last night where my whole world came crashing down around me.

Now before we get to that, let's go back a bit further....

He had just spent the summer with his father in the city. I missed him like you wouldn't believe. Even though we talked every day, I still missed him. I drove to the train station in the closest town to pick him up this morning and I couldn't contain my excitement. It thrilled me so much that he was coming home and I couldn't stop the huge grin that stayed glued on my face.

He hopped off the train looking tired and my heart went out to him. When he saw me, his whole face lit up. He dropped his bags where he stood and ran over to me, smothering me in the biggest bear hug ever. God, it felt so good! I had missed him way too much.

"Hey, my Shay!" he exclaimed and I went tingly all over as those gorgeous sky blue eyes met mine.

"Hey Link, how was the city?" I asked and waited for the grimace to appear and when it did, I laughed.

"Just as awesome as ever." He drawled with his sarcasm evident.

We were country mice and damn proud of it! My mum's the town's vet and my dad, unfortunately, was my English teacher. We lived on the outskirts of a small country town on a quaint hobby farm that was adjacent to another hobby farm, which was where Link and his mother lived.

Ever since Link moved in when we began high school, we had been the closest of friends. There was something so special about him that I couldn't explain. I don't know if it was because he always listened to me no matter how much I griped or because he always knew what to say to make things better. All I knew was that he was the person I was closest to in my world.

Link was my best friend and I could want for no more. He slung an arm around my shoulder and pulled me close to his side as he watched me lost in my thoughts. He gave me a quick shake and I poked my tongue out at him.

"Thank God I don't have to do that anymore," he said on a sigh. "Next year he can bloody come and find me." He grumbled and I tightened my hold on his waist.

"What happened?" I asked getting the feeling that something bad had occurred.

"He spent about five minutes with me the whole time I was there, always running off to attend his stupid meetings. Then he has a bloody go at me before I left that we didn't spend enough time together. I mean whose fault was that? It sure as hell wasn't mine." He told me with a furious growl and I held back a sigh.

This happened every year. I know he didn't realise it and I felt terrible for him so I just squeezed him a bit tighter and let him have his rant. He picked up his bag without letting go of me, by some miracle, and we walked out to where I'd parked our car.