Fifty-Two Weeks

prologue

The morning of June 27th was clear and sunny, with the fresh warmth of a new day. The wind rustled the emerald blades of grass, flowers blossomed profusely all around the park, surrounding a pair of teenagers. It wasn't uncommon for this park to house young couples, but these two were different. The boy stood just over six feet with a broad body to match. His curly locks and heartwarming dimples were unmistakeable. The girl almost matched his height, maybe three or four inches smaller, with a slender frame. Her reddish brown locks fell in small waves over her shoulder. The two seemed like a match made in heaven, only problem being that they weren't a couple and denied any feelings other than friendship. They had been sitting together, enjoying each other's company, and inching their bodies closer for just under ten minutes before the girl, Scarlett, broke their silence.

"So this is it?" She whispered, tears threatening to spill and expose her. The boy, Ashton, wound his muscular arm around her waist and she let her head falling into the side of his neck.

"It'll only be for a little while; I'll be back before you know it." Ashton cooed while tracing patterns on her waist with his thumb.

"How is this so easy for you? We haven't spent a day apart since year one, and now you expect me to last a full year of you gone?" Scarlett snapped, undoubtedly frustrated that her best friend in the whole world was leaving and being so casual about it.

"You think this is easy for me?" Ashton stood up, shaking the dirt off his pants. "God Scarlett, you must be blind." His tone was harsh and Scarlett could tell she struck a nerve as he began to walk away.

"Where do you think you're going?" He kept walking, "Ashton!" still nothing. "Ashton Irwin, come back here now." She screamed, the tears freely falling now. He stopped and took a few steps towards her, keeping several feet between them.

"You think I don't care Scar? Is that how it is? Go look at what's on your bed." His jaw clenched, fists balled on either side. Just like that he was leaving again. Scarlett sank to her knees, her composure had finally broken. This was not the way she wanted to spend her last night with Ashton. Fighting with him always took a toll on her, but his last sentence rang clearly throughout her mind.

Curiosity consumed Scarlett and she soon found myself rifling through her bed sheets trying to find what Ashton was talking about. There it was, sitting underneath my pillow, a tiny envelope addressed to her. With bated breath and agile fingers she ripped it open; inside Ashton's neat writing was visible.

"Scarlett Mae Pierce,
If you're reading this then I've probably left for Los Angeles already. I've rewritten this letter four times trying to find the right words to tell you how much you mean to me and how much I'll miss you. But no matter how many smart words I use (because I'm obviously a scholar *wink*) none will ever sound proper. So I'm just going to say it- erm write it. You've been my best friend since we met in year one and you let me borrow your crayons. As much as you tried to hide it, I knew you were jealous when I started hanging out with the boys more. I can't imagine how you feel about me leaving with them for the next eighteen months. Actually I can. I almost went insane when you took a week off to go to Costa Rica, and now we're going to be apart for fifty two times that long. I've done the math over and over and each time that ridiculous number stares right back at me. Fifty two weeks I'll spend away from my best friend. The girl I can call at 2am just because I can't sleep. The girl who isn't afraid to burp in front of me. The same girl who can make sweatpants and a t-shirt look beautiful. The girl I love. That's right I said it. Scarlett, I love you."

Wet patches began to appear on the letter and it was then she realized just how hard she was crying. How can he say he loves me? We're friends. That's all it's ever been. Of course I loved Ashton, but not in that way. She thought to herself as she read over the letter a second time. There was no way she could let Ashton leave without talking to him about this.