The Letter

Chapter 4

I dashed over to Ashley's while the rain poured. I didn't care that it was pouring, I just wanted to distance myself from that stupid letter. I just want to spend the rest of my time with my best friends. I hop up the front steps of Ashley's house and burst in the door.

"Man that was quick," states Ardia with a mouth full of pizza. I drop my things and plop on their couch. I take a slice of cheese pizza and take a huge bite. Man, was it good to eat something so greasy after eating a salad every day?

" I guess you read my text message. Pfh you didn't even reply-"

I punched her shoulder. She Laughed.

"I'd rather be here and stay with you guys. I just don't want to think about that stupid letter. Its too much stress for me right now. That I need to spend some more time with you guys."

Ashley holds her heart and places a fake and sarcastic frown on her face.

"Aww, I'm so moved." I slapped the pizza out of her hand and she fell on the floor. We both die of laughter while Ardia is buried in a bean bag chair with her sweatshirt hoodie on her head smiling.

"Man, I miss this version of you. I never see you so playful," states Ashley with question.

"Well I've gotta keep my mind off that devil paper." We laugh again. We have never laughed so hard in our lives. We haven't laughed so hard since 5th grade when we would have sleepovers every weekend. After the middle of 7th grade. Ashley changed. She always kept her hoodie on and never spoke about it. While the teachers would yell at other students for having this up, they would never tell Ashley to take hers off. It always questioned me. I never asked, of course, I didn't want to bother her. Man, she always slept in a hoodie as well. I guess some questions are left to be unanswered. But what really concerns me is that she sometimes looks sickly or just she looks like she wants to pass out. I always ask her "Hey are you ok? Do we need to go home?" but she always replied, "No I'm fine, thank you for asking though." But once she passed out in the hallway during a passing period and the ambulance had to take her away to the hospital for a few weeks. No one could see her unless you were family. That time period was so stressful. I was always wondering if she was dying?

"I can tell that letter has been bothering you."

"Yea it has. But its a huge life decision. I thought that if I hung out with you guys as much as I could before I need to leave IF I do choose to take this offer."

"Speaking of leaving, can we go upstairs? I need to talk to you, it's rather important."

"Sure of course." We walk up to her staircase to her bedroom. She slowly closes her door. I take a seat on her bed and look with concern.

"Is everything okay? Is there something wrong?" Ashley sits down next to me and then she looks in my eyes.

"Please, whatever you do, please don't tell anyone about what I'm about to say."