After the plane landed, I felt a sense of relief. The whole plane ride I'd force myself to sleep. I didn't want to stay awake and cry over Jack and Ava.
When everybody started getting off, I grabbed my bag and exited the plane. I turned my phone on and called my mom.
"Hi. Are you here?"
"Yeah." I said.
"I saw the plane ticket receipt online. Do you realize how expensive that was?"
"I'm sorry."
"We're out front."
"Okay."
I hung up and walked over to the luggage pickup area and grabbed my suitcases. I walked out front and saw my mom and dad's car. My dad got out to help me.
I stood there and looked at him. He stopped and looked me in the eyes. I started crying. He immediately gave me a much needed hug.
"I'm sorry." I said.
"Don't be sorry. You didn't ask for it to happen."
I let go of him and got into the back seat. My mom turned around and looked at me.
"He doesn't deserve you."
I looked out the window at the familiar surroundings of Nebraska. Last place I wanted to be, but the only place I had to go.
My phone was dead, so I didn't know if Jack was trying to get a hold of me anymore.
"So the surprise at the house, I have to say, it's something we got you long before you just spent all that money on the plane ticket you just bought. If you would've spent all of that 2 months ago, there's no way you'd be getting it. But I'm still excited to give it to you." My dad said.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have spent the money."
"No, don't say that. You most definitely SHOULD have spent that. You don't need to be somewhere where you don't feel comfortable." My mom said.
A long silence passed. "How's Amanda?" I asked. Amanda is Ava's mom.
My mom hesitated. "She's uh, she's not doing too well." She looked out the window. "I helped her sign up for some therapy."
I gulped. "What about Bryan?" (Ava's dad)
"He's never one to show his emotions but I can see the sadness in his eyes. He's destroyed."
The endless tears continued.
I sniffed. "How are you, Paige?" My mom asked. Her eyes were glossy.
I laughed as a tear fell from my face.
"Fantastic." I threw my hands up. "Everything's just great!"
My mom wiped her eyes and handed me a letter.
I grabbed it from her. "What's this?"
"Open it."
I ripped it open and began reading.
A picture dropped out of the middle. It was a black and white photo of the back of me and Ava when we were little kids. I was on the left and she was on the right. We were holding hands and walking in the grass.
I opened the letter.
My lovely Paige,
I've always had this fear that we'll get in some big fight or something will happen and I won't have control over it. This letter is in case of a best-friend emergency. I'm writing this in 2013, and I'm giving it to your mom. She'll give it to you when the time is right. I want you to know that no matter what the emergency is right now, we'll both get through it. Everything will work out for the better. If you hate me, I still love you. You've always been there for me and you're the sister I never had. Don't ever let anyone or anything bring you down. Don't let people push you around. Speak for yourself, stand up for the things you believe in, and keep your faith. I love you and seeing you hurting kills me! Put a smile on your face and get over the thing that's making you mad or sad. If it's something I did, I apologize 100 times. I hope you'll forgive me because i absolutely cannot live without you. You're someone I can't see the world without. I love you, best friend!
-Ava
I covered my face and let out a cry.
I held the letter to my heart and looked at the picture again. I'd never seen it until now.
