Plunge.

Division One

It's always been the same view.

The vast clear sky, that enriching outdoor smell, the soft breeze that never failed to keep the atmosphere serine.  

For all these years, I sit on these steps and just look up, and see the same view.  

Only for all those years, I wasn't alone. I was always with my two best guys - Rein and Jerrod. We would sit right here, on these very steps, just spend time looking at that view.  

Rein would play name that cloud and would claim each and every one of them looked like gummy bears, his favorite candy. Jerrod would correct him every time.

And all of that, all of those moments - to me, it seemed that they would never end.  

But fate had its own selfish way of proving me wrong.

Now, I sit on these steps alone. Our bubbly giggles and hearty jokes only seemed to be echoes from far away, getting farther and farther, until they would dissipate into nothing. 

It wasn't just our moments that I miss. Ultimately, I miss them. Rein's oxymoronically hubristic stares that never disappointed to give an overwhelming sense of humility when he comes up with a good joke; Jerrod's ever-present basketball, and his talks of game standings and player stats, all of which are about his home team, Lakers, give a reassuring sense of normalcy in the ambiance. Nostalgia is inevitable. 

At first I thought, fate must want us to all be separated. But now, as I contemplate on it, I think, fate must want to separate them from me. After all, I'm the only one that's left here. I'm the one who's sitting alone. 

The last time we were all here together, I recall, was two weeks ago - back when everything was customary and typical.  

Looking back on it, the moment seemed like a photograph - a snapshot taken by an anonymous life form: Rein, in the middle of telling a joke, his blue-gray eyes gleaming with the anticipation of our fulfilling laughs. Jerrod, spinning his basketball on the tip of his pinky, the sun's intermittent light bringing out his caramel-colored hair, in toned within the fine line between golden blonde and light brown. And me, in the middle, dubiously smiling at Rein, unsure if his next joke's going to be valid and wondering if it will make actual sense.

What happened next was more than unforeseen.

The day after that, I was on my way to school, the clock threatening me to make haste otherwise I would be late. I didn't understand - Jerrod, living only a few blocks away, was supposed to pick me up at my house, and then go to school together. The day before that, I picked him up, as arranged. But he didn't come.  

Ergo, I had to rush.  

I had no time to check on him when I passed by his house on my way. I was, in fact, a tad bit irritated - he didn't notify me any sooner. Maybe he was sick, I wondered. 

But I guaranteed myself he wasn't because he was just fine yesterday. I pushed those thoughts away as I made my way to my locker. I still had time, thank god. When I opened it, a note made out of recycled paper slipped out. I picked it up and read.

Hey Kara,

I'm sorry I didn't say goodbye. This is because even I didn't know we were moving. Dad got promoted, and the only way he could keep it is if we move near his company's headquarters in LA. Hey, look on the bright side - I can finally see my team! I know it's sudden, but I promise we'll see each other soon. Say hi to Rein for me.

- J. Gracelyn.

I didn't like this one bit.  

I crumpled the note and shoved it down my pocket.