Best Friends Until The End

Chapter 1: The Goodbye

"I bet you I can finish this beer in one gulp", he said to me with ironically the most innocent smile. He then popped the cap, tipped it back and began to chug as I sat back, watched, laughed and admired.
Niall and I have been friends since seventh grade, when he moved to Texas from Ireland. We were paired together for a math project and originally hated each other. I always thought he was a self-conceited jerk and he thought I was a superficial brat but as we finished the project we realized we actually were very alike. We had similar interest, similar lifestyles, and ended up just being best friends. He was the boy I'd go to when I was heartbroken and I was his therapist when things weren't going right for him with his music career.
The boy has a voice of an angel. He performed at a local café some weekends and business wasn't always the best. He deserved more praise than he received. Niall decided to go to New York after high school to chase his dreams as a singer while I stayed close to home attending a local college. Enough of the back story, back to now.
He got half way and began to choke, spitting the drink out in the air like an elephant. "Dude! Watch were your spitting, some came back on my face." I yelled wiping my cheeks. He just laughed taking his hand, helping me wipe away the alcohol, "My bad princess." He whispered, his Irish accent as thick and adorable as ever. Why would he do that?
I immediately changed the subject before it could become awkward, "So are you ready to be out of here?" He took a moment and stared at the sky and just took another drink.
"Part of me yes but then again there are some things that I don't want to leave behind" he answered.
"Like your parents?" I asked.
"Sure." He smiled then stood up.
We were hanging out in my backyard on my trampoline. He was drinking but I decided to stay sober for the night because this was the last time I would be with my best friend and I wanted to remember every second of it.
He jumped off the trampoline onto the ground, looked at me and spoke. "Put our song on and let's dance." Our song was Specks by Matt Pond PA, it was established our sophomore year while we were driving around and he let me play DJ. I put it on and he was hooked. Ever since then we consider it our song and I loved that.
I pushed play and the song began, I jumped down and grabbed his hand. He pulled me close and intertwined our fingers. Every time we'd dance he'd do this. I swear we're just friends, never kissed or dated. Something about him though made him so important to me. I knew there would never be a day where we were actually together but I couldn't help but fall for the kid. The beginning of the song is a bit slow so we just swayed as I tried to analyze and memorize every detail about him. From his piercing blue eyes, his goofy half smile that I would miss seeing every day, the way his blond hair almost looked completely brunette at night but he was still mesmerizing. He was significantly taller than me so I was forced to look up him, but it was option to be in awe of his beauty. He was truly perfect. It seemed this was all in slow motion then I was brought back to reality when hearing his voice. "Ready?" he said already laughing. "Let's do this.", I answered. The song began to speed up and it was tradition for us to dance around like complete idiots, almost doing a weird friendship chant around an imaginary fire. We just laughed at each other and tried to enjoy every minute of it because this would be the last time we would see each other for a while.
It was time for me to take him home, so we piled in my car and with every inch we moved closer to his house, a little piece of my heart broke. The whole way there we talked about some of the highlights through the years. "Remember when you met my parents?" He asked, this was his favorite one to bring up.
"Please do not remind me." I pleaded. "Nope! This is one of the greatest moments in history" he began. Niall's family adored me but the first time we met was humiliating.
"You came over because you had a bad day, remember? You wanted to come over to watch movies and feel better, so I brought you over after your soccer practice and you wanted to shower." He started to giggle.
"Niall Horan you did not tell me your bathroom lock didn't work." I argued. "I think my mom and you really bonded that day." He laughed. I just glared at him trying not to break a smile.
"It's not funny" I began to chuckle, "I'm just glad your dad took his time to check out the situation and he was able to retreat back to the bed room."
He laughed even harder, "But after you got dressed and we explained what was going on, they loved you. Dinner that night was a bit awkward but they eventually took you in as one of their own.", he slowed down his laughter and I could feel the mood in the car change. "I'm really going to miss that Bren" he put his hand on my thigh as I drove "Just promise me to check on them and keep in touch. Go over for dinner every now and then, and call me so it'll be like old times." I fought back the tears and tried to stay strong.
"Of course I will." I murmured knowing if I said anymore tears would stream down like a waterfall.
I pulled into his driveway and turned off the engine. We sat there in silence for at least five minutes trying to think of what to say.
How do you say goodbye to someone who means everything to you?
I'll see him again but not for months. I was so used to seeing this boy every day and here I am in his driveway, playing back memories of our friendship and this is it. This is where we part ways for what seems like forever. Call me over dramatic but this is how I feel, I don't want to let him go. "I'll let you know when I land in New York, okay?" he spoke. I just nodded my head letting a single tear drop. "Don't cry please princess . Let's get out hug and act like I'll see you tomorrow, cool?" He suggested. I agreed but honestly that hurt even more. To know I won't see him for four months but still have the hope that I will. That's just torture.
We both exited my vehicle and met in front. I've never clung on to him tighter. "I'll miss you so much" I started to whimper.
"Hey now, I'll just be a phone call away" he said, placing his chin on top of my head. We stood there for what seemed like thirty minutes. I broke away first knowing if I waited any longer that I would begin to confess my feelings to him and I knew that wasn't right. I began to walk to the driver's side of my car.
"I love you Niall Horan." I said before opening the door, "I love you too Bren" he responded before waking inside. I began to pull out of his driveway to head home. I finally reached the end of his street when I pulled out my auxiliary cord and put on my phones music. Specks began to play and I began to sob.