Don't forget me

A Confession

"Well we'll just have to make this last week count." Blake says finally after a painstaking few moments of silence between us both.

I look to him to find a hopeful smile painted across his face and can't help but wonder why I had never met this boy sooner. It felt as though as soon as I had managed to get something good it was getting snatched away again.

"Better text Kia and tell her that everything is good then." I giggle and Blake laughs at this,

"God I can't believe they really locked us in here." He shakes his head in a mix of disbelief and amusement.

"We do have the best friends though." I add, knowing that if Jake and Kia hadn't have got involved it would be unlikely that Blake and I would have ever spoken again. The thought of that sends shivers down my spine.

"And that," I announce as I fling my suitcase shut, "Is everything packed!" I cheer in victory but ignore the fact that the bag is close to bursting thanks to Kia's 'better to be prepared' attitude. The woman herself grins at the finished product and flops onto the floor in weariness.

"Thank god for that." She laughs as I join her side.

"Hey, Jess I was thinking. Well you fly out next week and we barely have any time left so maybe we could have a little party here. You know invite Jake and Blake, get your Mum on a day off work and just spend it all together." I smile at the idea and nod ferociously,

"Kia that's a great idea." I agree.

"Well it's settled then, next week? What about Friday the day before you fly out?" She proposes and I nod. I'm sure Mum can get the day off.

"Anyway, how's packing going for uni?" I ask her, knowing that in a few weeks she too will be moving her life to a whole new place.

"Alright, Mum has been surprisingly helpful, and I think we're going to go shopping for some other stuff next week." She chirps happily and I'm glad to see that her Mum is trying to help her.

"Do you know where Jake is going?" I ask, suddenly recalling that I didn't know where he was bound.

"Why would you ask me?" She cries suddenly and I'm shocked at her outburst.

"Woah Kia it was just a question, I just presumed you guys have been talking more recently especially after the stuff between us." I explain.

Kia sighs and I can immediately tell that there's something on her mind that she hasn't told me.

"What's wrong?" I ask tentatively.

"Me and Jake kind of had a thing going on." Kia reveals and I choke on air.

"You what?" I manage to say.

"The last few weeks we started getting closer, but I broke stuff off before it got too serious. He started to ask if I would meet his parents and I don't know it just all seemed too real." She babbles quickly.

"Woah, woah, woah Kia. You did what?!" I cry.

"I knowww." She squirms as she covers her face with her hands, "I messed up."

"Oh Kia." I sympathise with her and give her a side hug as she groans loudly at her actions.

"So, you regret ending it?" I ask subtly.

"Yeh I think so. Jake is so lovely, and he always knows how to make me laugh. I hate to be that cliché girl, but it really was one of those 'it's not you it's me' moments. I don't know I guess I just got scared." She explains.

I watch as her mind seems to wander elsewhere for a few seconds before returning back to the moment. I think for a second but ultimately, I know the best way to fix this.

"Go find him." I say sternly.

"What?" Kia asks confused.

"I said go find him Kia, tell him how you feel."

"But what if he hates me? What if he doesn't care anymore Jess?" She begins to fret but I shut her down immediately,

"Kia Russo that boy is not going to hate you. If anything, he'll be upset but I honestly think if you just tell him how you feel you guys will be able to get through it."

"Alright, alright." Kia laughs, "I'll go when we're done here."

"Well then. We're done here." I clap my hands together and stand, "Off you pop."

Kia's eyes boggle from her head as I kick her from my house and she clambers into her beaten up polo, as she winds the window down to say goodbye I call back and say,

"Go get your man." And I'm pretty sure I can hear her laugh and cheer from inside.

As I enter back into the house, I find my Mum cooking and as I sniff the air, I catch the smell of freshly cooked lasagne,

"Mmmm, smells good." I say and my stomach appears to agree as it rumbles hungrily.

"Nearly done just anther ten minutes." My Mum says as she wipes the counters down.

I shift my gaze to Tyler who's sat on the tiled floor, aeroplane noises being emitted from his mouth as he plays with little toy figures.

"Hey there scamp, is that a new toy?" I ask him and he nods in excitement, whirling the toy through the air as if to showcase its amazing abilities. I chuckle at his amusement and straighten back up to my Mum gazing between the two of us.

"What?" I question and she smiles meekly again.

"I was just thinking of how proud your Dad would be if he could see what you're doing now." She says. A short silence sweeps across the room, even Tyler seems to quieten at the mention of Dad.

"I hope so." I whisper and Mum wraps her arms around me, embracing my body in a tight hug.

"He loved you so much sweetheart." She mumbles and I can hear the emotion thick in her voice.

"I just wish Ty could've known him how we knew him." I admit, as I think back to the balding, ill version of our Dad that he had known as a small child.

"I know he was only young, but it just feels cruel that he only knew Dad when he was ill."

"I know sweetie. But we keep him alive in the memories we have, and when Tyler is old enough, we can both tell him stories until he's sick of us talking." She laughs and I nod as a small tear slips down my cheek.

"I'm going to miss you two so much, you know that right." I tell her and she smiles at me through glassy eyes.

"Of course, I do. But I want you to go and explore the world for yourself Jess. You need this." We both stand resting against the kitchen counter and watch as Tyler continues to play quietly with his toys. I can't help but feel slightly overwhelmed with emotion as I think about my approaching departure but also feel incredibly thankful for the incredible people that I have in my life that make it so difficult to leave behind.