Once again, my dreams were rudely interrupted by the loud banging on my door followed by the usual “Becks, you’re going to be late for school!” The names Rebecca Anne Murray, but ever since I can remember, people have been calling me Becks. I guess it’s one of those things that it doesn’t really matter whether or not you like it, you just have to eventually get used to it. Which is how I tend to explain the wonderful relationship I have with my seven year old younger brother. Jordan James Murray, A.K.A annoying. No matter what I do, he still insists on going through all my stuff, embarrassing me at all times possible, and making my life at home a living hell. Thankfully, I also have an older brother, and two older sisters. My older brother, Kyler is pretty much permanently locked in his room either on his computer or has his hands glued to his Xbox 360, so I don’t really hear much from him. I guess you could say he doesn’t really live like a very social seventeen year old teenager. My two older sisters, Maria and Quinn are twins, and they couldn’t be more opposite. Quinn and I have always gotten along, but Maria and I tend to steer clear of each other, to prevent un-necessary squabbling. I don’t know what it is about us, but we’ve never really clicked. But Quinn and I have always been really close, probably thanks to the fact that we’re only a year apart, and we both have a lot in common. I guess we have the kind of relationship that any parent dreams of their kids having. I’ve never really liked the fact that I have such a big family, but when it counts, it’s good to know that I have quite a few people who really care about me.
My mom and Dad have been divorced for three years now, so my mom has a hard time keeping sane raising five kids on her own. She’s one of those moms that has to have everything done perfectly. She also tries to be my best friend, which couldn’t be more frustrating. I mean, who the hell wants to tell their mom every little detail about their lives. My mom and I have always had a good relationship, but now that I’m growing up it seems like she just keeps trying harder and harder.
Thank god I have the most amazing best friends… ever, to help me get through everything. The three of us, Kayle Jeffery, Danyelle James and I have been inseparable ever since about third grade. We had all gotten separated from each of our normal groups of friends and put into our own group of desks at the back of the classroom. Ever since that day, we’ve been best friends and have told each other everything. So, you could see why it became the biggest tragedy of my life when my mom told me we were moving away. For as long as I can remember, New Jersey had been home to me. My first words, first steps, first birthday, all took place on Perth Street, New Jersey. Why did we have to move now? I don’t even think my mom has a reason to move to Seattle, other then to ruin my life. “It’s wonderful” she says, which for some reason I highly doubt. How could it be wonderful if I’m three hours away from my two best friends?
The first thing I did after Mom told us we were moving was pick up the phone and three-way Kayle and Danyelle. Leave it to you’re best friends to sense something’s wrong after just “Hey”.
“I’m moving,” I told them.
How else was I going to tell them, it’s not like it’s an easy thing to tell your best friends your moving three hours away and will barley ever get to see them.
“Well, maybe me and Kay can come up and stay with you for a week in the summer. You can give us a tour of the city, introduce us to your hot boyfriend…” Danyelle suggested. She always had good suggestions, and she always knew how to ease up a situation.
“What hot boyfriend?” … but, Kayle on the other hand, always can turn a serious situation into just plain confusion.
“It was a joke, dumb-ass. I’m just making a prediction. She’s obvi gonna find a hottie in no time,”
“Thanks, but I doubt I’ll even be looking. No guy will ever compare Jacob” I told them confidently. Jacob O’Toole was not only the hottest guy in school, but also totally out of my league.
“Oh please! I meant someone hot that you actually stand a chance with!”
“Shut up, Dee. One day when I’m gone, he’ll realize he should have given me the time of day. He’ll miss me,”
“So will I Becks, I can’t believe you’re moving” Kayle said, and I could hear he was choking up.
“I’m moving in June, so I can finish the school year here at least.”
“I gotta go, Mom’s calling me for dinner. Sleepovers at my house this weekend, right?” Dee asked.
“Yeah, it’s your weekend. I rented Vacancy, I’ll bring it over.” Kayle told us.
“I’ll bring the chips,” I said.
“Okay, see you guys tomorrow night!” Dee said before she hung up the phone.
Dee and I have always been a little bit closer then me and Kayle. I guess that’s what happens when you have a guy in your threesome of best friends. In grade three, I remember one day Kayle coming up to me and kissing me on the cheek. “You’re so pretty, Becks,” he told me. We tried out that whole ‘dating’ thing in grade four. Things didn’t end well. We didn’t talk for almost a week, when he came up to me and told me I had fat arms. I’ve never really let him live that down, but in a way it’s made us closer. By the way, remind me to tell my kids never to date when they’re in grade four.
June came fast. Too fast. Before I knew it, my room was in boxes with the words “Rebecca’s Room” written on them in thick blue Sharpie.
“Becks, the moving truck is here, finish packing the last few things, the guys will be down in five minutes” mom yelled from the top of the stairs. My room was first, because it was in the basement.
Sure, I was utterly disappointed to be leaving my best friends and my whole childhood behind, but when the harsh reality of the house I had always called home, the street I had always called mine, and the place where all the historic events of my life had taken place – like my first kiss – would no longer be mine sunk in, it sent a chill up my spine. A knot formed in my stomach when I emerged from the basement and moved to the front door where I saw “U-Haul” in bright orange letters plastered all over a big white moving truck parked out front of my house. It was really happening. I was really leaving the only place I had ever called home.
I grabbed my cell phone off the kitchen counter and ran out back onto the deck. I walked down the steps, and sat down beside the pool putting my feet in the icy water. The water never used to feel this cold. Then, all the memories of the late night swims, and long summer afternoons spent with Dee and Kayle getting sun burnt and water-logged hit me like a title wave. It never occurred to me that the last time we swam in this pool together, really was going to be the last. I flipped open my phone and hit Speed Dial 1 and 2. Dee and Kayle both answered at the same time.
“The trucks here,” I said with a tear running down my face.
“I’m on my way,” they both said at the same time, and then hung up. I sat beside the pool for a few more minutes with the phone up to my ear, until I noticed it was still on. Which would explain the ‘beeep, beeep, beeep’ I had been hearing.
The next thing I knew, my two very best friends stepped out the patio door leading from the kitchen onto the back deck. They silently walked down to where I was sitting and sat one on my left, and one on my right. Still in silence, they both put their arms around me, putting their feet in the water, swishing their toes around like I had been doing.
“The water’s cold today,” Kayle said.
“Member that one day, when it was like 35 degree’s out and we just spent all day out here. I’ve never had such a bad sunburn” Dee said, with slight disappointment in her voice.
“And then the day after you showed up at my house as red as a tomato and you still wanted to spend the whole day outside in the pool again,” I continued.
“I remember that day. You took a huge belly-flop. I’ve never laughed so much in my life,” Kayle added.
“I’ve never been in so much pain I my life!” Dee said, with a little less disappointment.
“I took all those days for granted, thinking there was always going to be more.” I said, another tear rolling down my face.
“Don’t cry, Becks. We’re always going to be best friends, and we’re always going to have memories to look back on,” Dee told me with compassion.
“Come on Becca, there’s IMing, emailing, writing and the phone. My mom says she’ll pay for long distance, but only if I’m talking to you. That saves me a bit of money, so I can save up for our week in the summer.” Kayle said with a slight laugh.
I smiled. “That’s true, I guess. It’s just so hard thinking about the fact that nothings ever going to be the same.”
“Everything happens for a reason, B. Good will come of this, and we’re always going to talk! You’re always going to be my best friend. No one can ever replace you, no matter how far away you are,” Dee said, with a smile emerging onto her face.
“I love you, guys. I’m going to miss you so much,” I said, wiping the salty tears from my face.
I bent over and gathered some water in both my hands, got up and splashed it on my friends.
“You guys are irreplaceable. I don’t know what I’m going to do with you. Who else am I going to ramble off about Jacob to?” I teased.
“Well, it’s a long car ride up, maybe you and Kyler can share stories. You’re driving up with him, right?” Dee asked.
“Yeah, I’m sure he’ll have tons of stories about all those girlfriends he’s brought home,” I said, rolling my eyes.
“Not!” Kayle piped in.
We all laughed. Another knot formed in my stomach. It was almost time to finally say goodbye.
“Rebecca, come show the movers what you’re bringing with you in the car, and what they can put in the truck. You and Kyler are going to head up early,” Mom yelled from the kitchen.
I turned to my friends one last time, and without a word, pulled them towards me. I held them tight, thinking about the next time we would be able to hug like this. When we pulled away, we all had tears on our cheeks.
“I love you, B” Kayle said. “We’re going to miss you so much.”
“I love you both so much. Email me everyday.” I said, once again wiping the tears from my cheeks.
“Call us the second you get there. No, the second before you get there,” Danyelle said with a half smile across her face.
“You guys are coming up for my birthday too, right?”
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world, Becks” Kayle said, giving me one last hug.
“I’m saving up every penny, and buying you the best birthday present ever” Dee told me, wiping a tear from my face before giving me one last hug.
We turned and walked into house. I poured my friends a glass of lemonade, and started downstairs.
“You Rebecca?” said the extremely hot topless boy that was standing in the middle of my soon to be former bedroom.
“Yeah. You guys can take everything except this,” I said as I picked up my blue Roxy backpack.
Still dazed by the absolute perfection of the hot boy’s stomach, I turned around and headed back upstairs. When I got upstairs, Danyelle and Kayle were standing at the front door. I walked up to them, put my shoes on and walked out door, with them following behind me. I opened the door to the blue Saturn sitting in the driveway, with the very inpatient Kyler sitting in the drivers seat, looking very annoyed. I turned to my friends.
“Don’t forget me,” I said.
I put my left foot in the car, swinging the rest of my body in and closed the car door. I rolled down the window.
“Never,” Dee and Kayle said at the same time.
I smiled and Kyler pulled the car out of the driveway. I threw my hand out the window, and waved to my friends as they grew smaller and smaller in the side-mirror. Although I was with my brother, I had never felt so alone.
We kept driving until we turned onto the highway, where we ran into the expected lunch-hour traffic. I stared out the window and remained silent until Kyler broke the silence.
“You’re such a baby,” Kyler turned to me and said, when we came to a full stop behind at least a hundred cars. “They’re just friends. It’s not like Mom died or anything.”
“At least I have friends!” I snapped.
Kyler turned his focus back onto the road only to find that we still had no room to advance. He turned up the radio, and as soon as he noticed it was Justin Timberlake singing, he shut it off. Kyler wasn’t into that kind of music. He was mostly into the kind of music that played in the background of his videogames. Kyler turned to me again, with sad eyes.
“How did you make such good friends?” he asked, looking like he was about to cry.
I sat in silence, and utter disbelief. It never occurred to me that the reason he spent so much time in his room, might relate to the fact that he really didn’t have any friends. I wondered how he had gotten so far through life without any friends.