August 14th, 2014. My phone flashes. New message from BrianaBoo: "I'm awake. Use the garage code to get in."
Without hesitation, I left my house. She lives down the block, around the corner and down the street from my house. 5 minute walk tops. The sidewalk was cold but the sun was hot. No clouds. Blue skies were smiling at me. I smiled back even though there was nothing to smile about. Actually, that's a lie. There were tons of things to smile about. Like the hibiscus flower I saw on my way over.
It was fully bloomed, and not rotting at all. I snapped a photo because whether or not we like it, over time beauty dies and things fade. And a photo is forever. Unless your memory card fails but that's another story.
She has always just been a short walk away and honestly, it sends fear through my veins just thinking about knocking on that door and her not being there. I climbed the stairs to her room. I walk in and find sprawled out in her pile of questionably clean clothes on her laptop.
But I wasn't surprised. She was in her natural habitat.
"I see you've made progress. That sock that was over there is now here." I glanced at the sock that had the potential to be white at some point earlier in it's lifespan.
"Shut up. Wanna help out?" Pause. "That's a dumb question."
"Teachers who say there is no such thing as a dumb question obviously have more patience than most."
She finally decided to look up from her laptop. "Chaney. This vine. I can't. Come here, you'll die."
After years of knowing each other you would think we would have better things planned for this day. But like every other day, we do nothing together. This is how we bond. And it's great.
"What kind of pizza do you want?" She looked down at her screen.
"I dunno. What do you you want?"
"Good Lord. Just think of something."
"Well since my brother is in town, my family wants to go out for lunch, but I can eat some pizza. Maybe cheese, what we always get since you're picky." I added a smile so I didn't seem like a bitch, but at this point in our friendship, it didn't really matter. Nothing could tear us apart (knock on wood.)
"Alright, I'll call mommy and see if she can pick something up. Ya bum." She dug under a pile of her laundry in search of her phone. Upon finding it, she called her mom.
"Freakin' sweet." I loaded Tumblr up on my phone and continuously scrolled down while she played her music, slacking off on all possible responsibilities the she had.
"I think mom is home." By this time she had made a lap around her room picking things off the floor and putting them in her bags. Not bothering to fold anything.
"Alright, I'll eat a slice but then I have to go. Mom is picking me up to go to lunch."
"She better bring you back over later." The way she said it was like how a child tells their mom they want to pet the puppy one last time before they go.
One new message. From Mum: "Here. I want to see Briana."
We walked outside and mom gave her a hug before we left for lunch.
One new message. From BrianaBoo: "Left to fix car, will text you when I get home."
One new message. From BrianaBoo: "Car continue to overheat. Won't be able to take it with me. :( RIP Harvey Dent."
One new message. From BrianaBoo: "Home. Come over when you get done eating. <3"
"Done eating. On my way over now." Message sent.
One New Message. "Just come in through front door."
"Hi Chaney!" Briana's mom was in the living room watching Dance Moms. "You excited to start the rest of your life?" She was overly excited about this whole escapade.
"I mean, I guess I'm pumped."
"Mom, stop asking weird things."
We all sat on the couch and watched dance moms. And when it came time to leave the air felt thicker but I didn't let it phase me.
I walked back the way I came. This time the sun was setting and the blue skies were no longer smiling. I didn't want them too.
When I got home, it was like gravity was only focused on pulling me as far down as it could possibly manage. Without killing me of course.
August 15th, 2014. One new message. From BrianaBoo: "Miss you already."
"Miss you too." Message sent.
Without hesitation, I left my house. She lives down the block, around the corner and down the street from my house. 5 minute walk tops. The sidewalk was cold but the sun was hot. No clouds. Blue skies were smiling at me. I smiled back even though there was nothing to smile about. Actually, that's a lie. There were tons of things to smile about. Like the hibiscus flower I saw on my way over.
She has always just been a short walk away and honestly, it sends fear through my veins just thinking about knocking on that door and her not being there. I climbed the stairs to her room. I walk in and find sprawled out in her pile of questionably clean clothes on her laptop.
But I wasn't surprised. She was in her natural habitat.
"I see you've made progress. That sock that was over there is now here." I glanced at the sock that had the potential to be white at some point earlier in it's lifespan.
"Shut up. Wanna help out?" Pause. "That's a dumb question."
"Teachers who say there is no such thing as a dumb question obviously have more patience than most."
She finally decided to look up from her laptop. "Chaney. This vine. I can't. Come here, you'll die."
After years of knowing each other you would think we would have better things planned for this day. But like every other day, we do nothing together. This is how we bond. And it's great.
"What kind of pizza do you want?" She looked down at her screen.
"I dunno. What do you you want?"
"Good Lord. Just think of something."
"Well since my brother is in town, my family wants to go out for lunch, but I can eat some pizza. Maybe cheese, what we always get since you're picky." I added a smile so I didn't seem like a bitch, but at this point in our friendship, it didn't really matter. Nothing could tear us apart (knock on wood.)
"Alright, I'll call mommy and see if she can pick something up. Ya bum." She dug under a pile of her laundry in search of her phone. Upon finding it, she called her mom.
"Freakin' sweet." I loaded Tumblr up on my phone and continuously scrolled down while she played her music, slacking off on all possible responsibilities the she had.
"I think mom is home." By this time she had made a lap around her room picking things off the floor and putting them in her bags. Not bothering to fold anything.
"Alright, I'll eat a slice but then I have to go. Mom is picking me up to go to lunch."
"She better bring you back over later." The way she said it was like how a child tells their mom they want to pet the puppy one last time before they go.
One new message. From Mum: "Here. I want to see Briana."
We walked outside and mom gave her a hug before we left for lunch.
One new message. From BrianaBoo: "Left to fix car, will text you when I get home."
One new message. From BrianaBoo: "Car continue to overheat. Won't be able to take it with me. :( RIP Harvey Dent."
One new message. From BrianaBoo: "Home. Come over when you get done eating. <3"
"Done eating. On my way over now." Message sent.
One New Message. "Just come in through front door."
"Hi Chaney!" Briana's mom was in the living room watching Dance Moms. "You excited to start the rest of your life?" She was overly excited about this whole escapade.
"I mean, I guess I'm pumped."
"Mom, stop asking weird things."
We all sat on the couch and watched dance moms. And when it came time to leave the air felt thicker but I didn't let it phase me.
I walked back the way I came. This time the sun was setting and the blue skies were no longer smiling. I didn't want them too.
When I got home, it was like gravity was only focused on pulling me as far down as it could possibly manage. Without killing me of course.
August 15th, 2014. One new message. From BrianaBoo: "Miss you already."
"Miss you too." Message sent.
I love the description of nature and the sudden transition into dialogue. Maybe you could expand upon your feelings and emotions during this "goodbye" to Briana. Overall, I enjoyed this draft. It kept me on the edge of my seat, waiting for some big moment to occur.
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