November 11, 1996
Hey Kayles,
Our album is being released any day now. Do you still want a copy of it? Well, I’ll send you one anyway. I’m still with Jessica and I assume you’re still together with Tyler. My mom has kept me up-to-date with all of the happenings around Ruskin. I hear you guys are ranked nationally again. Number five or something like that? That’s great, Kayles. I’m really happy for you. I also heard you made First Team All State again. Next step All American? We’re all rooting for you over here.
Well, it’s been months, Kayles, and we still haven’t spoken to each other. We both said some things. Some of which may have been true and some, I’m hoping that we both didn’t mean or what does that say about our friendship? The fact is, I miss you. I miss talking to you. You’re my best friend, no matter what happened last summer, I know you were just angry and didn’t mean half of the things you said to me anyway.
Well, I don’t know what else to say to you except that I miss you. I miss your letters. They always make me a little less homesick. But I guess you’re still angry with me or whatever because I haven’t gotten a response or a phone call in months. Well, hopefully this time will be different. I miss you.
Love,
Nick.
“Aaron! Get the door!” Jane called from upstairs, hearing the doorbell ring. Aaron ran to the door and threw it open.
“Kayleigh?!” He exclaimed, surprised, letting her inside the house. “Nick’s not coming home until tomorrow.”
Kayleigh smiled. “I know that, honey.” She handed him an envelope. “Can you please give this to him? My mom and I are leaving for the airport in a little while.”
“Okay, Leigh,” Aaron said. “I’ll give it to him. Merry Christmas.”
Kayleigh grinned. “You too, Air. Tell your family I said Merry Christmas.”
“I will! Bye!” he called, shutting the door behind her as she left.
“Who was at the door?” Jane asked, walking down the stairs.
“It was Kayleigh,” Aaron answered, showing his mother the envelope. “She wanted me to give this to Nick when he got home.”
Jane grabbed it from him. “I’ll hold onto that. Go tell your sisters that we’re leaving.”
“Okay mom!” Aaron yelled, bounding up the stairs. Jane shook her head, laughing. That son of hers had way too much energy. The spitting image of his older brother.
The Next Evening
“I’m going to run next door and say hi to Kayleigh and her mom,” Nick announced as everyone was cleaning up from dinner. BJ and Jane exchanged a confused glance.
“What are you talking about, Nick?” BJ asked. “Kayleigh’s not there. They left yesterday.”
“For where?” Nick asked, looking dejected.
“Kayleigh wanted to spend Christmas back in Connecticut this year,” Jane explained. “She hasn’t seen her friends in a few years and so they went and stayed with Carolyn’s parents. Didn’t she tell you any of this?”
HEshook his head. “No. I haven’t talked to Kayleigh in months. Not since the summer. When is she coming back?”
“Not until after the New Year,” Jane answered. “I’m pretty sure you’ll already be back in Europe. She left something for you, though. Let me go get it.” Jane walked into the den to retrieve the envelope as Nick slowly sank down onto the couch.
“Here you go, honey,” Jane said to her son as she returned. She handed him the letter and then motioned for BJ to leave him alone.
Nick,
I’m sorry that I missed you for Christmas. Well, actually, no I’m not. The fact is, Nick, yes, you have put every effort to get our friendship back. Every effort except for the most important one. You still haven’t apologized. You did the one thing that friends, especially best friends, are never supposed to do. You put your girlfriend ahead of me. You believed something she said over your own best friend and that really hurts. It is something that a best friend is never supposed to do. So, until you can apologize, consider this friendship nonexistent.
Kayleigh