“Please Nick, believe me. I am leaving.” I said for the hundredth time. He smiled and nodded, “No, you’re not. Why can’t you just drop the lie? We’ll always be together. We’re best friends. Nothing or no one can take that away from us.” He replied stubbornly.

I stared back at the baby blue eyes that stared into mine. I knew what was coming, I was about to pull away and run but I acted too slowly and he too fast. He stepped closer to me planted lips on mine. Our first kiss.

I pulled away in a second and looked back into his eyes. I could feel mine beginning to tear up. I gulped back all my sadness and tears and walked away.

“Alssa!” I heard him call as I picked up my pace and walked towards my house hurriedly. “Alssa! Alssa stop!” he called and I heard footsteps indicating that he was now running to keep up with me. I shook my head and broke into a run. Tears streaming down my face I ran as fast as I could but it was hopeless. Tears blinding my sight I ran right into someone. “Alssa!” I heard him call again as I hit the floor with a thud. I sat up quickly and brushed my tears from my face. “I’m sorry ‘mam” I said softly looking up at the lady I had run into.

She shook her head, “it’s alright. Are you okay dear?” she asked. I nodded standing up brushing the dust away from my shorts and t-shirt. “Yeah, I’m fine thank you.” I said. “Alssa!” a voice called from behind me. I didn’t turn around to look at my 8-year-old best friend. I smiled at the lady and continued walking fast. “Alssa please. Wait. Please?” Nick said again as he fell into step next to me.

I abruptly stopped walking and turned to look at him tears filling my eyes again. He stopped walking too and held out his arms with a warm smile. My tears began falling freely, as I got into his arms and hugged him. “You’ll be fine Alssa. You will.” He said hugging me tightly.

My dad had passed away one month ago and now my mom wanted to leave the country. I didn’t want to but mom thinks it was the best solution moving from Florida to England. She didn’t want any reminders of the past. She thought it was the best way to move on. This meant I had to forget about my life here in Florida. I had no say in her decision cause I was just 7 years old. I had to prepare for a whole new life. A life that did not include anybody I knew in Florida. Not even Nick. That’s what mom wanted – for all connections to be stopped.

Today, the day before we’re to leave I told Nick about it. He doesn’t seem to believe me. I don’t understand why. When I told him he laughed and when I tried over and over again he kept repeating that we’d be together always.

I pulled back and we slowly began walking towards our houses hand in hand. When we neared my drive way I looked up at his face. He still looked like he didn’t believe me. I sighed and hugged him, “Goodbye Nickolas.” I said softly while tears sprang to my eyes. He hugged me back; “I’ll see you tomorrow Alssa, same time. Same place.” He said.

“I won’t be here tomorrow Nick.” I said as I pulled back and tears streamed down my cheeks. “Of course you will Ally, and don’t think about your dad too much alright? I’ll catch you tomorrow.” He said before walking towards his house. I shook my head as tears fell fast and ran towards my house.

“Did you tell him?” my mom asked from where she stood in the porch watching me coming inside. I nodded, “he didn’t believe me.” I said before I burst out crying again and ran upstairs to my room.