Dear Best Friend

Six years ago...

Savannah was preparing for her first heartbreak on a stormy afternoon. Carson was leaving after years of laughter, holidays, and quality time together. Her best friend, the guy she unexpectedly fell in love with, is moving across the country. She had not had a chance to express her true feelings for him, and it was now too late.

Savannah was already in tears that matched the rain falling in the sky as her parents drove her to his house to say goodbye. Her heart raced in her chest as they got closer to their destination. The streets they passed provided her with an endless supply of memories that she would no longer be able to share. Instead, these roads would serve as a reminder of when her life changed.

Why now? What was the rush? She mulled things over. Carson had warned her on their many nights spent outside in his truck, but her mind was not ready to accept it. Instead, all of her pent-up emotions erupted at once, leaving her shattered. When she noticed the moving truck outside their luxurious apartment, her feelings grew stronger. A place that had once served as a second home for her was now empty, leaving a void.

Her father pulled over while they were parked in front of their moving truck. Savannah found it difficult to get out of the car and say goodbye to her friends. Violet, her other best friend, was seen saying farewell to Cole, Carson's twin. This was a sad day for everyone, including her. Nobody liked saying goodbye, and who knows if they will ever meet again. Due to the time difference, it will be difficult to stay in touch because schedules may conflict. This is especially true when classes are in session. Everything about this day was awful, but she could not sit in here forever.

Savannah took a deep breath and opened the car door, her tears obscured by the heavy rain. Violet and Cole spotted her right away and waved her over. They both appeared to be crying as they awaited Savannah's arrival. It hurt her to see her friends in such pain, but she could not do anything because she, too, was suffering. The most they could do was try to spend their last few hours together remembering the memories that were important to them.

Savannah sulked over and embraced her friends in a tight squeeze. This was not the first time they had done something similar, but it would be the last. Savannah wanted to make it count and clung to Cole like a lifeline. Her mind wandered to the endless number of competitions they would endure. They were always trying to outdo each other in ridiculous ways. Petty competition aside, Cole would always have a place in her heart, and she hoped he would feel the same way.

He wiped his tears and unlatched himself from his close friend. "Hi Savannah," he said half-heartedly. "Happy you could make it."

Gazing into her friend's reddened green eyes, Savannah managed to smile despite her tears. "I will miss you so much, Cole," she blurted out. "Never forget the numerous occasions I have defeated you in Chutes and Ladders."

Her fellow weeping friends began to laugh a little, which helped to lighten the atmosphere. The twins' departure was starting to have an oppressive effect on the air around them. It was as if they were meeting for the first time all over again, afraid of what to say. Their entire being is consumed by sadness. This is how it felt to depart with such sudden abandon. Knowing they would have to get by in this new life without one another crushed their spirits.

But Savannah's feelings toward them would not change as a result. They were her companions. the only friends she has had since primary school. Their innermost feelings cannot be altered by a small amount of distance. Their friendship will endure forever, no matter how far apart they go.

With this in mind, their circle of love was still lacking one member. Savannah couldn't miss Carson's absence. Even though he did not usually get emotional, his absence did not make sense. She loved Cole, but her love for Carson was unlike any other. She had to spend one more moment with him, even though it would kill her to see his face.

While the rain persisted, Savannah started to inquire about Carson's whereabouts. "Have you guys seen Car—"

Her shoulders were encircled by powerful arms just as she was about to say his name. Knowing exactly who this was made her heart thump in her chest. Carson would always approach her from behind and take hold of her petite frame whenever he saw her from a distance. Only today was it to conceal the fact that he had been crying. Although he knew he had no other option, his heart ached at the idea of leaving her behind. Savannah held a special place in his heart, despite his inexplicable feelings.

Savannah could not control her tears, despite Carson's best efforts to suppress them. Her sobbing intensified the moment Carson embraced her. She was certain he would make fun of her if he heard her crying. She was very emotional, so much so that he had nicknamed her the crybaby of the group. However, he just called her "baby" since he found that it was easier to say. To Savannah, it was an affectionate term, but only the group knew what he meant when he said it.

When he finally spoke to her, his laugh reverberated through her ears. He sniffled, "Hello...baby. I missed you."

Savannah clung tightly to his arms, praying he would not have to release them. "Car-Carson," she mumbled. "I missed you too. I-I'm going to miss you." Her tears kept coming in torrents.

He murmured, "I know."

Ignoring the rain and the people around them, they remained in this posture. Their mutually felt grief was communicated through their unspoken chemistry. Especially Savannah, who finds it difficult to express her true feelings to him. Not that anything will change as a result. Even so, he had to go, and she would have preferred that he leave their friendship unbroken and uncomplicated.

She turned and looked up at her tall friend, noting the bags under his eyes. Despite her disbelief, Savannah noticed that he appeared to be crying. She could not even recall the last time she had witnessed him cry. If Carson was beginning to show signs of emotion, this had to be excruciating.

Raising her hand to his cheek, Savannah felt the smoothness of his skin. She was sure that the crying had contributed to his flushed cheeks, which were caused by the chilly rain.

With a gentle smile, his green eyes peered down at her. His hand slides around her wrists, longing to reach her hand exactly where it is. Her constant presence gave him a warm feeling inside. The light was being snuffed out of his life, and the bravery to deal with it was running away. Without Savannah to support him, how could he survive this? The answer would come with time.

Reaching for her hand, Carson faces Violet and Cole, prepared to perform a final group hoorah. "Let's make this count," he said with a small smile.

"Sugar Café?" Violet suggested as it was their preferred location for getting together.

As they lumbered down the street, heads nodded. Before the inevitable, the last gasp of laughter filled their lungs.

Six years later...

On another depressing day, Savannah discovered that her feelings were impeding her. Her parents had sadly passed away, and today was their funeral. Watching the caskets descend six feet into the earth broke her heart. Her face washed with tears as she let go of all feelings. It was difficult enough to lose one parent, let alone two. In an instant, the individuals who had always supported her and done their best to look out for her were no longer there. Sadly, this was not the first time Savannah had experienced such intense pain.

With an inward sigh, Savannah wipes her face as she bids them farewell for the last time. The funeral was lovely despite the tragedy, and the repast would be wonderful as well. Violent celebrated her parents' recollections by staying up all night preparing meals for everyone to enjoy. She didn't want to waste their memories by dwelling on the past. This was a celebration of life, even if it was taken at a relatively young age.

She trudges up to Violet, who embraces her right away, holding the last flower near her. Violet also took this very poorly. There had been so much crying in the chapel that her green eyes were crimson. Savannah would not have been as strong as she was without her companion with the black hair. She was unable to convey her gratitude through words alone.

With a gentle grin, Savannah takes Violet's arm, and they go towards her car. She expresses her gratitude, saying, "Thanks again, Violet; you're always pulling through for me."

Violet dismisses her, not seeking gratitude. "Please, you know I'm always here for you," she said. "They were like parents to me as well."

Savannah wanted to thank her even though she was aware of this. Savannah's life has been difficult for the last six years. She experienced certain successes, such as moving into her first apartment with friends on Manhattan's Upper East Side, but she never felt quite right. Savannah's heart has been left feeling empty for no apparent reason, leading her to doubt life itself.

Her suffering only became worse once her parents passed away. She struggled to understand how lives could be gone so suddenly. They were the last individuals she expected to go, but it happened every day. Savannah wanted nothing more than to find serenity because life was being cruel to her. Peace, though, looked a long way off.

People would continuously approach Savannah while she stood in front of Violet's car, asking for directions to the location of the feast. If they were unable to attend, they would also send their sympathies. Savannah decided to hang around a little while longer in case other people arrived. And the fear of abandoning them here, beneath the surface of the earth, was present as well. It scared her to know that she would never be able to reach out to them. When she wanted motherly guidance, what would she do? What happens when her automobile breaks down? Her father would not be around to give her advice.

Even if these issues were unimportant, they were nonetheless significant life lessons that she would no longer be able to learn. At just 21 years old, she never would have imagined seeing this day at such an early age. Thankfully, she was able to create moments she will always treasure.

Seeing that most of the others had left, Violet used the height difference between them to lay her hand on her friend's shoulder. "I'm sure people are back at the church now," she continues. "Do you want to get going?"

Savannah wondered if she was ready to go as she turned to face her parent's graves. It seemed so abrupt, even though she knew she would have too soon. Moreover, she had no intention of attending the repast. Savannah would much rather be left alone to think, even though she valued people's attendance. One can never fully recover from grief, and Savannah was exhausted.

She would go even though she was exhausted simply to display what remained of her parents' legacy. They wouldn't want her to spend her days by herself, wallowing in her covers at home. Moreover, despite her tendency for closure, she always seemed to find comfort in the emotions of those around her. She would have to go on with her life eventually. There was no point in putting that off.

Savannah nods and opens the car door, about to get in, but then she sees someone walking toward them. They moved slowly over, her eyes fixed on the smiling individual, bewildered. Their stunning blond hair made them stand out, as they stood at a height of approximately 6′1. Given the situation, their eyes sparkle green with happiness and a hint of melancholy.

Violet gave Savannah a look, and Savannah looked back at her. Neither of them could figure out who this guy was or why he was grinning at them. Was that someone they had forgotten? It was difficult to see much through the tears, but neither of them could remember seeing him seated in the chapel.

Even so, it left them wondering why he was visiting. Savannah wasn't sure if she should wait it out or simply jump in the automobile. She could tell by the look on his face that there was no threat; therefore, she was more willing to hear him out. Perhaps he was just someone else in need of guidance.

The man at the front studied their faces, shocked. He never thought they would not know who he was. They hadn't changed much over the years, but he knew who they were almost immediately. It's true that girls stop growing at a certain age. Rather than taking offense at their lack of acknowledgment, he chose to laugh it off.

He looks between the two, amusement in his eyes, and shakes his head. "Do you seriously not know who I am?" he asked with a playful tone.

Once more, the females fixed their gaze on one another, oblivious to the identity of the deep voice. No one else in the vicinity sounded like this. Neither did any of their coworkers resemble this individual. He was rather handsome. Every man they've collaborated with has been mediocre at best. For even suggesting that they may have known him, they felt he was insane.

The man disclosed his identity after realizing they had forgotten him. "We were pals since we were little," he added. "Cole. Cole Beasley."

Savannah was suddenly overcome with a rush of recollections, recalling everything just by hearing his name. He and his brother left them that day feeling completely distraught. Savannah never imagined that she would see either of them again. She was unprepared for Cole to suddenly appear in front of her, drastically changing his appearance. Had she really not spoken to her old pal in years?

Violet immediately ran to give him a hug, her eyes welling up with tears. Given that Savannah and Violet shared every aspect of their lives, Savannah was not surprised by her behavior.

Cole returned her hug with a kind smile, glad that they had finally come to understand who he was. Savannah couldn't help but see how much he had changed from when they were buddies. Both his stature and muscle tone increased. Even with its shorter cut, his blonde hair provided a more pleasing frame for his face. His strong facial features further enhanced his stunning appearance. It would be an understatement to say that he had a turnaround. Cole was really attractive, and Savannah found it hard to believe he was back home.

Regaining her composure, Savannah approached him as well. She had to rise on tiptoes to give him a hug because she was so short. She locked onto his shoulders, her nostrils filled with the scent of pinecones and orchards. It was impossible to explain how happy seeing him made her feel. The news she had just gotten caused her heart to beat so rapidly that she could hardly control it.

"Cole," she says in a whisper. "It's you. It's unbelievable that it's you." Water returned to her eyes.

Cole chuckles, stuffing his giant hands in his pocket. "Hey Vie, Sav. You didn't think I'd miss an event like this, did you?" He grins.

"No, but we haven't talked in years!" Violet exclaims. "We didn't even recognize you."

Savannah's eyes grow big. "You used to be so lanky; now look at you," Savannah quips. "You're attractive."

It made Cole laugh, as he remembered his friend always picking at him. "You're still as funny as ever, Savannah," he smiles. "How are you holding up? I'm sorry I didn't reach out sooner. My parents just told me about it last week."

Her head shakes. "No need to fret. I'm glad you're here now." She smiles at him.

She was genuinely relieved that he was present. Savannah could not have cared less if he had called or not. Nor did she exactly try to get in touch with him. She wouldn't have felt resentment even if he hadn't attended the burial; after all, it had been six long years since they'd spoken. She thought it was enough that he had taken the initiative to fly all this way. It demonstrated that even though they didn't communicate often, their friendship remained strong enough for him to personally offer his sympathies.

Thus, Savannah experienced a feeling for the first time in a long time upon seeing his face. The knowledge that Cole was a twin only made her wonder if he had also made an appearance. They hadn't spoken in six years, so the idea of meeting him again unnerved her. Would their relationship remain unchanged from the beginning? Perhaps he would be resentful of Savannah for not making an effort to hold onto what they had.

She could only find out in one way. She would need to find the confidence to inquire about Carson's whereabouts. She knew she shouldn't be angry if he didn't show up, but it would still hurt. Did she look decent enough to look him in the eye, if he had? She was dressed simply in a black dress, but that didn't really answer anything. She didn't even know if he was here yet, and already her mind was racing.

Savannah takes a big gulp, crossing her arms out of nerves. "Um, by any chance, did Carson happen to come as well?" Her tone was shaky.

Cole looks at her with bright eyes, knowing she'd ask him that specific question. "I figured you might ask that," he says, pointing behind her.

Slowly, Savannah turns to face the guy who, without realizing it, has been holding her heart. Her feelings of anxiety overcame her. It had been so long since she'd seen him that she wasn't sure what to anticipate. Hoping he'll remember everything about her, her heart thumps in her chest.

She caught sight of a towering man standing over her parents' grave. He had the same blond hair and appeared to be an inch taller than Cole. Savannah was taken aback by the amount of facial hair that covered his face, yet she found it even more attractive. He also appears to have gained enormous size. Although Carson had always been interested in working out, it appeared that Arizona heightened that desire.

Savannah noticed that she was falling in love all over again, and when their gazes met, that sensation intensified. She feels her heart melt at the grin that takes over his face. Carson approached them, and the sobs she let fall with Cole only got bigger.

Carson stood between Savannah and himself, approximately six feet away. She is stunned when he says these two small words.

"Hey, baby."