Live While We're Young

"True friendship is when two friends can walk in opposite directions, yet remain side by side."

- Unknown

"Ani! Hurry up, we're going to be late!" yelled Nick from downstairs.

Looking in the mirror I tousled my hair one last time and ran down the stairs, "I'm coming, I'm coming."

"Finally. Now wait, I want to eat," he smirked as he bit into my mom's delicious, homemade pancakes.

My mum chuckled and smiled at me, "you two have grown up so much, you're seniors now. I still remember when you guys were still in diapers."

"That was Nick. I gave those up when I was four," I teased.

Swallowing on his food, he mumbled, "Hey, you told me the toilet was a monster. That kept me years from getting anywhere near that thing."

"Yeah, yeah." Sitting next to him, I grabbed a fork and munched onto some pancakes.

"I'll be working late today sweetie, and your father's taking the late night's shift. Have fun in school and you too Nick. By the way, do ask your mother to come by. I haven't seen her in a while." Mum took her Chanel bag and kissed my forehead before heading for the door.

"Sure Mrs J!" Nick yelled after her. Grabbing his plate I threw it into the sink, I clutched his arm and pulled him after me, "We have to leave, unless you want to be late on the first day of school." The minute I said that I knew it was a mistake, being late was Nick's signature move. He was always late, whether it was to school or even for an emergency meeting.

Nick and I were best friends. We were like peanut butter and jelly. We were almost inseparable. People say they rarely see one without the other. We are so close, we can sometimes read each others' mind. I like being friends with Nick. I especially love the long nights we share, the crazy dares we do and those silent minutes where we indulge ourselves into our own world.

After a long first day in school, Nick and I pounced onto the couch. We were lethargic, almost lifeless.

"Gosh, I'm exhausted. What should we do now?" Nick sighed, slumped between pillows, he sat up beside me. His blondish, brown hair falling down his forehead slightly as he leaned down to look at me. His crystal blue eyes, glinting into mine; I could see my own reflection in them. I snapped myself out of my daze as I stood up, heading towards the kitchen.

What was I doing? Did he realize it? This isn't right Ani. Pull yourself together. I built up courage to look at what was left of him. I turned to look out from the kitchen door to see him lying at the exact same position. He hadn't move a muscle, though he had obviously ran his hands through his hair as it was slightly messed up. With a bowl of strawberries and a bottle of whip cream as cover, I quickly walked over to the sofa, sitting next to him curling my legs but leaving half a body of room between us. Nick had turned on a channel and it so happens a movie was screening.

"Huh, why my royal princess has finally come with the golden gifts, that is food" he teased as he grabbed the bottle of whip cream. Casting a mischievous smile, he instantaneously opened the bottle cap and shot whip cream all over me. I jumped out of my skin in shock but I immediately came to my senses. It was revenge. I ran to the kitchen, grabbing the first dish I could find on the table and launched it right at his face. Apparently, Spaghetti was not such a bad missile. Nick jumped into the kitchen, with his strong, buff arms, he easily lifted me off the ground.

"No fair!" I said staring into his eyes intently, suddenly acutely aware of his strong arms on either side of me and the powerful heat I could feel radiating from him as e stood leaning over me half smiling. Nick's eyes stayed locked on mine, neither of us blinking. I couldn't look away and found myself getting lost in his cerulean, ocean eyes. Their luminous orbs taking up my whole vision. All of a sudden, I felt incredibly overwhelmed and I snapped my eyes shut. Darkness came crashing over me and I felt myself exhale a breathe I did not know I was holding. Then I felt Nick's arms brush my wrists as felt his lemony scent enveloping me, as he seemed to lean in. I felt his forehead lean just against mine, his right hand cup my head. Then, almost as fast as it happened, it ended abruptly. I looked up to see Nick, in a very shocked and devastated expression. He immediately rummaged through his things and made a beeline for the exit repeating, "I can't do this. I can't do this."

I had no clue as to what had happened but I know I needed Nick back. My body tensed at the thought of not seeing or speaking or being with Nick ever again. I ran for him but stopped at the front porch. His shocked face flashed in my mind, worried and distraught. What happened was the only question veering through my mind.

That night, I called and called. There was no answer. I started to get worried. I found myself in buckets of tears. Why would he do this to me? My mum came in and I told her that he was avoiding me for some reason, and he could not be bothered to work things out with me. She comforted me and assured me that everything was going to be okay, he was my best friend after all. I was , and I believed her.

Days passed, then came weeks. It seemed impossible to avoid each other but we did. I anchored to my belief that Nick would come back to be my best friend again. It could take months...years...I did not care. I just had to wait.

Finally, a few weeks after our incident. Nick stopped ignoring me. Although it was not in the way I thought it would be.

I was on my way home. I felt absolutely miserable, as my chances of once again being best friends with Nick were slowly slipping away day by day, night by night.

Sighing, I stepped onto the road, ready to cross the road to get home. But foolish me! I was so caught up in my thoughts, I failed to notice the car driving quickly up the road.

They say your life flashes in front of your eyes just as you about to die. I did not. All I saw was Nick's face and him and I laughing together. Was he really so important? That was my last conscious thought before the blackness consumed me.

White filled my vision as I opened my eyes. Was this heaven? My vision cleared, and I realized that I was clutching a note in my hand.

Even though I am gone

My heart that loved you

Stays

Just then, a nurse entered wheeling a tray filled with pills.

"Excuse me, how am I still alive?"

"A patient donated his heart to you. He had been suffering from a brain disease for months but his heart was perfectly fine."

Nick. And then...my vision blurred, but this time from the tears I could not stop from flowing.