Bradley stopped me in the hall after school.
"How was your weekend?"
"It was great," I smiled, "I went out with Reece. How was your weekend?"
"You went out with Reece?"
"Yep. So what did you do this weekend?"
He stared at me for a moment.
"Emerson's home."
"Really! That's great."
"He asked about you."
"What'd he ask?"
"If we still hung out."
I was surprised. The statement was like a punch in the gut.
"What did you say?"
"That we didn't."
There was an awkward pause.
"We used to be friends," I whispered.
"I remember," he smiled, "you used to love pink."
"And I left it for black."
He laughed.
"Emerson would like it if you came by. You don't have to but..."
"I'd love to," I cut him off.
We drove to Bradley's house.
His older brother Emerson greeted me with a hug.
"How have you been Cait. I missed you."
"I've been good. My hair didn't miss you. It hasn't been pulled since you left."
"We better change that," he said as he tugged on my braid.
I smiled. And then all of the sudden I felt self conscious as I realized Emerson was old. He was an adult. He was in college. And he had gotten hot.
I tried to shake the thought out of my head.
Emerson was Bradley's older brother, who was once my best friend.
He was the boy who pulled my hair and teased me and Bradley.
I could never admit to anyone ever that he was hot.
Emerson,
Will you please try and make it to my funeral? It will be near the end of December of this year.
R.S.V.P. to my mother.
Goodbye,
Caitlyn
P.S. Even though you were a huge pain in the butt growing up, I have to admit I missed you when you left for college.